Abstract: A machine tool and its associated control system has workpiece holding me which are mounted on a frame for rotation about a fixed axis and are adapted to support and to be fixedly connected to a workpiece, such as a crankshaft, centered on that axis. The machine tool further has a tool carriage which is slidably mounted on the frame for displacement in a direction which is transverse to the rotational axis; first drive means which serve to impart angular rotation to the workpiece holding means about the axis; second drive means which serve to displace the tool carriage in the transverse direction; and electronic control means for controlling the first and second drive means so that the desired angular rotation and transverse displacement are performed with a predetermined, generally nonlinear relationship to each other.

Abstract: A high speed rectangle function generator which provides a rectangular out voltage in response to an input voltage. A voltage divider produces switching points in conjunction with an input voltage to switch inversion and non-inversion amplifiers. The outputs of the inversion and non-inversion amplifiers are summed to produce a rectangular output voltage. Operational amplifiers are utilized as inversion and non-inversion amplifiers.

Abstract: Signals from a rudder position setting control and from a rudder position sensor constitute the only electrical information sources needed for operating a monitoring system for a rudder control that produces an alarm when the rudder control does not function effectively. The difference between the desired rudder setting and the actual rudder position, generated by a differential amplifier, is fed to a bi-directional limit circuit and a differentiating circuit is used to generate a signal corresponding to the rate of change of rudder position, which signal is likewise provided to a bi-directional limit circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vertical flight path angle steering system for aircraft, utilizing a digital flight control computer which processes pilot control inputs and aircraft response parameters into suitable elevator commands and control information for display to the pilot on a cathode ray tube. The system yields desirable airplane control handling qualities and responses as well as improvements in pilot workload and safety during airplane operation in the terminal area and under windshear conditions.

Abstract: A solid-state, signal conversion circuit for converting electrical, periodic analog signals to other analog signals of different amplitude and/or frequency and/or phase is disclosed. The input signal is demodulated, scaled and sampled and each sample converted, via an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, to a digital word corresponding to the sample's amplitude. The digital words address a ROM which has other words stored at the addresses in correspondence with the desired values for a preselected output signal. Scaling means is used to keep the input signal to the A/D converter at a constant peak value regardless of fluctuations in the signal level. A comparator and subtractor are used to invert the downslope of input signals to avoid ambiguity problems when the output signal frequency is an even multiple of the input signal frequency.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for determining an effective address based upon a calculation performed on address information. Depending upon the result of the calculation firmware or hardware will control further operation of the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for executing a set-up cycle of operation to automatically move a cutting tool and workpiece into close proximity from an unknown positional relationship. After selecting the set-up mode of operation, the cutting tool and workpiece are moved together; and upon detecting superficial contact, the cutting tool and workpiece are separated by a selectable distance. The cycle of operation may also be used to establish the absolute position of the working edge of the cutting tool from which subsequent cutting tool motion may be measured.

Abstract: A digital control system is provided for positioning a tool relative to a workpiece. The tool is preferably a grinding wheel and the workpiece is a roll appropriately mounted within a roll grinding machine. The digital control system receives various infeed commands representative of the different types of infeed positioning that are to be performed during a grinding operation. The digital control system is thereafter operative to combine these infeed commands into a composite set of control signals. These control signals are applied to a single motor within a pivotal infeed arrangement which moves the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: A process stepping sequential controller includes a random access memory for a memory for programming and a process stepping counter, whereby a program from a console is written thereto or altered therein, and also includes a display unit for monitoring the input from the console and the running program, the random access memory including program areas each adapted to store instruction codes, codes representing the stepping condition of the program, and output setting codes under which control is commanded at its step.

Abstract: A feed speed control system for use in numerical control systems or the like, in which a set feed speed can be adjusted through a simple structure. The control system includes a memory circuit for storing a plurality of numerical values corresponding to feed speeds, a command circuit for issuing a command indicative of a prescribed numerical value from among the plurality of numerical values, an arithmetic circuit for incrementing or decrementing a numerical value read from the memory circuit in response to an output pulse from manual operation device, and a pulse generating circuit for generating pulses of a frequency which is proportional to an incremented or decremented numerical value from the arithmetic circuit.

Abstract: An anti-tightline control system and method which monitors the hoist and drag rope-in length of dragline type equipment, and in the event that certain preset levels are exceeded, the control system functions to slow the hoist and drag rope drives, initiate a warning to the operator of the dragline equipment, and if required, stops the hoist and drag rope drives. The control provides a limit to a voltage reference signal from the operator's hoist and drag master control for the hoist and drag drive motor voltage regulators under static or dynamic tightline operating conditions to automatically reduce the speed of both the hoist and drag rope drives towards zero as the amount of net rope-in increases. For certain specialized dragline equipments having specially-shaped tightline limit boundary characteristics, the control system makes available a function generator for establishing a shaped tightline limit boundary instead of the elliptical tightline boundary used with other types of equipment.

Abstract: Data for determining a limit value of the trace range of a model are stored in a memory and the stored data are read out therefrom by a processor to calculate the limit value of the trace range. The current position of a movable machine part is detected and compared with the limit value and when it is detected by the processor that the current position of the movable machine part has reached the limit value, a trace feed is switched to a pick feed. After the pick feed is performed a predetermined distance, it is switched again to the trace feed. A desired trace range is set to achieve tracer control without the provision of limit switches.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for modifying coordinate data in a machining program in response to workpiece measurements made by a programmably controlled surface sensing element. The location of the workpiece and position of workpiece characteristics are determined by a series of programmed scanning cycles. The maximum, minimum and average measured positions of points on a workpiece surface are stored and may be used to calculate position offsets which may be used to modify a machining program. Further, the measured positions and offsets may be tested against programmed maximum and minimum limits to determine if the measured positions are within a tolerance band. In one embodiment, the positions of points on the workpiece surface are measured by a cutting tool operating in conjunction with a torque measuring circuit.

Abstract: A controller (FIGS. 1, 2) is provided in a dual servo system that drives a controlled element (22) with mechanically coupled first and second servos (24 and 44). This controller has a first (10, 110, 112) and second (14, 108, 114) digital process subsystem. The first digital processing subsystem can simultaneously drive the first and second servos. This first processing subsystem is operable to measure the responsiveness of the servos to the first processing subsystem and provide a self-checking indication. The second digital processing subsystem measures the responsiveness of these servos to the first digital processing subsystem and can provide an independent indication of failure. The foregoing can be extended to multiple channels for controlling independent multiple elements such as aircraft control surfaces. Preferably, two different types of computers (10, 14; 108, 110, 112, 114) with different programs can be employed to control three control channels.

Abstract: Multi-dimensional coordinate translation, rotation, and scaling for a machine control system provides translation, rotation, and scaling of coordinates such as for alignment, inch and metric, scaling, and expanded and contracted dimensions. A method of reducing accumulated errors uses absolute coordinate dimensions. Axis alignment provides for computationally aligning misaligned parts. Inch and metric scaling provides for dimensioning in either set of units. Expanded and contracted dimensions permits scaling to nominal dimensions, then expanding or contracting dimensions for special purposes such as compensation for thermal expansion and mating parts.

Abstract: The invention discloses method for self-optiming, in real time, a machine relative to a specific performance characteristic in response to variations on a prescribed number m of variables. This method comprises selecting a statistical design; repeatedly and at n time instants adjusting conditions of the m variables and simultaneously recording the dependent values of the performance characteristic; analyzing the n sets of data to determine the functional relationship between the m variables and the specific performance characteristic; determining the combination of the m variables that gives optimum value of the performance characteristic; and setting the conditions of the m variables at the thus-determined combination. A machine in the form of a programmed microprocessor embodying this self-optimizing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a numerical controlling method and system for controlling a machine such as a machine tool, robot or the like, through an exchange of data between the machine and a numerical controlling apparatus.The system includes conversion circuits incorporated in both of the numerical control apparatus and the machine, the conversion circuits being adapted to convert serial data into parallel data and vice versa; a cable connected between the conversion circuits; an address signal generating circuit adapted to generate an address signal; and a decoder circuit incorporated in the machine and adapted to decode the address signal.

Abstract: A decoding circuit is coupled to the signal lines that communicate address signals to a memory unit. When a predetermined address is communicated, the decoding circuit produces a supplemental signal that is coupled to the memory unit and used to select one of a plurality of groups of memory locations. The communicated address signals specify the memory location of the selected group to be accessed.

Abstract: A process for automatically identifying the parameters of a controller which controls a process and a process model which includes changing alternately the set point for the process by a predetermined value above and below the desired set point of the process which is continued until the parameters of the process model describe the process.The apparatus includes means for creating a cycle that has a plurality of steps, means for comparing a proportional amount of a set point change with a corresponding value of the process during one of the cycles steps during which the parameters are identified, means for repeating the cycle until the change in the values of the parameters between adjacent cycle is less than a predetermined amount, and means for terminating the cycle repetition if the parameter change between adjacent cycles is less than the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A robot is disclosed having a plurality of movable links or members interconnected end-to-end in series. Associated with each is an actuator and position transducer. Some of the links are relatively massive and cannot be readily moved without power assistance when the robot is manually programmed, while other links or members, namely those constituting the wrist, are relatively lightweight which permits movement thereof without power assistance during manual programming. A force transducer is connected in series with the output element of the robot in association with one of the massive links located between the wrist and the stationary base on which the robot is mounted. The transducer senses forces during programming applied to the massive links via the wrist when manual programming forces are applied to the robot output. The force transducer provides an output signal for each of the massive links correlated to the component of the manual programming force transmitted thereto via the wrist.