Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating tool paths for cutting a physical part. The present invention includes storing geometric data indicative of the geometric configuration of the part. A plurality of planes are used to slice the geometric data. Micro features of the part are recognized based upon the sliced geometric data. Macro features of the part are determined based upon groupings of the recognized micro features. Tool path data is generated based upon the determined macro features of the part. Thereupon, the tool path data is used for cutting the physical part.

Abstract: A processor comprises a processing core integrated on the same chip with a temperature sensing diode. The two terminals of the diode are coupled to each of two I-O ports of the processor. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the electrical characteristics across the I-O ports are measured by an external control circuit to calculate a temperature of the processor. This temperature is compared to a threshold, and either an overtemp or undertemp signal is transmitted via a control line.

Abstract: A method for inspecting photomasks, in accordance with present invention includes the step of providing a design data set for fabricating a photomask, searching the design data set for sub-groundrule features, eliminating the sub-groundrule features from the data set to form an inspection data set and inspecting a photomask fabricated in accordance with the design data set by employing the inspection data set. A system for executing the steps in accordance with the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: An inventive method in an integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing process for using data regarding repair procedures conducted on IC's at probe to determine whether any further repairs will be conducted later in the manufacturing process includes storing the data in association with a fuse ID of each of the IC's. The ID codes of the IC's are automatically read, for example, at an opens/shorts test during the manufacturing process. The data stored in association with the ID codes of the IC's is then accessed, and additional repair procedures the IC's may undergo are selected in accordance with the accessed data. Thus, for example, the accessed data may indicate that an IC is unrepairable, so the IC can proceed directly to a scrap bin without having to be queried to determine whether it is repairable, as is necessary in traditional IC manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Method and system for real-time in-situ interactive supervision of a step performed in a tool during semiconductor wafer fabrication process. The system includes a tool and the computer attached thereto, an end point detection controller, a database and a supervisor to supervise the whole wafer processing for that step. The controller is used to monitor a key process parameter of the step and is adapted to perform in-situ measurements. The database contains the evolution of said process parameter in normal operating conditions and in all the identified deviations. It further contains the history of the wafer until this step and a reference to the batch and process names for this step and the wafer identification number. At the end of the step, the important process parameters and any alert code are stored in the database to up-date the wafer history. This technique allows a total clusterized wafer fabrication process and prevents wafer rejection.

Abstract: In a process information management system for efficiently managing process information, the system comprises an application information file 26 for storing application information relating at least each main part for each kind of product, wherein, by selecting the application information which is stored in the application information file 26, the application information is added as information for designating the selected application information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for vending products where the customer is guided through an interactive process that receives selection criteria from the customer relating to the type of product the customer would like to purchase and uses the customer's selection criteria to determine which products are potentially suitable for the customer's purposes, needs, interests, and tastes and to rank the products based on their suitability to facilitate the customer's final selection of a product. The system includes a computer that is provided with a storage device associated therewith. Products to be vended or data relating to products to be vended are stored in the storage device. The computer is also connected to an input/output (“I/O”) device, a payment device, and a manufacturing device.

Abstract: The present invention provides communication servers at each device in a fueling environment and connecting the servers to a common network. The network may be a local network or a largely remote network, such as the Internet. Preferably, in either embodiment, primary communications between these devices and any devices accessible via the Internet use the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext markup language (HTML). In particular, each device server is adapted to facilitate real-time access between the device server and the remote device upon access of a particular page, script or function. In particular, the present invention relates to embedding executable content onto an HTML page so that when the page is loaded into an HTML browser after being accessed, the executable content starts running automatically.

Abstract: A flexible multifunction model-free adaptive controller capable of controlling a very broad range of processes uses storage and selective use of multiple controller parameter sets, measurement filtering, transient prediction and use of extra controllers to dynamically set constraints for the output of the process controller in order to deal with transients resulting from sudden input changes, yet allow the process to run close to its physical limitations under dynamically varying operating conditions and periodic large processing parameter changes.

Abstract: A method of operating a machine for cutting stacks of material in sheets. The machine's basic settings are established in accordance with parametric settings (machine parameters). Specific parameters (program parameters) are permanently assigned to an overall material-cutting program. Individual parameters (routine parameters) are permanently assigned to paper-cutting routines within the overall program. The machine parameters are stored and remain valid until modified or replaced by specifically requested routine parameters. The routine parameters are stored and remain valid until modified. The method allows the operation of the machine to be adapted to the various conditions that occur during the job.

Abstract: A Language Controlled Design Flow for the development of integrated circuits (IC) that allows users to Characterize, Synthesize, Simulate, and Analyze IC designs. The Language Controlled Design Flow provides specialized features that enable rapid design development and Intellectual Property (IP) reuse. The language provides the ability to capture a designer's knowledge about the Design Components and Design Processes unique to those components during characterization, synthesis, simulation, and analysis. A feature of this invention is the ability to separate design or design component specific knowledge from the tools used for analysis. This leads to benefits in extensibility, simplicity, accuracy, and performance of the overall tool set. Also provided is a mechanism in which the design process can be fully automated with a Language Controlled Design Flow that can take advantage of the information available in the design, in the design components, and in the design process flow.

Abstract: A method for automatic scheduling of a production plan. The automatic scheduling system arranges different kinds of production plans and defines a first priority lot, a second priority lot and a normal lot in testing factories. The testing processes of the first priority lot is to decide the testing machine first, then exchanged with a running lot on this testing machine when a test piece is completed. For the second priority lot, after decides the testing machine, the second priority lot is exchanged with a running lot on the testing machine when the running lot is completed. For the normal lot, the procedure is to check if the testing machine is available and need to be setup, then use a setup reduce method to reduce the setup frequency if more than one machine is available and needs to be setup. The key to reduce setup method selects the testing machine which has minimum impact for the subsequent testing lot to get efficient use of the testing machine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for visualizing a control program of a machine tool. The machine tool is provided with operating units. The operating units may comprise machining units, which are provided with tools, and at least one workpiece receiving in accordance with a machine tool configuration. The machine tool is also provided with a computerized control for controlling movement of the operating units in accordance with a control configuration. Sets of control data are read from the control program with a data processing unit. Virtual operating units corresponding to the operating units of the machine tool, linkings of the virtual operating units, and virtual actions of the virtual operating units are automatically determined taking into account the machine tool configuration and the control configuration. The virtual operating units and their virtual actions are then represented for a user in the form of a machine display.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for determining a core-less machining shape, in which an attribute of core-less machining or contour machining is automatically designated to a machining shape created in advance, and a storage medium storing a core-less machining shape determining program. Programs for judging a size of a machining shape based on horizontal and vertical maximum dimensions, a diameter or a radius of a circle, a peripheral length, a width and an area are stored in an automatic programming device in advance. Programs to be executed are selected from the stored programs and a way of logical operation on results of judgment by the selected programs is designated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the state of a pneumatic actuator having a valve that connects the actuator to a supply pressure and a valve that connects the actuator to an exhaust pressure. The method involves closing the supply pressure and exhaust pressure valves, determining the current state of the pneumatic actuator, and then determining the difference between the current state and a desired state. The appropriate pressure valve to be opened and the period to be opened is then calculated based on pre-determined calibration data for the actuator which permits the end state of the actuator to be predicted. The appropriate valve is then opened for the calculated period to adjust the actuator to the desired state. The process is then repeated until the current state of the actuator is the desired state. A controller unit that uses the above method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitor base that comprises a serial bus hub having a plurality of ports connected to the hub for interface with a plurality of peripheral devices. With the ports located on the monitor base hub, a computer system's peripheral devices, i.e., keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, video camera, etc., are connected to the monitor base hub instead of on the rear of the central processing unit.

Abstract: A synchronization method for a redundant automation system composed of at least two subsystems is provided, where these subsystems execute functionally identical sequences of machine instructions, said sequences of functionally identical machine instructions having increment instructions at corresponding locations for incrementing a synchronization counter. Synchronization is performed on the basis of the value of a synchronization counter at least when one subsystem registers a special event. To do so, a synchronization counter target value is determined so that the subsystems interrupt the execution of the sequence of machine instructions on attaining a synchronization position at which the values of the respective synchronization counters attain the synchronization counter target value.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus controls a single or a plurality of objects. The electronic apparatus, which serves as a node, has an attribute information database that stores attribute information of object service modules. A service registry switches off a power supply after transmitting the attribute information stored in the attribute information database to the service registry of another electronic apparatus and delegating it to respond to queries concerning the attribute information provided from an external source. This enables the electronic apparatus to reduce power consumption while maintaining a searching capability.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided employing the concept of Budget Queue Time to define the priority of lots while distinguishing clearly between the controllable an uncontrollable portions of the remaining production time needed and to make the priority setting further meet the actual status. Two indices X and P are used concurrently to define the priority of a lot. X is the index of the delivery week which indicates the week in which the lot must be out of the fabrication process and P denotes the temporary priority according to the Budget Queue Time, but X is the dominant one of the two indices X and P. Use is made of the concept of remaining Budget Queue Time instead of traditional queue time of current stage for dispatching to reduce the variance of cycle time variance.

Abstract: A control method is to monitor a person's attributes and based on the results, in predetermined content of the control, to control equipment to be controlled, further, to monitor said person's peripheral environment and also by using these results to execute said control.