Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method comprising automatically enforcing user compliance with a plurality of predetermined steps of a computer-assisted verification test of a safety feature for a machine system; inducing an error condition in the machine system; and collecting data regarding a response of the machine system to the error condition.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method comprising automatically enforcing user compliance with a plurality of predetermined steps of a computer-assisted verification test of a safety feature for a machine system; inducing an error condition in the machine system; and collecting data regarding a response of the machine system to the error condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying and entering information associated with structures in a machining system, wherein each structure is associated with at least one setup in the machining system, and can be, for example, a pallet, fixture, or workface. A user interface receives the structure information from the user and displays at least a portion of the information, along with a structure icon, within a window on a display device. Preferably, the location of the tool in the machining system is also displayed within the window along with a machine configuration image which represents the configuration of the machining system. The structure information preferably includes the offset coordinates for the structure. Upon request from the user, setup icons and setup information for the setups associated with the structure can be displayed.

Abstract: The invention relates to servo-driven computer-numerically-controlled systems of the type adapted to receive part program instructions defining a desired path of relative movement between a tool and a workpiece, wherein the path may include an interior or exterior curved portion to be effected by coordinated linear movement of machine members along at least two orthogonal linear axes. The invention provides apparati and methods for correcting path radius errors to facilitate rapid and accurate movement along the curve. In a preferred embodiment, such path radius correction is applied to a fixed cycle for machining inside circles preferably incorporating such path radius correction and providing substantially tangential engagement between the tool and a machining locus orbited by the tool to avoid abrupt accelerations or decelerations while the tool is in contact with the workpiece.

Abstract: Signal phase delay may be accurately measured by transmitting a pseudo-random noise coded reference signal, deriving in-phase and quadrature components of the received coded signal and then separately decoding the in-phase and quadrature components. This technique effectively compresses the transmitted signal pulse to a very narrow width (thereby simplifying discrimination of separate pulses with similar arrival times) while magnifying the pulse amplitude (thereby enhancing the signal to noise ratio).

Abstract: A method of simulating phase coherent signal reflections in media containing randomly distributed targets capable of scattering signals transmitted through the media, wherein the energy of signals directly scattered by the targets is significantly greater than the energy of signals multiply scattered by the targets. A reference signal having a wavelength which is small in comparison to the mean spacing between the targets is modulated and then transmitted through the target-containing medium. The targets produce scattered echoes of the signal, from which normalized in-phase and quadrature components are derived and separately, cumulatively summed, "n" times, until their variance becomes a linear function of 1/n.

Abstract: A method of determining the bearing "S" of a signal transmitter relative to a remote signal receiver. A signal pulse having a high signal to noise ratio is transmitted and sampled at closely spaced receivers displaced from the transmitter by a distance "D". Sampled phase components are derived at each receiver by deriving in-phase and quadrature components of the sampled pulse and by deriving the arctangent of each such component. The arrival time of the sampled pulses is measured by applying a least squares Gaussian fit to the modulus or to the amplitude envelope of the pulse samples. The difference ".delta.t" between the time of arrival of the pulse at each receiver is determined and then the approximate phase difference 2.pi..omega..delta.t between the sampled pulses is determined where ".omega." is the carrier frequency of the transmitted pulse. The phase difference is then applied to resolve the phase ambiguity of the phase components and the bearing "S" is then calculated.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for acoustic scintillation liquid flow measurement. Measurement is carried out by acoustic beams transmitted perpendicular to the direction the component of liquid flow to be measured, with both phase and amplitude measurements being made to enable generation of accurate speed of flow indications which are indicative of liquid flow through a broad area being monitored as opposed to a single point therein. In one realization of this invention, a pair of projectors are mounted on one side of the flow area, such as a channel to be monitored, and a pair of receivers are mounted on the other side of the flow area with pulsed acoustic signals from each of the projectors being transmitted in separate parallel paths through the liquid, such as water, to the receivers.