Abstract: A printer includes a controller that operates an actuator of a transfer assist blade (TAB) mechanism with reference to an actuator profile. The actuator profile identifies an actuator waveform and a plurality of pulse trains for the actuator waveform. The actuator profile and the data associated with it are developed with reference to the drive train for the TAB mechanism. The actuator profiles enable the TAB mechanism drive train to achieve optimal operation over a wide range of media types, substrate speeds, pitch modes, and other print job parameters.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixer that includes a heater controlled and lighted on the basis of a detection result of a temperature sensor, and melts and fixes an unfixed toner on a recording medium, using heat of when the heater is lighted; a lighting rate acquirer that acquires a first lighting rate of the heater after jam recovery and a second lighting rate of the heater before jam occurrence in a case where a jam of the recording medium occurs at a fixing nip position of the fixer; and a determiner that compares the first lighting rate with the second lighting rate, and determines whether the recording medium remains between the temperature sensor and the heater according to a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a cover and a cleaning device. The fixing member is configured to heat a toner on a medium while rotating. The pressing member is configured to form a pressing area with the fixing member while rotating and to press the toner on the medium passing through the pressing area. The cover is configured to be moved in one direction in an opening and closing direction to form a part of a conveying path for the medium and to be moved in the other direction in the opening and closing direction to open the part of the conveying path. The cleaning device is provided in the cover and configured to bring a cleaning member into contact with a surface of the fixing member in a state where the cover is moved in the one direction and to clean the surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. A transfer unit is disposed in the image forming apparatus to be contactable to and separable from an image carrier and transfers an image on the image carrier to a continuous recording medium. A fixing unit fixes the image on the continuous recording medium by sandwiching it between first and second fixing members. The first and second fixing members are disposed in the image forming apparatus to be contactable to and separable from each other. The position adjusting image detector detects a position adjusting image on the image carrier. A controller performs control so that the first and second fixing members contact each other and the image carrier and the transfer unit contact each other and thereafter so that the position adjusting image is detected by the position adjusting image detector after a transport state of the continuous recording medium is stabilized.

Abstract: A temperature measuring device for measuring temperatures of a plurality of heating elements, includes a temperature measuring element positioned to receive infrared rays emitted from each of the heating elements and to output a signal corresponding to an intensity of the light reception, and a light guiding unit including a plurality of light guides, one for each of the heating elements, each light guide being configured to guide the infrared ray emitted from a respective one of the heating elements to the temperature measuring element.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heater in contact with an inner surface of the belt and divided into a plurality of heater blocks in a width direction of the belt, a pressing member positioned to face the heater with the belt interposed therebetween and configured to press a conveyed sheet against the belt and the heater, a temperature sensor disposed in each of at least half of the heater blocks, and a processor. The processor selects heater blocks based on width and position of the conveyed sheet to form a heat generation block, controls power supplied to the heater blocks so that a temperature of the heat generation block is within a predetermined temperature range, and selects the temperature sensor disposed in a heater block having a non-paper passing region and control an excessive temperature rise in the non-paper passing region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heat roller configured to heat a sheet on which a toner image is formed, a plurality of heaters arranged in a main scanning direction, each of the heaters configured to heat one of a plurality of blocks of the heat roller arranged in the main scanning direction, a counter circuit configured to count for each of the blocks of the heat roller, the number of pixels of a toner image which are formed on a region of the sheet heated by the block, and a controller configured to determine for each heater a duty ratio of pulses to be output to the heater according to the number of pixels counted by the counter circuit, and output pulses to each of the heaters according to the duty ratio thereof.

Abstract: A fusing device includes a driving roller and a fusing unit including a heat insulating component, a heat generating component, a heat conducting component connected to the heat insulating component, a heat reflecting component, a metal reinforcing component and a fusing component. The heat generating component and the heat reflecting component are located inside the heat insulating component. The metal reinforcing component is located outside the heat insulating component and separated from the heat conducting component. The fusing component movably surrounds the heat conducting component, the heat insulating component and the metal reinforcing component. The heat reflecting component reflects heat generated from the heat generating component to the heat conducting component. The heat conducting component conducts the heat to the fusing component. The fusing component contacts with a printing media to fuse toners onto the printing media by heating when the driving roller drives the printing media to move.

Abstract: A fusing device includes a driving roller and a fusing unit. The driving roller is for driving a printing media to move. The fusing unit includes a heat insulating component, a heating component, a heat conductive component, a heat reflecting component and a fusing component. The heating component is for generating heat. The heat reflecting component includes a reflecting portion having a cross section formed in a conic section substantially. The reflecting portion is located at a side of the heating component away from the heat conductive component for reflecting the heat generated from the heating component to the heat conductive component. The heat conductive component transfers the heat to the fusing component. The fusing component contacts with the printing media to fuse toners onto the printing media when the driving roller drives the printing media to move.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary endless fixing belt; a nip forming member disposed in an interior of the fixing belt; a rotary opposed member to contact the nip forming member via the fixing belt to form a nip together with the fixing belt; a heat source to directly heat the fixing belt at a portion other than the nip, including at lease one heat-generation part disposed outside lateral ends of a maximum area of the fixing belt where a recording medium passes through, wherein a recording medium carrying an unfixed image is conveyed to the nip and the fixing device fixes the unfixed image onto the recording medium; and a shielding member disposed between the fixing belt and the heat generation part of the heat source and configured to shield heat from the heat source at least at an area outside the maximum passing area of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member that transfers an image on the image carrier to a continuous medium, a fixing device that fixes the image transferred to the medium, and a transport member that is disposed downstream of the fixing device in a transport direction of the medium and that transports the medium. When the transport member transports the medium, the fixing device is passively rotated in accordance with movement of the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyer that conveys continuous paper through a conveying path; a detector that detects a mark on the continuous paper conveyed by the conveyer; an image former that is provided on a subsequent stage side of the detector and forms an image on the continuous paper; and a hardware processor that causes the image former to start forming an image according to a position setting for forming an image on the continuous paper using the image former after a mark on the continuous paper is detected, wherein the hardware processor adjusts the position setting on the basis of a start position determined according to an image formation state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and an image forming portion configured to form first and second toner images on the image bearing member. A control portion controls the image forming portion such that a first toner image is formed on a first image position of the image bearing member, and a second toner image is formed on a second image position of the image bearing member. The sheet moves to a first sheet position corresponding to the first image position based on a first detection position before the first toner image is transferred onto a first surface of the sheet and moves, after being inverted, to a second sheet position corresponding to the second image position based on a second detection position before the second toner image is transferred onto a second surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a paper roll holder, a first roller that is rotated to convey paper drawn out from the paper roll, a bending portion having a curved inner guide and a curved outer guide between which the paper conveyed by the first roller is conveyed, a second roller that is disposed downstream of the bending portion in a conveying direction of the paper, and configured to be rotated to convey the paper conveyed from the bending portion and to idle when the paper conveyed from the bending portion applies a rotation force thereto, and a control unit configured to control rotation of the first roller so that the first roller conveys the paper at a target conveying speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor; a measurer that measures the number of rotations of the photoreceptor; and a hardware processor that predicts a film scraping amount of the photoreceptor on the basis of a measurement result of the measurer, and determines a service life of the photoreceptor on the basis of a prediction result of the hardware processor, wherein the hardware processor calculates the film scraping amount by multiplying the number of rotations of the photoreceptor per predetermined time by a predetermined coefficient, and integrates the calculated film scraping amount for each predetermined time, and the predetermined coefficient is set to a different value according to the number of rotations of the photoreceptor per predetermined time.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. A rotatable media feed roll is mounted on the housing and is positioned to engage a corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device for forming a media feed nip with the corresponding media feed roll in the image forming device when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.

Abstract: A drive transmitting device includes a first gear; a second gear in engagement with the first gear; wherein a first tooth which is at least one of teeth of the first gear has a tooth surface contacting a tooth of the second gear, wherein the tooth surface has such a shape that a contact point of the first tooth of the first gear to the tooth of the second gear is in a region of a first gear side with respect to a line of action which is formed by movement of a contact point between a tooth of the second gear and a second tooth of the first gear immediately before the first tooth with respect to a rotational moving direction of the first gear.

Abstract: There is provided a process for heat transfer printing, comprising electrostatically printing a transparent electrostatic ink composition (3) onto a transfer material (2), wherein the transparent electrostatic ink composition comprises a thermoplastic resin; printing an image (4) on the transparent electrostatic ink composition; contacting the image with a target substrate (1) under conditions such that the thermoplastic resin of the transparent electrostatic ink composition is softened or molten, and separating the target substrate and the transfer material, to leave the target substrate having thereon the image and an overlying layer of transparent electrostatic ink composition. Also disclosed is a fabric having thereon an image, the image having an overlying layer of transparent electrostatic ink composition.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force. Movement of the linkage moves the electrical connector between the retracted position and the operative position.

Abstract: In a waste toner collecting device, primary cleaning devices and a secondary cleaning device remove residual toner that has remained on photoconductor drums and an intermediate transfer belt, respectively. A conveyance path guides the residual toner in a downstream direction. A toner container stores, as waste toner, the residual toner discharged from a downstream end of the conveyance path. A toner amount sensor outputs a detection signal whose level changes in correspondence with an amount of the waste toner. A derivation portion derives an accumulated value of the residual toner based on image data each time an image formation is performed. A determination portion determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the waste toner collecting device based on the level of the detection signal and the accumulated value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a cartridge removably attached thereto. The image forming unit includes: a toner image forming unit; and a toner storing portion including a first toner storing portion that stores a first toner, a waste toner storing portion that stores a waste toner, and a movable partition that separates the storing portions. The cartridge includes a second toner storing portion that stores a second toner. The image forming unit includes: a first portion for supplying the first toner in the first toner storing portion to the toner image forming unit; a second portion for supplying the second toner in the second toner storing portion to the toner image forming unit; and a conveying member that conveys the first toner supplied through the first portion and the second toner supplied through the second portion, to the toner image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing, a cover a process cartridge, an LED array, and a link member. The cover is pivotally movable about an axis extending in a first direction between an open position and a closed position. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit, and is attachable to and detachable from the housing in an open state where the cover is at the open position. The link member is movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in interlocking relation to movement of the cover. The link member is configured to: move the developing unit away from the axis in the second direction during movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position; and move the developing unit toward the axis in the second direction during movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main casing, a belt accommodated in the main casing, developing units arranged along the belt, a drawer configured to detachably support the developing units, the drawer configured to move to a position inside the main casing and to a position outside the main casing, and the drawer having a leading end and a trailing end in a pulling direction from the inside position to the outside position; and a guide configured to guide the drawer and to move between a first position and a second position when the drawer is at the inside position, the second position being farther from the belt than the first position from the belt. When the guide is at the second position, the guide is configured to be tilted downward relative to a horizontal direction such that the leading end is lower than the trailing end.

Abstract: A process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a rotatable roller having a rotation shaft in a position deviated from an axis of the developing roller; an Oldham coupling member at an end portion of the shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the drive receiving portion; a supporting portion supporting the drive receiving portion; an abutting portion receiving the supporting portion urged by the urging member, an elastic sheet positioned to contact at least part of the Oldham coupling member, wherein the abutting portion is positioned outside an outer periphery of the drum on a plane perpendicular to the shaft of the rotatable roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with: an apparatus body; a photosensitive member; a developing cartridge configured to have a developer supporting body; a cleaner configured to collect developer remaining on the photosensitive member; and a waste developer container configured to contain developer collected by the cleaner. The apparatus body is configured to have an installment passage, through which the developing cartridge passes when the developing cartridge is installed into and removed from the apparatus body. The waste developer container is configured to be movable between a first position at which at least a part of the waste developer container is located within the installment passage and a second position at which the waste developer container is located away from the installment passage.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge frame member including a developer accommodation portion, an image bearing member rotatably provided to the cartridge frame member, an end sealing provided to the cartridge frame member and abutting on an end of the image bearing member in a longitudinal direction, a cleaning unit for acting on the image bearing member, a sealing portion integrally provided with the cartridge frame member and abut on an end of the cleaning unit in the longitudinal direction, a sheet member provided along the longitudinal direction and abut on the image bearing member at an end of the sheet member in a direction that crosses the longitudinal direction, and a fixing portion for fixing the sheet member and the cartridge frame member. The sealing portion and the fixing portion are integrally formed with the cartridge frame member.

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: To achieve a temperature control in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus (1) includes an image reading unit allowed to have a first temperature range, an image forming unit allowed to have a second temperature range, which is an allowable temperature range narrower than the first temperature range, and a control circuit DC power supply (201). The image forming apparatus includes a first heater (111b, 111c) arranged in a first unit and configured to receive power fed from an AC power supply, and a second heater (111a) arranged in a second unit and configured to receive power fed from a DC power supply. The first heater is controlled such that a temperature of the first unit falls within the first temperature range, and the second heater is controlled such that a temperature of the second unit falls within the second temperature range.

Abstract: An illumination unit emits illumination light to a specimen held by a sample holder, which includes an AF mark that changes at least the amplitude or phase of part of the illumination light. An image sensor includes multiple pixels two-dimensionally arranged on an imaging surface, captures an image of the intensity distribution of an interference pattern formed on the imaging surface, and outputs captured image data. An AF operation unit generates a first intensity distribution representing a measurement value of the interference pattern corresponding to the AF mark based on the captured image data, generates a second intensity distribution representing a calculation value of an interference pattern corresponding to the AF mark by calculation, and executes an autofocus operation wherein the first intensity distribution approaches the second. A reconstruction calculation unit reconstructs a subject image representing the specimen based on the captured image data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating holograms for encoding in a spatial light modulation device for a holographic display for representing a two- and/or three-dimensional scene. The two- and/or three-dimensional scene is decomposed into object points and encoded in a hologram, which is subdivided into subholograms, in the spatial light modulation device. The object points of the scene are encoded into encoding regions on the spatial light modulation device. A size and/or shape of the encoding region is selected in relation to a size and/or shape of a subhologram, assigned to the encoding region, in such a way that crosstalk of higher diffraction orders in a virtual visibility region is reduced.

Abstract: A time delay error occurring in the case of acquiring two holograms (object hologram and reference hologram) necessary for reconstruction in the related art or in the case of acquiring four physical holograms having different phase shift degrees may be removed. DC noise (including background noise) may be completely removed by using a software-implemented phase shifting method.

Abstract: A running equation of time mechanism includes civil hour and minute hands to indicate civil time and a concentric true minute hand to indicate true time. The running equation of time mechanism includes an equation of time cam and a differential gear device, a first input of which is formed by a civil minute pipe on which a civil minute hand is pressed, and a second input of which is formed by the equation of time cam. The differential gear device includes a planetary reducer wheel set via which the civil minute pipe drives a civil hour pipe on which is pressed the civil hour hand, and a planetary multiplier wheel set via which the civil hour pipe drives a true minute pipe on which is pressed the true minute hand.

Abstract: A device including a first part and at least a second part to be assembled to the first part, the first part including a body from which an attachment extends, the attachment defining a housing for the second part, for example as a timepiece hand.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for attaching a bracelet or strap to a watch case, the device comprising, on the one hand, a bar secured to the watch case by means of at least one horn, and on the other hand, an insert integral with the end of the bracelet, wherein the bar and the insert are complementary to cooperate by interlocking or fitting with each other to form removable assembly means able to make the bracelet interchangeable. According to the invention, the bar is formed by a cylindrical shaft having a flat portion, the flat portion being arranged to cooperate by interlocking or fitting with at least one housing made in the insert, the housing having a substantially rectangular opening for receiving the flat portion, the shaft being telescopic to move from a first position A, in which the insert is positionable on the shaft, to a second position B, in which the insert is locked on the shaft.

Abstract: A timepiece movement includes a stepping motor having a rotor for rotating an indicating hand, and a control unit for rotating the rotor by using a main drive pulse and an auxiliary drive pulse. When the indicating hand is rotated using a detection drive pulse based on the main drive pulse, the control unit determines a reference position of the indicating hand by detecting a rotation state of the rotor.

Abstract: The presentation case is arranged for receiving an electromechanical watch provided with a stepping motor for driving the watch hands. The presentation case includes a box with a support for receiving the watch, a system for detecting the position of the hands, means for resetting the watch, connected to the hand position detection system, and configured to reset the watch on the basis of information received from the hand position detection system and a time reference, when the watch is placed on the receiving support. The resetting means include a drive means for the stepping motor of the electromechanical watch, which is arranged inside the presentation case facing the stepping motor, when the watch is placed on the receiving support, and is configured to cause a rotation of the stepping motor by inductive coupling.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose methods and apparatuses for controlling an alarm clock. Processing circuitry of an apparatus determines an alarm time for the alarm clock of a first terminal device. When a time difference between a present time of the first terminal device and the alarm time is determined to reach a preset duration, the processing circuitry determines whether a second terminal device is located within a reachable distance from the first terminal device. The second terminal device is associated with a first wearable device used by a user. When the second terminal device is determined to be located within the reachable distance from the first terminal device, the processing circuitry acquires, from the first wearable device, a sleep signal indicating a sleeping status of the user, and controls the alarm clock and a second wearable device associated with the first terminal device based on the sleep signal.

Abstract: The detection module comprises an elastic conductive blade having first and second ends and a central portion therebetween, with the blade being designed to be driven axially by a control rod in order to occupy three distinct positions between the pulled position and the end position of the rod: a pulled position, an end position, and an intermediate position. Two electrical contacts are designed to detect the end position and the pulled position of the rod, respectively. The blade is designed to pivot at its first end when the rod passes from the intermediate position to the pulled position, or vice versa. The blade is also designed to undergo elastic deformation when the rod passes between the intermediate position and the end position so as to participate substantially in the restoring force of the rod toward the intermediate position when the axial activating force applied to the rod by a user is released.

Abstract: A watch can include a processor; memory operatively coupled to the processor; a display operatively coupled to the processor; an environmental sensor that generates sensor information; circuitry that selects a watch face from a plurality of different watch faces based at least in part on at least a portion of the sensor information; and circuitry that renders the selected watch face to the display.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed, the instrument including: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly including a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and an anvil to form the plurality of staples upon firing; a lockout mechanism configured to prevent reuse of the jaw assembly; a drive assembly at least partially located within the handle and connected to the jaw assembly; a motor operatively coupled to the drive assembly; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the controller configured to control supply of electrical current to the motor and to monitor a current draw of the motor, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the supply of electrical current to the motor in response to a drop in the current draw.

Abstract: The instant disclosure provides an ability to use an array of data inputs to enter a network and thereby provide a realtime improvable database. The present invention is novel in its ability to maximize the customer's interface with a pest control system, thus allowing for maximum efficiency for current and future designs as well as a high level of compatibility with ancillary regulatory, financial and planning type functions.

Abstract: In view of the relevant background art, the present invention is to provide a system or apparatus which enables data in use for learning to be sorted out, thereby reducing the amount of data to be handled. Presenting one example of the control system according to the present invention, the control system including a first processing device to generate a learnt model; and a second processing device to operate employing the generated learnt model and provided with input means, wherein the second processing device transmits information input from the input means to the first processing device; and where the input information as transmitted is information belonging to an area different from an area designated with the learnt model, the first processing device generates an updated learnt model based on the information belonging to the different area as received and the learnt model.

Abstract: A method includes identifying one or more proxy limit variables to be used to define an operating envelope associated with an industrial process controller. The industrial process controller is associated with a number of process variables including the proxy limit variable(s). The method also includes maximizing and minimizing at least one of the proxy limit variable(s). The method further includes presenting maximum and minimum values of the at least one of the proxy limit variable(s) as the operating envelope in a graphical user interface to at least one user. A single proxy limit variable could be used, and maximum and minimum values of the single proxy limit variable can be presented in a one-dimensional representation of the operating envelope. Multiple proxy limit variables could also be used, and maximum and minimum values of the proxy limit variables can be presented in a multi-dimensional representation of the operating envelope.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of neuromuscular sensors, each of which is configured to record a time-series of neuromuscular signals from a surface of a user's body; and at least one computer hardware processor programmed to perform: applying a source separation technique to the time series of neuromuscular signals recorded by the plurality of neuromuscular sensors to obtain a plurality of neuromuscular source signals and corresponding mixing information; providing features, obtained from the plurality of neuromuscular source signals and/or the corresponding mixing information, as input to a trained statistical classifier and obtaining corresponding output; and identifying, based on the output of the trained statistical classifier, and for each of one or more of the plurality of neuromuscular source signals, an associated set of one or more biological structures.

Abstract: A method, comprising applying a source separation technique to the time series of neuromuscular signals recorded by the plurality of neuromuscular sensors to obtain a plurality of neuromuscular source signals and corresponding mixing information; aligning the plurality of neuromuscular source signals to a plurality of template neuromuscular source signals, the aligning comprising: determining, using a cost function, a distance between first features and second features, the first features obtained from the plurality of neuromuscular source signals and/or the corresponding mixing information, the second features obtained from the template neuromuscular source signals and/or corresponding template mixing information; and identifying, based on results of the aligning and for each of one or more of the plurality of neuromuscular source signals, an associated set of one or more biological structures.

Abstract: A model-based human machine interface (HMI) system is provided. The HMI system includes a plurality of output devices each having output capabilities that include at least one unique output capability level and a semantics library that is configured to receive SUC component models each having an output format and data. The semantics library is configured to analyze the data relative to the SUC component models and to transmit each of the SUC component models to one or more of the plurality of output devices. The one or more of the plurality of output devices are selected based on a correlation between the output capabilities of the plurality of output devices and the output format of the SUC component models.

Abstract: Provided is a method for ascertaining an optimum strategy, having the following steps: a controller receiving at least one input value and an operating state of at least one installation unit of an installation, the controller performing an FDP algorithm to optimise a parameter on the basis of the at least one input value and the operating state, wherein the installation behaviour of the installation is predicted for a predefined plurality of strategies for a particular period of time, ascertaining an optimum strategy from the predefined plurality of strategies by taking into consideration at least one termination condition, and applying the optimum strategy to the at least one installation unit. Further, embodiments of the invention relates to a model-predictive controller and to a computer program for performing the method steps.

Abstract: An input-output apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a lower-level layer interface connected to a field device, a higher-layer interface connected to a controller, a maintenance interface connected to a setting apparatus, a switch, and a control device. The switch switches between a first connection and a second connection. The control device, in an engineering mode, permits the switch to transition freely between the first connection and the second connection, and in an operation mode, controls the switch to switch to the first connection and prohibits communication through the maintenance interface.

Abstract: A method for modifying an industrial control program is provided, the industrial control program comprising a first program element having a safety classification and a second program element not having the safety classification. The method comprises: identifying, in program source code of the first program element, a call to the second program element, and generating a modified program source code, comprising replacing, in the program source code, the call to the second program element by an auxiliary program element, the auxiliary program element being compliant with the safety classification.

Abstract: The overload relay units within a motor control group have the timing function for their motor thermal memories under the control of a central controller in communication with the overload relays. Thus expensive timing components and control of timestamps can be removed from individual overload relays. Further reduction of individual overload relay components can be accomplished by removing the nonvolatile memory function from the individual overload relays and allowing the central controller to perform the nonvolatile memory functions for the overload relays. The motor thermal model function for the overload relays can remain in the overload relays or might be moved to the central controller if communication bandwidth permits.