Abstract: Deformation of a substrate due to one or more processing steps is determined by measuring substrate alignment data at lithographic processing steps before and after the one or more processing steps. Any abnormal pattern in the alignment data differential is identified by comparing the calculated alignment data differential with previous data accumulated in a database. By comparing the abnormal pattern with previously identified tool-specific patterns for alignment data differential, a processing step that introduces the abnormal pattern and/or the nature of the abnormal processing can be identified, and appropriate process control measures can be taken to rectify any anomaly in the identified processing step.

Abstract: A method for initializing a power inverter of a photovoltaic system includes: opening an AC mains switch and a DC switch to disconnect the power inverter from an electrical grid and to disconnect a capacitor bank associated with the inverter from a solar cell array; closing the AC mains switch to allow power to flow from an electrical grid to the DC capacitor bank to charge the DC capacitor bank; monitoring the DC capacitor bank until a desired voltage is reached; initiating the operation of the power inverter; stabilizing the DC voltage received from the DC capacitor bank at a predetermined power up voltage for the power inverter; waiting for an inverter initialization period to elapse; and adjusting DC voltage received by the power inverter to a voltage associated with a maximum power output level of the solar cell array.

Abstract: A numerical control device controls a machine tool that includes a turret to which a tool is attached, the turret being configured to move along an X-axis and rotate on an H-axis, and further includes a workpiece rotatable on a C-axis. There is no direct movement of the machine tool along a Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis. The numerical control device includes an analyzer that analyzes a y-axis rapid-traverse command in a Y-axis interpolation mode; a C-axis interpolation processor that interpolates a C-axis rotation angle range in response to the analyzed Y-axis rapid-traverse command; and an X-axis interpolation processor that interpolates an X-axis position based on the interpolated C-axis rotation angle range, where the numerical control device rotates the C-axis movement at a constant velocity during the entire C-axis rotation angle range, and accelerates an X-axis velocity of the turret accordingly, to thereby perform an operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems provided for creating a scalable building block for a virtual power plant, where individual buildings can incorporate on-site renewable energy assets and energy storage and optimize the acquisition, storage and consumption of energy in accordance with a value hierarchy. Each building block can be aggregated into a virtual power plant, in which centralized control of load shifting in selected buildings, based on predictive factors or price signals, can provide bulk power for ancillary services or peak demand situations. Aggregation can occur at multiple levels, including developments consisting of both individual and common renewable energy and storage assets. The methods used to optimize the system can also be applied to “right size” the amount of renewable energy and storage capacity at each site to maximize return on the capital investment.

Abstract: A control system may be switched between a Pseudo-Derivative Feedforward (PDFF) control manner and a Proportional Integral (PI) control manner. The control system includes a first operational element, a second operational element, a feedback proportion controller, an integrator, and a feedforward proportion controller. The first operational element and the second operational element are used to perform calculation of addition or subtraction on an input signal, a feedback signal, and a feedforward signal. The integrator generates an integral signal. The feedback proportion controller generates a feedback proportion signal according to a first feedback gain or a second feedback gain. The feedforward proportion controller generates a feedforward proportion signal according to a first feedforward gain or a second feedforward gain.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a manufacturing process monitoring system for monitoring anomaly in a manufacturing process for products, the system includes an information storage section, a selection information section, a reference space formation section and a monitoring section. The information storage section is configured to store previously collected data. The selection information section is configured to create information used in classifying the data stored in the information storage section. The reference space formation section is configured to form a reference space based on data subjected to anomaly monitoring acquired in the manufacturing process and the data classified by the information from the data stored in the information storage section. The monitoring section is configured to monitor anomaly of the data subjected to anomaly monitoring based on the reference space.

Abstract: A digital control device for a parallel PMOS transistor board, includes: an operative memory for digitally storing error data between a target voltage and a setpoint voltage as well as control data, each datum being provided with a time marker, a digital selected order filter (36) for computing setpoint incrementation data from error data in the operative memory selected based on input error data, and for storing the input error data with a corresponding time marker in the operative memory, and a control computer (38) for computing new control data from the control incrementation data and control data in the operative memory selected based on input error data and for storing the new control data in the operative memory.

Abstract: A control device includes: an input portion for inputting a process signal transmitted from a plant; a numerical processing part for outputting a Boolean value evaluating normal/abnormal of the process signal by a numerical processing based on a program; and a logical processing part for a logical processing of the Boolean value based on a logic circuit and then outputting a control signal related a safety protection operation of the plant.

Abstract: In a case in which a local solution to current-voltage characteristics is generated by way of a partial shade, it has been difficult to perform control for causing a solar cell to operate at a maximum power point efficiently in terms of power and at a low cost. During steady state operation, an MPPT control unit 1 for performing the normal hill climbing method is selected, and if the change amount of the output current of the solar cell is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, an MPPT control unit 2 for increasing the variation width of the output voltage of the solar cell to greater than the hill climbing method is selected. By way of such control, it is possible to achieve both efficient operation in a steady state and avoidance of a local solution to a partial shade at a low cost.

Abstract: Rough machining of a workpiece is performed by a numerically controlled machine tool using an adaptive toolpath technique. Material removal rate and machine efficiency are increased by forming a pre-roughing slot in the workpiece along medial axes, and machining the remainder of the workpiece using a toolpath that begins inside the pre-roughing slot and spirals outwardly in smooth curves.

Abstract: Systems and methods of analyzing the performance of a conservation system for improving the performance of an electrical power delivery system are disclosed. In one implementation, the system receives first observation information indicative of the performance of the conservation system in a first mode, and second observation information indicative of the performance of the conservation system in a second mode. The system generates a first model of the performance of the conservation system in the first mode based on the first observation information, and a second model of the performance of the conservation system in the second mode based on the second observation information. The system determines first controlled performance information indicative of the performance of the conservation system in the first mode based on the first model, and second controlled performance information indicative of the performance of the conservation system in the second mode based on the second model.

Abstract: A method aspect for removing heat from a data center may use liquid coolant cooled without vapor compression refrigeration on a liquid cooled information technology equipment rack. The method may also include regulating liquid coolant flow to the data center through a range of liquid coolant flow values with a controller-apparatus based upon information technology equipment temperature threshold of the data center.

Abstract: A method for cooling a data center having a plurality of racks and an adjustable cooling system includes the following steps. A minimum and maximum temperature is set for each of the racks. A temperature of each of the racks is determined based on i) a rate R(t) at which the chilled air at a temperature Tc is introduced to each of the racks and ii) a rate R at which warm air from each of the racks at a temperature T is returned to the cooling system. The cooling system is adjusted to add cooling or to reduce cooling to the data center. The determining and adjusting steps are repeated at a predetermined time interval to achieve and maintain the temperature of each of the racks to be greater than or equal to the minimum temperature and less than or equal to the maximum temperature.

Abstract: A unit commitment problem is solved for a set of generators with a set of configurations having a set of 2N.T schedules, wherein N is a number of generators i and T is a number of decision time steps. A reduced set of configurations is determined, and then a functional metric to measure a similarity of all possible pairs of the configurations is defined. Dynamic programming is applied to the reduced set of configurations using the similarity metric to determine an optimal configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system of networked PV panels, wherein each panel is coupled to a small capacity battery capable of storing electricity produced by the panels, wherein each battery is configured to randomly and isolatedly discharge its stored electricity into the power grid at a time before the battery reaches its capacity.

Abstract: A modular manufacturing system and methods of using are provided. The modular manufacturing system includes a plurality of manufacturing heads that perform different manufacturing processes. These heads may include multi-axial machining heads, fiber placement heads including fiber tow and fiber tape lay-up heads. The heads are fixably attachable to a single positioning system that can manipulate the various heads along a plurality of different degrees of freedom relative to a tool or material blank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the cooling of a moving metal belt (B) in a cooling section of a continuous processing line by spraying a liquid or a mixture consisting of a gas and a liquid onto the belt, the cooling depending on parameters including the temperature, speed, and current characteristics of a cooling liquid, wherein according to said method: one or more areas are determined in which cooling parameters are such that the local removal of a vapor film on the surface of the hot belt is carried out or capable being carried out, leading to the redampening of the belt; and at least the temperature of the cooling liquid is adjusted as a cooling parameter in the thus-determined area(s) so as to maintain, or return to, a cooling into a vapor film on the surface of the belt.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling at least one machining device which is coupled to a machine tool by means of an encoder signal, the machine tool having at least one motion control device. In order to improve the accuracy of the encoder connection, at least one additional variable which characterizes the transport is digitally transmitted from the motion control device to the at least one machining device and is used to correct the encoder signal.

Abstract: A motion control interface device includes an FPGA configured to implement a step generation algorithm that generates step control signals for a motion device. The signals are not determined based directly on time, but instead are determined from the position of the motion device. More particularly, the step generation algorithm operates to keep track of a position fraction based on the position. The position fraction is incremented (or decremented) at each clock tick of the FPGA. The algorithm generates rising edge signals when the position fraction crosses a particular threshold value, referred to as the rising edge threshold value. Similarly, the algorithm signals direction changes when the position fraction crosses a threshold referred to as the direction change threshold value.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems that facilitate the design, production and/or measurement tasks associated with manufacturing and other processes. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an understanding of how the multiple characteristics of a given process output are related to each other and to process inputs. This knowledge facilitates a reduction in measurement costs. It also facilitates an understanding of the sometimes complex interrelationships between design targets, design tolerances, process inputs, process control variables, average process output and variation in the process output. As discussed in more detail below, embodiments of the present invention facilitate 1.) determination of design target values, 2.) determination of design specification limits, 3.) design of process inputs, 4.) determination of process control variable settings, and/or 5.) reduction of measurement costs.