Abstract: A flow computer is operable to interface with a first instrument suite associated with a first flow monitoring system. The flow computer includes a network, a first input/output (I/O) block, and a first processing unit. The first I/O block is coupled to the network and operable to communicate with the first instrument suite. The first processing unit includes a first display. The first processing unit is coupled to the network and operable to communicate with the first I/O block to receive flow monitoring data from the first instrument suite, process at least a subset of the flow monitoring data to generate flow output data, and generate a graphical image of the flow monitoring system on the display. The graphical image includes at least a subset of the flow output data.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a brushless motor, driver, incremental displacement sensor, and processor. The motor has a rotor, stator, and electrical terminals accepting a drive signal. The initial phase of the rotor is unknown. The driver is connected to the electrical terminals and produces the drive signal. The displacement sensor is configured to measure a displacement of the rotor and to produce an output signal. The processor has an input receiving the output signal and an output connected to the driver. The processor causes the driver to produce the drive signal according to a predetermined function of time, observes the output signal from the displacement sensor resulting from the drive signal, and performs mathematical computations on the basis of the observed output signal and a model of dynamic behavior of the motor to estimate the initial phase of the rotor.

Abstract: A valve tester system is disclosed that comprises a valve tester assembly for rotating a valve stem of a valve. The valve tester assembly may include a support, a rotation element mounted on the support for rotating a valve during a rotation event, a control element for controlling aspects of the rotation event of the valve by the rotation element, and an element for detecting a location of the valve tester assembly during the rotation event of the valve. In some embodiments of the invention, the element for detecting the location of the valve tester assembly includes a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver. In some embodiments, the GPS receiver is integral with the control element.

Abstract: A transition-density based data timing measurement method uses an estimated transition density (TD) value for an acquired data signal together with edge crossing times to estimate a data period for the acquired data signal. The estimated data period is used for symbol classification to determine a number of bits between adjacent edge crossings, which results are used to adjust the TD value. The adjusted TD value is then used to re-compute the data period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an optimal absorber stack geometry of a lithographic reflection mask comprising a reflection layer and a patterned absorber stack provided on the reflection layer, the absorber stack having a buffer layer and an absorber layer. The method is based on simulating aerial images for different absorber stack geometries in order to determine process windows corresponding to the absorber stack geometries. The optimal absorber stack geometry is identified by the maximum process window size. The invention further relates to a method for fabricating a lithographic reflection mask and to a lithographic reflection mask.

Abstract: A gas flow rate verification apparatus is provided for shared use in a multiple tool semiconductor processing platform. The gas flow rate verification apparatus is defined to measure a pressure rate of rise and temperature within a test volume for determination of a corresponding gas flow rate. The apparatus includes first and second volumes, wherein the second volume is larger than the first volume. The apparatus also includes first and second pressure measurement devices, wherein the second pressure measurement device is capable of measuring higher pressures. Based on the target gas flow rate to be measured, either the first or second volume can be selected as the test volume, and either the first or second pressure measurement device can be selected to measure the pressure in the test volume. Configurability of the apparatus enables accurate measurement of gas flow rates over a broad range and in an time efficient manner.

Abstract: A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial model database and a processor. The processor may cooperate with the geospatial model database for extracting ground data from foliage and building data, performing at least one noise filtering operation on the foliage and building data including at least one sum of differences operation, and separating foliage data from the building data based upon the at least one noise filtering operation.

Abstract: A method of and system for detecting a measurement error. The method includes: receiving measurement data from a measurement unit and user expression data from a user; corresponding each of the received measurement data and expression data to any one section of a plurality of sections; and checking whether or not the corresponding two sections are consistent with each other, to detect an error of any one of the measurement data and the expression data when they are not consistent.

Abstract: A position sensing system uses a resonant transmission line having a moveable dielectric as a position sensor. The system includes circuitry that supplies an RF drive signal to the resonant transmission line, which reflects the drive signal. Based on a standing wave signal, which is generated from the drive signal and the reflected drive signal, the circuitry determines the frequency of the RF sensor drive signal relative to a resonant frequency of the resonant transmission line, and adjusts the RF sensor drive signal frequency to match a resonant frequency of the transmission line. The system additionally includes integral circuitry that senses the temperature of the resonant transmission line and supplies a temperature signal representative thereof. The circuitry determines the relative position of the moveable dielectric based on the adjusted RF sensor drive signal frequency, and supplies a temperature compensated position signal representative thereof.

Abstract: A diagnostic mat has a texture, which enables avoiding mismatching in diagnosis and calibration, such as uniform and unduplicated patterns, for example, random dot patterns, fractal, natural images, and the like. A robot apparatus placed on the diagnostic mat assumes a stance suitable for taking images of the diagnostic mat, creates a distance image from an image acquired by the stereo camera, and verifies the performance of the stereo camera based on the flatness of the diagnostic mat obtained from this distance image. This assists in diagnosing the offset of the stereo camera mounted on the robot apparatus due to the deterioration over time of the stereo camera, falling of the robot apparatus, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention includes a data storage device and a method of reading data in a data storage device. Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is a data storage device. The data storage device includes a probe tip mounted on a suspension mechanism, a data storage layer, at least one conducting layer wherein a capacitance is formed between the suspension mechanism and the at least one conducting layer and a sensor for sensing a change in the capacitance based on a displacement of the probe tip due to the presence of a bit.

Abstract: A fault severity check and source identification method for a frequency domain instrument accesses acquired reflection data for a transmission line under test. From the acquired data reflection surfaces are isolated as a function of distance. Each reflection surface is examined to produce a frequency response profile and a worst-case reflection response to determine fault severity. The frequency response profile may also be correlated in a pattern recognition algorithm with known reference source profiles to determine the source identification for the fault.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for detection of selected defects particularly in relatively noisy inspection data are provided. One method includes applying a spatial filter algorithm to raw inspection data acquired across an area on a substrate to determine a first portion of the raw inspection data that has a higher probability of being a selected type of defect than a second portion of the raw inspection data. The selected type of defect includes a non-point defect. The method also includes generating a raw two-dimensional map illustrating the first portion of the raw inspection data. In addition, the method includes searching the raw two-dimensional map for an event that has spatial characteristics that approximately match spatial characteristics of the selected type of defect. The method further includes determining if the event corresponds to a defect having the selected type.

Abstract: A method for determining a state of charge (SOC) or state of health (SOH) of a battery system includes performing a first step. The first step includes determining a set of initial values for parameters, coefficients, and derivatives based upon linear functional relationships. A result is computed based on the determination. After execution of the first step, intermediate functions are calculated based on the result. The parameters are updated based on the intermediate functions. An open circuit voltage VOC that has a functional relationship with a voltage-based SOC (SOCV) is determined based on the updated parameters. The SOCV is extracted by inverting an expression of VO(SOCV). A current based SOC (SOCC) is calculated. A weight for weighting the SOCC and the SOCV is calculated. A SOC is calculated based on the weight. VO is a battery voltage.

Abstract: A method of implementing vibration suppression at equipment residing at a local site includes the steps of transmitting a prompt from a remote site to the local site, automatically sensing vibration response information from the equipment in response to the prompt, and transmitting the sensed vibration response information to the remote site. The method further includes the steps of analyzing the sensed vibration response information at the remote site and creating a vibration suppression algorithm based on the analyzed information. Another prompt is then transferred from the remote site to the local site, and in response thereto, vibrations are induced within the equipment at the local site in accordance with the vibration suppression algorithm, and additional vibration response information from the equipment is sensed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously performing chemical reactions and determining molecular transport dynamics on a plurality of samples such as thin film samples. The apparatus of the present invention is capable of containing multiple samples in individual sample holding positions in a sample holder within a housing and maintaining those holding positions in chemical isolation from each other. Under control of a computerized controller, the apparatus positions the sample holder so that each sample holding position may be positioned adjacent to one or more ports connected to a distribution manifold. The apparatus exposes each sample to one or more fluids in liquid or gas phase, thereby carrying out a chemical reaction and/or determining molecular transport dynamics under controlled temperature and pressure conditions. The sample holding positions may be positioned in an analytical measurement station within the housing so that the resulting chemical compound or mixture may be characterized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for metering catalyst to a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst unit are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for metering catalyst to a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst unit includes a low pressure storage vessel coupled to a pressure vessel by a metering device. A controller is provided to control catalyst transfers between the storage and pressure vessels. The control is configured to facilitate event and catalyst inventory information with local and remote devices.

Abstract: A system managing apparatus that monitors a status of a device, which is installed in an information processing apparatus, includes a connecting unit that connects the system managing apparatus with other system managing apparatus installed in other information processing apparatus to exchange information; and a monitoring-target switching unit that switches a device to be monitored from a device connected to the system managing apparatus to other device connected to the other system managing apparatus.

Abstract: In detecting the time at which a rotating object passes a given angular position, a value range of an angular position sensor output signal which varies relatively rapidly with angular position acts as a trip threshold that, when exceeded, indicates the object has achieved the detected angular position. A relatively rapid change as a function of angular position is determined by reference to the functional dependence of the detection signal level on the angular position of the object. Assuming the sensor signal varies sinusoidally with the object's angular position, the ranges in which the level of the sensor output signal varies rapidly with angular position lie in the vicinity of the angular positions at which the sensor output signal crosses its own mean value, the threshold value being chosen near this mean value.

Abstract: The invention relates to analysis methods for diagnosing diseases on human and animal samples. Said invention also relates to an evaluation method for diagnosing the individual stages of a disease in such a way that it is possible to display the progression thereof. Said invention also makes it possible to identify diseases in an early manner and to carry out therapeutic controls. The inventive method consists in carrying out actually known multivariable evaluation methods for classifying samples. Nevertheless, the invention is characterised in that no sample is allocated to a certain class, but it is classified in a data record based on the interpolation between different classes.