Abstract: Systems and methods for mass flow controllers which minimize false flow conditions and display a reduced sensitivity to pressure transients are disclosed. Pressure gradients that exist within the volume of a mass flow controller fluid path are minimized in order to limit the potential energy contained in compressed or pressurized process gas. Additionally, process gas pressure may be monitored using a pressure sensor. This pressure signal is utilized in conjunction with a control algorithm to cancel the detrimental effect of certain flow components. These mass flow controllers may be used as drop in replacements for legacy mass flow controllers and reduce the cost of gas sticks due to elimination of discrete components such as pressure regulators, gas filters, pressure transducers, local pressure displays, isolation valves, seals, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for building three dimensional objects may adjust data used to build the objects to, for example, improve quality or correct for defects. A printer may, for example, accept data representing the object and modify the data according to an adjustment parameter; the printer may build the object according to the parameter. The parameter may be, for example, fixed in the printer, user entered, and/or calculated by the printer. In one embodiment, a support pedestal may be built of deposited material before the object is built.

Abstract: There is provided a machining tool for machining a workpiece on a workpiece support in response to control signals. The machining tool includes a cutting tool configured to cut a surface of the workpiece. The machining tool also includes a first displacement mechanism and a second displacement mechanism. The first displacement mechanism arranged to displace the cutting tool relative to the workpiece in a first set of coordinates in response to the control signals. The second displacement mechanism supported by the first translation mechanism and arranged to displace the cutting tool relative to the workpiece in a second set of coordinates, the second displacement mechanism capable of a higher frequency response than the first displacement mechanism. The machining tool also includes a controller configured to receive the control signals and synchronize the displacement of the cutting tool due to the first displacement mechanism with the displacement of the cutting tool due to the second displacement mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for electronically controlling a fiber processing machine includes at least one plug-in module group and at least one memory for receiving and storing data. A non-volatile memory is disposed physically apart from the plug-in module group whereby the data inputted in the memory are not lost upon switching off a power supply to the apparatus or upon replacing at least one plug-in module group and whereby upon resuming operation of the apparatus the data may be read and further processed.

Abstract: A “woodprint™” characterization and identification technique unique employs cameras (16), lighting (14), camera interface hardware (18), a computer (20), and/or image processing software to collect and analyze surface characteristics of pieces of wood (8) to track them through an automated production process in real-time with information that is specific to each wood piece (8), such as what machining is required, its value, and/or its destination. When a wood piece (8) reaches a point in the production process where a decision is required, its unique identity is used to retrieve appropriate information previously determined and assigned to the wood piece (8).

Abstract: A computer readable medium with instructions stored on the medium. When the instructions are executed by a processor, they cause the processor to calculate overall efficiency. A system for determining the overall efficiency for a building. The system comprises: an environment system controller with a processor used to calculate overall efficiency; a plurality of indoor temperature sensors in communication with the environment system controller; an outdoor temperature sensor in communication with the environment system controller; an efficiency monitoring device in communication with the environment system controller; and a chronograph configured to time stamp sensor readings.

Abstract: Method for administering devices, including creating a user metric vector including a plurality of disparate user metrics, creating a user metric space including a plurality of metric ranges, determining whether the user metric vector is outside the user metric space, identifying an action in dependence upon the user metric vector, if the user metric vector is outside a user metric space, and creating an action log.

Abstract: An NC apparatus controls a position of a tool by driving a plurality of shafts with a plurality of servomotors. The shafts includes at least one clamp shaft that can be mechanically clamped or non-clamped. A clamp determining unit determines whether a state of the clamp shaft and outputs a signal based on the state. A correcting unit corrects a position instruction value or a position detection value of at least one shaft other than the clamp shaft based on the signal and a correction value so as to cancel an error in a position of the tool due to movement of the tool performed by the clamp shaft.

Abstract: An analysis method for an electrical power system whereby the plurality of buses are grouped into agents, family lines of agents and families of agents based on the reactive reserves depleted when the buses are loaded. Contingencies are then applied to the electrical power system. The reactive reserves are monitored, and an exhaustion factor is determined for one or more family lines in one or more families. A boundary case solution is used to assess where, why, and how the contingency causes voltage instability, voltage collapse and/or local blackout. Based on this information, the design of voltage rescheduling, active rescheduling, unit commitment, load shedding, etc., is determined that can be used as preventive, corrective or emergency controls in applications such as system design and planning, operation planning, reactive and voltage management, real time control and Special Protection System Control. Based on this information, solutions can then be applied to the power system.

Abstract: A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system. The IED's are linked via a network to back-end servers. Power management application software and/or hardware components operate on the IED's and the back-end servers and inter-operate via the network to implement a power management application. The architecture provides a scalable and cost effective framework of hardware and software upon which such power management applications can operate to manage the distribution and consumption of electrical power by one or more utilities/suppliers and/or customers which provide and utilize the power distribution system. Security mechanisms are further provided which protect and otherwise ensure the authenticity of communications.

Abstract: A press machine uses a crank mechanism which can perform pressing by a pressing force control when a slide exists in a pressing region. When the slide is determined to exist between an initial position and a switching position to the pressing region, the slide is moved down by rotating a motor regularly by a position control system. When the slide is determined to exist in the pressing region, pressing is performed by moving down the slide such that a slide pressing force becomes equal to a set slide pressing force by a pressing force control system.

Abstract: An intelligent network demand control system provides a system and method for controlling demand in an energy delivery system. The intelligent network demand control system employs a transceiver network with a plurality transceivers coupled to meters and appliances residing at a plurality of customer premises. Control room operators instruct a customer premises (CP) energy management controller to implement a reduction in system demand. A demand reduction control signal is relayed out to a predefined group of transceivers to bring their respective controlled generators on line. The predefined transceivers, identified by their identification codes, are specified in the demand reduction control signal. When the transceivers bring the generators on line in response to a broadcasted demand reduction control signal, the actual demand reduction is metered and relayed back to the CP energy management controller. The total demand reduction is aggregated into a single number and then communicated to the operators.

Abstract: A method for describing a process flow includes receiving a first root-independent building block and a second root-independent building block, receiving assembly instructions for assembling the first building block and the second building block to describe the process flow, and linking the first building block to the second building block in accordance with the assembly instructions. The first building block describes a first activity and a second building block describes a second activity. The first activity and the second activity correspond to portions of the process flow.

Abstract: A system for planning energy supply for energy consumers includes a first sub-system operatively associated with an energy coordinating body, such as an energy management system, and second sub-systems operatively associated with corresponding energy suppliers, such as power plants. A global communication network, such as the Internet, is employed between the first and second sub-systems. Each of the sub-systems includes an interface for exchanging energy planning information between the sub-systems and for negotiating an energy supply specification from the energy supplier to the energy consumers.

Abstract: A flexible control system and method of controlling a processing operation. The control system and method may be employed to control a high speed manufacturing system for processing articles of manufacture requiring processes to be performed on the articles at a pre-selected processing rate includes a trunk for simultaneously conveying a plurality of the articles of manufacture at the pre-selected processing rate in a first mode of motion from the beginning of the manufacturing system to the end of the system. At least one branch processing station is positioned intermediate the beginning and the end of the trunk wherein the branch processing station during its operation performs at least one process on articles of manufacture conveyed on the branch processing station and where the articles are conveyed in a second mode of motion.

Abstract: The physical movement of reticles and solder bump masks within a wafer processing plant are continually tracked and documented in a historical database for the useful life of the reticles or masks. In an example embodiment of the mask tracking method, the method includes moving the masks from one location to another in mask pods. In addition, a mask data set is generated for each mask composed of a mask identification code cross-referenced to a pod identification code and the mask data sets are processed by a computer arrangement. The mask data sets are then updated in the computer arrangement to include a facility location identification code as each mask moves to a subsequent location during wafer processing. The present invention provides the advantage that wafer lots and reticles can be matched to an event on the processing line and stored as data for later review and analysis.

Abstract: A method for configuring a specific plasma cluster tool having a plurality of modules. The method includes providing a set of module option definition files, the set of module option definition files containing generic configuration definitions for generic plasma cluster tools. The method further includes providing a set of tool-specific protection information, the set of tool-specific protection information including data that specifically identifies the particular plasma cluster tool for which the configuring is intended. The method further includes providing a set of tool-specific options specifications, the set of tool-specific options specifications specifying options that are specified for the specific plasma cluster tool. The method additionally includes generating a key file, the key file encapsulating configuration restrictions imposed on the specific plasma cluster tool, the key file being configured to be a required file in the configuring the specific plasma tool.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for processing a sample within a vacuum vessel, including: a plurality of sensors for detecting plural kinds of information relating to a processing state of the sample as monitor data; data selecting means for selecting a detection time range of the monitor data thus detected which is used for monitoring the plasma processing apparatus; a signal filter for converting the monitor data within the selected detection time range into an effective signal; a model expression unit for generating a predicted value of a patterned physical-shape of a sample based on the effective signal; and a display screen for displaying the patterned physical-shape predicted value; wherein the display screen displays the patterned physical-shape predicted value without measuring a patterned shape after processing of the sample.

Abstract: A method of using a run-to-run (R2R) controller to provide wafer-to-wafer (W2W) control in a semiconductor processing system is provided. The R2R controller includes a feed-forward (FF) controller, a process model controller, a feedback (FB) controller, and a process controller. The R2R controller uses feed-forward data, modeling data, feedback data, and process data to update a process recipe on a wafer-to-wafer time frame.

Abstract: A service receiving device is provided for in a production facility such as a component mounting apparatus. A service providing device is provided for on a manufacturer's side of the production facility. The service receiving device and service providing device are configured to communicate with each other through various communication systems including, for example, the Internet. The communication system can be operated by software to create and/or transmit service responses to problems or production matters, including productivity or quality of maintenance.