Abstract: A device for estimating the cross sectional shape of a workpiece and measuring its dimensions by detecting the width of the workpiece, the contact angle or the contact position when the saw blade contacts the workpiece, and the presence or absence of a workpiece vertical side surface. In addition, if the cross sectional shape and dimensions of the workpiece are already known, the positional relationship of the band saw blade and the workpiece can be calculated by detecting the position of the band saw blade. The positional relationship of the workpiece and the saw blade guides can be calculated so that the saw blade guides are controlled to maintain a position in which they do not obstruct the workpiece.

Abstract: A process controller using a 16-bit microprocessor connected to a 10-bit analog to digital converter and a 10-bit digital to analog converter produces process correction signals having 16-bit accuracy. A raw sample of a process measurement signal is digitized to produce a first approximation of a process variable. The first approximation is stored and also reconverted to analog form as a processed analog sample. The processed analog sample is compared against the raw sample to generate and error signal corresponding to the difference. The error signal is amplified and digitized to produce a digitized refinement. The first approximation and the refinement are used to create first and second stage data words and a tabulated error value which are combined to produce enhanced digital data. Thereafter the enhanced digital data is used for calculation of a process correction command.

Abstract: An automatic control system includes a multiplier for multiplying the error signal fed to an integrator in accordance with the state of the integrator. The multiplier multiplies the error signal by a unity gain factor over the normal range of integral control; whereas, the multiplier multiplies the error signal by a factor greater than one, typically ten, when the integrator output is saturated at either the minimum or maximum values. The high multiplication value of the error signal ensures a sufficiently quick recovery from an integrator saturation condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of creating NC data for simultaneous five-axis control, which method includes obtaining a point (Ai) on a curve constituting a tool nose path (Mk) on a scukptured surface (SS), obtaining a normal vector (N) at the point (Ai) and a tangent vector (T) tangent to the tool nose path (Mk) at the point, next obtaining an outer product vector (S) between the normal vector (N) and the tangent vector (T), obtaining a tool central-axis vector (V), in a plane (PL) formed by the normal vector (N) and the outer product vector (S), in which a direction inclined toward the external product vector (S) from the normal vector (N) by a designated angle (.theta.) serves as the direction of the tool central axis, and creating NC data for simultaneous five-axis control using coordinates of the point (Ai) and the tool central-axis vector (V).

Abstract: In a case where a figure composed of already defined first and second figures (1, 2) is defined, it is determined whether the first and second figures (1, 2) have a point of intersection by designating the first and second figures (1, 2). If they do not, it is construed that a composite figure cannot be created and an error is displayed. If they do have a point of intersection, it is determined whether at least one of the first and second figures (1, 2) is an open figure. If neither is an open figure, closed figures obtained by combining the first and second figures (1, 2) are successively painted or displayed so as to be distinguishable from other figures. When a desired closed figure is displayed or painted, this closed figure is selected to define the composite figure. If one of the first and second figures is an open figure, open figures obtained by combining the first and second figures are successively displayed so as to be distinguishable from other figures.

Abstract: The invention provides a method suitable for computer implementation for manufacturing, designing and/or characterizing a lens or lens systems in terms of a manufacturing merit function that takes into account various factors that contribute to manufacturing costs and for designing lenses by using such manufacturing merit function criteria in an iterative lens design program to provide a lens design that is optimized on the basis both of optical and manufacturing considerations.

Abstract: A control system for an industrial plant comprises a plurality of instrument sets and a plurality of logic sets.The instrument sets have a number of sensors which detect parameters of the industrial plant, and have two serial link controllers which supply the output signals from each sensor in the instrument set sequentilly to the logic sets.The logic sets have a number of auto select logic circuits, each of which selects data from the sensors from one of the instrument sets, and a synchronister ensures that the output signals from the sensors detecting the same parameter are supplied to a voting logic circuit at the same time. The voting logic circuit performs a voting function on the output signals to produce a series of high reliability signals which are converted to parallel high reliability signals by a series to a parallel converter. The high reliability signals are supplied to a fault logic shutdown circuit which controls the operation of shutdown mechanisms for the industrial plant.

Abstract: A method of calculating an amount of offset for a wire electrode in a wire cut electric discharge machining operations. The offset amount for each of machining steps from coarse machining to finish machining are calculated with reference to a data table including a plurality of offset data each including a combination of a first machining margin to be removed by the wire electrode per se and a second machining margin to be removed by an electric discharge. The method is capable of reducing the number of data required for determination of the offset amounts for plural machining steps.

Abstract: An apparatus for drawing a pre-selectable quantity of liquid, in particular a quantity of water, comprises an input device, at which the respectively desired quantity of liquid to be delivered automatically can be fed in. Located in the path of the liquid is an electrically variable flow-control valve, whereof the position is varied automatically according to the pre-selected quantity of liquid, corresponding to a characteristic curve stored in a memory: the flow rate is chosen to be all the greater, the greater the pre-selected quantity of liquid. Due to this it is ensured that very different quantities of liquid can be drawn in times which are practical for use.