Abstract: A system and method for controlling a variator operate to detect variator torques and/or internal pressures and generates a preliminary corrective command. The preliminary corrective command is transformed via a dynamic transform to account for system characteristics during transient operating conditions such as machine acceleration, such that the acceleration of the system during transient periods is not torque-limited by static torque-control map values. In an embodiment, the acceleration may be positive or negative, and in a further embodiment, braking is automatically applied in the case of negative requested power or desired machine retarding.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a control system supports an unlimited number of feedback control loops all sharing control of a component. A component performance rate or “speed” is used as a common metric for negotiating control of the component. Each control loop continuously monitors a system parameter it is tasked with regulating, compares it to a setpoint for that system parameter, and “requests” a speed in relation to the deviation of the associated system parameter from the corresponding setpoint. A controller receives the requested speeds as dynamic inputs and selects one of the requested speeds according to predefined selection logic. The controller communicates the selected speed to an actuator, which causes the component to operate at the selected speed. In this manner, the control system in effect negotiates control of the component in a way that ensures that all of the system parameters are being managed within safe limits.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of performing a dual damascene procedure using Site-Dependent (S-D) procedures, the method including receiving a plurality of wafers and associated data by a S-D transfer subsystem coupled to a lithography-related subsystem, determining S-D wafer data for each wafer, establishing a first Dual Damascene processing sequence, determining a first set of S-D processing wafers to be processed, establishing real-time operational states for a plurality of first S-D processing elements in the lithography-related subsystem, transferring a first number of the first set of S-D processing wafers to a first number of the first S-D processing elements in the lithography-related subsystem and delaying other S-D wafers in the first set of S-D processing wafers for a first amount of time.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, method, and computer program of designing a floating roller in a tensioning system adapted to one of supply and receive a web of material to or from one of a web supply and a processing machine, comprising inputting external radius of said floating roller, measure of elasticity of the material, a thickness of the material, width of the material, and angles at which the material contacts the floating roller; and adjusting mass of the floating roller and rotational inertia of the floating roller based on external radius of the floating roller, measure of elasticity of the material, thickness of the material, width of the material, and angles at which the material contacts the floating roller such that the floating roller maintains a constant tension on the web of material as the material is passing through the tensioning system.

Abstract: A detection signal representing changes of an object observed can be easily transmitted to any desirable site, without performing complex adjustment to use the signal. An AE sensor is provided on an appropriate part of the circumferential surface of a rotating-side chuck which holds a workpiece. A signal-transmitting unit is provided in a space made in the rotating-side chuck. A signal-receiving unit is mounted on an appropriate part of a main section on which the rotating-side chuck is provided. The signal-transmitting unit transmits by radio a detection signal generated by the AE sensor. The signal-receiving unit receives and demodulates the detection signal, generating a signal that will be processed in signal processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing air flow to a boiler of a power generating unit using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. Air flow is optimized to maintain flame stability, minimize air pollution emissions, and improve efficiency. An optimizer determines optimal setpoint values for manipulated variables associated with the power generating unit by using a model to minimize the value of a cost function while observing at least one constraint associated with operation of the power generating unit.

Abstract: A method for capturing data includes recording, within an intelligent electronic device (IED), information regarding an initial change to one of a firmware within the IED, a hardware within the IED, and a configuration within the IED.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for the automated real-time collection, extraction, transformation, analysis and presentation of statistical process control (SPC) information. One or more monitored systems or processes generate operational process control information that is stored in its native form. An SPC system iteratively accesses this information, transforms it as required, and performs statistical processing to generate database tables, control charts and other predetermined forms of data output. The statistical processing output is then extracted by an automated SPC data extraction system in real-time. The extracted data is placed in a data wrapper and submitted, likewise in real-time, to one or more statistical analysis systems or models, which process the data to derive new specification limits. The new specification limits are applied to monitored systems and processes resulting in the generation of new operational measurements, which are in turn collected and processed.

Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a system and method for automated generating of a cutting curve on a surface is provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method for automated generating of a cutting curve on a gingival surface to facilitate cutting of an aligner material comprises the defining of initial gingival curves along the line around a tooth (LAT) on a patient's jaw, including within an interproximal area between teeth. The initial gingival curves are replaced with a modified, dynamic cutting curve comprising an offset adjustment configured to minimize weakening of a region of the aligner material within the interproximal area. This process for generating a modified, dynamic cutting curve within an interproximal area can be suitably applied or continued for each of other the teeth and interproximal areas between those teeth to define a complete dynamic cutting curve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit for a refrigeration or air conditioning device, comprising a main processor that is situated in a housing and that controls the temperature, fan and/or the defrosting process of a refrigeration or air conditioning device. Contact points for a co-processor, which is separate from the main processor and is suitable for controlling an electronic expansion valve, are located in said housing.

Abstract: To prevent incorrect recognition of marks on a web, and to lighten a load to memory and arithmetic systems associated with mark recognition, a control apparatus for a printing machine includes a positional relationship acquisition means for previously obtaining a positional relationship between a position in a web traveling direction of each of the marks and a target cutting-off position of the web, and a detection timing control means for controlling mark detection timing so that the detection of each of the marks by a mark detector is performed during a specified period based on the positional relationship.

Abstract: A system for protection, control, metering, and monitoring of the delivery of electrical power is disclosed. Embodiments of the system provide input/output devices called bricks to receive analog and binary field data from primary equipment located in a power substation switchyard. The bricks are linked via fiber-optic patch cables and patch panels with one or more intelligent electronic devices (“IEDs”). In operation, the bricks convert the received binary and/or analog field data into digital signals, and transmit the digital signals synchronously to their associated IEDs using clock signals provided by each IED to the individual bricks. The bricks may accept a computer software code download from each of its master IED(s). Multiple code implementations, each tailored to the requirements of its master IED(s) can therefore co-exist on a single brick.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and apparatus for providing continuous power and utilities to a fixture in a manufacturing process. In one embodiment of the invention, a system with robot, such as a robotic arm, and a workstation can be deployed in a manufacturing process. A fixture associated with the manufacturing process can include a mount operable for receiving power from the robot or robot arm, and another mount operable for receiving power from the workstation. An associated control device, such as a programmable logic circuit, can selectively provide power via either mount depending on whether the fixture is mounted to the robot or robotic arm, or to the workstation.

Abstract: A method includes predicting measurements or states to be used by a controller to control a process. The predicted measurements or states are generated using a model of the process. The method also includes providing the predicted measurements or states to the controller such that the controller uses the predicted measurements or states at a sampling rate of the controller. In addition, the method includes updating at least some of the predicted measurements or states using measurements associated with a characteristic of an item from a sensor. The model may represent a discrete time model, and the method may also include generating the discrete time model using a continuous time model of the process. The measurements could be received from a plurality of sensors, where at least two of the sensors have different sampling times.

Abstract: An observation system configured to observe one or more initially unknown state variables of an observed system includes an input interface configured to receive a system input, and a processing module coupled to the input interface. The processing module is configured to determine the one or more initially unknown state variables, and the determination is based at least in part on the system input, a plurality of known state variables, and a time varying mode vector that is time dependent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to configure process control system inputs and outputs are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises obtaining a tag of a process control device from the input/output device, and associating the process control device with a process control module based on the obtained tag.

Abstract: A control method which quickly adjusts a plasma processing apparatus to a desired pressure regardless of gas type, gas flow rate or target pressure simply by optimizing constants. The plasma processing apparatus includes: gas supply means which supplies processing gas to a low pressure processing chamber; plasma generating means which supplies electromagnetic energy to the processing gas in the low pressure processing chamber and generates plasma; exhaust means which exhausts gas in the low pressure processing chamber; gas pressure measuring means which measures gas pressure in the low pressure processing chamber; exhaust speed adjusting means which adjusts exhaust speed of gas to be exhausted by the exhaust means; and an arithmetic and control unit calculates an exhaust speed to make the gas pressure measured by the pressure measuring means equal to a target value, and controls the exhaust speed adjusting means according to the calculation result.

Abstract: A process control and manufacturing information database client application is disclosed displaying received time-series data in an unambiguous manner when a displayed range of time-series data includes a DST transition for a designated time zone for displaying the data. A data acquisition interface obtains timestamped time-series data values for an observed parameter from the process control and manufacturing information database. The data values are requested/received/stored by the client application, for example, according to the UTC time standard. The client application renders the timestamped time-series data values as a series of points on a time-line graph. The time-line graph includes alphanumeric time labels specified in accordance with a designated time zone. The display function renders the time-line graph without disruptions over a time span containing a Daylight Savings Time (DST) transition for the designated time zone.

Abstract: An industrial automation device comprises a data storage component that retains at least a portion of a schema, the schema facilitates usage of a hierarchically structured data model by the industrial automation device. A processor is communicatively coupled to the data storage component and facilitates at least one of receipt, execution, and creation of an object that conforms to the hierarchically structured data model. In another example, the industrial automation device can be employed to execute a workflow.

Abstract: A vending machine for purchasing selected items by a customer. The vending machine includes a dispensing assembly for dispensing an item and a selector assembly connected to the dispensing assembly. A computer assembly having a central computer, video display screen and a modem is connected to and actuated by the selector for connecting the computer to an internet site and displaying a received transmission on the video screen in response to a purchased item.