Abstract: A program controlled irrigation system (10) operates with two programs. Program A and Program B, for irrigating a plurality of zones. Selected zones are dedicated to the irrigation of grass, for example, under Program A while other zones are dedicated to the irrigation of shrubs, for example, under Program B. A total of six times for starting an irrigation cycle are available for both Programs A and B. Under program control, the six starting times can be allocated in any combination to Programs A and B. Further, starting times can be shifted readily between Programs A and B thereby providing flexibility to meet the changing demands in grass and shrub irrigation. Each zone is constantly monitored for overcurrent conditions wherein zone operation is terminated if the overcurrent of the particular zone is sustained beyond a set period. Also, if the current reaches an excessive level in a very short period, zone operation is terminated.

Abstract: This invention relates to measuring shot peening coverage by impact dent characterization. Such methods of this type employ a non-destructive, automated computer analysis by analyzing dent characteristics to determine shot coverage of a particular surface.

Abstract: A multiple actuator disk drive utilizes multiple heads, associated with respective ones of multiple actuators, to read data from and write data to all tracks on the surface of a disk. The positioning of each head by the respective actuator is controlled by embedded servo-information recorded in the data tracks. The data tracks have a density of greater than 2000 tracks per inch. Utilizing two actuators provides access times which are reduced with respect to the access times provided by disk drives having a single actuator and an increased data transfer rate.

Abstract: A cost estimate generating system comprises a pocket type computer which includes a control schedule which sequentially requests data relating to the number of damaged panels, the number of damaged sections of each of the panels, the damage degree or repair difficulty degree, the presence or absence of scratches, the length and depth of any scratches, the type of paint work (e.g. metallic or solid finish, the number of different colors or tones) and the current labor rate (cost per man hour); and calculates the amount of work, the amount of paint required and the cost of the paint based on the data input.

Abstract: A curve extracting apparatus for extracting curves such as closed loops, open loops and hole groups from drawing data prepared with a CAD system, and an NC programming system for forming NC programs by directly utilizing curves which are extracted by the curve extracting apparatus. With such apparatus and system, it is unnecessary to perform complicated operations such as a drawing data reading operation, a coordinate calculating operation and a numerical data inputting operation and the occurrence of errors can be eliminated, and the drawing data prepared with a CAD system can be directly utilized to form an NC program.

Abstract: A method to determine the tool path of a material removal tool which is part of a system to shape the surface of a substrate is disclosed. The method conditions initial metrology data of the substrate into a dwell time versus position on the surface for the removal tool. The dwell time array is subsequently converted into a velocity versus position array so that a position controller means may be utilized to guide the movement of the substrate with respect to the removal tool to perform precise material removal on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A programmable controller is disclosed for the purpose of controlling devices such as machine tools and other machinery, and which is often mated with a host computer numerical controller. The programmable controller is configured such that certain user-designated "fast-scan" outputs can operate at much higher speeds than non-designated "normal" outputs, thereby greatly increasing the response time and efficiency of the operations that are controlled by those fast-scan outputs. The programmable controller uses a processor which scans through its user-definable program (including the value of all system inputs and outputs) before it attempts to change the value of any of its outputs. The physical input/output (I/O) interfaces are located on I/O racks, each of which also includes an intelligent bus adaptor. The intelligent bus adaptor includes its own processor which periodically communicates with the processor in the programmable controller.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a mechanical device includes a control element for receiving a reference input signal and supplying an operating signal to the mechanical device, a main feedback element for detecting the control signal and supplying the detected control signal to the control element, and an auxiliary feedback element for detecting the operating signal to be supplied to the mechanical element and supplying the detected operating signal to the control element. The control element produces the operating signal based on the reference input signal, the control signal supplied from the main feedback element, and the operating signal supplied from the auxiliary feedback element to regulate the control speed such that hunting in the control apparatus does not occur.

Abstract: Disclosed is an NC machine tool apparatus including an NC machine having at least one spindle to which a tool or a sensing device is attached, and a drive mechanism for driving the spindle, and a control unit for driving the spindle through the drive mechanism. The control unit is provided with an NC work program producing means for measuring a machining locus of a workpiece held in the NC machine by the sensing device attached to the spindle in accordance with a source work program which defines a measurement of the machining locus of the workpiece and a method of producing an NC work program, and producing the NC work program on the basis of the measured data and the source work program.

Abstract: A programmable controller (PC) controlling the operation of a machine is described that executes a program written in a sequential function chart (SFC) language. The PC can generate a reverse operation sequence chart from an ordinary operation SFC program sequence chart. This allows the PC to control the machine in the reverse direction. Thus, if a machine experiences a failure, the reverse operation sequence chart is used and reverse operations are performed to allow the cause of the failure to be removed. The ordinary operation can resume without having to restart the sequence from the beginning.

Abstract: In a method for generating data defining the machining depth along a tool path, grid points are generated according to split points indicating a form of a model, and rough machining data for contour milling is generated according to the grid points, so that rough machining data which presents overcutting can be prepared. Contour points are generated and drilling points are set according to a comparison with cut planes so that the drilling points can be set easily and automatically. The contour points are retrieved successively so as to easily generate a tool path for contour milling.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a climate control device, such as an HVAC device within a premise, utilizes real time price tier data supplied by the utility company to achieve economical temperature regulation of the premise. The control system regulates temperature based on time of day data and desired temperature data supplied by the user wherein the user may program different desired temperatures depending upon the relative cost of electricity. The system also provides billing information to the user for current usage and projected usage. The control system additionally controls appliance modules and regulates operation of the hot water heater.

Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus includes a display having a display portion; a memory for storing a plurality of application programs and a calendar application program and; a processor for specifying a position indicated by a cursor displayed on the display portion in operating one of the plurality of application programs, for starting up the calendar application program in operating one of the plurality of application programs, for displaying a calendar which includes a plurality of date data on the display portion in operating the calendar application program, for selecting one of the plurality of date data of the calendar, and for displaying the selected date data of the calendar at the specified position indicated by the cursor on the display portion.

Abstract: A numerically controlled machining data for controlling a numerically controlled machine tool on the basis of a shape model representing a product to be machined by the numerically controlled machine tool is produced by the steps of storing in a memory position data of each machined portion on the shape model and machining attribute data on contents of machining to be carried out for the machined portion, reading out from the memory the machining attribute data for a specified machined portion, obtaining data on the order in which tools are used and data on the machining condition from a machining information file according to the machining attribute data read out, and converting the data on the order in which tools are used, the data on the machining condition and the position data of each machined portion into numerically controlled machining data conforming to the numerically controlled machine tool.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for stably recording, reproducing, or erasing the information by a laser beam with respect to different kinds of optical disks is represented. This apparatus includes a processor to record, reproduce, or erase the information for an optical disk, a disk sort detector to detect the sort of optical disk, and a controller to control the processing parameters of the processor in response to an output signal from the disk sort detector. The disk sort detector reads the disk sort identifying information preliminarily recorded on the optical disk by the processor to detect the sort of disk. Or, this detector irradiates light onto labels having different reflection factors or transmission factors preliminarily provided on the optical disks by the processor and detects the reflected light amounts or transmitted light amounts from the labels, thereby detecting the sort of disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting measurement data pertaining to slivers and fibers originating from a continuous measurement that is dependent upon a plurality of parameters to calibration values. The plurality of parameters includes ambient, processing and measurement parameters. The parameters are converted and combined during processing. The resulting data relates only to individual property parameters and their changes per unit of time and are reduced to standard conditions with respect to ambient and processing parameters. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors, a calibrating unit and a processing unit that function to continuously measure a quantity of material per length of the sliver and a variation in a fineness of the fiber per unit of time.

Abstract: An interface method for inputting operator-selectable values for speed, temperature and time control parameter are disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic multi-shaft absolute position detecting device comprising an absolute position recording circuit, an interface circuit, a spare power circuit, and a cooperating application software circuit is used to detect the increment position signal produced by the measuring system of the numerical control machine tone and convert the signal into absolute position signal and record the machine position value. In case power is cut off, the spare power circuit can provide the absolute position recording circuit and interface circuit with power so that the absolute position recording circuit can continuously detect the position signals produced by the measuring system and record the machine position value thereof.

Abstract: A control system for rapid fault tolerant control of a multiple control-point apparatus is disclosed. The system comprises: a host subsystem acting as a user interface; a plurality of control-point actuators; a master controller subsystem which receives initialization data from the host terminal and which generates behavior commands; and a control-point controller subsystem which receives behavior commands from the master controller subsystem and generates control-point actuator commands. The control-point controller subsystem is made fault tolerant by using a plurality of control-point processors connected to control-point interfaces through a programmable crossbar switch such that if any of the control-point processors develops a fault, the crossbar switch will connect one of the other control-point processors to the control-point interface previously serviced by the faulty control-point processors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method and a control apparatus of a washer wherein washing processes involving washing, rinsing and de-watering are performed fully automatically by the introduction of functions of a commonly-used remote controller, thus providing the user conveniences and usefulness, and more particularly to a control method and a control apparatus of a washer wherein, by utilizing a remote controller and a radio transmitting and receiving part internally installed on the main body of the washer, necessary data are mutually transmitted and received and when there is any discrepancy, the user is caused to perceive it through an alarm part and a display part of a remote controller, which makes swift action possible and prevents abnormal operations of a washer resulting from mutual interference by way of proceeding washing process only when intrinsic secret codes of a washer are matched with secret codes memorized in a EEPROM.