Abstract: A projector includes a light source device, a light modulating device, a projection optical device, and an adjusting device that rotates the projection optical device about a rotation axis along a direction orthogonal to a central axis of the projection optical device. The adjusting device includes a rotating member that supports the projection optical device and rotates about the rotation axis, a support member that supports the rotating member, and a drive device that rotates the rotating member. The drive device includes a motor and a transmission device that rotates the rotating member with power of the motor. The motor includes a spindle that transmits the power to the transmission device. The spindle is disposed along the rotation axis.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes an illumination optical system configured to illuminate a light modulation element; a plurality of light source units each including a fluorescent member, at least one light source, and a light-guiding optical system; and an optical-path combining system. A predetermined region in an area where light source images are formed by the illumination optical system using light beams from the optical-path combining system is defined as an effective region, and the number of the light source units is denoted by N. In this case, the light source images and N subregions obtained by dividing the effective region by N along a first side direction of the effective region or a second side direction orthogonal to the first side direction satisfy a predetermined relation.

Abstract: A surface treatment method of an electronic device is provided. The surface treatment method includes processing a first pattern on a surface of a top mold and a second pattern on a surface of a bottom mold, coating a Ultra-Violet (UV) molding liquid on each of a front surface of a raw sheet material and the bottom mold facing a rear surface of the raw sheet material raw, positioning the raw sheet material between the top mold and the bottom mold, pressing the top mold and the bottom mold to each other, curing the UV molding liquid, and separating the raw sheet material from the top mold and the bottom mold and forming a print layer on the front surface and the rear surface of the raw sheet material.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fluorine-containing polymer, a radiation-sensitive resin composition for liquid immersion lithography which contains the fluorine-containing polymer, which leads to a pattern having an excellent shape and excellent depth of focus, wherein the amount of an eluted component in a liquid for liquid immersion lithography such as water that comes in contact with the resist during exposure in liquid immersion lithography is little, and which provides a larger receding contact angle between the resist film and the liquid for liquid immersion lithography such as water, and a method for purifying the fluorine-containing polymer. The present resin composition comprises a novel fluorine-containing polymer (A) containing repeating units represented by the general formulae (1) and (2) and having Mw of 1,000-50,000, a resin (B) having an acid-unstable group, a radiation-sensitive acid generator (C), a nitrogen-containing compound (D) and a solvent (E).

Abstract: An anti-reflective coating (ARC) composition for use in lithography patterning and a method of using the same is disclosed. In an embodiment, the ARC composition comprises a polymer having a chromophore; an acid labile group (ALG), more than 5% by weight; a thermal acid generator; and an optional crosslinker. The method includes applying the ARC composition over a substrate; crosslinking the polymer to form an ARC layer; cleaving the ALG of the ARC layer to reduce a film density of the ARC layer; forming a resist layer over the ARC layer, patterning the resist layer, and etching the ARC layer. Due to reduced film density, the ARC layer has a high etching rate, thereby preserving the critical dimension (CD) of the resist pattern during the etching process.

Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography having an aliphatic polycyclic structure including, as a silane, a hydrolyzable silane, a hydrolysis product thereof, a hydrolysis-condensation product thereof, or a combination thereof, in which the aliphatic polycyclic structure is a structure which a hydrolyzable silane of Formula (1): R1aR2bSi(R3)4-(a+b)??Formula (1) (where R1 is an organic group having an aliphatic polycyclic structure and bonded to a Si atom through a Si—C bond; R3 is an ethoxy group; a is an integer of 1; b is an integer of 0 to 2; and a+b is an integer of 1 to 3) has, or a structure included in a compound added as an aliphatic polycyclic compound, an aliphatic polycyclic dicarboxylic acid, or an aliphatic polycyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydride, each optionally having a double bond, a hydroxy group, or an epoxy group.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet lithography pattern stack, including, an inorganic hardmask layer, an under layer on the inorganic hardmask layer, and a resist layer on the under layer, where the inorganic hardmask layer, under layer, and resist layer have a combined thickness in the range of about 8.5 nm to about 70 nm.

Abstract: A liquid immersion member forms, in an exposure apparatus, liquid immersion space through which exposure light emitted from an optical member passes, the liquid immersion member includes: a first member that is disposed at at least part of a space around the optical member and that includes a first lower surface facing an object which is movable below the optical member; and a movable second member that includes a second lower surface which is disposed at outer side than the first lower surface viewed from optical axis of the optical member and which faces the object and a third lower surface which is disposed at inner side than the second lower surface viewed from the optical axis and whose at least part is disposed above at least part of the first lower surface.

Abstract: A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes a projection system having a last element and a liquid supply system by which an immersion liquid is supplied to form a liquid immersion area under the projection system. The liquid supply system has a first supply port and a second supply port. A position of the first supply port is different from a position of the second supply port, and the liquid supply system is capable of supplying the immersion liquid having a first temperature via the first supply port and supplying the immersion liquid having a second temperature different from the first temperature via the second supply port. The liquid immersion area is formed to cover only a portion of an upper surface of the substrate, and the substrate is exposed with an exposure beam through the immersion liquid in the liquid immersion area.

Abstract: An alignment system having long term stability in illumination center wavelength is discussed. The alignment system includes a tunable radiation source and a feedback control system. The tunable radiation source includes a light source configured to provide a broadband radiation beam and a tunable multi-passband filter configured to filter the broadband radiation beam into narrow band radiation beam having a center wavelength value. The feedback control system is configured to measure the center wavelength value of the narrow band radiation beam and compare the measured center wavelength value with a desired center wavelength value. The feedback control system is further configured to generate a control signal based on the comparison in response to a difference being present between the measured center wavelength value and the desired center wavelength value and tune the tunable filter based on the control signal to eliminate or substantially reduce the difference.

Abstract: Provided is a member for electrophotography that enables stable formation of a high-quality electrophotographic image even when used as a developing member over a long period of time. The member for electrophotography includes: a support; an electro-conductive elastic layer on the support; and a plurality of electrically insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer, in which a surface of the member for electrophotography includes surfaces of the electrically insulating domains and an exposed portion of the electro-conductive elastic layer free of being covered by the electrically insulating domains, and in which the electrically insulating domains each contain a resin having a specific structure.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles including an amorphous resin and a crystalline resin, wherein, when the toner particles are subjected to a measurement by differential scanning calorimetry before and after being heated at a temperature of 50° C. and a humidity of 50% RH for a week, a relationship between an endothermic amount S1 (J/g) derived from the crystalline resin in a first heating process with respect to the toner particles before being heated and an endothermic amount Sh (J/g) derived from the crystalline resin in a first heating process with respect to the toner particles after being heated satisfies Expression (1): 0.50?S1/Sh?0.90.

Abstract: A toner comprising a toner particle containing a crystalline polyester resin and an amorphous polyester resin, wherein, in a cross-sectional observation of the toner by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the number-average diameter (D1) of major axis lengths of the crystalline polyester resin dispersed up to a depth of 0.30 ?m from a toner surface is 40 nm to 110 nm, and the number-average diameter (D1) of major axis lengths of the crystalline polyester resin dispersed deeper than 0.30 ?m from the toner surface is 1.25 to 4.00 times the number-average diameter (D1) of the major axis lengths of the crystalline polyester resin dispersed up to a depth of 0.30 ?m from the toner surface.

Abstract: A method of producing an emissive toner composition including selecting a photoluminescent agent, a charge control agent, and one or more additives and combining the photoluminescent agent, charge control agent, and one or more additives to form an emissive toner composition that when printed to produce an image component on a substrate, the emission spectra of the image component for irradiation with a first excitation energy includes only dominant emission peaks corresponding to one or more dominant emission peaks of the photoluminescent agent. The photoluminescent agent is selected such that it emits light having one or more dominant emission peaks in a first emission spectral region when irradiated with the first excitation energy. The charge control agent and one or more additives are selected such that they do not emit light in the visible spectrum when irradiated with visible light and does not emit light in the first emission spectral region when irradiated with the first excitation energy.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles each including a core and a shell layer. The shell layer is a collection of resin particles having the same composition (primary particle diameter of at least 90% by number of the resin particles: 20 nm-30 nm). The shell layer includes a first shell layer, which is a film including the resin particles in a non-aggregated state, and a second shell layer, which is a plurality of particle aggregates (secondary particle diameter of at least 90% by number of the particle aggregates: 100 nm-150 nm). The particle aggregates each include the resin particles in an aggregated state. The surface of the core is entirely covered with the shell layer. The second shell layer is present in a surface of the toner particle in a proportion of at least 5% by area and no greater than 15% by area.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a controller (a) determines a bright potential of a photoconductor drum at calibration, (b) adjusts a development bias and thereby determines as an intermediate reference development bias value a value of the development bias so that a toner density based on an output of a reflection-type optical sensor is equal to an intermediate reference density lower than a target density, (c) determines as an intermediate reference effective potential a difference between the intermediate reference development bias value and the bright potential at calibration, and (d) determines a development bias value corresponding to the target density by linear interpolation based on the intermediate reference effective potential and a virtual zero density effective potential. The virtual zero density effective potential is a difference between a development bias and a bright potential of the photoconductor drum when a transmission density is virtually zero.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge includes a first wall having a first opening, a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening, and a first operating portion configured to operate together with the first shutter. The second cartridge is mountable onto and demountable from the first cartridge and contains a developer. The second cartridge includes a second wall facing the first wall and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a second shutter configured to open and close the second opening, and a second operating portion configured to operate together with the second shutter. The first cartridge further includes a third operating portion. When the second cartridge is mounted onto the first cartridge, the first operating portion and the third operating portion operate together through the second operating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable endless belt, an image forming unit forming a developer image, a transfer unit transferring the developer image to a medium on a downstream side of the image forming unit in a belt moving direction, a belt cleaning unit cleaning the belt on a downstream side of the transfer unit in the belt moving direction, a detection unit detecting a surface state of the belt on a downstream side of the transfer unit and on an upstream side of the belt cleaning unit in the belt moving direction, and a control unit stopping move of the belt based on a result detected at the detection unit before any foreign object on the belt reaches the belt cleaning unit or the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a transfer portion that transfers a toner image to a transfer material, a first roller disposed upstream of the transfer portion in a conveying direction of the transfer material, and a second roller disposed upstream of the transfer portion and downstream of the first roller. The triboelectric charge polarities of the surfaces of the first and second rollers when the surfaces are triboelectrically charged by contact with the transfer material differ from each other.

Abstract: A cleaning device detachable from an image forming apparatus, the cleaning device including a frame that includes a waste toner containing unit that contains toner removed with a cleaning member, a vent hole that communicates an inside and an outside of the waste toner containing unit and that is covered with a filter, and a partitioning portion that protrudes inside the waste toner containing unit. In a state in which the cleaning device in mounted in the image forming apparatus, there is a contact position where the image bearing member and the cleaning member come in contact with each other, and the partitioning portion is positioned between the vent hole and the contact position in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a pressure rotator disposed opposite the belt, and a nip formation unit that forms a fixing nip between the belt and the pressure rotator. The nip formation unit includes a guide face disposed upstream from the fixing nip in a rotation direction of the belt and contoured to separate from the pressure rotator in a direction opposite the rotation direction of the belt. The guide face is adhered with a lubricant moved from an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The belt rotates in the rotation direction when an outer circumferential surface of the belt has a temperature lower than a fixing temperature at which the belt fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The belt rotating in the rotation direction brings the lubricant adhered to the guide face into contact with the belt.

Abstract: A fixation device according to one of embodiments includes a first and second fixation units. The first fixation unit includes: a first belt; a first pad with a first elastic layer; and a first roller provided downstream of the first pad in a conveyance direction of a medium. The second fixation unit includes: a second belt; a second pad including a second elastic layer and pressed against the first pad with the first and second belts interposed in between; and a second roller provided downstream of the second pad in the conveyance direction and pressed against the first roller with the first second belts interposed in between. A thickness of at least one of the first and second elastic layers is smaller on a downstream side in the conveyance direction than on an upstream side in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a fixation member having a fluororesin tube serving as a release layer which attains both suitable electrical conductivity and high releasability. The fixation member (fixation tube) has a release layer on the surface thereof. The release layer is formed of a fluororesin tube containing carbon. The fluororesin tube has a percent dielectric relaxation of 1.0% to 5.0% or an optical transmission density of 1 to 4. The fluororesin tube preferably has a dielectric constant of 2.15 to 2.5.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a charger, and adjusting part. The fixing member heats toner images on media. The pressing member forms nips with the fixing member and presses the media. The charger uses a corona discharge that occurs in an electric field generated around a discharging electrode so as to charge the fixing member to a same polarity of toner in the toner images. The adjusting part increases a bias applied to the discharging electrode in accordance with increase of a cumulative number calculated by accumulating a number of the media on which the toner images are fixed or increase of a cumulative printing amount calculated by multiplying a printing rate that indicates a ratio of an area of the toner images to an area of the media by the cumulative number.

Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotating body, a pressing unit, and an urging member. The pressing unit includes a belt, a second rotating body, a belt supporting member, and a pushing member. The pushing member includes a pressing region for pressing the belt toward the first rotating body. The pushing member is disposed between the second rotating body and the belt supporting member. The pressing unit is capable of switching a pressing position and a release position. When viewed from the axial direction of the first rotating body, a line connecting the center of the first rotating body and the center of the turning fulcrum passes the pressing region of the pushing member in both of the pressing position and the release position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner-image fixer that fixes an unfixed toner image on a sheet by conveying the sheet while heating and pressing the sheet at a fixing nip; a pressing force changer that changes a pressing force against the sheet at the fixing nip; and a hardware processor that controls the toner-image fixer and the pressing force changer, in which when a conveying speed of the sheet is changed by controlling the toner-image fixer, the hardware processor causes the conveying speed to change in a state in which the pressing force is decreased by controlling the pressing force changer.

Abstract: A method for controlling transfer of black and color toned images during combined simplex and duplex printing in an electrophotographic imaging device having either a plurality of movable color photoconductive drums or a plurality of moveable color transfer rolls.

Abstract: A developer case (10) according to the present invention includes a case main body (30) and an RF tag (36, 37). The case main body (30) contains developer and is attached to an apparatus main body (2, 71) which includes a communication device (14). The RF tag (36, 37) is arranged at the case main body (30) and makes wireless communication with the communication device (14) within a communicable area (A1, A2) around the communication device (14). The case main body (30) includes a plurality of attachment parts (41a, 41b) opposed to the communication device (14) in a state where the case main body (30) is attached to the apparatus main body (2, 71). The RF tag (36, 37) is arranged at one of the plurality of attachment parts (41a, 41b) according to the communicable area (A1, A2) unique to the RF tag (36, 37).

Abstract: A sheet processing device includes: an accumulator on which sheets are accumulated; a staple driver; a staple receiver disposed at a position facing the staple driver, wherein the staple driver drives a staple into the sheets when the sheet are between the staple receiver and the staple driver; an arm that extends from the staple driver in a direction perpendicular to a staple driving direction to operate the staple driver in the staple driving direction; and a regulator that regulates deviation produced when the staple driver drives the staple. The deviation is in a short length direction of the arm perpendicular to a long length direction of the arm and to the staple driving direction.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of printing. The method comprises generating a gloss modification image based on a substrate gloss level and a desired gloss level for a portion of the image, and printing the image and the gloss modification image on the substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an exposure device, a drive device, a cleaning body, and an exposure device holder. The exposure device is disposed on a motion trajectory between an exposure position and a retracted position and emits light to the image bearer via a lens having a lens surface at the exposure position. The drive device causes the exposure device to move between the exposure position and the retracted position. The cleaning body disposed on the motion trajectory of the exposure device tilts a cleaning surface when contacting with the lens surface of the exposure device. The exposure device holder supports the exposure device while changing an attitude of the exposure device such that the lens surface remains in contact with the cleaning surface of the cleaning body when the exposure device moves from the retracted position to the exposure position.

Abstract: A cover member attachment/detachment structure includes a first engagement part and a second engagement part. The first engagement part is formed in one of a portion to be protected or a cover member attached to the portion to be protected. The second engagement part is formed in the other of the portion to be protected or the cover member attached to the portion to be protected. The second engagement part is capable of engaging with the first engagement part. The first engagement part is made of magnetic material. The first engagement part is magnetically movable from an outside of the cover member without contact between a locking position where the first engagement part is engaged with the second engagement part and a lock releasing position where the first engagement part is disengaged with the second engagement part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller and a developing magnetic pole. The developing roller is disposed to face an image carrier across a predetermined gap. The developing magnetic pole is provided in the developing roller so as to be displaced between first and second magnetic pole positions. When the developing magnetic pole is at the first magnetic pole position, a magnetic field is generated at a first position in the gap. When the developing magnetic pole is at the second magnetic pole position, a magnetic field is generated at a second position in the gap. When a circumferential speed ratio of the developing roller to the image carrier is increased, the developing magnetic pole is displaced toward the second magnetic pole position, and when the circumferential speed ratio is decreased, the developing magnetic pole is displaced toward the first magnetic pole position.

Abstract: A process cartridge including a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a waste toner container, is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer and a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, a drum cleaner arranged to contact the photosensitive drum, a cleaner frame configured to accommodate the drum cleaner therein, and a waste toner conveyer tube connected with the cleaner frame. The developing cartridge is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge and includes a developer roller. The waste toner container is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. When the developing cartridge and the waste toner container are attached to the drum cartridge, the waste toner container is connected with the waste toner conveyer tube and is located on an opposite side of the developing cartridge to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, endless belt, photosensitive drums, setting unit, contacting/separating mechanism, transmitting mechanism, and coupling members. The photosensitive drums are disposed in confrontation with the endless belt and are arranged in a first direction. Each photosensitive drum has an axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The setting unit sets the image forming apparatus to a monochrome mode or color mode. The contacting/separating mechanism controls at least one photosensitive drum to contact or separate from the endless in accordance with the set mode. The transmitting mechanism selectively transmits drive power to photosensitive drums. Each coupling member is selectively coupled to the corresponding photosensitive drum and has a coupling axis extending in the second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a housing, and a partition wall portion. The housing is configured to store the image forming portion and comprising first and second exhaust ports disposed on a same side wall portion of the housing. The first and second exhaust ports are configured to discharge air which has been taken into the housing and has passed through the image forming portion. The partition wall portion is provided so as to project from the side wall portion and configured to separate an outside space, facing the first exhaust port and to which the air discharged out of the first exhaust port is discharged, of the housing from an outside space, facing the second exhaust port and to which the air is discharged out of the second exhaust port, of the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance path to convey a recording medium; an image forming device to form an image on the recording medium; a heating device to heat the recording medium; an image detector disposed downstream from the heating device in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, to detect the image on the recording medium; and a protector projecting beyond the image detector toward the conveyance path. The protector is to protect the image detector; and a heat conductive holder holds the protector.

Abstract: Processes and systems are described that can produce images including both three dimensional holographic images and two dimensional variable data, which can provide personalized security features in a document. A photosensitive film can be pressed against a first reflective optical device. A laser beam can be directed through a selected first area of the photosensitive film onto the first reflective optical device to produce a three dimensional holographic image in the photosensitive film. A previously masked second area of the photosensitive film can be pressed against a second reflective optical device. The laser beam can project an image constructed by a spatial light modulator and can be directed through the second area of the photosensitive film onto the second reflective optical device to produce a two dimensional image in the second area. During the process, the web tension of the photosensitive film is controlled.

Abstract: A communication apparatus comprises a communicator that receives a standard time from an external apparatus, a manipulation receiver that receives a time correction action from a user, and a controller that performs a timing processing for clocking time and a time correction processing for correcting the time clocked by the timing processing, on the basis of the standard time received by the communicator, or on the basis of the time correction action received by the manipulation receiver. The controller changes processing contents of the time correction processing until a prescribed time interval has elapsed, when the time clocked by the timing processing is corrected on the basis of the time correction action received by the manipulation receiver.

Abstract: A machine learning apparatus learning an operating command to an electric motor. The machine learning apparatus is configured to learn an operating command to an electric motor. The machine learning apparatus comprises a status observing part observing an amount of power fed to an electric motor, a temperature of the electric motor, a load of the electric motor, and vibration of the electric motor as status variables and a learning part learning an operating command to an electric motor according to a set of training data prepared based on the status variables.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for tuning a Multivariable Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller in a process plant. The plant can have at least one PID controller for controlling the processes of the plant. The method can include formulating Model Predictive Control (MPC) for the process model of the plant; obtaining a desired (e.g., optimal control) solution for at least one designated (e.g., critical) region in relation to the MPC; determining PID tuning parameters corresponding to the control solution; and tuning the PID controller with the PID tuning parameters.

Abstract: Computer system and methods for optimally controlling the behavior of an industrial process, in accordance with plant operating goals, without requiring a complicated trial and error process. The system and methods enable configuring optimization preference and optimization priority for key manipulated variables (MVs) of the industrial process. The system and methods translate the configured optimization preference and optimization priority for each key MV into prioritized economic objective functions. The system and methods calculate a set of normalized cost factors for use in a given prioritized economic functions based on a model gain matrix of manipulated variables and controlled variables of the industrial process.

Abstract: Machines can be controlled using advanced control systems. Such control systems may use an automated version of singular spectrum analysis to control a machine. For example, a control system can perform singular spectrum analysis on a time series by: generating a trajectory matrix from the time series, performing singular value decomposition on the trajectory matrix to determine elementary matrices and corresponding eigenvalues, and automatically categorizing the elementary matrices into groups. The elementary matrices can be automatically categorized into the groups by: generating a matrix of w-correlation values based on the eigenvalues, categorizing the w-correlation values into a predefined number of w-correlation sets, and forming the groups based on the predefined number of w-correlation sets. The control system can then determine component time-series based on the groups, and generate a predictive forecast using the component time-series.

Abstract: An appliance control method is for controlling a target appliance located in a building to disguise the number of people in the building. The method includes: obtaining an operation history of the target appliance (S101); determining a change in the number of people in the building (S102); creating, based on the operation history and the change in the number of people in the building, control patterns each of which is for controlling the target appliance and corresponds to a different one of the numbers of people including the number of people (S103); selecting, from among the created control patterns each of which corresponds to a different one of the numbers of the people, a control pattern which corresponds to the predetermined virtual number of people (S111); and controlling the target appliance according to the selected control pattern (S112).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated assisted generation, by a user, of a digitized border pattern for a border zone of a fabric article, and automated assisted sewing of the digitized border pattern, the border pattern incorporating a plurality of border pattern segments having one or more pattern lines, the actuator displaying the border zone to the user, presenting available digitized border pattern segments to the user for selection, positioning, orienting, scaling, and selective interconnecting, by the user through interaction with the actuator, for integration of the selected border pattern segments into the digitized border pattern.

Abstract: A system program includes a procedure library in which at least a procedure for controlling execution of a control program and a procedure for controlling output of output data and input of input data are included. If schedule-building data including execution order specifications for the procedures included in the procedure library is stored in a storage section, the system program causes a microprocessor to execute the procedures included in the procedure library in accordance with the procedure execution order specifications included in schedule-building data.

Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing automated control systems that manipulate operations of specified target systems, such as by modifying or otherwise manipulating inputs or other control elements of the target system that affect its operation (e.g., affect output of the target system). An automated control system may in some situations have a distributed architecture with multiple decision modules that each controls a portion of a target system and operate in a partially decoupled manner with respect to each other, such as by each decision module operating to synchronize its local solutions and proposed control actions with those of one or more other decision modules, in order to determine a consensus with those other decision modules. Such inter-module synchronizations may occur repeatedly to determine one or more control actions for each decision module at a particular time, as well as to be repeated over multiple times for ongoing control.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an energy management system that is based on a distributed architecture that includes networked energy management devices located at a plurality of sites and a collection of energy management program applications and modules implemented by a centralized energy management service unit. The energy management program applications and modules are responsible for facilitating customer access to the system, configuring energy management devices, and collecting, storing, and analyzing energy management data collected from the plurality of sites. The energy management system is adaptable to a wide variety of energy usage requirements and enables customers to configure energy management devices at customer sites using scheduling templates, to define and customize site groupings for device configuration and data analysis purposes, and to request and view various statistical views of collected energy usage data.

Abstract: A field device and a method for parameterization of a field device are disclosed. The method includes transmitting a parameter value to the field device from a parameterization unit. The method also includes generating a feedback character string from the received parameter value by the field device and the transmitting feedback character string to the parameterization unit. The method further includes outputting the received feedback character string by the parameterization unit so that it is understandable for the user.