Abstract: Poorly matched electrical power systems (e.g., those with a poor power factor and crosstalk interference) that create a high transient demand for power result in unnecessarily high power bills. High transient demand for power may be decreased, and power bills thereby reduced, by placing an energy storage element near the entity's power input, thereby reducing crosstalk. The energy storage element may comprise a plurality of de-tuned capacitors. A reactive element may be placed in series with the energy storage element to repress high-frequency harmonics and to reduce electrical noise. The energy storage element and/or the reactive element may be configurable. A control module may reconfigure the system responsive to measurements obtained at the entity and/or user commands received over a network or at the module itself.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling a PLC output signal. The method includes receiving the PLC digital output signal and interpolating a gradient of the PLC digital output signal by applying a nonlinear correction function to the received PLC digital output signal. The embodiment provides a stable output control apparatus and a stable output control method capable of allowing an external device controlled by a PLC to smoothly output a response and a PLC output is gradually changed to prevent the external device to be controlled from being malfunctioned or broken.

Abstract: The invention relates to a server connected to a network on which a database application is running for collecting and managing data. The server is connected to several machine tools and has means for receiving identification data and/or identification data and/or operating parameters and/or dynamic information items with respect to the tools. Static information about the tools are stored in the database, and the server processes the received data, parameters and information items to generate updated information about the tools.

Abstract: A building control network may have a first central device, a second central device and one or more peripheral devices. An illustrative method may include placing the second central device into an associate mode, and sending an associate command from a perimeter device to associate the perimeter device with the second central device. The associate command may be received by the first central device. The first central device may send one or more commands to the second central device, where the one or more commands may cause the second central device to be taken out of its associate mode and to reconfigure the second central device to a perimeter device. The first central device may then be put in an associate mode, and both the second central device and the perimeter device may be associated as perimeter devices with the first central device.

Abstract: A method for the characterization of a sheet metal forming product uses the correlation of material flow data to a priori calculated or measured data. It determines whether the product falls within the acceptable production limits in terms of quality, areas of potential defects and an approximation of the process parameters prevailing during its production. The characterization is performed in real-time during production, tool deployment or try-out. The method includes the steps of: providing physical dimensions of an actual sheet metal part; a feature extractor computing, from these physical dimensions, a measured material flow metric representative of the geometry of the part after the forming operation; and a matching unit determining, from reference data and the measured material flow metric, a matching forming operation data set whose associated simulated material flow metric most closely matches the measured material flow metric.

Abstract: A method and system is provided that includes a setpoint monitor in communication with a controller that operates equipment according to setpoint values, each setpoint value having an associated benchmark value. The setpoint monitor receives setpoint modifications based on communication with the controller, each setpoint modification corresponding to a modification of a setpoint value to a modified value different from the associated benchmark value. A terminal in communication with the setpoint monitor displays the setpoint modifications and receives input to revert a setpoint modification from the modified value back to the associated benchmark value. The setpoint monitor communicates with the controller to revert the setpoint value associated with the setpoint modification from the modified value back to the associated benchmark value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling operation of a machine, the method comprising: scanning a smart label, the smart label affixed to a container containing a composition to be applied by the machine; automatically adjusting controls of the machine based on information contained in the smart label; and causing application of the composition from the machine to a field according to the adjusted controls.

Abstract: The adaptive pitch control system for wind generators is utilized in variable speed doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) systems. An adaptive neural network generates optimized controller gains for pitch control. The pitch controller parameters are generated using intelligent differential evolution, a type of genetic algorithm. A back propagation neural network is trained using the generated pitch controller parameters, thereby tuning the weights of the network according to the system states in a variable wind speed environment.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing and controlling multiple automation components coupled via a building automation network. The computer implemented method includes receiving, via the building automation network, a first operational schedule from a first automation device where the first operational schedule is formatted according to a first protocol, receiving, via the building automation network, a second operational schedule from a second automation device where the second operational schedule is formatted according to a second protocol, converting the received second operational schedule from the second protocol to the first protocol, generating a unified schedule that includes the first operational schedule and the converted second operational schedule, and displaying the unified schedule in a user accessible manner.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and device control method for the same are disclosed. The device control method for a mobile terminal having a touch screen, includes: downloading, during registration of a device capable of short-range wireless communication operating in a short-range communication mode, a user interface (UI) of the device; finding a list of registered devices, displaying the found list, selecting a device from the displayed list, calling the selected device, and connecting to the selected device; and displaying a device UI of the connected device on the touch screen, and controlling the connected device through the displayed device UI according to a touch operation. Electronic devices within a range can be easily and accurately controlled using a mobile terminal having a touch screen. In particular, the use of a user interface downloaded from an electronic device enables easy control of full functions of the device, enhancing user convenience.

Abstract: An electrical outlet, an electrical outlet cover for use with an electrical outlet and methods of identifying a grid connection point for bill processing of a charging event and managing energy services are disclosed. The electrical outlet cover includes a cover unit having a receptacle opening configured to align with a receptacle of the electric outlet and an identification unit configured to present a unique identification that is associated with the electrical outlet. In an embodiment, a method includes establishing an identity tag at a grid connection point (GCP) that unique identifies the GCP, receiving identity tag information to uniquely identify the GCP and monitoring charge event information indicating attributes of the charging event. The method further includes associating the charge event information with the identity tag information, as associated information; and sending the associated information for reconciliation of billing accounts associated with the GCP and the mobile charging device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a positioning mechanism comprising a smaller scale positioning mechanism for moving a tool within a smaller scale work space and a larger scale positioning mechanism for changing a position of the smaller scale work space within the larger scale work space. A commanded position for the tool is received by a processor unit. An error component is determined using a difference between the commanded position and a current position of the tool in the larger scale work space. A restoring component configured to move the tool toward a selected position in the smaller scale work space is determined. Control signals for controlling the smaller scale positioning mechanism and the larger scale positioning mechanism together to move the tool from the current position to the commanded position are generated using the error component and the restoring component.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes a participation history and historical consumption values for each customer for participating in at least one demand response event. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and is programmed to select at least one customer from the plurality of customers by considering the participation history and the historical consumption values for each of the customers. The processor is also programmed to estimate a future reduction in energy consumption for the customer based on the customer data and to determine whether the estimated future reduction in energy consumption is substantially accurate.

Abstract: A system and method of automatically calculating boundaries for a semiconductor fabrication process. The method includes selecting a first parameter for monitoring during a semiconductor fabrication process. A first set of values for the first parameter are received and a group value of the first set is determined. Each value in the first set of values is normalized. A first weighting factor is selected based on a number of values in the first set. The embodiment also includes generating a first and a second boundary value as a function of the weighting factor, the first set normalized values and the group value of the first set and applying the first and second boundary values to control the semiconductor fabrication process.

Abstract: In a fan control method, consecutive temperature values are acquired at a time interval. Whether a current temperature value is higher than a threshold is determined. A difference between the current temperature value and a previous temperature value is calculated when the current temperature value is higher than the threshold. A fan is speeded up and the time interval is greatly shortened when the temperature difference is higher than a first trigger value. Only the time interval is slightly shorten when the temperature difference falls between the first trigger value and a second trigger value less than the first trigger value. Nothing to do when the temperature difference falls between the second trigger value and a third trigger value less than the third trigger value. The fan is slowed down and the time interval is extended when the temperature difference is lower than the third trigger value.

Abstract: System(s), apparatus(es) and method(s) are provided for to managing and developing an industrial system included in the industrial environment. Intelligence related to a configuration of the industrial system is collected and processed to generate information related to operational condition(s) of the industrial system. Intelligence can be collected actively or passively: In active collection, a platform that collects the intelligence retrieves configuration record(s) from the industrial system, whereas in passive collection, the platform received one or more configuration records from the industrial automation system. Collected intelligence is cast into a set of configuration units that defines industrial system and functionality thereof. In addition, a set of services configured to convey specific functionality associated with at least one configuration unit is composed.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that improves the under frequency response of gas turbines by providing a fast-response power augmentation system. The system includes a tank storing a blended mixture of motive fuel such as ethanol or methanol and demineralized water in a predetermined ratio that is provided as a diluent to be injected into the compressor bellmouth, the Compressor Discharge Chamber (CDC), and/or the combustion system via one to three dedicated circuits. To achieve the instantaneous injection of the diluent at the correct pressure and for the appropriate duration to meet the needs of the gas turbine Grid compliance mandate, an accumulator is used as the motive force to drive the augmentation fluid in the dedicated circuits. The injected diluent is microprocessor controlled to either be simultaneous into all three circuits or is sequenced based on a determination of the best turbine control and performance.

Abstract: A safety controller for controlling an automated installation in accordance with a user program has a plurality of control components. At least some of the control components have a respective data bus interface. The data bus interface is designed to receive and send data. The safety controller also has a data bus to which the plurality of control components are connected via the respective data bus interfaces for the purpose of interchanging data. A configuration interface is designed to receive configuration data ascertained on the basis of association data generated by a programming tool. The configuration data determine at least one characteristic of the data bus or of at least one data bus interface.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling a load generated by a power generating system may include controlling at least a portion of the system using model-based control techniques. The model-based control techniques may include a dynamic matrix controller (DMC) that receives a load demand and a process variable as inputs and generates a control signal based on the inputs and a stored model. The model may be configured based on parametric testing, and may be modifiable. Other inputs may also be used to determine the control signal. In an embodiment, a turbine is controlled by a first DMC and a boiler is controlled by a second DMC, and the control signals generated by the first and the second DMCs are used in conjunction to control the generated load. Techniques to move the power generating system from Proportional-Integral-Derivative based control to model-based control are also disclosed.

Abstract: H-infinity optimization techniques may be automated for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) control problems. In one implementation, a model may be received, where the model includes a plant portion that models elements that are to be controlled and a controller portion that models elements used to control the plant portion, the plant and controller portions of the model interacting with each other in a MIMO feedback configuration. Identification of tunable elements of the controller portion of the model may also be received. Requirements, relating to constraints of open or closed loop transfer functions of the model may also be received. Values for the adjustable parameters of the tunable elements may be calculated, where the calculation may be performed using non-smooth H-infinity optimization techniques and the calculation may be based on the model, the identification of the tunable elements, and the one or more requirements.