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.

Abstract: A programmable controller for sensing the status of input devices and controlling the state of operating devices in accordance with a stored ladder logic control program includes a state machine instruction. A memory is provided for storing data regarding each state of an apparatus being controlled. This data defines the status of apparatus operating devices for each state, and the legitimate transitions from that state to other selected states, along with a Boolean logic expression of selected input conditions which determines when a state transition should occur. A processor responds to the state machine instruction by examining the truth of the Boolean logic expressions for the present state of the apparatus to detect if a state transition should occur. Upon such a detection controller advances to the state associated with the detected true expression. State transitions also can be defined as occurring upon a specified change in the status of a single input.

Abstract: A charge domain bit serial vector matrix multiplier for real time signal processing of mixed digital/analog signals for implementing opto-electronic neural networks and other signal processing functions. A combination of CCD and DCSD arrays permits vector/matrix multiplication with better than 10.sup.11 multiply accumulates per second on a one square centimeter chip. The CCD array portion of the invention is used to load and move charge packets into the DCSD array for processing therein. The CCD array is also used to empty the matrix of unwanted charge. The DCSD array is designed to store a plurality of charge packets representing the respective matrix values such as the synaptic interaction matrix of a neural network. The vector multiplicand may be applied in bit serial format. The row or sensor lines of the DCSD array are used to accumulate the results of the multiply operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data necessary for a sewing machine to form an embroidery in an area by filling the embroidery area with stitches, including a storing device storing outline data representing an outline of an embroidery area which outline includes a curved line portion, the outline data including curved line data defining the curved line portion, the curved line data including data indicative of a characteristic of the curved line portion, and a producing device producing the embroidery data by utilizing the outline data. The apparatus may further include a modifying device modifying the outline data and thereby transforming the outline. In this case, the producing device produces, by utilizing the modified outline data representing the transformed outline, embroidery data necessary to form an embroidery inside the transformed outline.

Abstract: A centralized control rod is universally pivotally mounted on a rod holding board electrically connected with a CRT display device having a plurality of functional buttons formed on a knob portion of the control rod, whereby upon a biasing movement of the control rod and a depression of the functional buttons on the rod, any particular controller selection or screen display page selection or control mode changes can be simply manipulated directly on the centralized control rod by an operator's hand.

Abstract: A system for predicting the life of a cutting tool in an automated metal cutting machine, comprises a plurality of sensors for measuring physical data relating to a cutting operation of said machine, and a computer connected to these sensors. The computer comprises a feature extractor for transforming the physical data into feature values, a tool life predictor for arriving at a prediction of the life of the cutting tool.

Abstract: In an electrical distribution system for controlling current paths through a plurality of associated circuit breakers, a programmable circuit arrangement operates the circuit breakers by remote control in at least the open and closed circuit positions. The circuit arrangement includes an array of termination points which are used in sets, such that each set includes a plurality of termination points, wherein each set receives a remotely generated control signal for commanding the circuit breakers to open or close. A control circuit includes a microcomputer, which is coupled to the array of termination points and responsive to the remotely generated control signal, for controlling the circuit breakers between the open and closed circuit positions. The microcomputer reads the termination points, via an X-Y grid, by polling the X axis and reading the Y axis.

Abstract: An deviation E between a setting value SV and an actual phase value PV in a controller is integrated, and the resulting integrated value S is compared with a predetermined threshold D for detecting a malfunction. Checking a change in setting value SV, checking an increase or a decrease in deviation E and comparison with the absolute value .vertline.E.times.S.vertline. are made to ensure stability against fluctuations and rapid detection of a malfunction.

Abstract: An computer-aided automatic design processing system for designing processes for the machining of parts includes a process design processing section for deciding a machining device, a machining mode, and a machining reference surface based on a parts model of parts to be machined and a data base for production, a forming and verifying section for forming and verifying a process plan based on the output of the process design section processing section, and a fixture processing section. The system is capable of performing the computer processing of a process plan and a fixture plan.

Abstract: An electronic timing control system for a glassware-forming machine includes a mini-computer master controller which controls the timing and sequence of operation of each of the individual section glassware-forming machine components. The master controller includes a plurality of control modules for section timing, conveyor motion, etc., each module of which outputs information to a corresponding serial multiplex I/O module. Each of the I/O modules connected to the master controller feeds data to a common data cable, according to a multiplexing scheme administered by the master controller. Data from the data cable is fed to each of the sections of the I.S. glassware forming machine, and particularly to a plurality of serially connected serial multiplexer modules. Each of the serial multiplexer modules corresponds to a section functional component operable to receive and form molten glass gobs into glassware articles. Each serial multiplexer module has a unique address.

Abstract: A fuzzy logic operation circuit for two inputs includes two identical charge coupled devices having at least first and second gate electrodes connected in parallel on an output side and floating gates provided to a transfer electrode on an input side. A comparison device compares charge detection signals from the floating gates with each other and selects an input signal of either the smaller or greater of the two inputs by the comparison output.

Abstract: A formation process has a plurality of process steps performed according to a set of process parameters. The formation process is used to form substrates in magnetic discs. A displacement signal is obtained which is representative of surface displacement of the substrate after at least one of the process steps. A first spectral signature is determined based on the displacement signal. The first spectral signature has characteristics representative of the surface displacement of the substrate when processed according to a first set of process parameters. The first spectral signature is compared with a second spectral signature having characteristics indicative of surface displacement of a substrate when processed according to a second set of process parameters. Based on the comparison, the set of process parameters is identified which provides a spectral signature closest to a desired spectral signature.

Abstract: A numerical control information generating apparatus generates numerical control information within a short period of time, since it extracts a machining portion from the input blank shape and the input machining shape and automatically divides the machining portion into first and second machining portions at the right point.

Abstract: For the function of forming numerical control information prior to machining process, the type of machining (such as drilling, end milling, outer diameter end face, etc.) and machining scope for each machining area is determined by inputting the shapes of a work and a part determining the machining areas based on said shapes, identifying the areas for inner diameter machining out of said machining areas, extracting from said inner diameter machining areas those characteristic areas to the inner diameter machining such as the area where a rear end face exists on the part shape, where a through hole is unprocessed or where a through hole is bored on the work based on the shape elements. As this method does not require preliminary reviewing of the machining method for inner diameter (and especially for small diameter), it allows beginner operators to produce numerical control information as easily as a skilled operator.

Abstract: The present invention is a welding arc length control system. The system includes, in its broadest aspects, a power source for providing welding current, a power amplification system, a motorized welding torch assembly connected to the power amplification system, a computer, and current pick up means. The computer is connected to the power amplification system for storing and processing arc weld current parameters and non-linear voltage-ampere characteristics. The current pick up means is connected to the power source and to the welding torch assembly for providing weld current data to the computer. Thus, the desired arc length is maintained as the welding current is varied during operation, maintaining consistent weld penetration.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is designed by determined the devices comprising the integrated circuit and determining the desired parameters for each device. A flow of process steps is determined and the 1-D and 2-D simulations are performed on the process flow. The process steps are modified until the simulations determine that the desired parameters are met.

Abstract: A method for controlling work on a job in a system for producing a plurality of jobs, each of which includes at least one piece of work, each piece of work requiring at least one operation to be performed, the system having several types of stations at which the operations are performed has the following steps. It first accepts into the system a set of job requirements for a job, the set of job requirements including requirements for each of the constituent pieces of work of the job. The method then creates an electronic image of the requirements for each piece of work, the image having a unique image identifier. Next, a set of control information for each piece of work is maintained that includes the unique image identifier and a unique identifier for the pieces of work.

Abstract: A control system for an NC machine incorporates a personal computer and an auxiliary control having an auxiliary microprocessor connected together and with the machine, via communication channels The personal computer and auxiliary controller are both provided with apparatus for controlling operations in a plurality of sequences, all of which run simultaneously, without requiring any modification in the normal operating system of the personal computer. The control program of the auxiliary controller is downloaded from the personal computer, and the sequences in both contain a number of consecutive states for each sequence, with each state characterized by one or more instructions and an operational time.

Abstract: A conversational-type programming apparatus according to the invention originates an NC tape for a numerically controlled (NC) machine tool or the like. In a case where a plurality of machining operations are defined for one region of a blank, a color corresponding to a type of machining designated by the latest machining step is displayed on a screen. Therefore, even when a machining operation for the same blank is defined for a plurality of regions of the blank, it is possible to readily distinguish the machining type designated for each region based on the displayed colors of the regions.

Abstract: A filter circuit with improved performance characteristics. A biquadratic transconductance-C filter includes a differentiator in the feed forward path of the input signal to compensate for the non-ideal operation of the transconductance elements and to simplify the performance requirements of a variable gain amplifier also in the feed forward path. The variable gain amplifier and feed forward technique are used to create two programmable magnitude, opposite sign zeros on the real axis, whose effect on the incoming data signal results in variable pulse slimming. The addition of a differentiator in the feed forward path eliminates the effect of the output admittance of the transconductance elements on the filter's group delay. The differentiator acts as a first order, high pass filter. The frequency of the differentiator is controlled so that the input signal is attenuated before it is provided to the variable gain amplifier.