Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact motorized rotational stage for microscopy applications and control methods for automated sample orientation/rotation. The rotational stage includes a motor, a rotational motion transmission mechanism, and a rotating sample holder for accommodating a holding device such as glass slides/Petri dishes of different sizes. Mouse embryos are used as an example to explain the control methods. A pattern recognition utility was developed for identifying mouse embryo structures. The transformation between the holding device rotational coordinate frame and the translational positioning stage coordinate frame is calibrated during image-based visual servo control. The polar body of an embryo is oriented through purely image-based visual servo control or through coordinate transformation and closed-loop position control.

Abstract: A controller for mobile hydraulic equipment includes a radio receiver, hydraulic controller, and display unit. The controller further includes terminals configurable to function as a combination of analog or digital inputs or outputs according to the system requirements. A user interface included on the controller permits an operator to select a desired function for each terminal and to configure the controller according to the application requirements.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transfer robot is provided, in which method the communication time of the transfer robot can be reduced and the transfer time of a substrate can be shortened. A series of actions of the transfer robot when a substrate that is present in a processing chamber is transferred to a predetermined position in a processing chamber, are performed by a single command. The series of actions may include a swap action in which, after having taken out by a robot hand the substrate that is present in the processing chamber, a substrate that is different from the substrate is handed over by a robot hand to a predetermined position on the processing chamber.

Abstract: A vibration suppressor system includes a control system operable to control power from a power system to an actuator system in response to a minimal actuation power algorithm. The minimal actuation power algorithm employs a real electric power consumption of the actuator system as a single control objective function to suppress a vibration of the structure.

Abstract: A method includes: (a) transferring a tool to where thread cutting is to start; (b) cutting threads in work with the tool; (c) performing tool deceleration along the Z-axis and acceleration along the X-axis during a predetermined acceleration/deceleration time Ta to retract the tool along the X-axis; and (d) returning the tool to a reference point. In Step (c), to shorten the incomplete thread portion, a command is issued concurrently with the start of the acceleration/deceleration time Ta to realize a pullout speed Ve along the X-axis that exceeds an allowable maximum speed Vmax to increase the acceleration along the X-axis. The speed command for moving the tool along the X-axis is maintained at the value of zero from the elapse of command time Te until the acceleration/deceleration time Ta expires to maintain the actual speed of the tool along the X-axis at or below the allowable maximum speed Vmax.

Abstract: Instead of disposing gray water with sewage water, a gray water recycling apparatus uses a series of sensors and determines the acceptability of chemical concentrations and temperature of the gray water for use in irrigation purposes so as to ensure the recycled gray water is safe for irrigation. If it is, a three-way valve is positioned to direct the gray water to an irrigation pipe; otherwise, the three-way valve is positioned to direct the water to a public sewage system or septic tank.

Abstract: The production of a hearing aid housing shell or ear mold that can be worn in the ear should be simplified and improved. For this, a prefabricated component, such as a frame for holding an electronics module or a receiver adapter, is positioned in a rapid prototyping instrument. There, the component is integrated into the housing shell or ear mold by the subsequent production of the housing shell or ear mold. This avoids connecting the component to the housing shell or ear mold in a further method step after producing the housing shell or ear mold.

Abstract: A method and a valve arrangement are provided for electronic wear state determination of the valve arrangement for controlling a process medium flow. A valve element, which is arranged so as to move axially within a valve housing, is moved via electrically drivable linear drive means on the basis of positioning regulation. The valve element has an essentially constant drive force applied to it, and a position speed profile over the switching travel of the valve element is determined by detecting the speed as a function of the current position of the valve element. A change profile is created by comparing the determined speed profile with previous position speed profiles, as a measure of the position-dependent wear state of the valve mechanism.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling a distribution of electrical power in a power distribution network having a first power distribution region and a second power distribution region. The first power distribution region can include first primary devices that interact with first process devices, and the second power distribution region can include second primary devices that interact with second process devices a distribution controller including a standardized description of the first region. A first distribution controller can be connected to the first process devices, can control a distribution of electrical power in the first power distribution region, and can identify, following a network reconfiguration, an orphan network section that is disconnected from the first region and connected to the second region.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for generating an optimized solution for a process in a manufacturing under a set of constraints. A solution is evaluated under the set of constraints and first violation metrics and first states corresponding to one or more solution elements are generated, based on at least one constraint. At least one candidate solution is generated from the solution. Thereafter, the candidate solution is evaluated at one or more change-points and the solution elements positioned subsequent to the change points. Subsequently, the candidate solution is accepted based on the acceptance criterion. The selected candidate solution is then evaluated again a pre-defined number of times to generate the optimized solution.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for using alternate power sources to manage the power draw on a power grid may comprise: 1) identifying a need to reduce power draw on the power grid, 2) identifying an electrical device that draws power from the power grid, 3) determining that the electrical device is capable of drawing power from an alternate power source, and 4) transmitting a command that, when executed, causes the electrical device to draw power from the alternate power source. A corresponding device-side method for reducing power draw on a power grid may comprise: 1) drawing power from a power grid, 2) receiving a command to draw power from an alternate power source, and then 3) drawing power from the alternate power source. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems can receive from a database a target time at which a structureis desired to reach a target temperature. In addition, the system acquires the temperature inside the structure and the temperature outside the structure at a time prior to the target time. The systems use a thermal characteristic of the structure and a performance characteristic of the climate control system, to determine the appropriate time prior to the target time at which the climate control system should turn on based at least in part on the structure, the climate control system, the inside temperature and the outside temperature. The systems then set a setpoint on a thermostatic controller to control the climate control system.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for minimizing system power in a data processing system. A management control unit determines whether a convergence has been reached in the data processing system. If convergence fails to be reached, the management control unit determines whether a maximum fan flag is set to indicate that a fan is operating at a maximum speed. Responsive to the maximum fan flag failing to be set, a thermal threshold of the data processing system is either increased or decreased and thereby a fan speed of the data processing system is either increased or decreased based on whether the system power of the data processing system has either increased or decreased and based on whether a temperature of the data processing system has either increased or decreased. Thus, a new thermal threshold and a new fan speed are formed. The process is then repeated until convergence has been met.

Abstract: Automatic rendering of a lighting scene with a lighting system, particularly the control of the rendering. Rendering of the lighting scene by decomposing a lighting atmosphere to be rendered in elementary light effects, to classify the elementary light effects, and to coordinate the realization of the classified light effects with the lighting system. A light control system for automatically rendering the lighting atmosphere with the lighting system, wherein the light control system is adapted for decomposing the lighting atmosphere to be rendered in elementary light effects, classifying the elementary light effects into sets of light effects, and coordinating the realization of the sets of light effects with the lighting system. An automatic light control system to autonomously determining the lighting configuration settings needed by light modules of the lighting system to realize a desired lighting atmosphere while its elementary lighting effects are harmonically rendered.

Abstract: To perform a maintenance work safely by a maintenance engineer, even if the maintenance work is performed with power of a substrate processing apparatus turned-on. A substrate processing apparatus, comprising: a controller that inhibits a shift from an idling state to a standby state, when a generation of a prescribed event is detected; the controller further comprising: a shift indicating part that controls an apparatus state so as to be shifted from the idling state possible to receive an indication of execution of the recipe, being an apparatus state possible to step into the substrate processing apparatus, to the standby state possible to execute a recipe, being an apparatus state impossible to step into the substrate processing apparatus; and an event detection part that detects a generation of the prescribed event for inhibiting a shift from the idling state to the standby state and notifies the shift indicating part of the prescribed event.

Abstract: A method for injection molding an imaging optical element to be used in an optical scanning apparatus for guiding a light ray in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction. In the imaging optical element, the light ray passes through at least one optical functional surface and does not pass over the meridional line including the optical axis. The imaging optical element is injection-molded through an initial molding step and other various measurement and correction steps.

Abstract: A production system and a production method, which can change a period to delivery of products flexibly depending on a change of demand, in the case of producing a plurality of products having different specifications by mixing. A production system of plural kinds of products has a plurality of lower processes, which is capable of diverging, with respect to an upper process that can be applied common in a plurality of products. These upper process and lower process are organized by including one or a plurality of processes. A production line is constructed by a plurality of manufacturing facilities having different functions through the upper process and the lower process. Such a production system is provided with an order and delivery management system, a design management system, and a process management system.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are provided for controlling a process having computer-controlled equipment, which provide for optimized process performance according to one or more performance criteria, such as efficiency, component life expectancy, safety, emissions, noise, vibration, operational cost, or the like. The systems and methods provide for employing machine diagnostic and/or prognostic information in connection with optimizing an overall business operation over a time horizon.

Abstract: A method controls a heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining a travel time from a mobile site to a fixed site, and determining a conditioning time for a HVAC system at the fixed site. The HVAC is maintained in an ON state if the travel time is less than the conditioning time, and otherwise maintaining the HVAC in an OFF state, and wherein the conditioning time is determined using a building thermal model.

Abstract: An odor blender is provided in which a number of component odor gases may be increased without increasing the number of carrier gas containers while ensuring a single odor gas concentration is not reduced. The odor blender includes N odor containers, M less than N) carrier gas containers, a blend line leading to a blend part for blending the odor gases, a bypass line for discharging odor gases, and solenoid valves for switching the containers between the blend line and the bypass line. A computer sets the number of odor containers connected to the blend line at the same time to M or less, connects the same number of carrier gas containers to the bypass line as the number of odor containers connected to the blend line, and controls timing of connection of odor containers to the blend line based on a predetermined mixing ratio of the component odor gases.