Abstract: A method of determining classification codes for defects occurring in semiconductor manufacturing processes and for storing the information used to determine the classification codes. A wafer is selected from a production lot after the lot is sent through a first manufacturing process. The selected wafer is scanned to determine if there are defects on the wafer. Images of selected defects are examined and a numerical value is assigned to each of N elemental descriptor terms describing each defect. A classification code is determined for each defect based upon the numerical values assigned to the N elemental descriptor terms. The classification code and numerical values assigned to the N elemental descriptor terms are stored in a database. The wafer is sent through each sequential process and classification codes are assigned to additional defects selected after each sequential process.

Abstract: A control for delivery system made up of a plurality of variable output feed sources each with an independently variable input of material defines the capability of each of the feed sources based on the level of material and combines these capabilities to define a total capability of the delivery system. An output setpoint for each source is determined based on its capability and a required setpoint is set based on a desired end product characteristic which is used to define a production rate based on total capacity, required setpoint and the production line characteristics. The process is iterative so that the production rate, e.g. speed of the line is varied iteratively depending on the then current capabilities of the feed sources of the system and the footprint of the feed sources are adjusted based on their sensed capabilities thereby to maximize production line speed based on capability.

Abstract: A jig system is disclosed which includes an assembly table which has a plurality of slots which extend across the width of the table. Pucks are arranged for movement along the openings on carriages which are mounted for sliding movement on rails. The carriages are connected to endless belts which travel around pulleys under the control of a motor for in turn moving the carriages to position the pucks. The motor is controlled by a computer and controller. The carriage has springs which support a plate so that the plate is biased upwardly above the table. Connectors may be located beneath a workpiece supported on the support surface so that when a force is applied to the plates, the plates and workpiece move downwardly against the bias of the springs so that the connector is forced into the workpiece. Cylinders and arms are provided for clamping the workpiece against the pucks. The pucks, cylinders and arms are provided on the support plate.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for slicing a three-dimensional object representation into a plurality of layer representations is described, wherein the layer representations are subsequently used to form the object layer-by-layer according to the principles of stereolithography. If not already provided in the object representation, a plurality of layer boundary representations are first formed, and then the boolean difference of successive layer boundary representations are computed to derive boundaries of up and down-facing regions, enabling different cure parameters to be specified for these different regions.

Abstract: When an electronic component is picked up at an electronic component feeding part and then positioned and mounted at a predetermined mounting position on a transparent panel, mounting position marks formed at the mounting position on the transparent panel are registered with positioning marks formed on the electronic component, to thereby recognize the relative position from a surface opposite to a surface of the transparent panel where the electronic component is to be mounted, so that the position of the electronic component is corrected based on the result of the recognition before the electronic component is mounted at the predetermined mounting position on the transparent panel.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing the cutting front temperature of a laser beam on a workpiece in order to improve the quality of the laser beam cut. The technique and system models the temperature of a virtual grid of nodes on the workpiece's surface and determines the effect of the laser beam on each node's temperature including the creation of the kerf. An optimization technique is then performed on the results from temperature model which creates a power data profile to indicate the correct level of power which the laser should be operated for every point on the laser cut. The technique and system is especially useful when boundary, turns or holes are required where the cutting conditions change creating excessive heat accumulation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a continuous steel casting process wherein one or more strands of steel are cast from a mold, allowed to cool and then cut into blooms. A plurality of sensors monitor process parameters at different locations relative to a strand of steel as the strand exits the mold, cools and is cut. A storage device stores data representations of the parameters as they are monitored by the plurality of sensors. A data network communicates data from the plurality of sensors to the storage device. A logic processor coupled to the storage device prompts an operator as the operator sets up logic relations between parameters of the steel casting process that identify and categorize defects in steel. The logic processor includes a mathematical parser for evaluating the logic relations between parameters and converting the logic relations to processor instructions used to evaluate the data representations of the parameters for defects.

Abstract: An environmental load equation storage section that stores the environmental load equations modeled on a stage at which a product is produced and used and a stage of waste treatment and recycling, with the life cycle of the product being divided into at least the two stages, a unit load emission storage section that stores conversion coefficients used to convert the amounts of materials and energy consumed in producing, using, waste-treating, and recycling the product into the amount of environmental load factors emitted as a result of those operations, an input section for entering the amounts of materials and energy consumed in producing, using, waste-treating, and recycling the product, for each of the modeled stages, a computing section that calculates the amount of emission of environmental load factors by applying the amounts of materials and energy fed and the conversion coefficients corresponding to the amounts to the environmental load equations, an assessment section for assessing a load that the pr

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a computer-based instrumentation system which provides simplified application development and improved performance for instrumentation systems. The present invention provides a system including a software architecture which defines the control and management of an instrumentation system. The present invention includes a base object class, an object manager, session and resource classes, and one or more resource templates. The instrumentation system of the present invention provides a plurality of instrument control resources which are used as building blocks to create instrument drivers and higher level applications. The present invention also uses object oriented technology which allows device resources to be easily combined to create higher level applications. The present invention is independent of I/O interface type, operating system, and programming language while also providing a common look and feel and consistent API to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically trimming a geometry that is formed by the spatial intersection of geometric model primitives created on a computer aided design (CAD) system. In one embodiment of the present invention, an automatically trimmed representation of the geometry is determined while retaining the geometric model primitives used to determine the automatically trimmed representation. In another embodiment, the automatically trimmed representation is determined based upon a concept of sense that can be assigned to each model primitive, or inferred for each model primitive. In a further embodiment, the automatically trimmed representation is determined based upon a boolean evaluation of the spatial intersection of the geometric model primitives.

Abstract: A production line tracking and quality control system and method thereof comprises a series of pallets for carrying one or more first contact lens mold halves or one or more complementary second contact lens mold halves throughout a contact lens fabrication facility. Each pallet of the series is transported on a conveyor device throughout the fabrication facility, and each pallet includes a unique identifying code. The fabrication facility includes one or more process stations and a control device provides real time monitoring of contact lens fabrication processes at the one or more process stations. The control device further includes a tracking device for identifying the unique code of each of the pallets at one or more process stations while continually receiving monitored process condition values at each station.

Abstract: A configurable machine-tool control is realized by a multitude of functional objects, whereby besides an optional operating element (BT), one functional object (01-022) consists of a procedure portion (PT) and a communication portion (KT), and can be realized either in software or in hardware and software. To provide a concrete defined variant of one machine-tool control, the required functional objects (01-022) can be combined from the quantity of all functional objects (01-022) into one or more processes (P1-P4).

Abstract: A device that is able to sort and stack processed products according to their intended use, moreover is able to stack efficiently within a limited area and is able to simply produce control programs to affect such processes. Products which have completed a cut-out process by a work processing device are sorted and moved to predetermined positions by a sort stacking device. A product may be automatically picked from pre-processed work, and automatically placed in the sort area. A plurality of products are arranged by an auto-programming device. A produced processing/picking control program and the stacking time control program may be executed by a line controller. The work processing device and the sort stacking device may be simultaneously controlled.

Abstract: A method for process control which uses discrete lots in which each lot is uniquely identified. The process is modeled with a precedence rule which allows concurrent processing of each discrete lot. Lots are processed simultaneously within different processing steps in such a way as to maintain the unity of the lot while tracking the lot at all times during processing.

Abstract: A recognition apparatus and method are provided for identifying the type of work piece loaded onto the rotating shaft chuck of an ophthalmic product generator. A digital electronic system supplies signals which control the angular displacement of the chuck. Each type of work piece has a unique pattern of passages aligned on a plane transverse to its rotational axis which rotate into and out of alignment with a single registration line in the plane. Unique signature data which identifies each type of work piece by the angular positions at which the passages come into and go out of alignment with the registration line is stored in the digital electronic system. A beam of light, preferably infrared, is continuously transmitted along the registration line during a signature rotation of the chuck. The angular positions of the loaded work piece and the status of an electrical signal generated when the light beam passes through the passages are detected and stored in the digital electronic system.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a malfunction of a process control system which includes at least one closed loop control loop comprising measuring a histogram of tracking error of the control loop, determining distortion of the tracking error relative to a Gaussian distribution, and indicating a malfunction in the process in the event a deviation from the Gaussian distribution of the tracking error exceeds predetermined limits.

Abstract: Sheet materials in the form of remnants of non-repetitive shapes and that might be flawed, e.g. hides (10), are cut up using a method that includes the following operations: digitizing the geometrical shape of each remnant; defining a layout for pieces to be cut out from the remnant; and cutting out the pieces from the remnant in compliance with the resulting layout. The surface of the remnant (10) is provided with marks characteristic at least of the disposition and of the orientation of the remnant during digitization. The marks are detected so as to generate and record position information representative of the positions of the first marks.

Abstract: A prescription dosage unit dispensing system including a housing having a plurality of cells, each cell adapted to contain a base-port subunit including a dosage unit dispensing device, a disposable drug-containing tower unit containing in sealed condition a single type of solid dosage unit is operatively connected to the base-port subunit and a device for securing a vial in place so that it can receive the solid dosage units from the drug-containing tower unit as instructed manually or via automated microprocessor/computer control.

Abstract: A control device and a plurality of slave devices are connected to a common transmission channel. The control device sets an assigned communication mode by sending a receiving inhibit command to all of the slave devices except one assigned and executes an assigned communication with the assigned slave device based on a unique communication protocol free from restrictions in relation to the remaining slave devices. In this case, the control device and the assigned slave device communicate with each other under a condition that maximum rest time period of communication data is within a constant time. The cancelling of the assigned communication mode and the receiving inhibit mode and the returning to the usual communication mode are automatically executed according to a time management using timers contained in the control device and the remaining slave devices.

Abstract: An automatic transaction apparatus, such as a vending machine, containing a current inventory of products for purchase and including a display unit. The current product inventory stored in the apparatus is monitored and representations of products appearing on the display unit are changed in response to monitoring the current product inventory. Methods of operating the automatic transaction apparatus are also disclosed.