Abstract: A data utilizing system comprises a data processor, a database for holding plural pieces of data made corresponding to a date and a time as a record, and a category definition dictionary for holding the category definition data about the plural pieces of data, corresponding to periods. When an indication to categorize the records held in the database is inputted to the data processor, the data processor reads the relevant category definition data from the category definition dictionary, and fundamental data forming each record in the database are classified per given period into predetermined categories and tabulated.

Abstract: In a check schedule decision method, after simulating the production line to produce a time-varying number of in-process workpieces in a designated process unit, a check-available time period for the designated process unit is detected based on a comparison of the time-varying number of in-process workpieces to a predetermined level. Further, the production line is simulated under a constraint that the designated process unit is stopped operating during the check-available time period to produce a simulated output of the production line being simulated. When the simulated output is not smaller than a predetermined target figure, a check schedule of the designated process unit is decided within the check-available time period.

Abstract: A robot system including a robot, an operator control center and having a communication system connecting the robot and control center wherein an operator in the control center responds with natural movements to stimulus signals from the robot environment by issuing commands that control the robot. In one embodiment, the operator occupies a command chair with an exoskeletal arm that is secured to the "shoulder" (backrest) of the chair. The operator slides his hand into a glove of the invention attached to the end of the exoskeletal arm. He views the robot environment through a video screen and exerts control in response to views presented on the screen. The communication system sends signals to the operator glove in response to conditions at the robot site prompting the operator to take appropriate action.

Abstract: An integrated control system for a work robot may be used for controlling multiple work robots as well as multiple work tools connected to the work robots. The integrated control system includes a robot control central processing unit (CPU), at least one work control CPU, a shared memory, and a system bus constructed to transmit information between each of the CPUs and the shared memory. The robot control CPU, the work control CPU, and the shared memory are connected to the system bus.

Abstract: A tooling assembly (10) having complementary die sections. Die section (12) includes a face portion (14) having a tooling insert (16) mounted therein. Insert (16) includes an impression configuration (20) formed therein. Flow device assemblies (40) are in communication with impression configuration (20). Flow device assemblies (40) are variably rotatably mounted in die section (12) and are operatively connected to respective flow device actuation assemblies (60). Activation of flow device assemblies (60) can be performed manually, or automatically by, for example, respective conventional motors (90). Motors (90) may be electrical motors each with a driving mechanism attached to a respective flow control device (60). Activation of a flow device actuation assembly (60) causes a respective flow device assembly (40) to rotate and to thereby change its posture of communication with respect to impression configuration (20).

Abstract: A system for applying recipes of semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses includes a plurality of apparatus controllers respectively arranged for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a host computer commonly connected to the apparatus controllers to store process recipes, and a group controller which is commonly connected to the apparatus controllers through a channel different from channels which connect the apparatus controllers to the host computer, and is connected to the host computer through a dedicated channel to directly exchange information with the host computer. The host computer sends process recipes to the respective apparatus controllers, writes/reads out a recipe in/from the group controller through the dedicated channel, and reads out a recipe history therefrom through the dedicated channel. The apparatus controllers respectively operate the semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses on the basis of the process recipes sent from the host computer.

Abstract: A controller for one or more pieces of industrial equipment accommodates multiple sensed conditions--that is, different conditions each associated with a different response, which may be an alarm or a branch control procedure. The controller includes a database of diagnostic templates specifying conditions, and actions or states associated therewith. For example, a template may provide multiple, specified, discrete time spans each reflecting a different machine condition, and each specifying a different action associated with that condition. The templates may be associated with a model of machine behavior, e.g., one based on probabilities, which utilizes the templates and programmed control instructions to simulate machine behavior over time. More broadly, the behavior model may be used to perform a simulated execution of control instructions based on various specified values for limit parameters, which may be provided by the user or computed in accordance with the behavior model (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented for designing an RF modular hybrid circuit assembly. The apparatus comprises a rule-based control mechanism, a graphical user interface and a library of RF hybrid elements including model front- and back-sides, and input/output instances. The method comprises the steps of initializing standardized front- and back-plane models, adding input/output instances along the perimeter of the back-plane, designing the hybrid circuit on the front-plane and combining the two planes to arrive at an RF modular hybrid layout design. A data library of RF hybrid elements is provided to facilitate rapid prototyping. The final design is then sent concurrently to a photo-plotter and a laser subsystem for printing the thick-film and cutting the PTHs respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus decodes a data packet in a communication system utilizing an error correcting code. Channel symbols are received (302), and channel symbol reliability weights are determined (306) for each. A code word symbol is formed (308) from the channel symbols, and the channel symbol reliability weights are mapped (312) into a code word symbol reliability weight, which is set equal to the minimum channel symbol reliability weight mapped for the code word symbol. The method and apparatus continues (318) to similarly process additional channel symbols until the data packet is completely collected. Then, a predetermined number of code word symbols having the lowest code word symbol reliability weights in the data packet are marked (320) as erasures, after which the data packet is decoded (322) by utilizing a soft decision decoding technique.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for requesting and dispensing negotiable instruments such as bank checks, money orders, and traveler's checks. An instrument may be requested in this apparatus and method by a bank customer from a telephone, a computer, a fixed-location dispenser, or a portable, hand-held dispenser that is in communication with a bank computer. This request may be made orally, using touch tones, or using data transmission over a communication network that may include telephone lines, two-way radio links, microwave links, satellite links, cellular telephone links, computer networks, and the Internet. After a request is processed and approved, the requested instrument may then be dispensed at any time in this apparatus and method to the bank customer or another party from any receive-only dispenser, fixed-location dispenser, or portable, hand-held dispenser that is also in communication with the bank computer.

Abstract: A tool at the service of a distributed application running on machines of a distributed data processing system running in a local area network, intended for balancing the load on each of the machines of the system, includes a master daemon and a plurality of agent demons. The master and each of the agents calculate the load of the machine on which they are running. The master collects the load data of each of the agents at a first sampling interval and sends that collected load data to all of the agents. At the request of the distributed application, the local agent closest to the application indicates to the application which machine has the lightest load. The application then makes the decision to request the machine with the lightest load to execute the services the application requires. As necessary, the tool selects a master from the agents, thereby ensuring the existence and uniqueness of a master at all times, regardless of failure affecting one 1010 or more machines in the data processing system.

Abstract: A robot drive has operating and configuration parameters at an installation location stored in an easily removable storage device on the drive, or nearby, so that special data, such as that associated with arm design and system layout, including taught stations, can remain associated with the drive and installation whereby the drive system can be installed or replaced in minimal time since the storage device does not need reprogramming. This removable storage device, in the form of a static memory or Master Key, e.g., a Dallas Key or E Prom or the like, may be affixed to the robot body or off board nearby, and may store arm design parameters, programmed while on the robot body or off-line, and becomes a unique part structured for manufacturing with respect to the arm set design.

Abstract: A machine management system improves flexibility in control of an apparatus and installation of an additional apparatus. A plurality of refrigerators send operational information to a virtual machine constructor. The virtual machine constructor constructs virtual machines corresponding to the refrigerators using the received information, and holds the virtual machines therein. Each time the virtual machine constructor receives new information from the refrigerators, it updates the virtual machines. Controllers receive and hold virtual machines from the virtual machine constructor. The controllers cause one of the virtual machines to be selected and displayed in response to a user's request.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for arranging or adapting a fuzzy controller or of a system of interlinked fuzzy controllers having at least two input variables and an output variable which controller or system has input membership functions with which truth values of linguistic values for the input variables are determined, and has a control mechanism in which truth values for the output variable are determined from the truth values for the input variable and has output membership functions with which the values of the output variable are determined from the truth values for the output variable. Pursuant to the method, value ranges are defined for the input variables and a number of classes are determined over the value ranges. Subsequently, in a learning phase, value combinations of the input variables and of the output variable are recorded data set by data set. The defined classes are altered, removed and/or new classes are generated as a function of the registered value combinations.

Abstract: A Keypad Annunciator Graphical User Interface, (KAGUI), for use by an operator of a process control system for presenting and responding to alarm state data generated by the process control system, is disclosed. The KAGUI provides an interactive display of a keypad annunciator on a monitor display screen. A panel manager display and a dynamic icon enhance operator awareness, in a multi-window display environment, of alarms. The KAGUI synchronizes alarm data presented by the KAGUI with process control system alarm data and informs the operator of the status of interprocess communication.

Abstract: A storage controller operates an array of parity protected data storage units as a RAID level 5. One of the storage units is a dedicated write assist unit. The assist unit is a temporary storage area for data to be written to the other units. When the array controller receives data from a host, it first writes the data to the assist unit. Because the assist unit is not parity protected and is only temporary storage, it is possible to write data to the assist unit sequentially, without first reading the data, greatly reducing response time. The array controller signals the CPU that the data has been written to storage as soon as it has been written to the assist unit. Parity in the array is updated asynchronously. In the event of system or storage unit failure, data can be recovered using the remaining storage units and/or the assist unit. The write assist unit also doubles as a spare unit.

Abstract: Quality control for stitching of a textile article is performed by measuring thread tension in the stitches as the stitches are being made, determining locations of the stitches, and generating a map including the locations and stitching data derived from the measured thread tensions. The stitching data can be analyzed, off-line or in real time, to identify defective stitches. Defective stitches can then be repaired. Real time analysis of the thread tensions allows problems such as broken needle threads to be corrected immediately.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a control program from portions of that program contained in distributed processor modules of a distributed control system links each portion of the program with a source identifier. When the portions are collected, they are sorted by source identifier and merged to reveal the original control program as may be required for editing or the like.

Abstract: A computer implemented method provides accurate capacity planning for manufacturing environments comprising parallel, unrelated tools that can process the same operations at different rates and with preferences for the sequence in which those tools are selected to accommodate the workload. The method reliably determines precisely what are the gating tools among sets of parallel, unrelated tools in a complex manufacturing environment in which different tools can perform the same or similar sets of operations, generally at different rates. The primary, secondary, etc. tool groups in each cascade set are explicitly kept track of in order to enable the correct penalty function to be associated with the appropriate tool group. The end user may also interact with the input data through a Menu Program or through a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and modify the data for "what-if" analyses.

Abstract: A large amount of information on unsteady events each occurring at a plant at a time not predicted by the user is superposed on contents of a display of existing drawings in a form that allows the information to be recognized by the sense of sight with ease. When an unsteady event such as an alarm related to an object, represented by an existing figure on a picture, being monitored at the plant occurs, the unsteady event is represented by a balloon-like figure newly drawn in an unsteady-event display on the picture. Then, in order to show that the unsteady event is related to the monitored object represented by the existing figure, the balloon-like figure is connected to the existing figure by a straight line which serves as a string tied to the balloon. Inside the balloon-like figure, a string of characters is displayed for explaining the unsteady event.