Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a reliability status of an actuator include determining a virtual actuator load value (VALV) based on various load factor parameters of a structural system component controlled by the actuator, absent sensed load values from the actuator. A virtual output force value (VOFV) is determined based on various actuator operational control values that occur in response to a position command from a main control and monitoring system of the structural system. A virtual torque efficiency (VTE) of the actuator is calculated based on the VALV and the VOFV. The VTE of the actuator is periodically calculated as the measured load factor parameters and the measured actuator operational control values change during operation of the structural system. The VTE data is collected, stored and analyzed to monitor the reliability status of the actuator during the life of the actuator.

Abstract: A method for removing the air wave effect from offshore frequency domain controlled source electromagnetic survey data. The region of interest is modeled with (111) and without (113) a top air layer. The electromagnetic field due to the source is computed at the survey receiver positions for each source position for both models. The difference between the fields computed (116) from the two models is the air wave effect, which is then subtracted (117) from the field data for the corresponding source-receiver geometry.

Abstract: A system and a method for measuring and quantitatively analyzing the jitter in repetitive electrical signals in a chip using a tester are described. The tester sorts chips based on the jitter measurements, thereby eliminating the need for external instrumentation. The waveform is sampled by the tester at various points of a period over a large number of periods and results are collected. The data is analyzed to determine the total range where the waveform is found to undergo a transition. The transition area is further analyzed to pinpoint the precise location of the transition for each period of the repetitive waveform. The data is used to quantify the jitter by means of statistical analyses, the results of which are used by the tester to sort the chips by comparing the calculated jitter characteristics to predetermined criteria.

Abstract: The invention provides an aspherical workpiece leveling method for leveling an aspherical workpiece mounted on a tilt correction table. The method includes three-dimensionally measuring a surface of the aspherical workpiece containing an extreme value; deriving a secondary curved surface from the obtained three-dimensionally measured values to obtain an extreme value of the secondary curved surface as a temporary extreme value; obtaining three-dimensionally measured values at three or more points from the surround about the obtained temporary extreme value; obtaining a plane defined by the obtained three-dimensionally measured values at three or more points; and adjusting the tilt correction table for leveling the obtained plane.

Abstract: A digital signal processor implementation of three algorithms used to detect high impedance faults. The algorithms can be wavelet based, higher order statistics based and neural network based. The algorithms are modified to process one second of data instead of ten seconds of data and a double buffered acquisition is connected to the output of the algorithms.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus for carrying it out, for processing pulses derived from a radiation detector, those pulses having already been resolved by a pulse-height analyzer into channels having respective addresses indicative of their respective heights. The method includes steps of receiving a plurality of channel-address values from the pulse-height analyzer, averaging over a window selected ones of the channel-address values to obtain an average channel address for the selected channel-address values, and using the average channel address to increment the content of a spectrum channel. Speed and accuracy of execution of the method may be optimized if a criterion for selecting channel-address values for averaging is made variable so as to permit recycling of the channel addresses and so as to avoid counting losses.

Abstract: A seat occupant identifying apparatus for automotive occupant restraint system is provided which works to identify whether a seat occupant is an adult passenger or a child passenger. When a total output value of a plurality of seat load sensors is greater than a given adult identifying threshold value, it is determined that the seat occupant is an adult. Afterwards, when the total output value decreases below the adult identifying threshold value due to, for example, a lateral G-force acting on the seat occupant during cornering of the vehicle, and an output of either of the right and left seat load sensors is lowered below a preselected cornering threshold value, while the other output is higher than it, the latest determination that the seat occupant is an adult is kept as it is. This provides for high accuracy seat occupant identification during cornering of the vehicle.

Abstract: An inspection system for detecting anomalies on a substrate. A first network is coupled to the sensor array and communicates image data. Process nodes are couple to the first network, and process the data to produce reports. Each process node has an interface card that formats the data for a high speed interface bus that is coupled to the interface card. A computer receives and processes the data to produce the report. A second network receives the reports from the process nodes. A job manager is coupled to the second network, and receives the reports from the process nodes and sends information to the process nodes to coordinate the processing of the data in the process nodes.

Abstract: Method, computer system, and computer-readable media for formulating potential measures to increase the reliability of a technical system. The method allows at least one evaluation aid with predefined evaluation criteria, the evaluation criteria serving to evaluate measures of the technical system taking place in the context of predictive maintenance. A user, e.g. an auditor, is requested to specify an evaluation and a weighting respectively for each of the evaluation criteria. A weighted evaluation is determined from the evaluations and the weightings with the assistance of a predefined weighting rule. The weighted evaluation serves to identify a list of measures with the most important measures. The method allows an efficient evaluation of the maintenance measures practiced by a system operator and thus the formulation of potential measures for improving the reliability of the technical system.

Abstract: A method for obtaining high-quality well logging data acquired during a drilling operation includes acquiring well logging data during a pump-off period when a mud pump is turned off; and extracting a subset of data from the acquired well logging data, wherein the subset of data corresponds to a quiet period within the pump-off period, wherein the quiet period is substantially free of interference from turning the mud pump on or off.

Abstract: The invention relates to a position measuring device and a position measuring system (1) that are used to process signals (SIN, COS), which represent the displacement (8) of a scale gradation (4) relative to a signal generation unit (7). To increase the resolution of the signals (SIN, COS), output signals (SIN?, COS?), which have a higher frequency or multiplied number of signal periods in relation to the input signals (SIN, COS), are generated by the device (1). This enables evaluation units (3) that are connected downstream to record the position and speed of the scale gradation (4) more accurately. The number of signal periods is increased by the calculation of a position signal (POS) with a subsequent filtration or error correction from the input signals (SIN, COS) and by the reading of stored tables of output tables of output signals (SIN?, COS?) in accordance with the calculated position signal (POS).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use when measuring pressure in hydrocarbon wells. A sensor, an interferometric optical pressure transducer, at the end of a fibre optic line is illuminated by broadband light pulses. Measuring equipment output drives a display indicating the pressure at the sensor. The transducer is modelled by subjecting it to known pressures. The measuring equipment is modelled by applying test signals. The models are combined and a display output C is assumed. A mathematical model is used to calculate an estimation B of the actual output A from the sensor. B is compared with A and the value of C changed until the closest match is found between A and B. This value of C is taken as the output representing the pressure at the sensor. Different models and compensation factors allow for interchange of sensors and sensor types and measuring equipment and measuring equipment types.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that enables a user to sort data from one or more sample lots, which may be obtained via a network, such as the Internet, into a composite parameter structure. The composite parameter structure is a function of one or more parameters corresponding to one or more characteristics associated with one or more sample lots. The composite parameter structure representation may be printed, stored, or transmitted to another location. A server device that is coupled and working in conjunction with a client device may implement the present invention.

Abstract: A computerized system and method for benchmarking energy performance in a building are provided. The method includes receiving utility use data for the building, receiving weather data for the building, and computing a best thermodynamic break-even temperature for the building based on the utility use data and the weather data.

Abstract: The amount of risk in weather derivatives is calculated properly by taking into account a correlation between weather observation sites and a correlation between meteorological elements. A weather prediction method by creating a weather scenario from historical weather data includes a first step of estimating parameters of a weather time-series model based on historical weather data including past plural meteorological elements, a meteorological element correlation between sites, and a correlation between meteorological elements, and a second step of converting random numbers into meteorological elements based on the estimated parameters. The second step is executed a given number of times to create a plurality of weather scenarios.

Abstract: A method of resetting a substrate processing apparatus having a chamber which is capable of carrying out abnormality judgment on the substrate processing apparatus accurately without causing a decrease in the utilization ratio of the substrate processing apparatus. The chamber is evacuated. A temperature in the chamber is set. Whether or not there is an abnormality in the chamber is judged. An atmosphere in the chamber is stabilized so as to conform to predetermined processing conditions. At least one selected from data that change in response to a change in a state inside the chamber is measured. The measured data is compared with reference data that corresponds to the measured data for a normal state in the chamber.

Abstract: A physical quantity is detected by approximating a relationship between an output of a sensor and the physical quantity to be determined by the sensor by setting as coefficients of a quadratic equation a temperature characteristic of non-linearity of the sensor to the physical quantity and temperature characteristics of parameters affecting the output of the sensor. Each of the coefficients is approximated by a higher-order equation with the temperature set as an independent variable, and the temperature coefficient is stored in advance. The temperature coefficient stored in the storage unit and the real-time temperature are substituted into the higher-order equation. The achieved coefficients and the output of the sensor are substituted into the quadratic equation to calculate the actual physical quantity.

Abstract: An increased precision position sensor includes a first magnetic field sensing device; a second magnetic field sensing device; and a processor, the processor further includes a calibrator; a mathematical model to predict the magnetic field at a given position relative to the object; and an estimator algorithm to compare the measured magnetic field within the predicted magnetic field, thereby calculating the most likely position of the position sensor relative to the magnetic object. A position sensor in accordance with the invention is capable of locating the axis of a cylindrical magnetic object to within ±0.5 mm through 70 mm thick aluminium, and is expected to find application, in the aerospace industry, or other industries where high precision during manufacture is required. The invention may be conveniently embodied in a portable, handheld device.

Abstract: A method and circuit includes a means for reducing hysteresis in a system. The method includes the definition of boundary conditions relative to an incoming signal. The boundary conditions and the incoming signal are then utilized to determine a proper correction value. The hysteresis correction value is tailored to changes in the input signals. The modification occurs because the boundary conditions are changed depending on the input signal such that the correction values are constantly and continuously varied and implemented to accommodate changes in the input value. The constant accommodation and changing of the correction value provides a simple and effective hysteretic error accommodation that yields a substantially free hysteresis signal.

Abstract: A method for determining the fundamental oscillation frequency in an optical fiber during the drawing thereof from an optical preform, the oscillation of the optical fiber being measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof for the formation of a frequency spectrum using Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT), from which the fundamental oscillation frequency is determined, the method including the following steps: i) the determination of the frequency spectrum, ii) the mathematical processing of a number of spectra as determined in step i) to obtain a composite spectrum, iii) the re-determination of the spectrum, iv) the removal of the oldest spectrum from the composite spectrum, v) the mathematical processing of the spectrum according to iv) and the spectrum obtained according to iii) to obtain the composite spectrum, vi) the determination of the fundamental oscillation spectrum from the composite spectrum, vii) the repetition of steps iii)–vi).