Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a developing member, a transfer member, and a brush contacting a surface of the image bearing member in a contact portion downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of a developing portion with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member. The toner which is not transferred onto a toner image receiving member is collected by the developing member. In a charging series, the toner is positioned on the same side as a normal charge polarity of the toner relative to the brush. In the contact portion, a maximum value of a contact pressure of 0.7 gf/mm2 or more and 3.5 gf/mm2 or less, a maximum contact area ratio is 18% or more and 74% or less, and a Clark-Evans index of the brush is 1 or more.

Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in an axis direction; a drum cleaner including a cleaning member cleaning a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning housing accommodating transfer residual toner removed from the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum by the cleaning member; a first drum side plate supporting a first end portion of the photosensitive drum; a second drum side plate located distant from the first drum side plate in the axis direction and supporting a second end portion of the photosensitive drum; a pipe located between the first drum side plate and the second drum side plate in the axis direction and extending in the axis direction; and a conveyor device conveying the transfer residual toner from the cleaning housing to the pipe.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing to accommodate developer; a storage medium including an electric contact surface; an elastic member extending in a first direction crossing the electric contact surface, and configured to be compressed or stretched in the first direction between a first state and a second state; and a holder including an outer surface positioned toward a side of the holder in the first direction, the electric contact surface positioned at the outer surface, and movable between first and second positions in the first direction relative to the casing. A length of the elastic member in the first direction is greater in the first state than in the second state. The electric contact surface is in the first position when the elastic member is in the first state, and the electric contact surface is in the second position when the elastic member is in the second state.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body and a developer discharging body in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body. A track is positioned at a side of the developer discharging body, with the track including a surface that extends from a first position to a second position. When the developer supply container is oriented with the track positioned below a horizontal plane that includes a rotational axis of the developer accommodating body and a discharge passageway through which developer is discharged to outside of the developer supply container is formed at the bottommost side of the developer supply container, the second position is closer to the horizontal plane than the first position is to the horizontal plane, the surface faces upward, and the track extends such that a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and passing through the track passes through an end of the discharge passageway.

Abstract: A toner set includes a plurality of toners, wherein the toner set includes a first toner containing a yellow colorant and a second toner containing a cyan colorant, the first toner and the second toner each contain a binder resin containing a vinyl-based resin and a crystalline resin, and a release agent containing a hydrocarbon wax, a content of the vinyl-based resin with respect to a total mass of the binder resin is 50% by mass or more, the first toner contains the crystalline resin having a moiety having a crystal structure and a crystal nucleating agent moiety having a crystal nucleating agent, and the second toner contains the cyan colorant that is a compound represented by general formula (1).

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a first PVH layer configured to deflect a first polarized light having a first handedness. The system includes a second PVH layer coupled to the first PVH layer and configured to deflect a second polarized light having a second handedness opposite to the first handedness. The system includes an optical sensor configured to generate a first image based on the first polarized light deflected by the first PVH layer and generate a second image based on the second polarized light deflected by the second PVH layer.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to computing devices, head-mounted display devices, and methods for displaying holographic objects using slicing planes or volumes. In one example a computing device causes a display system to display a holographic object associated with a holographic volume, the holographic object occluding an occluded holographic object that is not displayed. Location data of at least a portion of a hand is received from a sensor. The location data of the hand is used to locate a slicing plane or a slicing volume within the holographic volume. Based on the location of the slicing plane or the slicing volume, at least a portion of the occluded holographic object is displayed via the display system.

Abstract: A system includes a mask configured to forwardly diffract an input beam as a first set of two polarized beams. The system also includes a polarization conversion element configured to convert the first set of two polarized beams into a second set of two polarized beams having opposite handednesses. The two polarized beams having opposite handednesses interfere with one another to generate a polarization interference pattern.

Abstract: A holographic optical apparatus includes a beam splitting component, a transmission assembly, a focal length modulation component and an optical element. The beam splitting component splits received light into reference light and signal light that are coherent light, and outputs the reference light and the signal light. The focal length modulation component includes a plurality of local length modulation regions with different focal lengths. The optical element includes a recording medium layer with a plurality of recording regions, and each recording region is located in a light-exit path of a focal length modulation region. The transmission assembly is disposed in a light-exit path of the beam splitting component, transmit the reference light to the plurality of recording regions and transmit the signal light to the plurality of focal length modulation regions.

Abstract: A direct impulse free escapement mechanism for a timepiece includes: an escapement wheel with peripheral teeth; a locking device including a locking pallet engaging an escapement wheel tooth in a locking position of the locking device; and a control pallet actuated by a pivoting regulating organ to engage a complementary unlocking organ of the locking device to release the locking device from the escapement wheel in an unlocking position at each alternation of the regulating organ. Also included are impulse pallets attachable to the regulating organ, cooperating on an impulse plane with a tooth of the escapement wheel to transmit a direct impulse to the regulating organ. The locking device is drawn by the escapement wheel in each locking position. The teeth of the escapement wheel and the impulse pallets are configured so the impulses occur outside the plane of the escapement wheel. A corresponding timepiece is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct escapement mechanism (1) having an escape wheel (2) provided with a series of peripheral teeth (3), and an anchor (4), having an entry-pallet (10) and an exit-pallet (11) each having a locking plane (10p, 11p) and also having a fork (43). It also comprises a pin (6) which can be rigidly connected to a regulating organ (5) to cooperate at each alternation of said regulating organ (5) with the fork (43) of the anchor in order to unlock at least partially said anchor from the escape wheel (2) as well as at least one impulse pallet (9) which can be rigidly connected to said regulating organ (5) to cooperate with a tooth (3) of the escape wheel to transmit a direct impulse to said regulating organ (5).

Abstract: A variable timepiece display mechanism includes a resilient hand with two drive pipes integral with a one-piece flexible strip includes a tip or an index, with a driver for driving the pivoting of the pipe, and a stressor for stressing the strip so as to vary the position of the tip relative to the axis of the pipes, which includes an accelerator or decelerator device arranged such that it accelerates, or stabilizes the speed of, or slows down the first pipe and/or the second pipe over at least part of the angular travel thereof, which includes a device with a first differential gear on the drive gear train of the first pipe and/or a second differential gear on the drive gear train of the second pipe, and at least one cam forming an input of a differential gear.

Abstract: An indicator anti-correction system for a timepiece, the system including a correction mechanism of the indicator and a correction gear configured to mesh with the indicator, the correction mechanism being configured to be connected to a manual correction actuation system and to mesh with the correction gear in a first correction position, the correction mechanism being movably mounted between the first correction position and a second non-correction position, wherein the system further includes a component mounted movable in rotation about an axis, the component having a first end configured to cooperate with at least one protuberance provided on the date indicator or the hour wheel, the component having a second end configured to cooperate with the correction mechanism so as to block the mechanism in an anti-correction position when the first end of the component cooperates with the at least one protuberance.

Abstract: A device is for fastening a back on a middle of a watch. The back includes a cover arranged to form a bearing surface with the middle and a body arranged to rest in the middle. The device includes a ring disposed between the back and the middle, the ring being arranged to ensure the water resistance and indexing of the back. The ring includes an upper part ensuring the water resistance and a median part including positioning to ensure precise placement of the back.

Abstract: A watch component is provided with a base material having light transmissivity, and a metal film layered on the base material. The metal film includes a plurality of through holes formed penetrating the metal film, and recessed portions are formed in the base material in positions corresponding to the through holes.

Abstract: A wristwatch includes an outer case that comprises an opening portion, a windshield glass disposed in the opening portion, a crown arranged at a side surface of the outer case, a bezel arranged around the windshield glass, a protective member fixed to a side surface at which the crown of the outer case is disposed, wherein the protective member has a notch portion that covers at least a portion of a side surface of the outer case and at least a portion of a side surface of the bezel and exposes the crown.

Abstract: A winding device includes a motor for driving a watch holder carrying at least one automatic watch with a mobile oscillating mass, and a multimeter for measuring a variation in a resistive torque opposed to the motor by the watch holder equipped with watches, depending on a degree of winding of the watches. The multimeter includes a speed meter to determine a speed and/or a variation in the speed of the motor, a torque meter to determine a value of a torque and/or a variation in the torque at the watch holder, and/or a current meter to determine a value of a current and/or a variation in the current of an electric motor.

Abstract: An “all or nothing” actuating mechanism for a timepiece movement is described, which includes: an actuating lever that is able to move between an inactive position and an active position; a movable control lever for moving the actuating lever between its inactive and active positions; a return member for returning the control lever to its initial position; and a control member capable of pivoting between a first state in which it locks the actuating lever in its inactive position, and a second state, in which it releases the actuating lever to allow it to move to its active position. The control lever is arranged to be able to act on the control member, and move it from its first state to its second state, the actuating mechanism including a jumper tending to return the control member to its first state.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The method computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: obtaining data source data from one or more data source; processing data of the data source data; controlling a smartwatch in dependence on the processing data, wherein the controlling the smartwatch adjusts a flow of air to a smartwatch supporting wrist of a user wearing the smartwatch.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a smartwatch including a housing that at least partially defines an internal volume, and a touch-sensitive display positioned at least partially within the internal volume. A front cover can be positioned over the touch-sensitive display and can define a front exterior surface. A seal can be positioned between the housing and the front cover and configured to transition between an uncompressed state and a compressed state in response to an increase from a first external pressure on the front cover to a second external pressure. In the uncompressed state, the seal has a first density and is air-permeable allowing an internal pressure of the internal volume to equalize with external air at the first pressure. In the compressed state, the seal has a second density, greater than the first density, and is configured to inhibit ingress of water at the second pressure.

Abstract: An electronic device including: a positioning module that performs positioning by receiving radio waves from navigation satellites; a movement distance detection sensor that detects movement distance; and a processor that turns on power of the positioning module and, if positioning with the positioning module has not succeeded after a first prescribed period of time has elapsed, turns off power of the positioning module, wherein if the processor detects that the movement distance detected by the movement distance detection sensor starting from when the positioning module was turned off is greater than or equal to a prescribed distance, the processor turns on power of the positioning module.

Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a variable friction mechanism for providing variable frictional feedback as an input mechanism, such as a crown, is rotated. The variable frictional feedback may correspond to operational states, events, or other conditions at the electronic watch. The variable frictional feedback may be provided by changing a frictional force between the crown and the variable friction mechanism. The variable friction mechanism may include a friction element adapted to contact a shaft of the crown and an actuator adapted to change a frictional force between the friction element and the shaft.

Abstract: A watch can include a watch body and a band for securing the watch to the user. The watch body can detect an identification of the band or combination of band portions, which can serve as an input to initiate actions performed by the watch body. For example, a type, model, color, size, or other characteristic of a band can be determined and used to select a corresponding action performed by the watch body. Identification of the band can be performed by components of the watch body that also serve other purposes. The watch body can respond to the identification of a particular band by performing particular functions, such as changing an aspect of a user interface or altering settings of the watch body.

Abstract: During each of a plurality of iterations, a policy of a controller is updated and at least part of a process is controlled using the updated policy. The updated policy is associated with a performance level of the controller. For each iteration, the updated policy is determined using the associations generated during one or more previous iterations between the policies and the corresponding performance levels of the controller in controlling the at least part of the process, such that the updated policy is optimized to have a highest likelihood of producing a positive change in the performance level of the controller in controlling the at least part of the process rather than optimized to have a highest likelihood of producing a largest positive magnitude of change in the performance level of the controller in controlling the at least part of the process relative to the previous iteration.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a model-free optimization method of process parameters of injection molding to solve the problems of frequent tests required and performing adaptive adjustment on different parameters in the existing optimization method. The method need not build a surrogate model between a product quality index and a process parameter to render the process parameter to converge nearby the optimal solution by an on-line iteration method. The present invention calculates the gradient direction of a current point by an iterative gradient estimation method, and uses adaptive moment estimation algorithm to allocate an adaptive step for each parameter. The method can significantly reduce the cost and time required in the process parameter, which greatly helps improving the optimization efficiency of process parameters of injection molding.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a set of feature models, each feature model of the set of feature models corresponding to a respective feature associated with processing of a component, receiving a set of target properties for processing the component, where the set of target properties includes, for each feature, a respective target, determining, based on the set of feature models, one or more sets of predicted processing parameters in view of the set of target properties, generating one or more candidate process recipes each corresponding to a respective one of the one or more sets of predicted processing parameters, where the one or more candidate process recipes each correspond to a set of predicted properties including, for each feature, a respective predicted property value resulting from component processing, and selecting, from the one or more candidate process recipes, a process recipe for processing the component.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining state information from one or more sensors of a digital twin. The method includes determining an action at the first routing control location based on the state information, where the action includes one of a pallet merging operation and a pallet splitting operation, and determining a consequence state based on the action. The method includes calculating a transient production value based on the consequence state and a transient objective function, calculating a steady state production value based on the consequence state and a steady state objective function, and selectively adjusting one or more reinforcement parameters of the reinforcement learning system based on the transient production value and the steady state production value.

Abstract: A building comprises a network of energy storage and energy consuming assets, which is connected to an alternating current electric supply grid having a normal frequency through an energy management system linked to a server. The energy management system measures over a period of time the energy consumption against time of the energy consuming assets and stores the measurements taken and measures over a period of time the energy stored against time in the energy storing assets and stores the measurements taken. The measurements of energy consumption and energy stored are used to derive the base net energy need in particular time periods. The net energy need in individual time periods is exported to one or more third parties.

Abstract: Information indicating a source of electric current can be received alongside or detected within the electric current itself, enabling recipients to identify a source of their electricity. The information may be determined based on analysis of the received electric current, such as by detecting a modulated carrier signal embedded within a received alternating current.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, devices, and other techniques for implementing smart windows, smart home systems that include smart windows, and user devices and applications for control thereof. A smart window, or photovoltaic window, may include a photovoltaic configured to generate electrical power from incident light onto the photovoltaic window, store the electrical power, and send the electrical power to an electronics package or various electrical loads including a wireless communication system, sensors, or window functions. The photovoltaic window may communicate with various smart home system devices such as hub devices and user devices, which may include the reception of control data at the photovoltaic window and the transmission of sensor data captured by the window sensors.

Abstract: A smart switch system comprising one or more switching devices. Each one of the switching devices include a first pin, a second pin, a current indication pin, a system current limit pin and a power switch for electrically coupling the first pin to the second pin when the power switch is turned on. Each switching device may adaptively adjust an operation current limit value of the switching device based on a system total current limit value received or set at the system current limit pin and a system current indication signal received at the current indication pin.

Abstract: A control system includes: a communication unit that sends, to each of a plurality of devices, a control command for controlling the device; a registration unit that registers a standard action for collectively controlling at least two devices included in the plurality of devices, based on device control consecutiveness which is determined by control history information of the plurality of devices; and an executor that causes the communication unit to send a control command to each of the at least two devices when execution of the standard action registered is instructed.

Abstract: Embodiments of this present disclosure may include a system with a first power converter and a control system. The first power converter may supply a first current to a first backplane while a second power converter is concurrently supplying a second current to a second backplane. The first backplane and the second backplane may electrically couple to one or more load components and the control system. The control system may cause the first power converter to adjust the first current such that the first current and the second current are imbalanced with respect to each other in response to receiving a request to verify that the second power converter is capable of supplying the one or more load components with a target current value while the first current and the second current are imbalanced.

Abstract: A programmable display device includes: an obtaining section for obtaining data; a setting accepting section for accepting, via a setting screen displayed in response to predetermined operation, a process setting for a content of a process to be executed for the data and information for executing the process; and a process executing section for executing the process in accordance with the process setting, the setting accepting section accepting the process setting in a state where the obtaining section is executing the obtaining of the data.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a computer-numerically-controlled machine can include capturing one or more images of at least a portion of the computer-numerically-controlled machine. The one or more images can be captured with at least one camera located inside an enclosure containing a material bed. A mapping relationship can be created which maps a pixel in the one or more images to a location within the computer-numerically controlled machine. The creation of the mapping relationship can include compensating for a difference in the one or more images relative to one or more physical parameters of the computer-numerically-controlled machine and/or a material positioned on the material bed. Related systems and/or articles of manufacture, including computer program products, are also provided.

Abstract: A system is provided for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine. The system includes a user interface with a simulation portion (e.g., including a 3D view of a workpiece) and an editing user interface portion (e.g., including an editable plan representation of a current workpiece feature inspection plan). Transparency operations are performed including automatically identifying as a target feature a workpiece feature in the 3D view that corresponds to a workpiece feature or inspection operation representation in the editable plan representation that is indicated by a current feature-directed operation (e.g., a selection operation for selecting a workpiece feature or inspection operation in the editable plan representation). An occluding workpiece feature that would otherwise be occluding at least a portion of the target feature in the 3D view is then automatically rendered as at least partially transparent in the 3D view.

Abstract: A system for optimizing manufacturing utilization is disclosed. The system includes a manufacturing apparatus configured to transmit a first electronic message type indicating a time period when the manufacturing apparatus is in use, as well as a sensor disposed in a work cell associated with the manufacturing apparatus, the sensor configured to transmit a second electronic message type indicating a time period of operator activity within the work cell. The system further includes a computing device configured to receive the first and second electronic message types and accumulate one or more of each of the respective time periods of the first and second electronic message types. The computing device determines utilization of the manufacturing apparatus based on accumulated time periods corresponding to the first electronic message type as a percentage of accumulated time periods corresponding to the second electronic message type.

Abstract: An analysis assistance apparatus 10 includes: a control program obtainment unit 11 that obtains a control program of a plant based on sensor data from a sensor installed in the plant; an event information obtainment unit 12 that obtains event information, which includes a variable that defines a state of the plant when a predetermined event has occurred and a value thereof, as information necessary for searching the control program for a safety barrier for avoiding the occurrence of the predetermined event in the plant; and a safety barrier search unit 13 that extracts, from the control program, a causal relationship between an input variable and an output variable, and searches the control program for the safety barrier based on the variable and the value included in the event information and on the extracted causal relationship.

Abstract: A mobile assembly apparatus and a method of assembling a retail product utilizing a retail assembly are discussed. The mobile assembly apparatus may include a cabinet structure, an expandable work surface, a frame, wheels, an articulated arm, outrigger supports, a power supply, sensors, a hardware dispenser, and a computing device. The mobile assembly apparatus scans a machine readable identifier and retrieves assembly instructions for an item associated with the identifier. The computing device controls the outrigger supports and extendable surface based on the instructions. The computing device monitors the progress of the assembly of the time and validates the assembly based on assembly data from the sensors.

Abstract: A method may include generating, by a camera having a view of an interior portion of a computer-numerically-controlled machine, an image comprising a pattern. The image can be transformed into a set of machine instructions for controlling the computer-numerically-controlled machine to effect a change in a material. The change can correspond to at least a portion of the pattern. At least one machine instruction from the set of machine instructions can be executed to control the computer-numerically-controlled machine to effect at least a portion of the change. The execution can include operating, in accordance with the at least one machine instruction, a tool coupled with the computer-numerically-controlled machine. The tool can be configured to effect the change on the material. Related systems and articles of manufacture, including computer program products, are also provided.

Abstract: A behavior recognition device for recognizing behaviors of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a storage device and a control unit. The storage device is configured to store log data of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. The control unit is cooperatively connected to the storage device, and configured to build a transition state model based on the log data to analyze behaviors related to wafer transfer sequences and manufacturing operations of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an industrial equipment operation, maintenance and optimization method and system based on a complex network model. The method includes the following steps: obtaining data of all sensors of industrial equipment, and calculating a Spearman correlation coefficient between data of every two of the sensors within the same time period; using each sensor as a node, and using the Spearman correlation coefficient as a weight of a network edge, to construct a fully connected weighted network; and obtaining, when an adjustment instruction for a target feature is received, a currently optimal parameter adjustment path of the target feature based on the fully connected weighted network. In the present invention, production equipment in reality is digitized to construct a complex network oriented to industrial big data. An optimal path for equipment parameter tuning may be found by using the network, thereby reducing dependence of an enterprise on a domain expert.

Abstract: An operator control station of an industrial automation system includes at least one input interface to receive a user input and a communication interface to communicate with one or more devices of the industrial automation system, including a first device via an Ethernet communication protocol. The operator control station also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the communication interface. The controller performs operations including generating a signal based on the user input and the signal instructs the first device to control at least one component of the industrial automation system. The controller also performs operations including providing the signal to the communication interface for transmission to the first device via the Ethernet communication protocol.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a system of an industrial internet of things for industrial production control and a method. The system of industrial internet of things includes a user platform, a service platform, a management platform, a sensor network platform, and an object platform that interact in turn. The service platform adopts a centralized layout, and the management platform and the sensor network platform adopt a front sub platform layout. The user platform generates product manufacturing parameters of a production line, and transmits them in a form of instructions through the service platform, the management platform, and the sensor network platform. The sensor network platform finally integrates the received instructions with the real-time manufacturing data of the product to form different types of configuration files, and transmits them to the object platform, so that the object platform can perform production control processing based on the received data.

Abstract: A method via which it is possible to identify a limited operator control is identified, monitoring of a technical plant is performed and in which a process is controlled via a process control system that includes at least two operator station servers and at least one operator station client, wherein process objects associated with the process are distributed to process images of different operator station servers of the process control system, where for process monitoring, a graphical user interface for displaying plant images with symbols associated with the process objects is provided on the operator station client.

Abstract: An automatic testing method includes obtaining a positioning image, analyzing position of a plurality of slots of the test motherboard in the positioning image to generate route information for insertion and testing of components; wherein photographing test motherboard and obtaining positioning image focused on the test motherboard, controlling the clamping device to insert a plurality of the components into the slots according to the route information, controlling the test motherboard to test the components, determining if there is a faulty component, controlling the clamping device to withdraw and insert the components into other slots according to the route information and controlling the test motherboard to retest the components again if there is no faulty component. An automatic testing device and a non-volatile storage medium performing the above-described method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer aided process for creation of a manufacturing facility, for production of a user-selected product, relies on a set of functional modules for specification of the facility's floorspace requirements, manufacturing equipment, and equipment layout to allow optimization of the facility for a production capacity specified by the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for updating a workflow by resolving information of the workflow. The systems and methods may be configured to obtain sensor data describing an operation of the workflow, obtain information describing the workflow, determine whether the sensor data is consistent with the information based on predefined criteria, in response to determining that the sensor data is not consistent with the information, determine whether to resolve the sensor data, in response to determining whether to resolve the sensor data, resolve the sensor data to satisfy the predefined criteria or determining that the sensor data is unresolved, and update the workflow based on the resolved sensor data.

Abstract: Industrial processes and equipment are prone to operational changes and faulty operation of such processes and equipment can adversely affect output of the overall setup. Existing systems for monitoring and fault detection consider individual instances of data for fault detection, which may not be suitable for industrial processes. Disclosed herein is a system and a method for anomaly detection in an industrial enterprise. The system collects data from a plurality of sensors as input. The system processes the collected data along temporal dimension, during which the data is split to multiple segments of fixed window size. Data in each segment is processed to identify anomalous data, and data in segments identified as containing the anomalous data is further processed to identify one or more sensors that are faulty and are contributing to the anomalous data.

Abstract: Embodiments include a server system including logic of an edge computing device. A network includes a cloud platform able to receive utilization change events from a utilization module, and execution of the program logic results in process steps of a method that include transmitting a plurality of attributes from the cloud platform to the at least one edge computing device, where the plurality of attributes can be associated with a device of a distributed environment coupled to the network. Another step includes receiving from the utilization module, by the edge computing device, current utilization data of the device, and a further step includes performing a comparison based on a set of rules or mappings of the attributes, by the edge computing device, of the current utilization data. Finally, based on the comparison, the method includes sending, by the edge computing device, an update to a human-machine-interface module.