Abstract: This invention provides a process control simulator configured to efficiently debug a plant control system. A computer stores simulated data generated by a model executing part to a time-series memory area. A programmable controller stops input from the input-device interface when there is a virtual input/output request received. A virtual input/output processor sets simulated data from a time-series memory area of the computer to a time-series memory area of the programmable controller. A program executing part sets simulated data from the time-series memory area to a memory area at the same resolution as an arithmetic operation period of program execution and executes the program. Control output as a result of the execution is fed back to the model executing part of the computer, and the computer calculates simulated data as process value at this timing, and stores the data to its time-series memory area.

Abstract: A synthetic air jet cooling system includes a first component. A fan is in fluid communication with the first component. A synthetic air jet is located adjacent the first component. A thermal management engine is coupled to the first component, the fan, and the synthetic air jet. The thermal management engine is operable to receive a first component operating condition, compare the first component operating condition to a target operating condition, and increase a fan fluid flow rate from the fan and a synthetic air jet fluid flow rate from the synthetic air jet in order to reduce the difference between the first component operating condition the target operating condition. The thermal management engine increases the synthetic air jet fluid flow rate from the synthetic air jet to a predetermined synthetic air jet fluid flow rate prior to increasing the fan fluid flow rate from the fan in order to provide improvements in power consumption, airflow, and acoustics.

Abstract: System and method for performing industrial control. A vision engine operable to execute vision functions to control a vision element in response to received asynchronous commands is stored on a vision system. An application programming interface (API) that provides access to the vision engine is stored. The API includes multiple function blocks operable to be included in an industrial control application, and executable to send the asynchronous commands to the vision engine. The application is created, including inserting at least one function block of the API into the application. The application is executed on a programmable controller, including executing the function block to send a corresponding asynchronous command to the vision engine. The vision engine performs a vision function corresponding to the function block in response to the asynchronous command, and sends resultant data to the industrial control application, which stores the resultant data.

Abstract: Determining a node path through a node graph includes modifying the node graph in accordance with a predetermined platform performance, performing a path finding process through the node graph to obtain the node path, determining if the platform performance has changed, adjusting the node graph to compensate for a change in the platform performance, and re-performing the path finding process through the adjusted node graph to obtain the node path.

Abstract: The invention provides control systems and methodologies for controlling a process having one or more motorized pumps and associated motor drives, 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. More particularly, the subject invention provides for employing machine diagnostic and/or prognostic information in connection with optimizing an overall business operation over a time horizon.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interacting with and customizing a dynamically extensible and automatically configurable BAS. In one embodiment, the BAS includes a plurality of end devices, at least one communication network, a protocol-independent server engine, and a user interface. User customization options are presented by and accomplished through a graphical user interface. In addition to providing a portal through which users may access, manage, and customize the BAS, the user interface itself is customizable in accordance with and complimentary to the dynamic extensibility of the system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for a mechanical-hydraulic system having a degree of freedom per hydraulic actuator which is embodied as a control path, and a measuring sensor which is used to measure the pressure ph of a hydraulic cylinder and a measuring sensor which is used to measure the position xh of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder. A control unit which can receive input variables of hydraulic pressure ph, and hydraulic actuator position xh, is provided. An observer, which determines the desired pressure of the hydraulic system and the speed vh of the hydraulic actuator, is implemented in the system. The desired pressure in the control element is taken into account in the set of rules of the control element and the speed vh of the hydraulic actuator can be over-ridden for attenuating the control element.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling the consumption of electrical energy and for warning a consumer of the status of their use including subsystem that produces three warning levels. The first warning is a visual signal while the second signal is an audio signal. The third signal is an audio signal louder than the second signal to warn a consumer that their supply of power will be interrupted in a given amount of time. The third signal also includes a timer to indicate that the power will be discontinued within a number of minutes. The system also includes an internal electric current restoration unit for reconnecting the supply of power when a preselected period of time has passed or power has been reduced to a preselected level before being interrupted.

Abstract: An apparatus polishes an object material such as a film on a substrate. This apparatus includes a polishing table for holding a polishing pad having a polishing surface, a motor configured to drive the polishing table, a holding mechanism configured to hold a substrate having an object material to be polished and to press the substrate against the polishing surface, a dresser configured to dress the polishing surface, and a monitoring unit configured to monitor a removal amount of the object material. The monitoring unit is operable to calculate the removal amount of the object material using a model equation containing a variable representing an integrated value of a torque current of the motor when polishing the object material and a variable representing a cumulative operating time of the dresser.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for the inductor/transformer is disclosed. A simulator is used to simulate the inductance, the quality factor, and the self-resonance frequency of said inductor/transformer to generate at least one group of the area size, the number of the conductive layer, the line width, the number of turns, and/or the line space of the conductive layers and the first conductive layer; the inductor/transformer is manufactured according to the factors. Thereafter, the Monte-Carlo simulation is used to initiate the process variability analysis of the factors of the conductive layer and the first conductive layer, and the geometric size of the inductor/transformer can be modulated according to the results of the process variability analysis during the manufacturing process, such that the inductor/transformer can be manufactured by the process of the generic logic circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interacting with and customizing a dynamically extensible and automatically configurable building automation system (BAS). In one embodiment, a graphical user interface (GUI) of the BAS comprises a building summary pages. The invention is also directed to a space summary page and an equipment summary page.

Abstract: In a control loop for regulating a combustion process in a plant (e.g., a power-generating plant, a waste incineration plant or a cement works) having a controlled system for converting material by way of the combustion process while supplying air, with at least one flame body being formed, and having at least one observation device for imaging the flame body, other sensors for determining the input data, at least one adjustment device that can be controlled by output data for supplying at least material and/or air, and a computer for evaluating the input data in relation to target values and for determining the output data by using a current process model, the computer has a feature extraction module that extracts features from the input data using an information measure. The features are informative for the target values, and are for use in an alternative process model.

Abstract: A method or apparatus automatically configures a control module for synchronous execution on a Fieldbus segment of a process control network by determining if all of the critical function blocks of a particular control module can be assigned to FOUNDATION® Fieldbus field devices or to the I/O device associated with a particular Fieldbus segment. If so, the method or apparatus automatically assigns the function blocks of the control module, which would otherwise be scheduled to execute in a controller, to the I/O device for the Fieldbus segment. This technique enables all of the critical or necessary function blocks within the control module to execute in one macrocycle of the Fieldbus segment, thereby executing synchronously on a Fieldbus segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a calculating unit, whereon at least one part of the signals and a marking relating to the quality of the signals and an attribute relating to a current transmission frequency of the marking are attributed. The inventive signal also comprises a marking relating to the quality of the signals thereof, and an attribute relating to a current transmission frequency of the marking.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method comprising a plurality of activities comprising via a graphical editor running on a Human Machine Interface comprising a first embedded operating system, providing a plurality of set points related to a process to a programmable logic controller. The method can comprise, via the programmable logic controller, automatically controlling the process responsive to information received from the graphical editor.

Abstract: Modelling of industrial processes is simplified with the use of Mixed Logical Dynamic (MLD) framework. Optimal control problems can be generated for application to industrial processes. For example, two arbitrarily connected MLD blocks are automatically merged to obtain one composite MLD block. Via a repeated use of the procedure, any arbitrarily complex system containing the complete description of an industrial process can be generated from the simplest MLD building blocks. The optimal control problem is generated via adding an MLD block whose unique output becomes the cost functional of the problem. In a graphical environment, any specific industrial process may be reproduced by instantiating blocks from a library of basic MLD elements or atomic MLD blocks and by properly connecting them. In case an appropriate library is available, this process will not require any expert knowledge from the end user apart from the ability to build the graphical interconnections mentioned.

Abstract: A system and method for toolpath creation is provided. The method includes exporting CAD defined 3-D geometry to a slicing module; slicing the 3-D geometry creating a set of 2-D patterns representing the 3-D geometry; generating vector code from the set of 2-D patterns; and translating the vector code to machine code.

Abstract: A mechanical part useful in various fields of application including plastic and metal processing is produced using a computer-aided design process including a preliminary break-down of the body of the part into elementary strata, followed by manufacture of the elementary strata, and reconstruction of the part. During break-down of the part, at least one fluid transport circuit, which is designed and modeled beforehand, is broken down into elementary chambers (20) in accordance with the break-down of the part. The elementary chambers are produced in the elementary strata (7i) forming the part during manufacture of the strata, and the fluid transport circuit is reconstructed during superposition and assembly of the strata.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interacting with and customizing a dynamically extensible and automatically configurable building automation system (BAS). In one embodiment, a graphical user interface (GUI) of the BAS comprises a BAS summary page, at least one building summary page, at least one building space page, at least one end device page, and at least on subsystem page. The invention is also directed to methods for creating pages for a GUI of a BAS.