Abstract: A method of maintaining a desired level of a dispersed liquid within an occupiable semi-enclosed space is provided. The method includes: providing a liquid diffusion appliance including a liquid to be dispersed; operating the liquid diffusion appliance to disperse the liquid into the occupiable semi-enclosed space throughout a treatment period in which the occupiable space is subjected to entry and exit of occupants to and from the occupiable semi-enclosed space; sensing the concentration of one or more chemical components of the dispersed liquid within the occupiable semi-enclosed space; and modifying the operation of the liquid diffusion appliance based on the concentration of the one or more chemical components of the dispersed liquid within the occupiable semi-enclosed space to achieve a desired concentration.

Abstract: A method and an automation system for processing information extractable from an engineering drawing file. The automation system includes a controller which models in the engineering drawing file (20) at least two objects (302, 304) in a predefined format by adding at least two entities (34) to the engineering drawing file (20) (S501) and by adding support information (35) to the engineering drawing file (20) (S502) to provide the extractable information (S401), provides a program sequence (80) in an automation application (50) to establish a correlation of the extractable information (S402), correlates the extractable information by executing the program sequence (80) (S403), and generates output data (12, 15) based on the established correlation of the extractable information (S404). The correlation of the extractable information is established only while the program sequence (80) of the automation application (50) is being executed.

Abstract: Embodiments of flexible laser manufacturing systems are disclosed herein. A flexible laser manufacturing system configured in accordance with one embodiment includes a plurality of laser processing stations. Each laser processing station can include a laser source configured to generate a laser beam for processing target material, and a first controller coupled to the laser source. The flexible laser manufacturing system also includes a second controller coupled to the first controller of the individual laser processing stations. The second controller is configured to monitor and instruct each of the first controllers for processing target material of each of the corresponding laser processing stations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for automating a system wherein an interpreter generates and executes an execution code based on instructions received in form of a tree sequence, and wherein the tree sequence comprises information of parallel operations to define the respective automation procedure. The definition of the tree sequence may be based on a standardized human and machine readable format, such as e.g. an XML document.

Abstract: A spatial correlation system and method is disclosed to infer and anticipate the environmental and other conditions of an energy park from individual energy collector information. Individual collector information is acquired and formatted into a pixelized image according to the spatial location of the collector. Image processing and other spatial correlating algorithms are applied to generate spatially correlated descriptions of the energy park. The descriptions are of the current and anticipated conditions. The collectors are made to respond to the descriptions in order to maximize energy collection, avoid disruptive conditions, and reduce stress loading. The system combines locally acquired collection information in a manner that replaces costly collector instrumentation.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling environmental maintenance modules (e.g. HVAC units) using sensors are provided. Values measured by the sensors can be used to determine a change in operation levels of the modules to keep the sensor values within a desired range. For example, a stopped module can be increased or started for more cooling when a sensor temperature is too hot. The module predicted to have the greatest effect on the temperature of hot sensor can be started. A transfer matrix, which provides a relation between a change in operation level and resulting sensor changes, can be used to perform the above predictions. As another example, a module can be stopped (or otherwise have an operation level decreased), if the sensor temperatures are within range, and the decrease in operation level is predicted not to cause an out-of-range condition.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate processing unit for performing a process on substrates; a recipe protection unit for prohibiting processing conditions for the process from being changed while the process is being performed on a specific number of substrates; a protection cancellation unit for canceling a prohibition of a change in the process to allow the processing conditions to be changed while the process is being performed on the specific number of substrates; and a modifying unit for modifying the processing conditions. Further, a method for examining substrate processing conditions includes a protection cancellation step of canceling a prohibition of a change in the process to allow the processing conditions to be changed while the process is being performed on the specific number of substrates; and a modifying step of modifying the processing conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alarming indications and troubleshooting indications and actions in connection with a web converting manufacturing process such as that used for manufacturing disposable absorbent garments. Some of the disclosed embodiments include relating inspection data, such as product (or process) attribute data, to data from other manufacturing-related systems. Also disclosed are systems and methods for linking product (or process) attribute data obtained during the manufacturing process with one or more data sources including raw material data, process setting data, product quality data, and/or productivity data. Also disclosed are systems and methods for identifying manufacturing set point changes and automatically implementing such changes and automated web steering changes based on data from one or more inspection systems.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for monitoring and controlling laser cladding process by powder injection in real-time. The invention combines laser cladding technique along with automated direct feedback control to achieve a good quality clad in terms of dimensional and metallurgical characteristics. The system uses optical CCD-based detectors as the feedback system. The optical CCD-based detectors along with a pattern recognition algorithm is used to determine the clad characteristics in real-time. These characteristics are clad's dimensions, solidification rate, and roughness that are fed into a closed loop control system to adjust the laser power and table velocity to produce desired clad quality.

Abstract: A system and method for non-synchronously projecting light in an imaging system is provided. A pixel panel may be selectively controlled to direct light onto or away from a subject. A light source, such as a laser diode, projects light pulses at the pixel panel. The pulses are not synchronized with the pixel panel, so the light may strike the pixel panel at any time when the pixel panel is operable to direct light towards the subject. The pulses may be constant or variable in energy or duration, depending on the desired results.