Abstract: A system and method for setting a software option of a numeric control device, by which a user cannot set the options without permission and a cost regarding option configuration may be recovered by a maker. A maker PC generates option setting data for setting bit information to one or zero, based on a name or a number of a software option to be set, in order to make the function of the software option valid or invalid. This data is encoded or encrypted by using a unique identification number of a control device. The control device reads and decodes the encoded software option setting data, in order to set data of the corresponding memory address and bit number in the control device to one or zero. By using the unique identification number of the control device, only the control device, the software option setting data of which is required, can decode the encoded data.

Abstract: A drive control method for a variable reluctance type motor capable of improving the motor efficiency by preventing generation of a disturbance torque. In function generators (8A to 8C) of a controller for embodying the method, the motor rotation direction and the motor driving mode are determined based on the generation order of A- and B-phase feedback pulses from a pulse coder (7) and the sign of a torque command (Tc) from a speed loop compensation circuit (1), and, on the basis of the determination results, either one of four excitation patterns is selected. Function signal values corresponding to actual motor electrical angles (.theta.) are generated from the function generators in accordance with the selected excitation pattern, and excitation of individual phases of the motor (6) is controlled by power amplifiers (4A to 4C) which respond to voltage commands derived based on these function signal values.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a ladder diagram in a numerical control system having a programmable sequence control function in which sequence processing is executed based on a sequence program to deliver commands from a numerical control device to a machine and signals from the machine to the numerical control device. A display unit displays the sequence program in the form of a ladder diagram made up of relays. The pictures of ladder diagrams in the sequence program which are displayed on a screen are generated by pattern and character information stored in a character generator. The identification of a relay of interest or the memory address storing the state of the relay is entered, an item of sequence data indicating the conditions which turn the relay on are selected, and a ladder diagram segments indicative of the conditions are displayed on the basis of the sequence data.

Abstract: A portable floppy disk auxiliary memory device contains a floppy disk drive device (7) and includes a portable body (1) having an insertion slot (1e) defined in a front face thereof for insertion of a floppy disk (8). An openable and closable door (2) is mounted on the body (1) for covering the front face thereof. If the door (2) is opened while the floppy disk drive device (7) is being operated, an alarm is issued.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a ladder diagram in a numerical control system having a programmable sequence controller function in which sequence processing is executed based on a sequence program to deliver commands from a numerical control device to a machine and signals from the machine to the numerical control device. A display unit displays the sequence program in the form of a ladder diagram made up of at least relays. The identification of a relay or the memory address storing the state of the relay is entered by means of an input device, and an item of sequence data employing the relay is selected based on the relay identification or on the memory address. All ladder diagram segments that include the specified relay are then displayed on the display unit. The displayed segments include those in which the specified relay is as an input or output relay.

Abstract: A numerical control method for numerically controlling a machine tool such as a multi-spindle lathe having two or more tools (TL.sub.1, TL.sub.2, TL.sub.3). The numerical control method has steps of creating numerical control data specifying a relation between time and a position along each axis of movement (X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, Z), numerically controlling the position along each of the axes of movement (X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, Z) on the basis of the numerical control data, monitoring whether elapsed time has reached a time specified by numerical control data for each and every axis of movement (X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, Z), and when elapsed time has become equal to a time specified by numerical control data for a predetermined axis of movement, controlling the position along the axis of movement in accordance with succeeding numerical control data for the axis of movement.

Abstract: A numerical control system in which data signals are exchanged between a computer processing device MPU and each function block through an address bus ABUS and a data bus DBUS. Parallel electric signals are converted into serial signals by shift registers SHR.sub.1 and SHR.sub.2, and are converted into light signals by transmitters Tx.sub.11 and Tx.sub.12. The light signals are delivered to pulse distributors PDN through optical fiber cables OF.sub.1 and OF.sub.2 and these light signals are converted back to electric signals by receivers Rx.sub.3 and Rx.sub.4 and are further converted into parallel signals by shift registers SHR.sub.3 and SHR.sub.4. The parallel signals are delivered to a pulse distributor PD as position signals in the directions of X, Y and Z axes thereby to driving servomotors.

Abstract: A contactless relay wherein the application of an A.C. signal to the primary winding of a transformer is controlled by a command input, and the A.C. signal obtained from the secondary winding of the transformer is rectified into a D.C. signal by a rectifier circuit. The D.C. signal drives a transistor switching element for switching action. The switching element includes a single bipolar transistor, or a pair of bipolar transistors which can be connected in parallel to increase the current-carrying capacity of the relay. The output terminals of the relay can be rendered non-polar by constructing the relay of two bipolar transistors having commonly connected emitters and commonly connected bases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-polarized, contactless relay constructed of electronic circuitry devoid of mechanical contacts but capable of performing the same function as a relay with such contacts. The relay includes a transformer, a control circuit for applying an oscillatory signal to the primary windings of the transformer in accordance with a command input, a rectifying circuit for rectifying A.C. power obtained from the secondary windings of the transformer in response to the oscillatory signal applied to the primary windings, a smoothing circuit which smooths the rectified output produced by the rectifying circuit for delivering D.C. power, and switching means composed of a pair of MOS-type field-effect transistors driven by the D.C. output of the smoothing circuit. The command input, namely "1" or "0" logic, applied to the control circuit results in the supply of the D.C.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a memory cassette in a cassette adapter wherein the memory cassette cannot be ejected from the adapter, even by pressing an eject button, while data is being written into or read from the memory cassette. Provided are means for generating a signal indicating that a read or write operation is in progress, a locking mechanism for locking a cassette ejecting mechanism to render the latter inoperable, and a drive circuit responsive to the generated signal for actuating the locking mechanism to prevent ejection of the memory cassette until the read or write operation is completed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a tracer control system for a system performing tracing in an arbitrary direction using a combination tracer control-numerical control unit which is a combination of a tracer control unit and a numerical control unit, and is intended to increase the cutting accuracy and cutting speed by controlling the feed by tracer control, as compared with a conventional system which controls the feed by numerical control.The numerical control unit is provided with a signal generating device, such as a controller, for generating a signal representing the angle of a feed shaft according to numerical information indicating a path of cutting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing the present position of a movable machine element in a position control system when a position control loop in the system is placed in the open state. In the position control system, error storage means computes and stores an error which corresponds to the difference between a command value produced by a control unit and an amount of movement sensed by a position sensor provided on a motor shaft or on the movable machine element. A speed control circuit controls the motor in accordance with the error from the error storage means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the positions of switch members such as a deceleration limit switch installed on a machine tool in a numerical control system for controlling the machine tool on the basis of numerical control data and for executing predetermined numerical control processing on the basis of signals produced by the switch members. When the switch member such as a limit switch is actuated, a display device displays the current position of a movable member on the machine tool, or a numerical value corresponding to the current position of the movable member. Whether the switch member is installed on the machine tool at the correct position is determined on the basis of the displayed current position or numerical value corresponding thereto. When it is determined that the switch member is installed at an incorrect position, the switch member is positionally adjusted on the basis of the indication given by the display device.

Abstract: A portable bubble memory apparatus having a bubble memory cassette for accommodating a bubble memory element, and a portable cassette adapter provided with a cassette holder for loading and unloading the bubble memory cassette, the portable cassette adapter housing a control circuit and peripheral circuitry for the bubble memory element. A signal generator generates a signal to indicate whether the bubble memory cassette has been loaded at the correct position within the cassette holder. If the bubble memory cassette is displaced from the correct position, the generated signal causes the exchange of information between the bubble memory cassette and an external unit to cease.

Abstract: A positioning control system which has a servo system provided with a position feedback system for detected positional information and a velocity feedback system for detected velocity information of a motor and in which the motor is driven by the servo system in accordance with commanded positional information to position a movable machine part of a numerical-controlled machine. The disparity between the detected velocity of the movable machine part and the detected motor velocity is fed back to the control input side of the motor, thereby suppressing vibration of the movable machine part at the moment of completion of the positioning operation.

Abstract: A spindle control system which is provided with a first motor for rotating a spindle, a second motor for positioning the spindle, a pulse generator for generating pulses proportional in number to the rotational angle of the spindle, a counter for counting the pulses from the pulse generator in order to detect the rotational position of the spindle, and circuitry response to the counter means to control positioning of the spindle by the second motor.

Abstract: A numerical control system for controlling a machine tool includes a central processing unit, a first memory for storing a first control program, a second memory for storing a second control program, and a third memory for temporarily storing data. Each of the first memory, second memory and third memory is connected to the central processing unit. An interface circuit couples a machine tool to the central processing unit. The interface circuit sends signals to and receives signals from the machine tool. The first control program sends signals to and receives signals from the third memory based on a standard interface with the machine tool. The second control program sends signals to and receives signals from the machine tool via the interface circuit based on an interface corresponding to the machine tool. The second control program also sets a signal from the machine tool in the third memory after converting it to a signal based on a standard interface.