Abstract: A method and system for designing a compensator for a system is described. A structure of a model set and a compensator set is defined. The defined model set and compensator set is processed. Model set, compensator set, and model subsets are created from the processed model and compensator set. The created model set, compensator set, model subsets are evaluated.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for reducing switching transients via large signal/small signal thresholding. The present invention prevents a switch from occurring if when the system (i.e., the system under control) is in small signal mode and permits switches to occur when the system is in large signal mode. Large signal and small signal modes are determined by comparing the difference between the most current value of a comparator variable and the final setpoint with a threshold distance. The system is in small signal mode if the most current value of the comparator variable less the final setpoint value is less than the threshold distance. Otherwise, the system is in large signal mode.

Abstract: A thermoplastic container for food or other articles is set forth. The container includes a base having a bottom, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending upwardly from the bottom. A pair of integral handle segments are formed with the outer rim of the base and rotatably attached to anchoring portions at integral hinges. The handle segments can be releasably engaged with each other and include a pair of hinged portions. Each hinged portion has at least one upwardly extending rib segment and at least one downwardly extending rib segment interconnected by integral hinges that form definite bending points for the hinged portions of the handle segments so that when the handle segments are upturned, the hinged portion assists in distributing stress and obtaining a proper balance of the container.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for limiting the ramp rate of a variable under control in order to control stress in a process or plant under control. The present invention takes a limit curve provided by the user and combines that limit curve with a scale factor curve obtained from a model of the system to produce an allowable limit curve. A ramp rate limiter then uses the allowable limit curve to control the ramp rate of the variable under control such that the ramp rate of the variable under control is able to achieve the maximum allowable limit but no more.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for limiting the ramp rate of a variable under control in order to control stress in a process or plant under control. The present invention takes a limit curve provided by the user and combines that limit curve with a scale factor curve obtained from a model of the system to produce an allowable limit curve. A ramp rate limiter then uses the allowable limit curve to control the ramp rate of the variable under control such that the ramp rate of the variable under control is able to achieve the maximum allowable limit but no more.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for dynamic optimization of a dynamic physical system having a device under control and a controller along with a modeling system having an estimator and a constrained nonlinear program. The time varying trajectories of the dynamic physical system are parameterized and run through the modeling system in order to produce a set of optimal time varying setpoint trajectories to be used in the dynamic physical system. The optimal time varying setpoint trajectories optimize the physical system to produce the desired end result (or product) of the dynamic physical system.

Abstract: A thermoplastic container for food or other articles is set forth. The container includes a base having a bottom, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls extending upwardly from the bottom. A pair of integral handle segments are formed with the outer rim of the base and rotatably attached to anchoring portions at integral hinges. The handle segments can be releasably engaged with each other and include a pair of hinged portions. Each hinged portion has at least one upwardly extending rib segment and at least one downwardly extending rib segment interconnected by integral hinges that form definite bending points for the hinged portions of the handle segments so that when the handle segments are upturned, the hinged portion assists in distributing stress and obtaining a proper balance of the container.

Abstract: A method for computer aided design of a product or process. The method includes the steps of representing a computer-aided design activity as a design cycle. The design cycle is then converted into individual iterations of decisions to be made within the design cycle. The individual iterations of decisions are then mapped into a hierarchical structure of influence diagrams. The decision making process of the influence diagrams are performed and data is collected from the decision process that has been performed. The remaining unexecuted decisions and their posterior probabilities are updated based upon the outcomes of the decision process that was most recently performed.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for dynamic optimization of a dynamic physical system having a device under control and a controller along with a modeling system having an estimator and a constrained nonlinear program. The time varying trajectories of the dynamic physical system are parameterized and run through the modeling system in order to produce a set of optimal time varying setpoint trajectories to be used in the dynamic physical system. The optimal time varying setpoint trajectories optimize the physical system to produce the desired end result (or product) of the dynamic physical system.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for nonlinear feedforward control for ramp following and overshoot minimization in a plant under control. The present invention augments a feedforward system with a nonlinear compensation mechanism for minimizing the overshoot that occurs in a conventional feedforward system.

Abstract: A base for displaying and holding shrimp comprises a well having a bottom wall, and a first side wall. The bottom wall has a surface for holding a sauce receptacle. The first side wall encompassing and extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall. The first side wall has a plurality of slots each for displaying and holding an individual shrimp. Each slot has a section extending outwardly as viewed from an interior of the well. The base also includes a peripheral trough having a second side wall, a trough bottom wall and an outer wall. The second side wall encompasses and extends downwardly from an upper portion of said first side wall.

Abstract: A method for processing signals and controlling a physical system in which measurements are obtained at different time scales and/or different space scales. Signals generated from the physical system are processed by first creating a first dynamic model at a first time/space scale that consists of a first set of parameters, a first set of states and a first set of inputs. A second dynamic model at a second time/space scale is also created and consists of a second set of parameters, a second set of states and a second set of inputs. At least one of the first set of parameters in the first dynamic model are computed from the second set of states in the second dynamic model. A second estimator is then created to produce estimates of the second set of states using the second dynamic model, measurements from the first physical system at the second time scale.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises a lid and a base. The lid includes a top wall and a lid side wall extending downward from the top wall. The base includes a bottom wall and a base side wall extending upward from the bottom wall. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the lid includes a first stepped flange extending laterally outward from a lower portion of the lid side wall, and the base includes a second stepped flange extending laterally outward from an upper portion of the base side wall. Internal portions of the respective first and second stepped flanges form a button latch for securing locking the container in a closed position. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the lid side wall includes a plurality of facets interconnected at corners.