Abstract: A method of predicting a grain condition in a directionally solidified casting, comprises generating thermal history data for a directional solidification casting process, determining a plurality of casting process variables that statistically influence a plurality of different grain conditions, identifying each grain condition by determining a function containing values of each selected variable, and categorizing the selected variables with respect to variance among and between the different grain conditions to determine a pattern between the selected variable and the grain conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable data collection device that has a variety of sensors that are interchangeable with a variety of input ports in the device. The various sensors include a data identification feature that provides information to the device regarding the type of physical data produced by each sensor and therefore the type of sensor itself. The data identification feature enables the device to locate the input port where the sensor is connected and self adjust when a sensor is removed or replaced. The device is able to collect physical data, whether or not a function of time. The sensor may also store a unique sensor identifier.

Abstract: In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electronic component is modeled. Performance of the electronic component is measured to produce a plurality of data vectors representing actual performance of the electronic component. Boundary vectors are selected from the plurality of data vectors. A density estimate is calculated for each data vector in the plurality of data vectors. A first selected number of the data vectors are partitioned from the plurality of data vectors into a partitioned group. The partitioned group includes the first selected number of data vectors from the plurality of data vectors with greatest density estimates. A second selected number of the partitioned group is selected as candidates for boundary vectors. The candidates for boundary vectors include the second selected number of the partitioned group with lowest density estimates. The boundary vectors are selected from the candidates for boundary vectors.

Abstract: In acquisition devices for analog measured values (Ue1 . . . Uen), there is frequently the problem that the digital processor (P) of said devices has a restricted binary word length (WP), as compared with the word length (WP) of the measured values in digitized form (AMD(Uen)). To permit unmodified rapid acquisition and digital conditioning of the measured values (AMD(Uen)), binary factors (NF, KF, VF) are preferably provided separately for each measured value (AMD(Uen)), said factors (NF, KF, VF) being combined (Equation 3) to form an element (K) which is processed by the processor (P) at an update rate which is lower in comparison with a sampling rate which is used to update the measured values (AMD(Uen)). As a result, the processing speed of the processor can be increased.

Abstract: A CAD apparatus includes an input device, a central processing unit, and a display device. In the CAD apparatus, the central processing unit uses an intersection/contact point calculation function to determine diagrammatical elements of points, lines, and circles which are additional elements by using the points, the lines, and the circles as fundamental elements in plotting and inputting necessary parameters to the input device, so that a macro-diagram is formed on a screen of the display device, with a diagram-forming process being performed by accumulation of constraint conditions.

Abstract: A target's magnetic dipole includes both a permanent component and an induced component that is caused by the interaction of the target at a given heading with the ambient magnetic field. In order to accurately classify targets, a library of characterization matrices is built for a plurality of candidate targets. The matrices characterize what the magnetic dipoles would be in a given ambient magnetic field at a particular heading. In practice, some localization algorithm is used to provide a target's magnetic dipole and heading. Magnetic dipoles for each of the candidate targets are predicted using the target's heading, the ambient magnetic field, and the characterization matrices. The target is then classified as the candidate target(s) providing the best match to the target's measured magnetic dipole.

Abstract: In a method for calibrating the deflection control of a laser beam a light-sensitive medium (5) is exposed to a laser beam (2) at predetermined positions for generating a test pattern (20), thereafter digitized partial pictures of pattern portions (21) of the test pattern (20) are produced and the digitized partial pictures are composed to a digitized overall picture of the test pattern (20). The correction data for the control (4) for deflecting the laser beam (2) are calculated on the basis of a comparison of actual positions of the laser beam (2) on the digitized overall picture with predetermined desired coordinates.

Abstract: A method and device for supporting the repair of defective portions of a substrate when the defective portions have been discovered during an inspection process. A recorder records defective data associated with the defective portions. A data sorter sorts the defective data by grouping together defective data relating to a same type of defect. A data indicator highlights a defective location on the substrate where the defective portions were found in an order determined by defective data relating to the same type of defect or in an order determined by defective data relating to defects requiring the same type of repair. The data indicator also indicates the type of repair required and the tools to be used in the repair of the defective portions.

Abstract: Highly accurate, self-calibrating data processors and methods for calibrating the same use internal analog references with negligible time and temperature drifts. A first input reference signal set generated by any accurate, precision analog reference is applied to a data processor. The corresponding output response is compared to the theoretical ideal output response to determine the data processor's initial gain and offset errors. This information can be stored in non-volatile memory, recalled, and used to compensate for the data processor's initial gain and offset errors during actual use of the data processor. Subsequent errors due to time and temperature drifting can be determined by comparing the output responses to a second input reference signal set which is generated by the internal analog reference. The subsequent errors can be combined with the initial errors to compensate for system errors within the data processor.

Abstract: The present invention enables a reliable radio communication between a plurality of dump trucks and loaders, improves operability, and can flexibly cope with movement of the dump truck during the loading operation. To this end, a loader selecting means (2) is provided for each dump truck, and a plurality of channels are provided for each dump truck controller (6) and each loader controller (35), the dump truck controller (6) inputs a loader selection signal from the loader selecting means (2), and selects, from a plurality of channels, a channel available for communicating with the loader controller (35) corresponding to the loader selection signal to transmit a load weight value, and the selected loader controller (35) receives the load weight value on the channel available for communications, and displays the received load weight value on a weight display means (32).

Abstract: A system (10) includes any number of Boundary-Scan integrated circuits (28), a common bus (14), and a Boundary-Scan master (22). The integrated circuits (28) include mode selection logic (58) that isolates pins (30, 32) from core logic (34) during Capture-DR, Update-DR, Run-Test/Idle, and Select-DR-Scan states (66, 88, 62, 64) when a system action instruction is active so that a system action may be asserted. During all other states, including a Shift-DR state (82), the pins (30, 32) remain coupled to the core logic (34). The Boundary-Scan master (22) includes an arbitration interface (112). The arbitration interface (112) requests control of the common bus (14) prior to the time when the integrated circuits (28) assert a system action. The Boundary-Scan master arbitration interface (112) then releases control of the common bus after system action by the integrated circuits (28) is completed.

Abstract: A weight measuring apparatus comprising a plurality of load sensors, together with an input network, a multiplexer, a reference, an analog to digital converter, and a processor, wherein the input network includes an analog summing network and direct sensor connections to the multiplexer. The multiplexer is arranged to permit measurement of the sum signal, a reference signal, and each direct load sensor signal in a prescribed sequence. The multiplexed signals are converted to digital and processed to derive a weight estimate based on the multiplexed measurements and a system error model. The prescribed measurement sequence permits measurement of the sum signal more frequently than each of the direct signals. A method is described for deriving correction factors for the error model comprising the placing of calibration weights primarily on each weight sensor and solving the system of simultaneous equations for the resulting correction factors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a utilization detector that detects when equipment undergoes at least one of a sudden motion or a slowly changing motion. In response to detecting sudden or slowly changing motion of the equipment, the utilization detector causes an hour meter or the like to accumulate time. The utilization detector includes an off delay timer for maintaining the hour meter accumulating time for a predetermined interval after the utilization detector detects the termination of sudden or slowly changing motion.

Abstract: In a video-on-demand system, a disk-less set-top box is configured to download software programs from a video server via a network. The set-top box includes a read-only memory storing a boot program, a control protocol stack, and a video protocol stack. The control protocol stack is connected to a bidirectional control channel of a circuit of the network, and the video protocol stack is connected to a unidirectional video channel of the circuit. Using a handheld remote controller, a consumer makes a request for a software program from the video server. The request is made via the control protocol stack and the control channel. The video server transmits the software program as an encoded video transport stream, which is received via the video channel and the video protocol stack. The transport stream is decoded to reconstruct the requested program in a dynamic random access memory of the set-up box from where the program can be executed in a processor of the set-top box.

Abstract: A computer implemented framework method for server benchmarking in a client server environment including a server and at least one client system is provided. The method includes the steps of: activating a benchmark manager application program; activating, by the benchmark manager, a benchmark prime program; activating, by the prime program, a system independent benchmark client program; generating, by the client program, at least one workload request to the server; and measuring the server's response to the at least one workload request.

Abstract: A disk texturing tool is used, for example, to provide textured spots in an annular portion of both sides of a disk for a hard disk drive. Disks are moved into and out of the texturing process in cassettes, through two disk-handling stations. An optical system includes a laser directed at a beamsplitter to split the laser beam into two beams having approximately power, which are directed along parallel paths through a power control optics block to expose simultaneously opposite sides of a disk to be textured. The power level of each of these two beams is controlled by a program which operates in a teach mode to develop a look up table describing laser beam power as a function of a signal driving an attenuator, in a set point mode setting this drive signal to provide a certain laser beam power, in a run mode controlling this power through a feedback loop, and in a display mode showing laser beam power as a function of time.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus (10) for acquiring measurement data from a gage (54, 62) generating a measurement signal representing a dimensional measurement includes a CPU (46) for setting a dwell range representing desired high and low limits for a value of the measurement signal, setting a dwell time representing a desired time period during which the signal value must be within the dwell range, monitoring the signal value generated by the gage at an input port (52, 60) and accumulating an elapsed time beginning when the signal value enters the dwell range, and recording the signal value in a memory (48) when the elapsed time equals the dwell time. The CPU (46) resets the elapsed time when the signal value exits the dwell range and generating an indication by activating an LED indicator (108) when the elapsed time equals the dwell time. The CPU (46) transmits the signal value to a data collection device (70) connected to an output port (68).

Abstract: For measuring electronic devices under test with a network analyzer, the electronic devices to be embedded into a linear auxiliary network during their operation, as well as, during the measurement. First, system error correction data is determined for the network analyzer according to a known calibration method by connecting calibration standards. Then, the characteristic data for the auxiliary network to be used is determined and is linked with the system error correction data to form new error correction simulation data. Finally, in the subsequent measurement of devices under test connected to the network analyzer, this error correction simulation data is appropriately considered with the algorithm for system error correction that is present in the network analyzer, so that an auxiliary network virtually connected to the device under test is simulated.

Abstract: An object inspection system including a coordinate measuring device with a touch probe for inspecting an object having one or more feature types and a computer subsystem connected to the coordinate measuring device which stores the direction of movement and the coordinates of the probe at each contact of the probe with a feature on the object. There is an algorithm which automatically determines, from the direction of movement of the probe and the coordinates, the feature type defined by the coordinates.

Abstract: A method for controlling cooling fans for variable electrical loads. A cooller monitors cooling fan output, ambient temperature and the electrical load. The controller then matches the fan speed and resulting cooling to the existing electrical load and ambient temperature. As a consequence, fan speed is maintained at a minimum necessary to sustain appropriate cooling levels. This minimizes the generation of structureborne and airflow noise.