Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for positioning a feeder needle, and to a production line for optical components, in which a feeder needle of an apparatus for portioning fluid material, preferably softened glass, in particular of a needle feeder, has its position relative to a seat for the feeder needle recorded by means of a force-measuring device, and to further apparatuses which realize this method and to objects produced by the process.

Abstract: Test cases to test control strategies of a control process are specified in input files. The instructions in the input files are automatically read by a block tester, which interfaces with the control system to issue the instructions. As a test designer can create the instructions in the input files a priori, the tests may be carefully designed to avoid errors, in addition to performing exhaustive tests.

Abstract: An adaptive relaying control system and method is disclosed for adapting coordination of protective measures provided to an electric-energy distribution system as a function of at least an ambient weather condition. A weather sensor senses the ambient weather condition within a region adjacent to at least a portion of the electric-energy distribution system. A control unit is operatively coupled to the weather sensor to receive a weather signal indicative of the ambient weather condition and determine whether a storm condition exists based at least in part on the weather signal. The control unit establishes a suitable control philosophy for adapting coordination of the protective measures provided to the electric-energy distribution system based at least in part on whether the storm condition exists.

Abstract: A networked delivery system and method for controlling operation of a spraying system includes nozzles for emitting an agrochemical according to a predetermined spray pattern and flow rate; vibration sensors located adjacent an agricultural spray system component to sense vibrations of the agricultural spray system component, such as spray nozzles. The networked delivery system also includes a control area network with a computer processor in communication with the vibration sensors. The processor conveys information to an operator regarding the agricultural spray system component based on the sensed vibrations. The processor also actuates each of the agricultural spray system components such as the spray nozzles to selectively control each of the nozzles or a designated group of the nozzles.

Abstract: Cooperation management means for cooperating and managing an assembly procedure data formed by showing a combination of assembly enabled components and an assembling order thereof and a component object data for displaying the components in a virtual space as a component object; object display means for displaying the component object in the virtual space based on the component object data; coordinate data acquisition means for acquiring coordinate data of the component object displayed in the virtual space by the object display means; and element working time output means for outputting the element working time required for an assembly of the components, based on assembly procedure data related to the above objects and cooperatively managed by the cooperation means are provided.

Abstract: An electric power distribution switchboard (1) in which one or more functional units are equipped with a switching device compartment (3) that integrates primary and secondary functions. Within the switching device compartment (3) are included, together with the switching device (37), the current and voltage sensors (36), the position sensors for interlocking, a human machine interface (HMI) and an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) (4) and the related local configuration point (32) to configure the IED (4). The IED (4) realizes functional unit supervision, control, protection, communication and monitoring and acts as a concentrating point of functional unit information and decisions. The switchboard (1) of the invention further comprises power supply section, an I/O section and a communication system.

Abstract: A mass flow controller includes a thermal mass flow sensor in combination with a pressure sensor to provide a mass flow controller that is relatively insensitive to fluctuations in input pressure. The pressure sensor and thermal sensor respectively provide signals to an electronic controller indicating the measured inlet flow rate and the pressure within the dead volume. The electronic controller employs the measured pressure to compensate the measured inlet flow rate and to thereby produce a compensated measure of the outlet flow rate, which may be used to operate a mass flow controller control valve.

Abstract: An environmental control system is disclosed for controlling the environment within a plurality of zones within a building with a plurality of heating, ventilating and air conditioning units. The environmental control system comprises a plurality of controllers for controlling the plurality of heating, ventilating and air conditioning units, respectively. Each of the plurality of controllers includes a temperature sensor connected to a thermostat control for controlling a heating, ventilating and air conditioning unit in accordance with an output from the temperature sensor. A link interconnects the plurality of controllers into a network. Each of the plurality of controllers may alter the operation of the thermostat control in accordance with the operation of the remaining plurality of controllers interconnected into the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the capacity of an installation used to carry out an industrial process in an economical and sustainable manner. Said method consists of the following steps: process variables relevant to the capacity of the installation are determined; said process variables are monitored during variable operating conditions of the installation; and a very small control reserve of the control loops of the installation is established on the basis of the monitored process variables.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide a method to characterize a spray pattern by detecting and quantifying asymmetries resulting in detailed information on location, size, and type of asymmetries within the spray pattern, which are important for spray characterization comparability and classification. A system is provided for in-situ monitoring of the spray characteristics.

Abstract: A power storage equipment management system has a power storage equipment, and a management server for managing power information of the power storage equipment. The power storage equipment includes a power receiving unit for obtaining power for charging, a power supplying unit for supplying charged power to a load, an information controller for generating power information by charging and discharging of the power receiving unit or the power supplying unit, and a communication unit for transmitting the power information to the management server. The management server includes an information management unit for determining a consideration with respect to the power information transmitted from the power storage equipment by using consideration information which has been set beforehand.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a control node in a programmable architecture, is disclosed. The node includes a plurality of user-programmable, microprocessor-based modules connected together. The modules are connected to create a parallel-processing environment with a selected functionality. Hot-swapping of the modules can be determined in the node. Power is distributed throughout the modules in the node. The modules may be automatically programmed to accommodate a target independent device.

Abstract: An autonomous solenoid controller which in its broad aspect includes a microprocessor, a communication bus, and a solenoid driver. The microprocessor includes logic in order to control drivers for at least one solenoid. The communications bus is operably connected to the microprocessor so that the communications bus and the microprocessor communicate with one another. The communication bus communicates with an outside transmission control unit. The solenoid driver is electrically connected between the microprocessor and the solenoid, such that the microprocessor commands the solenoid driver to alter the position of the solenoid.

Abstract: A networked delivery system and method for controlling operation of a spraying system includes nozzles for emitting an agrochemical according to a predetermined spray pattern and flow rate; vibration sensors located adjacent an agricultural spray system component to sense vibrations of the agricultural spray system component, such as spray nozzles. The networked delivery system also includes a control area network with a computer processor in communication with the vibration sensors. The processor conveys information to an operator regarding the agricultural spray system component based on the sensed vibrations. The processor also actuates each of the agricultural spray system components such as the spray nozzles to selectively control each of the nozzles or a designated group of the nozzles.

Abstract: A method includes acquiring metrology data associated with a process. Bias information associated with the process is determined. The metrology data is adjusted based on the bias information to generate bias-adjusted metrology data. The bias-adjusted metrology data is filtered to identify and reject outlier data. The process is controlled based on the metrology data remaining after the rejection of the outlier data.

Abstract: A disposal processing system is provided and includes: a disposal section that disposes of a document; a reading section that reads identification information of the document, the identification information being attached to an image on the document; a judging section that makes a judgment whether disposal of the document is permitted on the basis of the identification information; and a controller that controls the disposal section so that the disposal section disposes of the document at least one of: when the judging section makes a judgment that the disposal of the document is permitted; and when the controller acquires information indicating that the disposal of the document is permitted while the judging section makes a judgment that the disposal of the document is prohibited, and so that the disposal section does not dispose of the document when the judging section makes the judgment that the disposal of the document is prohibited.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a power adjustment process. The process for power distribution regulation includes filtering data from electrical sensors to provide conditioned data representative of a portion of a power distribution grid and determining, by a controller and based in part on the conditioned data, when an increase or decrease in an output parameter from one regulator of a plurality of regulators in the power distribution grid will reduce system power consumption. The process also includes increasing or decreasing the associated output electrical parameter in response to the controller determining that such will reduce system power consumption.

Abstract: A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates providing analog control within an industrial automation environment. An interface component can facilitate the receipt of data relating to an input. An analog lever component can be communicatively coupled to the interface component to provide analog control of a parameter associated with the industrial automation environment, wherein the analog control correlates the input with a virtual knob to adjust the parameter.

Abstract: A system that establishes a local dynamic data link between an energy management system (EMS) and a security system (SS) within a building. A power management device, including a monitor module that directly monitors energy usage of at least one energy load to generate at least one measurement of energy usage by said at least one energy load; and a security module operatively coupled to the monitor module.