Abstract: A fuzzy control unit includes a fuzzy inference unit forming a manipulated variable for controlling a plant such that a control response from the plant is made equal to a previously set target value, based on fuzzy control knowledge. An automatic tuning unit corrects the fuzzy control rules in accordance with the control response from the plant. The automatic tuning unit includes a response waveform memory storing a control response value from the plant, a rule grade memory for storing grade values of the fuzzy control rules for the control response from the plant, an ideal waveform memory for storing ideal control response values to be attained by the plant under control by the fuzzy control unit, and a control evaluating circuit evaluating the control operation of the fuzzy control unit based on the ideal response value and the control response value.

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 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: 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: Control method and apparatus for a moveable control member with n>3 observed states. The apparatus incorporates a sliding mode control system operable to maintain the state point of the moveable member on a predetermined non-linear hyperplane having n-1 dimensions. The hyperplane is such that, if the state point is maintained thereon, the maximum rate of change of the highest order observed state does not exceed that of which the control apparatus is capable. The sliding mode control system include sa digital processor operable to reference n-1 low order observed states to the predetermined hyperplane to establish a desired value of the highest order observed state. The control system compares such desired value with the observed highest order state, and implements the control action necessary to maintain the state point on the predetermined hyperplane.

Abstract: An embroidery pattern data processor for sewing an embroidery based on section data representing the locations of the vertexes of polygonal sections dividing a closed area surrounded by a given outline for embroidering the closed area. The data processor has a memory for storing the section data, a read-out device for reading out the section data, and a processor for determining the type of sections, computing running stitch data, and computing needle location data for embroidering the sections. Additionally, the processor automatically computes a running stitch route within the sections so that the embroidering operation is carried out without producing cross threads which, in the past, had to be manually removed.

Abstract: A system is provided for tuning at least one control parameter of a controller in a control loop wherein the system includes an oscillation function not in series with the controller for selectively causing the control loop to oscillate at a tuning frequency, while the controller is in control of the process. While oscillating at the tuning frequency, a tuner is responsive to the tuning gain of the control loop and its tuning frequency for determining control parameters for tuning the controller.

Abstract: Circuitry for transforming a transfer function characteristic into a specified input impedance includes: a hybrid arrangement having input, transmit, receive and balance ports; and a two-port network connected from the transmit to receive ports of the hybrid. The relation between the input impedance at the input port to the network transfer function is expressible as a function of the actual impedance seen looking into the two-wire input port of the hybrid, and the desired impedance to be simulated.

Abstract: The characteristics of the field process system controlled by a self tuning controller are obtained by analyzing the open loop response of the process variable to a step applied at the controller's control output. A first-order system response with pure time delay is used to approximate a higher-order field process system's actual response. The overall deadtime and time constant of the first-order approximation are determined. The maximum slope of the process variable response to the step is stored along with an assigned time of its occurrence and an assigned process variable. The stored information is used to approximate the overall deadtime. In one embodiment the stored information is assumed to be the data obtained from a second-order response having a 10:1 time constant ratio and is used to find the assumed second-order time constants which are used to find the first-order time constant.

Abstract: The method for mixing textile fibers utilizes a computer which is inputted with data concerning the characteristics of the fibers of the individual fiber bales to be processed as well as the data indicative of the desired characteristics of the board sliver or yarn which is to be manufactured from the fiber mixture obtained from the fibers of the individual bales. From the inputted data, the computer, in accordance with a predetermined computing algorithm, calculates a component distribution which comes close to the estimated component distribution and which satisfies the desired characteristics of the car sliver or yarn characteristics. The computer may also effect a correction of the computed component distribution taking into account boundary conditions with additional inputted information.

Abstract: An embroidery data producing apparatus for an embroidery machine which forms embroidery stitches, based on the embroidery data having information about stitch positions comprises a CPU, RAM and ROM. The RAM has a pattern data memory for storing pattern data which represents outlines of a pattern where embroidery will be given, and a embroidery data memory for storing the made embroidery data. The CPU reads the pattern data stored in an external memory device and stores the pattern data in the pattern data memory. The CPU stores the inclination angle input through the keyboard by an operator in the RAM. The CPU sets a pair of facing outlines which extend to a predetermined embroidery executing direction based on the pattern data stored in the pattern data memory. The CPU sets stitch positions on the first outline of a pair of the outlines according to a predetermined thread density.

Abstract: A device for distributing pressurized water to a plurality of sprinkler lines is provided. The valve and valve control portions are centralized, and thus no electrical connection to remote locations is required. The valve system is modular so as to permit addition or deletion of modules for adding or removing control of sprinkler lines. A stepper motor and cam shaft system permits expenditure of energy only during change-of-state events, so that no electrical energy need be consumed to maintain a watering state. A generator which produces electrical energy from the pressure head of a pressurized water source provides electrical energy for operating a motor and a motor controller, such as a device including a microprocessor.

Abstract: A document control and audit apparatus to monitor, control and audit documents printed by a non-impact printer for detecting missing pages, duplicate pages, and double or multiple pages. The document control and audit apparatus ensures that the proper number and sequence of pages or forms are included in a printed report or document and maintains detailed information of the contents of the individual documents, thereby providing a real time record or account and final record of the activities which occurred during the printing process. The document control and audit apparatus includes a video camera and a number of optical sensors for sensing the location and position of the pages as the pages pass through the document control and audit apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for machining a non-circular workpiece such as a piston wherein a tool is moved back and forth against the workpiece in accordance with profile data defining a desired final shape of the workpiece while the workpiece is rotated at a predetermined speed. The tool is moved by a composite movement of a linear motor driven in accordance with low frequency command values, and a piezoelectric actuator driven in accordance with high frequency command values. A numerical controller of the apparatus calculates the low frequency command values using a first Fourier series and the high frequency command values using a second Fourier series. Coefficients of the first and second Fourier series are determined using least square method in such a way that errors contained in the low and high frequency command values becomes within a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A process for forming a prosthesis related to bone structure internal to a body using CT scan data corresponding to the radiological density of the bone structure to derive the inner and outer bone surface contours. The density and the density gradient of discrete points in the bone structure is compared to threshold density levels and to threshold density gradient levels and points are selected to form a series of interim outer contours. A contour shape factor is derived for each interim outer contour, and that interim contour is chosen in which the contour shape factor is maximum denoting less fluctuations in the contour circumference. The bone surface contour data is used to develop a graphic model from which a set of digital data is generated for a surface model representing the graphic model. A set of numerical control machine instructions are generated to make the prosthesis.

Abstract: An integrator circuit is connected to a capacitor that is to be measured and the capacitor driven by a read pulse. A first switch grounds the integrator input between read pulses and a second switch applies a bias input to the integrator. The bias is selected so that the integrator is active and its output high. Then, during the read pulse interval, the integrator will hold its input close to ground so that the capacitor to be measured will transfer a maximum charge to the integrator feedback capacitor. Additionally, the stray capacitance at the integrator input has little effect and the output will be a strong function of the value of the capacitor to be measured. The circuit has application in capacitor measurement and is useful as a ferroelectric memory preamplifier which acts to amplify the difference in capacitance produced by the polarization state of a ferroelectric memory capacitor. A CMOS preferred embodiment is disclosed in the form of a memory sense preamplifier.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating numerical control information which is supplied with data on a shape of a workpiece for each machining step and which generates the numerical control information based on the shape data for each machining step includes: a judging section for judging, based on the operation type of a changed machining process to be inputted in order to change a previously stored machining step, whether or not it is necessary to regenerate the shape data for each changed machining step and a regenerating section for regenerating the shape data for each changed machining step on a basis of the result of the judgement by the judging section and the previously stored shape data for each machining step.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for performing neighborhood processing operations on an n dimensional processing plane. In a simple, two dimensional, example, an M by N processing plane is successively scanned by rows. The output information from each row is presented on column lines. The analog data resulting from a fixed number of successive scans are temporarily held in a multi-stage analog buffer. A computing array is configured to perform the neighborhood operations or other limited co-operand operations on the shifted data. The computing array examines information from a slice made up of selected numbers of successive rows of the entire array, performs the operations on that portion, and provides a series of output signals representative of the result.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for synthesizing waveforms includes digital circuitry (12) designed to provide a predetermined pulse train of data over a serial line (16), such that, when the pulse train is filtered, a synthesized waveform is produced which approaches an ideal analog waveform.

Abstract: A spindle rotation control method is provided capable of driving two spindles of a machine at the same speed with the same rotational phase. In response to a synchronizing control command from a numerical control apparatus, speed control is performed based on first and second speed commands calculated by using equations represented as a function of a synchronous speed command and parameters determined by the arrangement of a spindle rotational control system. When rotational speeds of the spindles reach the synchronous (same) rotational speed, first and second position deviation quantities corresponding to the synchronous rotational speed are calculated by using an equation represented as a function of a position control gain, and speed commands are converted into first and second moving commands, so as to perform position control loop processing based on the moving commands and the first and second spindle rotational quantities, and speed control based on a position control loop output.