Abstract: Control of a process in response to a process signal which is incrementally altered at periodic intervals is accomplished by performing a simulated differentiation of the process signal prior to use of the process signal as an input to a process controller.

Abstract: A steam turbine control system includes an operator panel and a digital computer which operates the turbine valves through an electrohydraulic control. Turbine speed and load signals and valve position signals are coupled to the computer for use by the computer control loops in developing valve control signals. Two separate displays are provided on the operator panel, one for the speed or load reference and the other for the speed or load demand. Dedicated pushbuttons on the panel enable certain other parameters such as acceleration or load rate or valve position limit to be displayed in the reference display, while other pushbuttons can be used to address and display in the reference or demand display general control system parameters. A mechanism is provided for entering changes into the computer for the various parameters and for displaying such changes in one of the displays.

Abstract: In a computer controlled robot system which operates to perform a sequence of steps in accordance with a program stored in the computer, the program can be altered simply and conveniently by setting certain switch registers on an operation desk and indication box. The system can be operated to change the program by an operator having no knowledge of computer programming.

Abstract: A feed rate control system for a numerical control system comprising a circuit to produce a unit movement quantity .DELTA.S and a unit feed rate .DELTA.F, a circuit to accumulate the unit feed rate .DELTA.F at each pulse of the pulse generator and to store them, a ratio calculator to obtain the ratio M of the output numerical value .SIGMA..DELTA.F to said unit movement quantity .DELTA.S, multipliers MUL.sub.1, MUL.sub.2, and MUL.sub.3 to multiply said unit movement quantity .DELTA.S, a Z-axis increment .DELTA.Z of said unit movement quantity .DELTA.S and a X-axis increment .DELTA.X, respectively, by said ratio calculator output M, and a circuit to compare the output numerical value .SIGMA..DELTA.F of the storage circuit with the unit movement quantity .DELTA.S and to produce an accumulating signal t whenever said .SIGMA..DELTA.F is larger than said .DELTA.S, said accumulating signal controlling t the feed rate of the machine tool, which is provided with a high feed rate circuit.

Abstract: A method for controlling and regulating the working cycles of a machine tool on a workpiece, including the steps of measuring the workpiece during the machining and programming the feed speed of the tool depending on another variable quantity, which foresees generating a signal responsive to the elastic strains suffered, during the machining, by the kinematic chain comprising the workpiece and the tool, as a consequence of the tool thrust. The signal is used for controlling the feed speed. An apparatus for controlling and regulating the working cycles of a machine tool including a measuring device for the measurement of the sizes of the workpiece being machined, a stepping motor, a digital counter, a digital analogue converter and adapter responsive to the position of the tool relative to a reference position, a differential amplifier, a program unit for programming the feed speed of the tool and a control unit for varying the feed speed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for applying patterning signals to electric patterning devices. Firstly, first electric signals are obtained from an object on which the original pattern is based and is displayed on a display means. Second electric signals are also displayed on said display means for defining an area of said selected pattern. The first and second signals are monitored so that said first signals can be corrected, if necessary. Third electrical signals are obtained corresponding to a portion of the first signal to be selected, and the patterning device and tools are controlled by said third electrical signals.

Abstract: Television broadcast market survey data is recorded on microfiche and displayed on a microfiche reader. The data is recorded in basic data zones each of which is reserved for a single market, such as New York, Los Angeles, Detroit or one of the hundreds of other designated market areas of the U.S.A. Each data zone is of the same size regardless of the size of the market or whether the amount of data to be stored is sufficient to fill the zone. The data is divided into several parts, such as "network program averages," "program audience averages," "time period averages," "day-part summaries" etc. A separate location is reserved within each basic data zone for each type of data, and each type of data always appears at the same location in each data zone. Each fiche is assigned a code representing a broadcast market, and is selected by operating keys on the reader device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for modifying command signals representing predetermined positions of a machine element relative a workpiece as a function of measurable unprogrammed changes in the relative position therebetween. The machine element is responsive to a servomechanism circuit which in turn responds to a control device producing the command signals to command motion of the machine element to programmed points relative to the workpiece. The servomechanism circuit produces interrupt signals for transferring the command signals thereto. A measuring circuit is responsive to the unprogrammed change in relative position between the machine element and the workpiece and is operative to produce feedback signals representing the direction and magnitude of the change in relative position. A first circuit is responsive to the measuring circuit for producing a first signal representing a current unprogrammed change in relative position with reference to a predetermined point.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape preparation system for preparing tapes used to operate numerically controlled devices such as machine tools. The preferred embodiment of the system generates punched tapes by visually dislaying and guiding an unskilled operator through the steps necessary for error-free numerical control programming. The system consists of a computer interconnected to a visual display front panel through an interface logic module. A data terminal such as a Teletype ASR 33TY, functions as a tape punch, tape reader, printer and keyboard input console for operator communication with the remainder of the system.The system computer is programmed to generate data words and address codes corresponding to the locations of a predetermined series of ordinary English messages which are stored in several visual display modules housed in the visual display front panel.

Abstract: A removable control signal is provided which varies as the product of a gain constant times the control error and has means for increasing the gain constant as a time integral of the error. The integral is reset to zero, thus making the gain constant zero, when the error crosses zero to avoid an excessive build-up of the value of the control signal as when the error fails to promptly correct itself.

Abstract: The frequency-analog desired and actual-value signals are applied to a subtractor stage, which forms the difference between the frequencies of the two signals, and this difference is superimposed on a carrier frequency. The output frequency is compared with the carrier frequency in a two-bit reversible counter, whose output is a pulse-width modulated output pulse train which forms the correction signal. A proportional component can be introduced in that the difference frequency modulates the phase of the carrier pulse train before the comparison. A subordinate control loop can be formed in that the output signal of the comparison-counter applies a reference frequency to a further reversible counter, which at the input for the other direction continuously receives the frequency-analog further actual-value signal. The output signal of the further counter may then be further processed in digital or analog form.

Abstract: A control method wherein the control signal is generated from a disturbance signal, the functional relationship between these signals being an equation based on two dead times and a first order lag and a first order lead, the ratio of the time constants of this equation being equal to the fourth power of the ratio of the time constants of the disturbance dynamics and of the control dynamics of the process to be controlled.

Abstract: A method of and system for controlling the temperature of a continuous furnace through which steel bodies are transported at a constant speed, in which the temperature is controlled so as to keep the distance from the entry port of the furnace to a position in the furnace where the furnace temperature is substantially equal to the desired delivery temperature of a steel body to be heated at a predetermined value which is determined in accordance with the dwell time, shape and size of the steel body.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for phase averaging of two phase position signals to derive a single phase position signal. The apparatus comprises phase discriminators for comparing each of the two phase position signals to the phase of the single phase position signal and a combining circuit for summing the output signals from the phase discriminators to derive an error signal when the single phase position signal is not midway between the phases of the two phase position signals. Circuitry is provided to modify the phase of the single phase position signal in response to the amplitude of the error signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the machine direction variations of a property or properties of a sheet material being processed. A scanning gauge moved back and forth across the sheet material as it is moved in the machine direction, takes measurements of the property being controlled at fixed intervals across the sheet and a true profile is computed from the measurements made. At the end of each scan of the gauge the average of all the true profile points is computed. A control variable affecting the sheet property is manipulated so as to maintain the machine direction property of the sheet at some target value as a function of the array of values comprising the true profile, the gauge readings of the sheet property and the true profile average.

Abstract: An installation for producing radiological angiographic exposures, consisting of a particularly longitudinally displaceable patient support, at least one exposure apparatus, as well as setting means for adjusting the exposure apparatus prior to commencing a series of exposures, and a program control arrangement including program cards for the control of the installation in conformance with a currently desired dynamic exposure program during the period of a series of exposures. Each program card further includes an additional region for the recording of the static exposure program, which determines the setting of the installation preceding commencement of the exposure, and wherein the program control arrangement, moreover, is constructed for effecting the sorting of the static exposure program and the corresponding setting up of the installation.

Abstract: A system automatically and continuously monitors the performance of separate servomechanisms operating in each of the axes of numerically controlled machine tools to detect when actual machining errors exceed a predetermined maximum due to any malfunction by comparing actual feedback slide velocity, .DELTA.S.sub.2 /T, (as determined by change, .DELTA.S.sub.2, in a feedback position signal, S.sub.2, over a period of time, T) with the commanded system drive velocity, V, (as determined by the difference between commanded position and position feedback signals, S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, respectively, times a gain factor, K). The difference between .DELTA.S.sub.2 /T and K (S.sub.1 -S.sub.2) is machining error which can be used to detect actual error in any axis for alarm or corrective action.

Abstract: A controlled system parameter is optimized by providing at periodic time intervals discrete adjustment steps derived from the difference, with alternating sign, between a constant component and a component which depends on the change of the control system parameter caused by the preceding adjustment step. An application of the method to a ball mill in a cement plant for optimizing its efficiency is shown.

Abstract: An image processing device for enhancing and digitizing images made up primarily of continuous parallel lines such as contour maps and fingerprints. An image is focused on a photodiode detector array and a digital logic signal is produced which is the binary representation of the portion of the image centered on the array.

Abstract: A system for controlling the spacing between a plurality of saw blades. Precise control is insured by cascading an electrical feedback system in series with a mechanical feedback system.The electrical feedback system includes a position register for recording the actual location of each saw blade, a command register for recording the desired position of each saw blade, a comparator for generating an error signal corresponding to the difference between the actual and desired saw positions, and a stepper motor responsive to the error signal. The stepper motor drives a control shaft having a shaft encoder secured thereto which feeds pulses back to increment or decrement the position register, thereby synchronizing the contents of the position register to the actual position of the stepper motor.