Abstract: A numerical control apparatus having a work simulation function for enabling both the workpiece and the movement of the tool to be displayed at any time on the same display screen during the work simulation. This is achieved by a variable display magnifications so that both the workpiece configuration change and the tool shift movement can always be checked adequately. The numerical control apparatus comprises a numerical control processor and an auto-programming processor.

Abstract: A method for producing two or more products from a production site such as an air separation plant to satisfy a given demand for each of the products in which energy consumption and the rate of product production are correlated so that product production may be determined from a conventional mixed integer linear programming model the solution of which will provide an optimum production schedule for producing product to meet total product demand at minimum energy cost over a given time horizon.

Abstract: A machine is controlled by a system which has a pair of programmable controllers connected in tandem. One controller operates in the active mode governing the operation of the machine, while the other controller is in a backup mode able to assume control of the machine should the active controller fail. Each programmable controller has a backup module through which the two controllers are connected. In order to determine which controller is to be active upon power up, each backup module has an input means for receiving a first active mode request signal from another programmable controller. A means is provided to produce a tie breaker signal at one backup module which indicates that its programmable controller is to operate in the active mode when both programmable controllers simultaneously desire to operate in the active mode.

Abstract: A tracing operation by designating a region is performed after a wire limit. Tracing line segments (2a, 2b, 2c) parallel to the wire limit (1)are found connecting a plurality of points. The tracing operation is performed by moving a stylus on a path along the tracing line segments (2a, 2b, 2c), whereby a tracing region determined by a complex wire limit can be accurately traced.

Abstract: An automatic postal teller machine capable of automatically performing the postal operation in an unmanned condition, the operation procedure thereof including auto-conveying, auto-weighing, auto-postage calculation, auto-fast postal stamp adjusting, auto-money identification, auto-money receiving, auto-money coin changing, auto-stamping, auto-mail classification, auto-ZIP code printing and auto-data recording, wherein by means of commands of a microcomputer, whole mail-processing operation of each mail can be completed in about several seconds.

Abstract: A method for displaying a circular interpolation locus which is used in a numerical control apparatus. The method is constituted by the steps of detecting movements of axes controlled by the numerical control apparatus, synthesizing signals detected in the detected step, displaying a movement locus of two axes as a circular interpolation locus on a display. A numerical control apparatus which has a circular interpolation locus display function is also disclosed. The numerical control apparatus is constituted by first detecting unit for detecting a motion of a control object controlled by a first servo motor, second servo detecting unit for detecting a motion of the control object by a second servo motor, two axes synthesizing unit for synthesizing the output signals for the first detecting unit for displaying the two axes movement locus. The method and apparatus can be applicable both semi-closed loop and hybrid control.

Abstract: A mounting system having a function of picking up one of several different type works from a pickup position where the works having the different types are selectively fed, and of moving a picked up work to an insertion position so as to mount the work on a printed circuit board. The mounting system includes a rotary member arranged to be rotatable, head mechanisms having different types and mounted on the rotary member, the head mechanisms having a number of types corresponding to that of the types of the works, a memory for storing a pickup order and an insertion order in units of types of works, a driver for rotating and stopping the rotary member at predetermined angles, and a control device for preferentially driving the head mechanism to the pickup or insertion position.

Abstract: According to this invention method for starting a machining program midway for a numerical control system, an operator simply selects with a cursor key a tool number or a tool offset number of the tool which is to be used for the machining step the operator wishes to execute out of the numbers displayed on the screen and can easily start the machining program from the top block of the desired machining step or the tool command block with the selected tool number or the tool offset number. By selecting the shape of the tool which is to be used for the machining step by means of a cursor key or the like out of the tool shapes displayed on the screen, the operator can start the machining program midway from the top block of which tool number or the tool offset number is designated. When the machining program is to be started from midway according to the method, as the machining path of a step is displayed, the operator can confirm whether the block to start the machining program midway is right or wrong.

Abstract: A Quasi Radix-16 Butterfly comprises an radix-4 butterfly processor and on-board memory with external memory addressing changes from a conventional radix-4 butterfly processor. On-chip cache memory is included to store data outputs of the radix-4 butterfly processor for application as data inputs to the radix-4 butterfly processor in a second series of butterfly operations to implement high-speed processing that is maximally execution-bound.

Abstract: A utility program backup apparatus includes an erasable and programable read-only-memory, a ROM writer, first and second processing units, first and second memories, first and second interfaces a servo control part, a keyboard and a display. The apparatus enables an operator to shorten data recordation and reproduction time, while reducing an error rate of recordation and reproduction.

Abstract: A method for controlling a controlled system by a controller such that a controlled variable can be brought into conformity with a desired value. With respect to at least one of input/output variables for a combined controlling-controlled system, which includes in combination the controller and the controlled system, and input/output variables for the controlled system, information containing its characteristics is taken out from the combined controlling-controlled system. The information with the characteristics contained therein is inputted to a neural network which has been caused beforehand to learn a correlation between the information containing the characteristics and control parameters. From the neural network, one or more of the control parameters, said one or more control parameters corresponding to a corresponding number of inputs to the neural network, are outputted to the controller.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for (1) automatically selecting warheads or reentry vehicles from a storage area containing a plurality of types of warheads or reentry vehicles, (2) automatically selecting weapon carriers from a storage area containing at least one type of weapon carrier, (3) manipulating and aligning the selected warheads or reentry vehicles and weapon carriers, and (4) automatically coupling the warheads or reentry vehicles with the weapon carriers such that coupling of improperly selected warheads or reentry vehicles with weapon carriers is inhibited. Such inhibition enhances safety of operations and is achieved by a number of means including computer control of the process of selection and coupling and use of connectorless interfaces capable of assuring that improperly selected items will be rejected or rendered inoperable prior to coupling.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for defining complex geometries to transpose geometric surfaces accurately into tooling. The method for entering accurate position data defining geometric surfaces eliminates the entry of erroneous position data at the sharp edges and boundaries of geometric shapes, such as the intersections between geometric tooling surfaces and planar parting surfaces. The method further provides for the creation and interrelation of accurate design, manufacturing, and control data bases which are used to enhance the speed and accuracy with which tooling having geometric surfaces may be designed and produced. The method of the present invention further has a reverse engineering capability which accommodates design improvements, facilitates correction of manufacturing errors in tooling, and permits monitoring and repair of tooling wear more quickly and easily than known methods.

Abstract: The workpiece handling device includes a workpiece carrying arm and a workpiece support spaced from the lathe machine on which the workpiece carrying arm is pivotally provided. The workpiece carrying arm includes a gripping unit for holding the workpiece thereon. The workpiece carrying arm can turn within a 180 degree range.

Abstract: An equipment test program, stored and processed in a computer system, defines device termination procedures used for terminating devices used in a plurality of sets for performing a plurality of tests. The termination procedure for each device is associated with an ensemble, or group data structure. Each ensemble contains a set of termination task data structures for implementing the device terminations. Each task represents a device that operates with other devices in a test program module. Each task is linked to zero or more predecessor tasks in the ensemble. This linking represents the need to turn off the predecessor tasks' devices first before turning off any task's device. Within each test module, and before any device in the group is instructed to operate, the ensemble optimization procedure is invoked to pass a pointer to the module's ensemble data structure. The ensemble optimization procedure is used to optimally decide which device termination procedures should be invoked.

Abstract: In a trace control method used for machining a workpiece by tracing a model with a tracer head, the path and speed of two axes (X- and Y-axes) are controlled by NC commands, but, three axes (X-, Y- and Z-axes) are controlled to carry out the tracing operation. An NC command speed (F) is changed by an override circuit (2b) so that the NC command speed coincides with the composite speed of the three axes controlled to carry out the tracing operation, and the resultant speed (Fd) is supplied to an interpolator (2a). The direction of movement along the X- and Y-axes is controlled by the NC command and the speed is affected by the tracing operation. Thus the trace control method can control movement as though all three axes are controlled by NC commands.

Abstract: A system uses information taken from a sensing device sensing the dimensions of an existing fingernail structure and inputs this sensed information into a controller in machine usable form. The data is used by the controller to drive a variety of peripheral devices to cut a desired nail pattern in a material so that at least a part of the material snugly fits over the existing nail structure. The system is further capable of cutting a sheet of decorative material to the shape of a natural nail or one that is artificially placed on a nail. The decorative sheet may be formed of vinyl or mylar and has an adhesive layer which binds it to the involved nail.

Abstract: In vector dividing the process employing convergence division method, the process steps are performed for performing pipeline processing of multiplying operation of the dividend and a first convergence factor in a speed of one clock cycle per one element to generate a first intermediate result vector data as a data before convergence, for performing pipeline processing of multiplying operation of the divisor and the first convergence factor in a speed of one clock cycle per one element to generate a second intermediate result vector data as a data before convergence, for storing the first and second intermediate result vector data to first and second intermediate result storing vector registers, respectively, for reading out of the first and second intermediate result vector data from the first and second intermediate result storing vector registers, respectively, per every clock cycles, for performing pipeline processing for multiplying operation of the read out intermediate result vector data and a second c

Abstract: A linear quantizer/ inverse quantizer comprises a first shifter coupled with a data input port for dividing the value indicated by an m-bit input data signal by two for producing a first digital output signal, a multiplier for multiplying the value of an m-bit input data signal by a coefficient indicated by lower (n-2) bits of an n-bit digital code signal two bits wider than a standard digital code signal theoretically required for the linear quantization, a second shifter for dividing the product by four for producing a second digital output signal indicative of the quarter of the product, and a selector unit having three input ports respectively supplied with the m-bit input data signal, the first digital output signal and the second digital output signal, and the selector unit is responsive to the higher two bits of the n-bit digital code signal for selectively coupling the three input ports with an output port thereof so that division is replaced with multiplication without deterioration of accuracy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for compensating a phase and amplitude response between a multiphase setpoint and actual value (i.sub.Rw, i.sub.Sw, i.sub.Tw and i.sub.Rx, i.sub.Sx, i.sub.Tx), the first step being to determine the modulus setpoint value (.vertline.i.sub.w .vertline.) or modulus actual value (.vertline.i.sub.x .vertline.) and the angular setpoint value (.epsilon..sub.w) or angular actual value (.epsilon..sub.x) of the setpoint or actual value vector (i.sup.w or i.sup.x), a modulus manipulative variable (.vertline.i.sub.wxy .vertline.) and an angular manipulative variable (.epsilon..sub.wxy) then being generated by modulus and phase from a modulus deviation (.vertline.i.sub.w .vertline.-.vertline.i.sub.x .vertline.) and an angular deviation (.epsilon..sub.w -.epsilon..sub.x) which are added by modulus and phase to the output quantities (.vertline.i.sub.w .vertline., .epsilon..sub.w) of the setpoint value vector computer (26), these modulus and phase sums (.vertline.i.sub.Kw .vertline.,.