Abstract: An input/output (I/O) device for a distributed modular I/O system includes a base adapted to be connected to an associated support structure. A terminal block is connected to the base and includes a plurality of wiring connections adapted to be connected to field wiring of an associated controlled system. The I/O device further includes first and second I/O modules each including a plurality of removable single-channel I/O submodules that are each releasably connected to the base and each configured for a select I/O operation for input and output of data relative to the associated controlled system. One or more pairs of the single-channel I/O submodules can be configured to be redundant within or between the first and second I/O modules. Each of the single-channel I/O submodules is operatively connected to wiring connections of the terminal block through the base. The I/O device further includes first and second network switches connected to the base.

Abstract: A method for automated manufacturing strategy generation can include: identifying features of a desired part from a virtual model; and determining a tactic strategy based on the identified features. The method can additionally include: determining a toolpath primitive for each tactic; combining the toolpath primitives for the tactics to generate a master toolpath; and translating the master toolpath into machine code.

Abstract: A scent delivery system includes first and second scent delivery units and a central controller. The central controller is configured to generate command data capable of affecting operation of at least the first and second units based on one or more scenting schedules. The central controller is also configured to determine a relatedness and an order of priority between the units, and determine whether a desired activation time for the first unit overlaps at least partially with a desired activation time for the second unit. Based upon a determination that the first unit is related to the second unit and that a desired activation time for the first unit overlaps at least partially with a desired activation time for the second unit, the central controller is further configured to coordinate activity level of each of the first and second delivery units during the overlapping activation time according to the order of priority.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments including a system and method for operating a reconfigurable control architecture for programmable logic devices. Some embodiments include a storage medium that is coupled to a programmable logic device and a dispatch mechanism that is operably coupled to the programmable logic device. In embodiments, the dispatch mechanism is configured is receive an object, select one or more constructs of the programmable logic device based on the object, schedule one or more inputs and outputs for each of the selected constructs based on the object, and execute a system level operation indicated by the object based on the schedule.

Abstract: A controller of a PC displays program elements of a ladder program and an electrical connection state thereof on a display, detects an instruction designating a first program element, determines whether the first program element is in an electrically connected state or an electrically disconnected state, specifies one or more causal elements according to whether the first program element is in an electrically connected state or an electrically disconnected state, and displays the specified one or more causal elements on the display in a state discernible from other program elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for swapping springs present in a product. A data receiving module receives metadata associated to a spring. The metadata comprises a pitch, vector coordinates and alike. A comparison module compares the pitch associated to the spring with a predefined threshold value thereby categorizing each spring into one of a category including a utilized spring category and an underutilized spring category. A determination module determines an underutilized spring, amongst the underutilized spring category, based on at least one of the vector coordinates and the pitch, when the spring is categorized in the utilized spring category. Subsequent to determining the underutilized spring, the swapping module swaps the spring with the underutilized spring by using a control mechanism.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for modeling and compensating for the spindle's radial thermal drift error in a horizontal CNC lathe, which belongs to the field of error compensation technology of CNC machine tools. Firstly, the thermal drift error of two points in the radial direction of the spindle and the corresponding temperature of the key points are tested; then the thermal inclination angle of the spindle is obtained based on the thermal tilt deformation mechanism of the spindle, and the correlation between the thermal inclination angle and the temperature difference between the left and right sides of the spindle box is analyzed. According to the positive or negative thermal drift error of the two points that have been measured and the elongation or shortening of the spindle box on the left and right sides, the thermal deformation of the spindle is then classified and the thermal drift error model under various thermal deformation attitudes is then established.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mapping timer channels to protection groups. One embodiment of the method can be implemented in a microcontroller unit (MCU) that comprises a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a plurality of timer channels and a plurality of programmable group output disable (PTGOD) circuits. The CPU can select a first group of the timer channels to respond to an assertion of a first output disable signal from a first of the PTGOD circuits. Each timer channel of the first group can disable an output signal in response to receiving the assertion of the first output disable signal.

Abstract: Provided are a failure classifying device, a failure classifying method, and a failure classifying program capable of specifying the causes of failures even when a controller does not generate an alarm. A failure classifying device includes: a failure unit acquiring unit that acquires a data set in which a failure unit of a machine is correlated with one or a plurality of constituent parts; a failure history acquiring unit that acquires a failure history including events of failures that occurred in the past and countermeasure parts; and a correlating unit that stores information on one or a plurality of events in correlation with the failure unit by matching the constituent part to the countermeasure part.

Abstract: An information processing device controls operation trouble or a calculation amount related to a machine interference check by automatically creating a three-dimensional model optimal for the machine interference check. The information processing device optimizes, for the interference check, three-dimensional model data of a machine including a plurality of structures. The information processing device includes a check object selection unit that performs selection among the structures, and a model creating unit that creates three-dimensional model data for an interference check which data includes the selected structure. Since the information processing device can generate three-dimensional model data optimized for an interference check, there is no trouble for a user to create new three-dimensional model data by himself/herself, and a simple and effective interference check can be realized.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network receives a set of sensor data from a plurality of sensors deployed in a location. The device determines a physical layout for furnishings in the location based on the received set of sensor data. One or more of the furnishings is equipped with one or more actuators configured to move the equipped furnishing in one or more directions. The device generates an instruction for the one or more actuators of a particular one of the furnishings based on the determined physical layout for the furnishings. The device sends the instruction to the one or more actuators of the particular furnishing, to implement the determined physical layout.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ID number complement method for a engraving machine, including the steps of: sequentially acquiring a first distance a and a second distance g of a character located in a first digit of an identification number to an edge of an identification area in each identification area; respectively subtracting the first distance a and the second distance g from a first preset value a? and a second preset value g?, and acquiring an offset information in X-axis direction and Y-axis direction of the identification number in each identification area. The disclosure also provides an ID number complement system for an engraving machine, including: a measuring device, a statistical process control system and an engraving machine. Compared with the prior art, the automatic filling of the engraving machine is realized, and the working efficiency is improved by the above method.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for machining dental prostheses including, over a network, receiving data concerning a dental prosthesis, selecting a material from which to machine the dental prosthesis, and determining machining instructions for machining the dental prosthesis based on a nominal enlargement factor corresponding to the selected material. The method can also include storing the machining instructions, receiving a request from a milling machine for a dental prosthesis to be milled by the milling machine, and associating the dental prosthesis with the milling machine. The method can also include selecting a material blank comprised of the selected material, determining a material blank enlargement factor of the selected material blank, modifying the machining instructions according to a difference between the nominal enlargement factor and the material blank enlargement factor, and machining the dental prosthesis according to the modified machining instructions.

Abstract: Flank milling checks during a computer automated design process which may include notifying a user when a component geometry option is selected that will result in the component not being flank millable. In some examples, the user is prevented from selecting a geometry option that would result in the component not being flank millable. In some examples, devices, systems, and methods are provided for manufacturing a component with a flank milling process, in which optimized machine instructions are determined that minimize milling machine motion.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design and manufacture of physical structures using toolpath generation by demonstration include, in one aspect, a method including: receiving a user specified path traced in reference to geometry of a modeled object to be manufactured by a computer-controlled manufacturing system, wherein the user specified path is a spatial representation of a desired toolpath; synthesizing candidate toolpaths for the geometry of the modeled object using variations of at least one toolpath parameter; measuring similarities between the candidate toolpaths and the user specified path, including comparing at least a spatial similarity between the candidate toolpaths and the user specified path; suggesting at least some of the candidate toolpaths based on the measured similarities; and determining a toolpath for use when manufacturing the modeled object in accordance with user input regarding the at least some of the candidat

Abstract: In some examples, a data representation is received that includes voxels relating to a volumetric property and a functional property of portions of a three-dimensional (3D) object to be formed by a 3D printing system, and trajectory voxels containing information to guide operation of a machine that manipulates portions of the 3D object during 3D printing. Information of the voxels relating to the volumetric property and the functional property and the information of the trajectory voxels are combined to produce instructions that control the 3D printing system to build the 3D object.

Abstract: A system and method that relies on the principles of material science, deformable body mechanics, continuum mechanics and additive manufacturing to reduce the costs associated with additive manufacturing. Physical properties are used by numerical solution methods, such as the Finite Element Method (FEM) or Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), to deform an original model of an object to be manufactured into a viable configuration that reduces fabrication material, time, and cost when manufacturing an object through additive manufacturing.

Abstract: A simulation method for milling by use of a dynamic position error includes the steps of: (a) generating a milling surface from a numerical control code, the milling surface having a plurality of grid points, the numerical control code having a position command; (b) calculating a normal vector for each of the plurality of grid points on the milling surface; (c) feeding back a position feedback of each of the plurality of grid points by the controller of the machine tool, and deriving a corresponding three-axis dynamic position error of the milling surface according to the position command and the position feedback; (d) calculating a component of the normal vector for the three-axis dynamic position error so as to obtain a normal-vector error value of the corresponding grid point; and, (e) displaying undercutting information of the normal-vector error value of the corresponding grid point on the milling surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for designing a volumetric model of a construct at a user interface through use of a 3-D design, fabrication and assembly system comprising a modeling component, a robotic assembly workstation component, and a workflow configuration module to generate, through the workflow configuration module, a 3-D print bill of materials for a rendered volumetric model; generate a workflow configuration model based on the 3-D print bill of materials, the model including an automated robot control scheme of a series of assembly order instructions to direct a multi-axis robot of the robotic assembly workstation component to print and/or assemble a construct; transmit the workflow configuration model to the robotic assembly workstation component with a print and/or assembly command in accordance with the automated robot control scheme; and print and/or assemble the construct with the multi-axis robot in accordance with the print and/or assembly command.

Abstract: A numerical controller that is capable of independently controlling multiple control groups can cause a machine to simultaneously execute multiple operations. The numerical controller includes a program analysis unit that analyzes a program and distinguishes the commands for the multiple control groups from each other, and a program execution unit that executes the commands for the multiple control groups independently on a per-control-group basis.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device that generates at least one process script for the modification to a glass ceramic substrate and at least one pattern script that corresponds to the process script. The computing device also merges the process script with the pattern script and generates a plurality of command signals that are based on the merged process and pattern scripts. An energy source generates a plurality of light beams based on the generated command signal(s). A waveform apparatus generates at least one waveform signal to customize the generated light beams based on the generated command signal(s). At least one modulating component modulates the generated light beams based on generated command signal(s). An optical assembly is configured to apply the modulated plurality of light beams to the glass ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A programmable power tool and method and systems of programming a power tool using wireless communication. An external device having a processor and a transceiver establishes a communication link with the power tool. The external device receives, with the transceiver, a first mode profile stored on the power tool. The first mode profile is defined by a profile type and a first value associated with a parameter for executing the profile type. The external device displays a control screen including the profile type and the parameter at the first value, and receives a user input. The external device generates, in response to the user input, a second mode profile by modifying the parameter to be at a second value. The external device transmits, with the transceiver, the second mode profile to the power tool.

Abstract: A vibration control device moves an object by controlling an actuator. The vibration control device controls a position and speed of the actuator, generates a model by modeling the object; and calculates an inverse system output based on the model and the control to provide positive feedback of a position of the object based on the inverse system output.

Abstract: A valve control device, which is designed as a valve control head and/or as a valve position regulator head, for controlling a valve drive and/or a fitting. The valve control device includes a control unit for interacting with a functional unit, which is designed as an actuator unit, sensor unit, signal unit and/or communication unit, wherein the control unit has a device driver for interacting with the functional unit, wherein the device driver provides a software interface, which can be addressed by an application program which can be run on the control unit and/or a remote procedure call, in order to effect an interaction with the functional unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of assembling parts chosen respectively from a plurality of first parts and a plurality of second parts. It comprises: for each first part and each second part of the plurality of first parts and the plurality of second parts the estimation of a defectiveness indicator for the assembly of the first part with the second part; for a batch of N assemblies is to be made, assignment (AFF) of N first parts from the plurality of first parts to N second parts from the plurality of second parts to form N pairs ({Ai, Bj}) of a first part and of a second part, said assignment being performed in such a way that said N pairs minimise a total defectiveness of the assembly. Application to the assembly of a blade and of a leading-edge reinforcement.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer readable media that provide a hybrid approach that uses machine learning techniques and phenomenological reactor models for optimization of steam cracker units. While the phenomenological model allows capturing the physics of a steam cracker using molecular kinetics, the machine learning methods fill the gap between the phenomenological models and more detailed radical kinetics based steam cracker models. Also, machine learning based models can capture actual plant information and provide insight into the variation between the models and plant running conditions. The proposed methodology shows better interpolation and extrapolation capabilities as compared to stand-alone machine learning methods. Also, compared to detailed radical kinetics based models, the approach utilized in embodiments requires much less computational time in order to carry out whole plant-wide optimization or can be used for planning/scheduling purposes.

Abstract: A performance monitoring system enables users of computing devices to easily view performance indicators for any of a number of different process control sites. A computing device displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables a user to identity one or more process control sites he or she is interested in monitoring. The computing device communicates with one or more servers associated with the process control site(s) to receive and display a set of performance indicators tailored to the selected process control sites and to the user's interests. In some instances, the user selects multiple sites and the system acts as an aggregator that selects, prioritizes, and/or categorizes (based on any of a number of different factors) performance indicators to be provided to the user for the multiple sites.

Abstract: A method and system are described for automated parking of a vehicle. The method includes determining that the vehicle is in an appropriate starting position for performing a parking maneuver, determining a control zone for controlling the parking maneuver, determining that an authorized key is located in the control zone, detecting an object located in the control zone, verifying that the detected object is an authorized user, detecting a movement of the authorized use, and when the detected movement of the authorized user is a movement in the direction of an expected parking area, performing the parking maneuver.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods for customizing operation of the robotic vehicle for an operator. Such embodiments may include identifying a current operator of the robotic vehicle, configuring the robotic vehicle based on metadata associated with an operator profile for the operator, determining whether the operator has changed, and if so, identifying the new operator, deriving updated preference-based settings and performance-based settings for the new operator, and updating configurations of the robotic vehicle accordingly.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, upon determining that a vehicle entered a geofenced area, start a timer; upon determining that a handoff of the vehicle from an operator to a remote server has not occurred since starting the timer and that the timer has exceeded a time threshold, determine whether the operator is absent based on data from sensors; and then, upon determining that the operator is absent, instruct the vehicle to follow a command received from the remote server.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode. The system includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensor data. The system also includes a first computing system configured to generate trajectories using the sensor data and send the generated trajectories to a second computing system. The second computing system is configured to cause the vehicle to follow a receive trajectory. The system also includes a third computing system configured to, when there is a failure of the first computer system, generate and send trajectories to the second computing system based on whether a vehicle is located on a highway or a surface street.

Abstract: A method for providing an autonomous driving service platform for autonomous vehicles by using a competitive computing and information fusion is provided.

Abstract: A payload platform includes a platform and a castor assembly coupled to the platform. The castor assembly includes a body, a first wheel coupled to the body, and a second wheel coupled to the body. The first wheel and the second wheel are individually actuatable. A sensor is coupled to the body. A control unit is operably coupled to the sensor and operably coupled to the first wheel and to the second wheel. The sensor detects an area surrounding the platform, determines presence of obstacles, and transmits a signal to the control unit corresponding to the area surrounding the platform. The control unit directs the first wheel and the second wheel to rotate in a prescribed manner so as to achieve a prescribed movement of the platform.

Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments for estimating pedestrian density data based on one or more Personal Safety Messages (PSM message). A method includes, according to some embodiments, receiving, by a first dedicated short range communication (DSRC) chip of a DSRC-enabled vehicle, a PSM message including an instance of pedestrian safety message data (PSM data) describing a geographic location of a pedestrian. The method includes executing an analysis of the instance of PSM data to determine that the pedestrian is present at a business based on the geographic location being within a known geographic area for the business. In some embodiments, this analysis is executed for a plurality of instances of PSM data. The method includes generating pedestrian density data for the business that describes how many pedestrians are present at the business based on executing the analysis for the plurality of instances of PSM data.

Abstract: An autonomous drive system for a vehicle. The system has an autonomous drive module configured to pilot the vehicle. A control module monitors operating performance of the autonomous drive system. A location module identifies the vehicle's location. A transmitter/receiver communicates with a high risk location monitoring module at a location remote to the vehicle. When the control module determines that performance of the autonomous drive system is below a predetermined performance threshold, the control module retrieves the vehicle's location from the location module and transmits the vehicle's location to the high risk location monitoring module, which records the vehicle's current location to notify other vehicles that autonomous drive issues may occur at the vehicle's location.

Abstract: An information processing method includes acquiring, from a device mounted on a vehicle, manual driving information indicating vehicle control for manual driving through a driving route section of the vehicle, acquiring from a device mounted on a vehicle, sensor information acquired via sensing on the vehicle through the driving route section. The information processing method further includes generating automated driving information indicating vehicle control for automated driving through the driving route section, based on the sensor information, and generating automated driving possibility information indicating a possibility of the automated driving through the driving route section, based on the manual driving information and the automated driving information.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for deriving speed limits of designated road segments by mining large-scale vehicle data traces. A method for controlling operation of a motor vehicle includes: determining a current location of the vehicle; determining a designated road segment corresponding to the vehicle's location; receiving host speed data indicative of the vehicle's speed while travelling on the road segment for a calibrated timeframe; receiving crowd-sourced speed data indicative of the speeds of participatory vehicles while travelling on the road segment for the calibrated timeframe; accumulating a speed distribution function for the road segment based on the host and crowd-sourced speed data; generating a finite mixture model from the speed distribution function to estimate a speed limit range; selecting a speed limit candidate from the estimated speed limit range; and transmitting command signals to a vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation based on the selected speed limit candidate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to robot technology, and particularly to a method and a robot for identifying charging station. The method includes: first, obtaining scanning data produced by a radar of the robot; then, determining whether an arc-shaped object exists in a scanning range of the radar of the robot based on the scanning data; finally, in response to determining that the arc-shaped object exists in the scanning range of the robot, determining that the arc-shaped object is a charging station. Compared with the prior art, the present disclosure substitutes the arc identification for the conventional concave-convex structure identification. Since the surface of the arc is relatively smooth, the data jumps at the intersection of the cross-section will not occur, hence the accuracy of charging station identification can be greatly improved.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining and responding to an internal state of a self-driving vehicle. For instance, an image of an interior of the vehicle captured by a camera mounted in the vehicle is received. The image is processed in order to identify one or more visible markers at predetermined locations within the vehicle. The internal state of the vehicle is determined based on the identified one or more visible markers. A responsive action is identified action using the determined internal state, and the vehicle is controlled in order to perform the responsive action.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for distributing a crowdsourced sparse map for autonomous vehicle navigation. In one implementation, a method of generating a road navigation model for use in autonomous vehicle navigation may include receiving navigation information associated with a common road segment from a plurality of vehicles; storing the navigation information associated with the common road segment; generating at least a portion of an autonomous vehicle road navigation model for the common road segment based on the navigation information; and distributing the autonomous vehicle road navigation model to one or more autonomous vehicles for use in autonomously navigating along the common road segment. The autonomous vehicle road navigation model may include at least one line representation of a road surface feature extending along the common road segment, and each line representation may representing a path along the common road segment substantially corresponding with the road surface feature.

Abstract: A vision-aided inertial navigation system determines navigation solutions for a traveling vehicle. A navigation solution module analyzes image sensor poses and estimated inertial navigation solutions to produce a time sequence of system navigation solution outputs that represent changing locations of the traveling vehicle. A loop closure detector performs a two-threshold image classification to classify an incoming navigation image as novel, loop-closing, or neither, and the navigation solution module resets the navigation solution output to represent a previous location when the loop closure detector classifies an incoming navigation image as loop-closing.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for autonomous vehicle drop-off and pick-up of an individual (e.g., valet type operation) are disclosed herein. An autonomous vehicle may receive global positioning system (GPS) location data including a drop-off location, a parking location, a pick-up location, a pick-up time, and timing factor information associated with an estimated arrival of the individual at the pick-up location, determine an adjusted pick-up time associated with the pick-up of the individual based on the timing factor, determine a departure time for autonomous pick-up of the individual based on the adjusted pick-up time, autonomously park the autonomous vehicle, by travelling from the drop-off location to the parking location after drop-off of the individual, and autonomously pick-up the individual, by departing, at the departure time, from the parking location and travelling to the pick-up location.

Abstract: A method for locating a vehicle situated within a parking area using a plurality of WLAN base stations each including an antenna array, the vehicle including a communication interface for communication with the WLAN base stations via a wireless WLAN communication network. The method includes receiving, via the respective antenna array, a radio signal sent by the communication interface of the vehicle via the wireless communication network; ascertaining a respective angle of incidence of the respective received radio signal relative to a respective normal of the antenna array; ascertaining a signal intensity of the respective received radio signal; and carrying out a triangulation using the ascertained angles of incidence and the ascertained signal intensities in order to locate the vehicle within the parking area. A corresponding system, a parking area, and a computer program are also described.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller to control an operation of at least one component of the vehicle, a clock to synchronize the operation of the component of the vehicle, a memory to store a clock offset to the clock of the vehicle to synchronize the operation of the component of the vehicle, and a receiver to receive a set of heartbeat messages from a set of neighboring vehicles, each heartbeat message received from a neighboring vehicle includes a time of transmission of the heartbeat message, a location of the neighboring vehicle and a velocity of the neighboring vehicle. The receiver receives each heartbeat message at a corresponding receipt time measured using the clock of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method implemented by computer for the management of the descent of an aircraft, comprises the steps of: receiving a descent profile; determining a search band comprising a plurality of flight segments of the profile; and selecting a flight segment in the search band. Various selection criteria are described, in particular the consideration of the commands of pitch-up and/or separation with respect to the active segment (anticipation distance). Other developments comprise the fact that the search band is configurable, the consideration of the load factor, modalities of tangent capture (trajectory with no segment crossing), compliance with altitude constraints, the determination of capture parabola modeling the trajectory, as well as the activation of the segment selected as control reference. System aspects and software aspects are described.

Abstract: A system for monitoring frame levelness of an agricultural implement may include first and second sensors configured to detect first and second parameters indicative of forces exerted on first and second ground engaging tools of the implement by the ground, respectively. The system may also include a controller configured to monitor a parameter differential between the first and second parameters based on measurement signals received from the first and second sensors, with the monitored parameter differential being indicative of at least one of pitch or roll of a frame of the implement. The controller may be further configured initiate a control action associated with adjusting the pitch and/or the roll of the frame based on a magnitude of the monitored parameter differential to adjust an orientation of the frame relative to the ground.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting abnormal consumption in one portion of a distributed water infrastructure while normal water usage occurs in another portion of the distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise at least one processor. The system may receive from at least one sensor associated with the distributed water infrastructure indications of regular water usage. The system may determine, from a plurality of indications received over a time period, a plurality of baseline water usage profiles. The system may receive from the at least one sensor a current water usage profile. The system may compare the current water usage profile with the plurality of baseline water usage profiles. The system may determine an abnormal water consumption based on the comparison between the current water usage profile and the plurality of baseline water usage profiles. The system may generate an abnormal water consumption signal when abnormal water consumption is determined.

Abstract: A system is provided for differentiating between overlapping water events in a distributed water infrastructure including a plurality of water appliances. The system may comprise at least one processor. The system may repeatedly measure at least one overall water usage indicator of the distributed water infrastructure, the at least one water usage indicator including at least one of an overall flow rate and an overall flow volume in the distributed water infrastructure. The system may detect, in the repeated measurements, a first sustained increase. The system may store in memory a first indicator of the first sustained increase. The system may attribute in memory the first sustained increase to a first water event in the distributed water infrastructure. The system may, during the first sustained increase, detect in the overall measurements a second sustained increase. The system may store in memory a second indicator of the second sustained increase.

Abstract: A pressure-type flow rate control device includes a control valve; a pressure sensor provided downstream of the control valve; an orifice-built-in valve provided downstream of the pressure sensor; and a control unit connected to the control valve and pressure sensor. The built-in orifice valve has a valve mechanism comprising a valve seat body and a valve element for opening/closing a flow path; a drive mechanism for driving the valve mechanism, and an orifice member provided in the vicinity of the valve mechanism. The pressure-type flow rate control device further includes an opening/closing-detection mechanism for detecting the open/closed state of the valve mechanism, the control unit being configured to receive a detection signal from the opening/closing-detection mechanism.

Abstract: A pump includes a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about a low level of a liquid sensed in an appliance reservoir to be supplied to an appliance that uses the liquid to dispense a flavored beverage, and also about when the appliance reservoir is refilled based upon an indication that forms part of an appliance reservoir refill level calibration procedure programmed by an appliance user; and determines corresponding signaling containing information about automatically refilling the liquid in the appliance reservoir, based upon the signaling received.