Abstract: A method for allocating industrial or technical resources within technical systems, in particular to avert malfunctions, the system's operational state being represented by at least two parameter values, in such manner that as regards at least three different system operational states (Examples) at each of which at least one predetermined system function has been attained, the parameter value associated with the particular operational state is detected by detectors and is stored in a memory and in that, by means of pairwise comparison each time of two operational states and represented by the associated parameter values, a gauge is ascertained for the effect of the individual parameters on system function. The method of the invention allows quick and efficient resource allocation within technical systems, malfunctioning of such systems being reliably avoidable. Equipment of the invention operates on the principle of the method of the invention.

Abstract: A controlling system having a controller which acts on a controlled system as a function of a manipulated variable and a number of controller parameters is intended to provide a given control quality and a given control response in all operating states of the controlled system. For this purpose, the response characteristic of the controlled system is determined in a given time window during operation of the controller by comparing a wavelet transformation of the temporal response of the manipulated variable with a wavelet transformation of the temporal response of a controlled variable of the controller. An instant assigned to the respective wavelet transformation is detected, and the or each controller parameter is set as a function of the response characteristic.

Abstract: Performance measurement and analysis of local exchange carrier interconnections. Performance measurements can be used to establish that an incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”) is providing interconnections to one or more competitive local exchange carriers (“CLEC's”) that are at least equal in quality to the interconnections provided to itself. Performance measurements are defined to measure the timeliness, accuracy and availability of the interconnections provided to the CLEC'S. A performance measurement is based upon performance data that us collected from one of the ILEC's processes (preordering, ordering, provisioning, collocation, billing, maintenance and repair, emergency 911, operator service/directory assistance and trunk blockage). A performance report is defined to specify the types of performance measurements and dimensions that are included, as well as the reporting period.

Abstract: A domestic appliance (1) such as a microwave oven is adapted for interaction with a communications network (75) such as the Internet by the addition of a substantially self-contained discrete communications module (12) connectable to the communications network (75), the communications module (12) including display means (20) and command entry means that optionally interact with the appliance (1). The appliance (1) is provided with mounting hardware (6) and an adaptor (7) including means for attachment to the mounting hardware (6) and means (10, 13-16) for mounting the communications module (12) to the appliance (1) via the adaptor (7). The communications module (12) is adapted for connection to broadband cable or xDSL networks. Thus equipped, the appliance (1) becomes an element of a communications system (1, 72, 73) providing multiple functionality including television and Internet browsing functions within the home.

Abstract: In a control device for manually inputting information into a device, having a final control element whose position can be changed under the effect of an activation force and which is connected to a converter for generating electrical signals which characterize the position of the final control element, and having a motor element which is connected to the final control element and which exerts, under the control of the electrical signals, a force on the final control element, the size and direction of which force is dependent on the position of the final control element and/or on the information which is to be input, there is provision for the converter to be composed of the rotor (3) of the motor element and sensors (9, 10) which respectively emit an electrical signal as a function of the position of the rotor.

Abstract: A numerical control system having a built in personal computer (PC), is made up of an interrupt generation circuit in an NC section for generating an interrupt in the NC section when a power off switch is pressed, PC termination acknowledgement means in the NC section for sending a termination request to a PC section, acknowledging a termination notification from the PC section, and requesting a DS output circuit to turn off the power of a power unit, a PC power down handling section in the PC section for forcibly terminating an application program and an operating system in the PC section after receiving the termination request sent from the PC termination acknowledgement means in the NC section, and a BIOS section for checking that the operating system is terminated and sending a termination notification to the NC section. Thus, in the numerical control system having a built-in PC, the power is turned off soundly without destroying an external storage unit such as a hard disk storage unit.

Abstract: A method for identifying or predicting process parameters of an industrial process, in particular a primary-industry plant, having especially quickly varying process parameters or disturbances affecting the process, with the process parameters to be identified being determined by a process model as a function of measured values from the process, and with the process model having at least one time-invariant or one largely time-invariant process model which represents an image of the process averaged over time, and at least one time-variant process model that is adjusted to at least one time constant of a disturbance or of a variation in parameters of the process.

Abstract: Local technology modules automatically execute given functions as part of process automation. Each technology module has a memory storing module-specific information about the respective function of the technology module and its tie-in to a measuring point, open- and closed-loop control system. During an initialization phase, this information is transmitted to a central communication device, where it is stored for access by an operator communication and monitoring device. It can thus automatically add the information to its operator communication and monitoring interface.

Abstract: A three-dimensional data input device for a computer having a display screen includes a ball rotatably provided in a device body, and sensors for detecting rotation magnitudes of the ball along two axes on a plane and outputting displacement signals indicative of the detected rotation magnitudes, respectively. The device further includes a gyro for detecting an angular velocity of the device body about an axis extending at a given angle relative to the foregoing plane and outputting an angular velocity signal indicative of the detected angular velocity. The device further includes switches for outputting a selection signal in response to operation of at least one of selection buttons. The device derives displacement data based on the foregoing displacement signals and angular data based on the foregoing angular velocity signal and outputs the displacement data, the angular data and the selection signal to the computer.

Abstract: Rapid development of control programs for programmable logic controllers controlling semi-standard combinations of equipment is provided by the creation of relay ladder logic objects prestored in the programmable logic controller and invoked only as needed for the particular application. The inability of a programmable logic controller to provide for the memory management mechanisms necessary for true software object instancing is overcome by pre-storing the objects in the programmable controller with pre-allocated variable addresses. Connection of the used objects to I/O is provided by a mapper program also written in relay ladder code. The objects are associated with particular pieces of equipment and provide inter-machine control for that equipment while high level control program executed on a standard computer which controls the objects through reading and writing of object variables.

Abstract: An orthogonal functional basis method for function approximation is disclosed. Starting with the orthogonal least squares method, a new subset selection method for selecting a set of appropriate basis functions is explained where, instead of picking a subset from a given functional basis, the subset is selected from a combination of functional basis evolved from a set of heterogeneous basis functions. The method results in a more efficient neural network.

Abstract: The present invention concerns computer-produced carved signs and methods and apparatus for making the same. A computer-produced carved sign embodying a signage work having three-dimensional surfaces, is produced by a method which comprises, designing on a computer-aided design system, a three-dimensional graphical model of the signage work having three-dimensional surfaces to be carved in a signboard. On the computer-aided design system, a desired mathematical representation of the three-dimensional graphical model of the signage work to be carved in the signboard, is determined, and the desired mathematical representation is provided to a computer-aided machining system having a carving tool.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a real-time command detector connected to the data receiver without the memory therebetween to detect control commands. An error recovery controller enables the printing apparatus to recover from an error state in accordance with predetermined command data detected by the command detector.

Abstract: In a grinding machine a measurement arrangement is provided for the monitoring of the processing of a work piece, especially to make tools. The measuring arrangement uses, preferably, combined transmitted-light and incident-light based techniques so that both the edges and surfaces and depressions on the work piece are detected precisely. The automatic measurements makes it possible to automatically adjust the process parameters for the grinding process so that changes due to temperature drift, mechanical imprecisions of the mechanical system of the grinding machine or wear on the grinding disks are automatically compensated. This makes possible production of relatively large batches within very close tolerances and with high precision.

Abstract: A feeder/programming/buffer operating system is provided which controls a feeder mechanism, a programming mechanism, an electronic handling mechanism, a pneumatic handling mechanism, and a plurality of sensors. The operating system programs programmable devices and makes the feeder/programming/buffer system substantially independent of a production assembly system with which it is capable of being integrated yet fully responsive to the requirements of the production assembly system.

Abstract: An auto-tuner for use in tuning a control element in a process control network having distributed control functions includes a first tuning element located in the field device in which the control element is operating and a second tuning element located in a different device that communicates with the first device via a communication network. The first tuning element controls the operation of the control element during the dynamic data capture phase of an auto-tuning procedure, collects data during this phase of the auto-tuning procedure and determines one or more process characteristics from the collected data. The first tuning element then communicates the determined process characteristics to the second tuning element via the communication network.

Abstract: A computer interface module having a first information display screen that is directly linked to a plurality of additional information display screens containing on-line information about the operational status of plurality of interrelated automated devices as well as information describing the location of any specific sample and the status of clinical tests to be performed on the sample. A combination of general function buttons and specific function buttons as well as a scrollable text area where informational messages are displayed.

Abstract: An industrial control system comprises a first motion control system including a first motor and a first motion controller, a second motion control system including a second motor and a second motion controller, and a user program. The user program is executable by the industrial control system to control the first and second motion control systems. When the user program is displayed to a user, the user program comprises the following graphical elements. In particular, the user program includes a first icon which represents the first motion control system, a second icon which represents the second motion control system, and a third icon which represents a physical relationship between the first and second motion control systems. Finally, also displayed to the user is a plurality of data flow lines that connect the first, second, and third icons and that represent a flow of data between the icons. The various icons are all preferably implemented in an object-oriented programming environment.

Abstract: A circuit and method thereof for indicating availability of a power source other than a first power source in a computer system peripheral device (such as a network adapter) connected to a plurality of power sources including. The circuit includes a circuit subassembly coupled to the first power source and a second power source. The circuit subassembly conducts current from the first power source when power is not available from the second power source and otherwise conducts current from the second power source. A first component is coupled to the circuit subassembly and conducts current when the second power source is available; otherwise, it does not conduct current. A second component is coupled to the circuit subassembly and to the first component. The second component conducts current when the first component is conducting current and otherwise does not conduct current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system of inspecting a product, including extracting defects from the product, classifying the defects on the basis of information about the extracted defects representing the analogy of the defects, extracting the feature data of the defects on the basis of the result of defect classification, and feeding back the feature data of the extracted defects for inspection. The method and system is characterized in that the extracted feature data of the defects is fed back for inspecting the product.