Abstract: A system to manufacture orthodontic appliances, program product, and associated methods are provided. An embodiment of a system can include a virtual orthodontic appliance design computer having orthodontic appliance design program product provided to design a virtual dimensional representation of an orthodontic appliance including bracket bodies and bracket pads, and a mold apparatus positioned to form each bracket body and bracket pad. The system also includes a data processing computer including computer-aided manufacturing program product provided to derive electrical discharge device control instructions including a virtual dimensional representation of a bracket slot in the bracket, and an electrical discharge machining apparatus. The electrical discharge machining apparatus can include a controller including control program product to derive a control signal carrying the electrical discharge device control instructions and an electrical discharge device.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing solder bumps on a mold plate includes: a solder fill head configured for dispensing molten solder onto the mold plate, the solder fill head also configured for relative movement over the mold plate; and a control mechanism configured for controlling positions of the solder fill head relative to the mold plate.

Abstract: A test device that makes a test of a circuit device including a plurality of modules being substitutable in terms of function for one another, and in which a function change can be made for assignment to each of the modules based on an incoming control signal. The test device includes: a control section that generates the control signal, without changing a function to be assigned to a whole of the modules, to make the function change for assignment to each of the modules at least in a group of the modules; and a determination section that detects whether the circuit device operates differently when the function change is made for assignment to the modules, and based on a detection result, determines whether or not at least the group of the modules includes a defective module.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that estimates the value of a virtual sensor. The system first samples values for performance metrics using external sensors that are coupled to a system and internal sensors that are built into the system. Next, the system generates an inferential sensing model for the system from the sampled values. Then, during operation, the system samples values of performance metrics using the internal sensors and uses the inferential sensing model and the sampled values from the internal sensors to estimate the values of performance metrics for removed external sensors (i.e., virtual sensors).

Abstract: A method for forecasting batch end conditions through their depiction as a multi-dimensional regions of uncertainty is disclosed. A visualization of the current condition of a continuous process and visualization of the simulated effect of user control moves are generated for a user. Volume visualization tools for viewing and querying intersecting solids in 3-dimensional space are utilized to perform the process visualization. Interactive tools for slicing multi-dimensional (>3) regions and drawing superimposed projections in 3-D space are provided. Additionally, graphical manipulation of the views of process conditions is accomplished by changing the hypothetical future values of contributing variables online in order to provide users the ability to simulate the effect of proposed control actions.

Abstract: A technique for consistently simulating at two different complexities of simulation is described. This technique is particularly relevant to simulation of a creature-like autonomous agent (biological or artificial or hybrid). The model, in the particular case a model of the creature, comprises at least two portions. The first portion contains functions used in both of the different complexities of simulation. The second portion comprises two alternative versions, a first version for use in one complexity of simulation, and a second version for use in the other complexity of simulation.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for controlling a heterogeneous mixture of hardware devices in a variety of semiconductor process equipment. In general, a generic Input and Output (I/O) interface is provided between a process management module for specifying control operations and the actual hardware devices of a particular process tool. The process management module generally includes high level processes and/or user interfaces for controlling one or more process tool(s) by interacting with a set of generic device objects that are abstractions of actual hardware devices of such tool(s). The I/O interface translates interactions with the generic device objects into interactions with the different hardware devices. The process management module utilizes one or more of these generic device objects to specify operation, in a generic manner, of hardware devices and the I/O interface translates such operations into operations that are specific to the different hardware devices.

Abstract: A heating device for a field-device display module includes a heating element. The heating element is adapted to the shape of the field-device display module and is equipped such that it converts an electrical current to thermal energy. The heating element can be coupled to the field-device display module such that by the heating element the field-device display module can be heated.

Abstract: A microsource is provided, which includes a generator, a prime mover, and a controller. The prime mover includes a shaft connected to drive the generator to generate power at a frequency controlled by a rotation rate of the shaft. The controller calculates an operating frequency for the generator based on a comparison between a power set point and a measured power flow. A requested shaft speed for the prime mover is calculated by combining a maximum frequency change, a minimum frequency change, and the calculated operating frequency. A shaft speed adjustment is calculated for the prime mover based on a comparison between the requested shaft speed and a measured shaft speed of the prime mover. A fuel command for the prime mover is calculated based on the shaft speed adjustment. A rotation rate of the shaft of the prime mover is adjusted based on the calculated fuel command to control the frequency.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a control apparatus for an electric generator includes a power generation cost determiner determining a power generation cost of the generator, a threshold determiner determining a threshold of power generation cost as a function of a state of charge of an electric energy storage device, a comparator comparing the power generation cost of the generator with the threshold, and a controller. When the power generation cost of the generator is lower than the threshold, the controller controls the generator to generate an increased amount of electric power, so as to both charge the electric energy storage device and feed an electrical load. Otherwise, when the power generation cost of the generator is higher than the threshold, the controller controls the generator to generate a decreased amount of electric power, so as to allow the electric energy storage device to discharge to feed the electrical load.

Abstract: A method for automatically checking a sequence of loading boats and batches for a semiconductor manufacturing process is provided. According to a developed logic, a loading sequence is automatically calculated by a system. By comparing the actual loading sequence with the calculated sequence when the boats are entering, it is ensured that no errors occur when loading the boats in the batches. When loading the boats in the batches, operators can truly load the boats in the batches according to the entering sequence together with the current confirmation mechanism, so as to ensure the boat positions for the loaded materials to be correct. The method for automatically checking the sequence of loading boats and batches is further capable of calculating the loading sequence through the developed logic by automatically determining runnable boat positions for the material after recording a parameter for detecting a previous boat by the system.

Abstract: A control apparatus which generates control information on the basis of control target information from a control target, controls the control target by using the generated control information, and transmits the control information to an off-system control apparatus, includes a single common memory which stores both the control target information from the control target, and the transmitted control information.

Abstract: A feedback controller performs a feedback control based on an error between a target position and an actual position of a head. A model controller obtains a control command, a model position to be output as a command for the target position to the feedback controller, and a model velocity for the head to follow a target velocity, by using a preset control equation model, and obtains the control command and the model position with the target position as an input, based on a differential value of the target velocity corresponding to a remaining distance from the model position to the target position.

Abstract: Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) are presented for configuring and setting-up dynamic sensors for monitoring tool and process performance in a semiconductor processing system. The semiconductor processing system includes a number of processing tools, a number of processing modules (chambers), and a number of sensors. The graphical display is organized so that all significant parameters are clearly and logically displayed so that the user is able to perform the desired configuration and setup tasks with as little input as possible. The GUI is web-based and is viewable by a user using a web browser.

Abstract: A system of controlling media devices configured for outputting signals to a surrounding area. The system including a control strategy for controlling operation of the media devices to execute operations according to a common schedule and a communications strategy for use in communicating the control strategy between the media devices in such a manner as to facilitate distribution of the control strategy to the media devices desired to operate according to the common timeline.

Abstract: An adapter for a text to text training. A main corpus is used for training, and a domain specific corpus is used to adapt the main corpus according to the training information in the domain specific corpus. The adaptation is carried out using a technique that may be faster than the main training. The parameter set from the main training is adapted using the domain specific part.

Abstract: There is described a device for the transmission of data between a portable electronic unit and a field unit, whereby a cable is provided, connected at the one end thereof to the portable electronic unit and comprises a cable coupling piece at the other end thereof, for wireless proximity connection to a corresponding field unit coupling piece, such that the data and also the operating energy for the field unit sufficient for data transmission may be transmitted by means of the wireless proximity connection.

Abstract: A method is provided wherein a lithographic projection apparatus is used to print a series of test patterns on a test substrate to measure printed critical dimension as function of exposure dose setting and focus setting. A full-substrate analysis of measured critical dimension data is modeled by a response model of critical dimension. The response model includes an additive term which expresses a spatial variability of the response with respect to the surface of the test substrate. The method further includes fitting the model by fitting model parameters using measured critical dimension data, and controlling critical dimension using the fitted model.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of designing an aerosol spray dispensing system. One or more to-be-determined attributes of the spray dispenser system are identified, including properties of a fluid to be dispensed, characteristics of the dispensing mechanism, and performance characteristic values. The identified attributes are determined using equations taking into account relationships among the properties of the fluid to be dispensed, the characteristics of the dispensing mechanism and the performance characteristic values. Once determined, the attributes are used to design the spray dispensing system.

Abstract: A method for bonding a lighting device to a first lighting system, in which the first system comprises a master controller, which is remote from the lighting device and which may control a slave controller of the lighting device if the slave controller has stored therein an identification (ID) of the system. Upon powering up, if the slave controller contains such an ID, it tries to communicate with a master controller of the system. If the slave controller does not succeed in establishing such a communication it enters a state in which it can change it settings, in particular clearing said ID, upon receiving, during a time window with reduced communication security level, a message for allowing such changing of its settings.