Abstract: A computer-implemented apparatus and method for coordinating paint-related process steps of at least one paint-related facility. The paint-related process steps exhibit paint-related characteristics. A data acquisition module is provided for acquiring paint characteristic data indicative of the paint-related characteristics. A paint process control data structure is provided for interrelating the acquired paint characteristic data with at least two of the paint-related process steps to produce interrelated paint process control data. A paint process control coordinator is connected to the data acquisition module for storing the acquired paint characteristic data in the paint process control data structure. A data display is connected to the paint process control data structure for remotely receiving and viewing the interrelated paint process control data.

Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of ophthalmic microsurgical instruments connected thereto. The microsurgical instruments are for use by a user such as a surgeon in performing ophthalmic surgical procedures. The system includes a data communications bus and a user interface connected to the data communications bus. The user interface provides information to the user and receives information from the user which is representative of operating parameters of the microsurgical instruments. The system also includes surgical modules connected to and controlling the microsurgical instruments as a function of at least one of the operating parameters. The surgical modules are also connected to the data communications bus. The data communications bus provides communication of data representative of the operating parameters between the user interface and the surgical modules.

Abstract: An electronic device employed in a system where packets are sent and received between a plurality of electronic devices connected by a bus, with a bias voltage not being outputted to the bus in a first operating mode operated in from when a power supply is thrown until an internal initialization process is complete and a bias voltage is outputted to the bus in a second operating mode operated in after the initialization process is complete so that communication system hang-ups at the time of throwing the power supply can be avoided.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage unit includes: a first PROM; a second PROM for storing parity data based on data stored in the first PROM; an error detecting circuit for detecting an error in read data outputted from the first PROM on the basis of the parity data outputted from the second PROM to generate an error detection signal; an error correcting circuit for outputting the data read out from the first PROM as it is when no error detection signal is supplied thereto, and for outputting error corrected data when the error detection signal is supplied thereto; a specific-mode detecting circuit for generating a specific-mode detection signal when detecting a specific mode; and a different-data generating means for generating data different from data outputted from the error correcting circuit as output data when both of the error detection signal and the specific-mode detection signal are generated.

Abstract: An automatic programming apparatus comprises a machining unit preparing section for preparing plural machining units, a machining unit defining section for selecting a designated machining unit from the prepared machining units and designating the arrangement and size of the machining area of the selected machining unit, and an machined material creating section for creating a shape with the machining area shape removed from the material shape. The automatic programming apparatus and method for an NC machine which can easily create a machining program in complicated machining and also create a correct program quickly in complicated machining by trial and error.

Abstract: Data are coded with a first error correcting code to produce first coded bits. Control data are coded using a heavily redundant second error corrected code and added modulo 2 to the first coded bits. Decoding is performed by ascertaining which valid codeword of the second code (when added to the received codeword) gives the lowest error count when the resultant is decoded according to the first code.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for simulating and optimizing a plant model. The plant model having a multiplicity of equipment models for a desired processing plant and a multiplicity of local property models for the material components within the plant includes providing a set of initial values for each property model in a data storage area. A first set of coefficients in each property model is determined. A set of equations representing the equipment models and property models, wherein the property models having a complementarity formulation, are executed simultaneously by the digital processor by using the first set of coefficients to determine a second set of coefficients in each property model. The second set of coefficients are stored in the data storage area.

Abstract: In a machine tool, a component such as a grinding wheel acts on a workpiece to form the latter into a circularly asymmetric shape, for example, a crankpin. Movement of the grinding wheel is controlled by a control signal which is derived from theoretical relative positions and positional velocities of the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece. In the course of at least one revolution of the workpiece, the respective positions of the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece are measured for each of a succession of angular positions of the workpiece. The measured positions are compared with corresponding theoretical positions and data indicative of any differences are stored, and then used to modify the control signal during a subsequent revolution of the workpiece so as to compensate for any of said differences and thereby reduce the magnitude of any error which would have resulted from the measured positional differences.

Abstract: The static pressure within an air-supported structure is monitored and controlled in accordance with monitored environmental conditions. The static pressure is kept at the minimum value required to maintain the structures's integrity, thereby using a minimum amount of energy. As outside wind velocity incrementally increases, the static pressure is increased incrementally. Under certain weather conditions such as high winds and frozen precipitation, the static pressure is increased to a maximum limit. As a safety feature, a secondary inflation device is activated to assist a primary inflation device to quickly increase pressure in the structure in response to a sudden loss in pressure.

Abstract: A logic controller apparatus for solving ladder logic includes first memory locations for storing representations of the ladder logic and second memory locations for storing a plurality of input and output digital logic signals. A processor employs at least some of the digital logic signals for solving the representations of the ladder logic. A representation of ladder logic power flowing from a power rail to a neutral rail flows in a forward direction from a first port to a second port of at least one of a plurality of ladder functional devices, such as contacts. The contacts are organized in a plurality of rows which include at least one of the contacts. The ladder logic power representation also flows in a reverse direction from the second port to the first port of at least another one of the functional devices.

Abstract: A position control system, capable of correcting the positional deviation between mechanically related control axes. The position control system comprises a structural body having a Y-shaft supported by a fixed member so that two end portions can move in a vertical direction and a main shaft provided in this shaft so that it can move in a horizontal direction, servo motors for driving the two end portions, a servo motor for driving the main shaft, and a control device for performing the servo control of the servo motors. The control device adjusts the positions of the two end portions of the Y-shaft in accordance with the position of the main shaft with respect to the Y-shaft at the position control to correct the positional deviation from the target position of the main shaft in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A control program generating apparatus for generating a control program, comprises means for storing a plurality of control filter components corresponding to a plurality of partial specifications, respectively; priority designation means for designating the priority of each of the partial specifications, and generating means for combining the control filter components corresponding to a plurality of the partial specifications on the basis of the priority designated by the priority designation means.

Abstract: A data-driven method and system are provided for predicting limit cycle oscillations such as chatter to obtain a classifier signal which, in turn, may be utilized by a control method and system. The method and system utilize newly-developed algorithms based on Teager algorithm which are applied to "vibration" data to predict when chatter phenomenon may emerge during an ongoing machining process. Using real data from a turning operation on a lathe, the onset of chatter can be predicted so that sufficient time is available to deploy an automatic control strategy such as reduction or random variation of spindle speed to quench the "chatter". The method and system preferably use the generalized Teager measure.

Abstract: Data read out from a mass storage unit are provided as a serial data stream in parallel to both a buffer memory and an error detection circuit. The read out data are stored within the buffer memory. At the same time, the error detection circuit performs an error detection operation on the serial data stream read out from the mass storage unit. The error detection operation consists of dividing a segment of the serial data stream corresponding to a data block by the error check polynomial and determining the remainder of the division operation. The remainder from this initial error division operation is stored. Error correction is then performed on the data stored in the buffer memory, for example using a Reed-Solomon code. When erroneous bytes are identified by the error correction circuitry, the error equations are solved to determine the error pattern and then the erroneous byte is overwritten in the buffer memory.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus includes a processing device, a measuring device, and a data server. The processing device performs a lithography process and outputs process record data containing product information about a semiconductor device and process information. The measuring device measures a record offset from a target value in the semiconductor device processed by the processing device, and outputs measurement record data. The data server stores the process record data from the processing device and the measurement record data from the measuring device, calculates a correction value on the basis of a past record offset in response to a request from the processing device, and sends it back to the processing device.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus allows for the machining of a workpiece based on a three-dimensional work shape which is inputted. The shape of the workpiece is set and the shape of the workpiece and three-dimensional work shape determine the work region to be extracted. The extracted work region is divided into work regions of spot work, contour work, and region work by the characteristics of the work. The work order is set to determine the order in which the divided work regions are to be machined. The work information for each work region is then inputted and command data used in moving a tool is generated from the work order data and the work information.

Abstract: A control device for controlling a machine tool includes at least one memory for storing control data characterizing the instantaneous operating state of the machine tool during machining and a memory management device for managing the control data such that machining can be resumed after an interruption. The control data is separated into dynamic control data and static control data. The method for controlling a machine tool uses the control device and stores the static and dynamic control data in the memory. As a workpiece is machined, the instantaneous operating state of the machine tool is continuously stored so that machining can be resumed after an interruption.

Abstract: In order to rationalize and make profitable the use of machines for positing the beads of tires for finishing mounted, deliverable assemblies, the machine according to the invention comprises two plates (10), one upper and one lower, each provided with at least two cylindrical rings (4), of different diameters and axially movable independently, and also means (3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13) which, according to the dimension of the tire of the mounted assembly E to be treated, permit the selection of the appropriate rings (4', 4"), and the adjustment of the axial distance necessary between rings, and sufficient to obtain the desired compression of the sidewalls of the tire, after application of said rings to the sidewalls of the tire of the assembly E.

Abstract: Anti-windup and noise protection that can be used with any general digital controller. The anti-windup technique allows the implementation of noise filtering techniques to decrease or eliminate chatter of the control output at the limit. In a higher order controller that uses a feedforward signal, the anti-windup technique prevents an unexpected change in the control output when a step change occurs in the feedforward signal. The technique can be used to provide anti-windup protection in both single layer and multi-layer control schemes.

Abstract: An improved error detection and error concealment for Viterbi decoding of convolutionally encoded data is provided. The most sensitive part of the data is parity encoded and sent with parity and this data with the next most sensitive data are convolutionally encoded and sent with the least sensitive data over a transmission channel to a receiver. At the receiver the convolutionally encoded data is decoded using the Viterbi algorithm. The decoder compares the parity computed from decoded data with the decoded parity and if they are not equal generates a Bad Frame Indicator (BFI) flag and also determines which decoded parameters are likely bad and hence generates a Bad Parameter Indicator (BPI) flag for those parameters, by determining the confidence levels for the parameters and comparing against pre-selected thresholds. The decision to discard a decoded parameter is dependent on the BFI flag and the BPI flag of that parameter.