Abstract: A system for configuring a process control system, e.g., a Fieldbus network, having intelligent field mounted devices coupled to a data communications bus. A software representation of the process control system to be configured is first designed on a computer. Using the system, a user selects representations of the various field mounted devices to be included in the actual control system. The user then specifies which function blocks of each field mounted device are to be used and how those function blocks are to be linked. The computer is then coupled to the communications bus of the actual control system via an interface device and the configuration and link data are downloaded to the field mounted devices of the control system. The computer can act as a bus master of the communications bus of the control system with the field mounted devices acting as slaves.

Abstract: A robot calibration system includes a calibration sensor that provides an indication of when a first reference point that remains fixed relative to a robot base is a fixed distance from a second reference point that is located on the robot arm. The robot arm is moved through a plurality of orientations and each time that the fixed distance between the two reference points is achieved, robot joint position information is determined. The preferred calibration sensor includes a string that extends between the two reference points and activates a signal generator each time that the string is taut as caused by the orientation of the robot arm. The generated signal indicates that the two reference points are separated by the fixed distance. The determined robot joint positions are then used to determine a calibration factor which varies depending on the needs of a particular situation.

Abstract: In a programmed computer system with a display device for preparing a working plan for inserting a plurality of materials into a printed circuit board, a method for transforming an original bill-of-material made by a material supplier into a standard bill-of-material is disclosed. In the method, the original bill-of-material is stored in a first storage area of the programmed computer system, and then field configuration information of the original bill-of-material is registered. Next, a bill-of-material transforming command is inputted, and then in response to the bill-of-material transforming command, material information of the original bill-of-material stored in the first storage area is transformed into the standard bill-of-material. Finally, the transformed material information is stored in a second storage area assigned as a standard bill-of-material area.

Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment, a method is provided to electronically detect the presence of error correcting memory modules in a computer system in an easy and efficient manner. The method forces an error in the memory system and detects whether there is an error reporting output on the error active line. In the preferred method, the memory refresh for the memory system is turned off for a period of time sufficient to introduce errors in the memory. Then, a read is done while monitoring the error active line. If any bank of memory has an error line active go active during a read, than an error correcting memory module is installed. If not, than a standard memory module is installed.