Abstract: An optical correlation system employing the degenerate four wave mixing uses cross-polarized pump and probe beams to prevent the writing of a volume transmission phase hologram in a photorefractive crystal having an applied electric field parallel to the optic axis of the system, so that system response does not depend on the time required to write or erase such a transmission hologram.

Abstract: A programmable limit switch employs high speed special purpose hardware and a general purpose microcontroller to achieve high speed limit switch operation. A state sequencer controls the high speed special purpose hardware in a fixed sequence. The state sequencer latches position data, and recalls position offsets from a memory. A hardware digital adder sums the position and offset with this summed offset position used as an address in output tables for selecting an output status word. The microcontroller operates asynchronously with respect to the state sequencer. The microcontroller initializes and updates the memories. The microcontroller calculates the velocity from repetitive position signals and writes the corresponding window offsets to memory. A selection circuit picks out the status bit of the particular output circuit. Thus unique ON/OFF offsets can be used for each circuit. The outputs are shifted together and latched to the output drivers.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing stitch position-related data utilized by an embroidery sewing machine, including a direction determining device for determining a reference direction with respect to an area to be embroidered, based on outline data representative of an outline of the area, the outline data including a plurality of sets of position data representative of a plurality of specific positions predetermined on the outline, a block defining device for defining a plurality of straight aid lines which are perpendicular to the reference direction and each of which passes a corresponding one of the specific positions, and thereby dividing the area and the outline into a plurality of blocks and a plurality of segments, respectively, each of the blocks being enveloped by corresponding two of the aid lines and corresponding two of the segments, a block modifying device for modifying the each block by determining on the outline a division base position which cooperates with the specific position associated with at

Abstract: A baggage checking system is described, primarily for use at airports and distinct from airline seat reservation systems. The baggage checking system takes flight numbers, travellers' identification data and baggage tag numbers from check-in and transfer desks and collates it with baggage tag numbers read at baggage loading points. If an attempt is made to load a bag on an incorrect flight an alarm is given at the loading point and the system is inhibited at that loading point until supervisory action is taken. In addition an alarm is given if an attempt is made to load a bag with the same tag number as another bag. Rules concerning when an alarm should be given in relation to tag numbers checked-in, and tag numbers of passengers boarded can be changed at will, even during loading.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process and a system for controlling the movements of an axis on program-controlled machines, especially industrial robots, comprising a position control unit and/or a velocity control unit and/or a power control unit. The loads acting on the axis from the outside during the operation are measured by one or several sensors. The load signal is fed back regeneratively in the sense of an increase in the position control variance and sent to the summation point of the position and/or velocity control unit. To increase or decrease the mechanical flexibility of the axis, a controllable amplifying or attenuating device is provided. The sensors may have different designs, corresponding to the loads to be measured. They are preferably directly associated with the axes.

Abstract: Long and short term memory equations for neural networks are implemented by means of exchange of signals which carry information in the form of both binary and continuously modulated energy emissions. In one embodiment, array of parallel processors exhibits behavior of cooperative-competitive neural networks. Parallel bus interconnections and digital and analog processing of analog information contained in the exchanged energy emissions are employed with generally local synchronization of the processors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal transfer control system of a programmable controller for transferring I/O signals between the PC and an external device. An I/O unit (26) includes an I/O signal region (1) for storing I/O signals transferred or received to or from an external device, and mapping data (2) for defining the mapping of the I/O signal region (1). Further, a RAM (23) of the PC includes point data (3) for defining the address to which I/O signals from the mapping data (2) are to be transferred, and an I/O data region (4) for storing the I/O data. Input signals are stored in the I/O signal region (1) and each of the I/O signals is mapped by the mapping data (2), and the point data (3) determines the address to which each of the mapped input signals is to be transferred. Namely, the addresses to which the input signals are to be transferred are determined by the mapping data (2) and the point data (3), and the input signals are then transferred to the I/O data region (4).

Abstract: A multi-operation control system includes a plurality of slave computers each controlling its respective operation and forming at least one operating system. Each slave computer has a memory for storing a plurality of sequential movement instructions to be carried out by the slave and the micro-controller. Each slave computer monitors the operation it controls, compares the monitored operation with the current movement instruction and generates a flag signal if the monitored operation and current movement instruction differ by more than a preselected amount. This flag signal is transmitted to all of the slave computers of the operating system of which the slave computer is a part. The slave computers carry out their movement instructions in steps in working time increments. The step of movement to be carried out in a time increment is updated only when no flag signal is received by the slave computers, i.e.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting articles. An exemplary embodiment of the system includes a conveyor for transporting articles, a database for storing identification information for each article on the conveyor and address information specifying the location of each article on the conveyor, one or more drop stations adjacent to the conveyor for unloading articles, a processor, coupled to the conveyor, the one or more drop stations, and the database, for accessing article information from the database, allocating to each of one or more drop stations a list of articles sorted according to one or more sorting criteria, and for controlling each such drop station to physically sort articles from the sorting conveyor into a group of sorted articles according to the sorted list of articles for the drop station.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a three-dimensional object (10, 70) from coordinates generated on a computer machine (12) is disclosed wherein the object has improved dimensional accuracy. Control signals (20b) are generated for controlling a servo (20) that controls a reaction or interaction of material (20a) at the coordinate points to form the object while a second servo (22) serves to build up a three-dimensional support system (42) in response to support control signals (22b). Support control signals (22b) are generated at the same time the coordinate points of the design are generated to specify strategic points of the object at which a support environment need be placed in order to insure the dimensional accuracy of the object avoiding warpage or other dimensional distortion. As a support environment, a series of webs (50, 52, 54) or columns (76), or encapsulation (44, 92) may be provided for providing a support environment for the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a path management system for regulating equipment resources which moves process material through a process system. The process system includes a control procedure for implementing a specific process application. The path management system includes a path editor for building different path specifications, each of which defines an equipment set and sequences of equipment operations for a specific process application. A database is interconnected to the path editor for storing the plurality of path specifications built by the path editor. The path management system further includes a path selector for selecting a single path specification for the specific process application from a plurality of path specifications stored in the database. The path selector then validates the availability of equipment resources identified by the selected single path specification at a particular instant in time.

Abstract: A contactless guided positioning table has a table body and a movable mount having five-axis control magnetic bearings for supporting the table body movably in a horizontal direction. A contactless linear motor horizontally drives the table body. A vacuum container contains the movable mount movably in a direction vertical to the moving direction of the table body. A coupling member is disposed through a flexible hollow member to secure a vacuum state of the vacuum container and couples the movable mount to an external driver. A controller controls the electric current applied to the magnetic bearings. There is no mechanical contact, such as a sliding guide face and ball screw motor, used in the movement of the table body, thereby preventing dust from being generated by friction due to direct contact. Further, the table does not require lubricating oil which would disadvantageously affect normal operation in a vacuum and effectively avoids deposition and removal of solids.

Abstract: A stitch pattern data processing method and device for a sewing machine capable of forming a stitch pattern according to stitch pattern data including a plurality of needle location data stores stitch pattern data. It is determined whether a stitch pitch of a stitch to be formed according to each pair of adjacent ones of the plural needle location data of the stored stitch pattern data is equal to or greater than a reference pitch when contracting the stitch at a specified contraction rate in at least one direction of two perpendicular directions, sequentially from one end of the plural needle location data to another end. Needle location data of a contraction stitch pattern data is created so that when a result of the determination is negative, the needle location data nearer to another end is disregarded until the result of the determination becomes affirmative.

Abstract: During a lapping operation to obtain an optimum throat height for a thin film magnetic head, an M-H looper circuit is coupled directly to the head coil for measuring the magnetization and saturation current of the head in response to a given drive current. An amplitude modulated analog output signal is digitized and the resultant digital number is compared to stored data signals which are representative of optimum throat heights for the design of the head being lapped. The lapping operation is controlled in response to the difference signals obtained by the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus for machining a non-circular workpiece wherein a tool is moved by a composite movement given by a linear motor and a piezoelectric actuator. The linear motor is driven by the numerical controller in accordance with the low frequency components of profile data defining a position change of the tool with respect to angular position change of the spindle, while the piezoelectric actuator is driven by the numerical controller in accordance with the high frequency components of the profile data. Further, a positioning error of the tool due to reaction force generated by the piezoelectric actuator is detected by the numerical controller to compensate the high frequency components for the detected positioning error.

Abstract: A signal mixing apparatus utilizing digital signal processing technology for mixing digital signals comprising parallel data of plural channels include an analog addition circuit for adding, in analog, data of the same bit of parallel input data in plural channels, an analog-to-digital conversion circuit for converting added analog data of respective bits to digital data, and a digital addition circuit for adding, in digital, the converted digital data of all bits together. Since the data of the same bit of parallel input data of plural channels are added together in analog through the analog addition circuit such as a bus and an analog adder, digital input data of a large number of channels can be mixed together with a small amount of wiring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for servo control of injection molding machine devices. A signal processor periodically produces analogue control signals for controlling machine mechanisms at a first loop closure interval and periodically produces digital control signals for controlling energization of machine heaters at a second loop closure interval. Values of analogue and digital control signals are determined according to control algorithms relating set point values and measured parameter values. Calculation of values of analogue control signals includes calculation of a first command value according to a first control algorithm, calculation of a second command value according to a second control algorithm and selection of the lesser of the first and second command values. Compensation for "cold" thermocouple junctions created at the connection of remote temperature sensing thermocouple leads and the signal processor interface circuits is provided.

Abstract: In a method for optimizing placement of circuit components on at least one integrated circuit, a list of circuit components is constructed. For each pairing of circuit components on the list, a total cost of the pairing is calculated. The total cost being calculated by first calculating the dead space resulting from the pairing, then estimating the total increase in routing area resulting from the pairing, and finally adding the dead space to the total increase in routing area to obtain the total cost. The estimation of the total increase in routing area resulting from the pairing is done by first estimating an increase in connectivity area resulting from the pairing. Then, a decrease in connectivity area resulting from the pairing is estimated. Finally, the decrease in connectivity area is subtracted from the increase in connectivity area to obtain the total increase in routing area.

Abstract: For copy measuring the coordinates of an object to be measured using a coordinate measuring probe by disposing a rotary table on a platen of a coordinate measuring machine and placing the object on said rotary table and further rotating the object through said rotary table, there are calculated a speed vector V of the probe when the rotary table is stationary at the rotational angle .theta. and an angular velocity .omega. of the rotary table by said probe speed vector V viewed from the axis center of the object, and lead and retardation of said rotational angle .theta. is adjusted so as to keep unchanged an angular relationship between the object and the probe to determine the angular velocity .omega. anew. Further, there is calculated a speed vector V.sub.R that follows up the movement of said angular velocity .omega., and the vector sum V.sub.T =V+V.sub.R is issued as a speed command to the probe and said angular velocity .omega. is issued as a speed command to the rotary table.

Abstract: An automatic digital control system includes a proportional integral derivative (PID) compensator in which the digital differentiator portion, with its associated zero-order hold, is implemented according to an algorithm that reduces phase loss as a function of frequency. The digital differentiator is based only on a present error sample so that the output of the digital differentiator (with its ZOH) is made to resemble an amplitude-balanced step function (i.e., a doublet) during a given sample period T. The step transition occurs at one-half of the period (i.e., at T/2). Another embodiment further reduces phase loss by confining the output waveform of the differentiator to some fraction of the total sampling period. During the remaining portion of the sampling period the digital differentiator (again, with its associated ZOH) is forced to some desired reference level.