Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.

Abstract: A clock radio includes a clock a user interface that is dynamically configurable from a remote computer. Once configured, the user interface allows a user to select radio programs that are accessible by the remote computer. When a user selects a radio program via the interface, a signal indicating the selected radio program is transmitted from the clock radio to the remote computer. The remote computer then accesses the selected radio program and transmits the selected radio program to speaker(s) for broadcast.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for searching for relationships between base sequences in order to efficiently analyze the relationship between a sample base sequence and known base sequences. In the system, a theoretical value calculating portion calculates theoretical restriction fragment length values based on restriction enzyme data. The comparing portion produces analysis result data by comparing theoretical restriction fragment patterns with measured restriction fragment patterns, calculating the degree of similarity of the sample base sequence to known base sequences.

Abstract: A smart camera system provides focused images to an operator at a host computer by processing digital images at the imaging location prior to sending them to the host computer. The smart camera has a resident digital signal processor for preprocessing digital images prior to transmitting the images to the host. The preprocessing includes image feature extraction and filtering, convolution and deconvolution methods, correction of parallax and perspective image error and image compression. Compression of the digital images in the smart camera at the imaging location permits the transmission of very high resolution color or high resolution grayscale images at real-time frame rates such as 30 frames per second over a high speed serial bus to a host computer or to any other node on the network, including any remote address on the Internet.

Abstract: A software state event machine for software based process control systems permits state and events to be unified within a common set of data structures for one or more tasks sharing common state numbers. This method reduces overall memory requirements in systems with extensive states and events among multiple tasks.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for simulating, modeling and scheduling solution preparation in the biopharmaceutical production process is described herein. The computer program product and method includes the steps of identifying a solution for preparation and its associated volume. After the solution for preparation is identified, a predetermined start date and one successive start date for solution preparation for the solution are identified. After the solution, start and successive start dates are identified, the solution is assigned to a preparation vessel. After the solution has been assigned to a preparation vessel, the duration of the solution preparation procedure is determined and assigned to the solution preparation vessel.

Abstract: A fryer controller is provided with a calendar function. In addition, a maintenance execution time is set for each maintenance item by operating a switch on an operating panel 16. When the maintenance execution time reaches a preset time, an asterisk * is displayed on a display portion 18 of the operating panel 16. In this way, a maintenance schedule is precisely managed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to significantly accelerate the searching process based on the Monte Carlo principle and the lattice model. Specifically, the energy status of a lattice-based protein conformation is evaluated by modeling the folding process through a pipelined digital circuit using a number of state machines. The pipelined digital circuit reduces the time required for the determination of the energy status of a particular conformation and, therefore, significantly accelerates the searching speed for the lowest energy status. The present invention also permits real-time tuning of problem parameters by the experimenter.

Abstract: An automated system uses a decisioning system to schedule service attendants to service events at patron locations. The decisioning system schedules the events for servicing using various factors to establish the priority of different events. Service attendants are paged by the system to inform them of a service to be provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in controlling a device or process. The first step of the method involves attaching a detector (20) adapted to detect mechanical vibrations to a person's head (22). A second step involves detecting mechanical vibrations elicited by sudden contact of upper teeth (24) and lower teeth (26). A third step involves using the mechanical vibrations to trigger a signal to control operation of a device or process (36, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90).

Abstract: A characteristic control device which is provided with a basic control module which determines the amount of control used to control the output of a control subject based on predetermined input data and control parameters which relate output to the control subject to the input data and which controls the characteristics of the control parameters, a characteristic storage mechanism for storing the basic control parameters, and a characteristic automatic modification mechanism which determines, in accordance with predetermined conditions, and automatically modifies, the control parameters which are applied to the basic control module based on the basic control parameters stored in the characteristic storage mechanism and the input data.

Abstract: A multi-protocol smart field device uses a Fieldbus communication protocol to communicate process control information and uses a HART communication protocol to enable local configuration of the field device via a hand-held HART communicator. The multi-protocol smart field device includes a first communications interface communicatively coupled to a digital data bus that is adapted to process HART communications which are received from and which are sent to a HART hand-held communicator. The multi-protocol smart field device further includes a second communications interface communicatively coupled to the digital data bus that is adapted to process Fieldbus communications.

Abstract: A handheld computing device (10) having voice input and voice output includes a handheld unit (20) having a processor (11) and a display (18) communicating with the processor (11), a handset (30) including means for voice input (43) and means for voice output (42), a mechanism (39, 41) for docking the handset (30) with the handheld unit (20) forming a docked unit, the docked unit dimensioned to be held in one hand while being used for voice input and voice output, and at least one connection (23, 36) for carrying voice-representative signals between the handheld unit (20) and the handset (30). Device (10) allows telephone-style, voice-driven, user-interface communications both when handset (30) is docked with handheld unit (20), and when handset (30) is detached from handheld unit (20).

Abstract: A positioning system is disclosed. The positioning system includes a movable stage. The positioning system also includes a cable carrier movable relative to the stage. The cable carrier is configured for carrying a cable so as to prevent cable drag forces from acting on the stage.

Abstract: The present invention is primarily directed to methods of genetic cluster analysis for use in determining the homogeneity and/or heterogeneity of a population or sub-population. Determination of the heterogeneity or homogeneity of a population sample is important in many areas including DNA fingerprinting in forensics and population-based studies such as clinical trials, case-control studies of risk factors, and gene mapping studies.

Abstract: An electronic hybridization assay implements a hybridization reaction, or a sequence analysis, on sequences representative of the sequences of the molecules under examination to provide an output representative of a chemical hybridization reaction. An electronic hybridization machine implements a correlation algorithm where the correlation output provides information regarding the relationship between the molecules under examination. In one aspect, the degree of similarity between the molecules is indicated by the correlation output value. In another aspect, a locus of similarity between the molecules is indicated by a maximum value in the correlation output sequence. In a particular aspect, the sequences are encoded in an optimized format to optimize the operation of the operation of the electronic hybridization machine.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for selecting artificial promotor candidates that reduce the number of promotors required to be evaluated by actual experimentation when designing artificial promotor candidates that are potentially effective for structural genes. In these artificial promotor candidate selection methods, a randomly selected nucleotide sequence is joined upstream of a structural gene (S1). Next, nucleotides are extracted in a predetermined pattern from a designated region containing at least the transcription start site of the joined nucleotide sequence, thereby generating a virtual amino acid sequence, and an index curve is generated from the virtual amino acid sequence (S2, S3). Then, the nucleotide sequence joined upstream of the structural gene is selected as an artificial promotor candidate if the index curve exhibits a sign change near the transcription start site (S4).

Abstract: A method for computerized industrial process control provides computers networked to communicate with one another. Each computer active in the system is responsbile for at least a portion of the process and at least one decision for a process to be controlled and having an output. All activities are characterized by type, the types of activities forming a universal set including sensing facts, linking facts into a meaningful context, and evaluating meaning to formulate a decision. An entity responsible for an assigned decision conducts a series of activities selected from the three types, which may be applied recursively. Decisions are communicated between computers through the system to control the process. Producing output from the process follows according to a combination of decisions reported from each computer corresponding to a responsible person or other entity.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products and systems are provided for detecting large genomic rearrangements based on unphased genotype data obtained using common genotyping techniques that do not differentiate different alleles. In the method, unphased genotypes at a plurality of nucleotide variant markers of a particular gene in a diploid subject are compared with a canonical haplotype collection of the gene for a heterogeneous subject population. If the unphased genotypes cannot be reduced to a pair of canonical haplotypes within the canonical haplotype collection, it would indicate an increased likelihood that an allele of the gene in the diploid subject harbors a genomic rearrangement.

Abstract: A vehicle electronic control system has a control CPU and a monitor CPU. The control CPU performs a fail-safe processing thereby to reduce an engine output torque, when the monitor CPU monitoring the control CPU detects that the control CPU fails to perform throttle control for an engine. When the monitor CPU detects that the control CPU fails to perform the fail-safe processing, it performs a fail-safe processing in place of the control CPU. In this fail-safe processing, the monitor CPU continues to reset the control CPU so that the engine may be forcibly stopped.

Abstract: A modular connecting system for connecting an external device to a fieldbus system includes a fieldbus-specific fieldbus interface circuit and a fieldbus-independent interface device connected to the interface circuit. The interface device has operating modes and is to be selectively connected to an external device including not only simple sensors or actuators with parallel signal transmission, but also complex sensors or actuators with series signal transmission. The interface device connects the external device to said interface circuit during parallel signal transmission and serial signal transmission. The interface device is programmed to autonomously check a type of the external device connected to said interface device and to select an appropriate subset of said operating modes for the type of the external device.

Abstract: A distributed control system having system components (1, 2, 3). The positions of the system components (1, 2, 3) are stored in respective memories (11, 12, 13) as component-specific data, which represent the spatial coordinates of the positions. The system components (1, 2, 3) transmit their respective positions to a configuration unit (4) via a communications channel (5). By means of a layout plan, e.g., in the form of a piping and installation diagram, the component-specific data of the individual system components (1, 2, 3) is assigned to the configured system components. In addition, a respective physical address is assigned to each of the system components (1, 2, 3). This achieves simple and reliable configuration of the system components (1, 2, 3). The distributed control system is used, in particular, in process apparatuses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fractionation of charged macro-molecules such as DNA is provided. DNA solution is loaded into a matrix including an array of obstacles. An alternating electric field having two different fields at different orientations is applied. The alternating electric field is asymmetric in that one field is stronger in duration or intensity than the other field, or is otherwise asymmetric. The DNA molecules are thereby fractionated according to site and are driven to a far side of the matrix where the fractionated DNA is recovered. The fractionating electric field can be used to load and recover the DNA to operate the process continuously.

Abstract: A method and control system computing platform for a dialysis machine that uses Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) architecture. The SMP architecture tightly couples multiple (e.g., 2) independent processors by sharing memory between the processors. A single shared memory is used by both processors in order to facilitate communication between the processors and reduce cost by eliminating the expense of redundant memory. In this way, the two, or in general “N” processors, increase processor throughput by allowing the execution of N processes in parallel while without requiring extra memory and without having a single point of failure in the computer. In the event of a bus failure on the circuit card, the computer is reset using distributed hardware watchdogs. The watchdog reset signal is also sent to the hardware components of the dialysis machine in order to place the system in a safe.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment comprises a system comprising an arithmetic logic unit; a memory comprising a pre-computed table of target pulse widths, changes in pulse width, and pulse counts distributed according to a constrained semi-logarithmic distribution, the memory connected to the arithmetic logic unit via a pipeline mechanism; and a state machine adapted to load each of the target pulse widths and changes in pulse width from the memory into the arithmetic logic unit at pre-determined intervals of pulse count while maintaining control of a pulse width generated by the arithmetic logic unit.

Abstract: A light curtain safety system for a semiconductor device handler that includes a programmable control unit and a robot mechanism that is selectively operated in response to signals generated by the control unit. The light curtain safety system includes an apparatus for generating a light curtain such that accessing the robot mechanism requires breaking the light curtain. The light curtain safety system detects an operating state of the semiconductor device handler using signals generated in the control unit, and allows de-activation of the light curtain apparatus only when operating state of the semiconductor device handler is in a predetermined “safe” operating state. When the light curtain apparatus is active and the light curtain is broken, the light curtain safety system causes the semiconductor device handler to terminate power flow to the robot mechanism.

Abstract: A method performed by a computer system. The method includes storing a first version of a mass-produced printed paper, the first version having a first digital format. The method also includes replacing first content in the first version with second content, and translating the first version into a second version, the second version having a second digital format. The second version is displayable on a display device as a likeness of the paper.

Abstract: An electronic package is provided, having a flexible substrate, a first plurality of conductors, and a second plurality of conductors. The flexible substrate has first and second portions with a fold portion between the first and second portions, and is folded at the fold portion to position the second portion over the first portion. Each one of the first plurality of conductors runs from the first portion over the fold portion onto the second portion. Each one of the second plurality of conductors runs from the first portion onto the second portion without running over the fold portion.

Abstract: An image capture device is provided, a portion of which is insertable into an expansion slot of a handheld PC or PDA device, which is configured like a camera familiar to the user. In one embodiment, the image capture device includes a lens unit that is rotatable over about 180 ° degrees. The image capture device additionally includes an optical viewfinder rotatable with the lens unit. The image capture device advantageously includes an indicator visible from either side of the image capture device regardless of the lens position.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for analysis of biological response data are disclosed. Biological datasets are selected from an active biological viewer window on a computer display and projected onto one or more other active biological viewers on the display. The selected data is highlighted in the destination biological viewers using contrast or color differentiation from other data appearing in the destination windows. Systems, methods, and computer program products for displaying hierarchical cluster trees from biological signal profiles in a hyperbolic display fashion are disclosed. Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for precomputing correlation data between biological signal profile data when the experiments are added to a biological response database, thereby eliminating the need for real time computation of correlation coefficients by a user computer.

Abstract: A control system for a plant is disclosed. According to this system, a model parameter vector of a controlled object model which is obtained by modeling the plant, is identified. A controller controls the plant using the identified model parameter vector. An identifying error of the model parameter vector is calculated, and an updating vector is calculated according to the identifying error. The updating vector has at least one first element which is relevant to an input or an output of the plant, and a second element which is irrelevant to the input and the output of the plant. The updating vector is corrected by multiplying a past value of at least one first element of the updating vector by a predetermined value which is greater than “0” and less than “1”, and multiplying a past value of the second element of the updating vector by “1”. The model parameter vector is calculated by adding the corrected updating vector to a reference vector of the model parameter vector.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller connects to an extra memory by a data bus. The memory of the PLC stores an indicating instruction. As the CPU of the PLC reads the indicating instruction, then the CPU reads the address of the extra memory to execute the data codes stored in the extra memory. Thus the programmable logic controller with an extra memory updates or expands the data codes in the extra memory effectively without changing the memory inside the PLC.

Abstract: A method of constituting a home automation network comprises bidirectional elements such as actuators (A1, A2, A3), at least unidirectional control elements (C1, C2, C3, S1) and bidirectional control elements (C60, C70, C800). It consists in lastingly functionally linking up at least two elements. The process is characterized in that the lasting functional linkup brings about at least one transfer from a bidirectional element to another bidirectional element of at least one information creating a hierarchical relationship between these two elements.

Abstract: A self-contained refrigerator and oven, for refrigerating and cooking food in the same enclosed chamber, which can be actuated by the operator from a variety of remote locations around the world via telephone or the internet. The heating element may be a microwave unit and the refrigerating means may be a thermoelectric heat pump.

Abstract: In an industrial equipment network, each piece of equipment is provided a dedicated controller for providing control and identification information, and for being programmed to provide the interconnection and interaction of its associated piece of equipment with other equipment connected to the network, thereby permitting a SCADA system, via broadcasting from the controllers or polling the controllers, to self-configure itself to show a diagram of the entire equipment network and periodically update the diagram relative to changes thereto, and the status of the equipment on the network.

Abstract: A modular storage system comprises one or more storage modules, a moveable display capable of coupling to a storage module, and a sensor capable of detecting movement of the display. The individual storage modules have one or more magazines that can hold a plurality of storage cartridges. The modular storage system further comprises a controller that responds to detected display movement by reconfiguring a state of the modular storage system.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an electronic utility device is implemented using an electronic reading device. A sensor in the electronic reading device detects portions of an address pattern on a surface that is formatted for use in controlling the electronic utility device. Based on the detected portions, a processor and/or wireless application protocol (WAP) browser, located in the electronic reading device or in a separate electronic device, can identify a position or positions of the electronic reading device relative to the address pattern and translate the identified position(s) into a control message. The control message is transmitted to a WAP server module associated with the electronic utility device, and the WAP server module accesses, controls, or operates the electronic utility device in accordance with the control message.

Abstract: A process controller that may be used to control a process having a set of process outputs effected by a set of process control input signals includes a multiple-input/multiple output controller that uses the process outputs to develop the set of process control input signals and a process model, which may be a non-linear process model, that receives the set of process control input signals to produce a prediction signal for one or more of the process outputs. The multiple-input/multiple-output control element includes another process model, which may be a standard linear process model, to develop a prediction vector for each of the process outputs and includes a correction unit that modifies the prediction vector for the one or more of the process outputs using the prediction signal for the one or more of the process outputs to thereby compensate for the non-linearities of the process.

Abstract: Compare-plus-tally instructions are used to enhance video-compression performance by providing for faster computations of block-match measures. The invention is most useful in the context of comparing blocks from reference and predicted frames, where the luminance data for the blocks has been reduced to 1-bit-per-pixel relative to local average luminance. A combined XOR and tally instruction can be used in a two-instruction loop with an accumulate instruction to provide a block-match measure. Alternatively, a single instruction can implement an accumulation along with the comparison and tally to provide a one-instruction loop. Furthermore, the tallying and accumulation can be performed on a subword basis, with a final TreeAdd instruction summing across subwords outside the loop.

Abstract: A safety bus system especially for tabletting machines includes at least one bus-capable module, at least one bus controller and at least one bus line interconnecting the at least one bus-capable module and the at least one bus controller. At least one safety function can be implemented by the safety bus system. The at least one safety function may be performed essentially simultaneously with at least one control function and/or at least one measurement function.

Abstract: This invention includes a method of navigating a collection of nodes by selecting a first node, generating a context list and displaying first node and context list. Each context of the context collection includes a second node essentially referencing the first node. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of generating an address from a collection of contexts containing steps of receiving a selected attribute collection and generating the address. Each context includes a resolution address and an attribute collection. Each of the attribute collections contains at least one attribute. Whenever the attribute collection of a first context of the context collection is essentially the same as the selected attribute collection, the resolution address of the first context is selected as the generated address. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of navigating a hypergraph. The hypergraph includes at least one context list. Each context list contains at least one context.

Abstract: A search system and method for controlling multiple agents to optimize an objective using distributed sensing and cooperative control. The search agent can be one or more physical agents, such as a robot, and can be software agents for searching cyberspace. The objective can be: chemical sources, temperature sources, radiation sources, light sources, evaders, trespassers, explosive sources, time dependent sources, time independent sources, function surfaces, maximization points, minimization points, and optimal control of a system such as a communication system, an economy, a crane, and a multi-processor computer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for packet box electronic device and a logistic system. The device and system include a plurality of electronic boxes for packets, several electronic boxes being assigned to a control unit and a central control unit for monitoring the control units.

Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic machine for processing tobacco articles, whereby the status of the machine is checked cyclically to determine any error signals, and the machine is stopped in the event of an error signal; following stoppage of the machine due to an error signal, the machine is restarted independently and automatically a given number of times, and the machine is stopped definitely if the error signal does not disappear during one of the restart steps.

Abstract: An electronic connector connected to a sensor or a switch, and communicating a signal through a common bus includes an I/O unit receiving a signal from the sensor or the switch, a control unit generating a control signal for controlling the driving of a load corresponding to the sensor or the switch according to the signal received from the I/O unit, and a communication unit having a function of decoding the control signal and transmitting the control signal to an equipment connected to the corresponding load through the common bus.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for allocating resources, wherein the resources are capable of being configured from a computer system. User interface elements are rendered enabling user selection of a plurality of strategies concerning allocation of computational resources, including a participation strategy having one of at least two values indicating a degree of user involvement in the allocation of computational resources and at least one configuration strategy specifying a configuration for the resource allocation. Selection of a plurality of resource allocation constraints is enabled if the selected value for the participation strategy is a first value. Selection of one of a plurality of configuration modes is enabled if the selected value for the participation strategy is a second value. An allocation is made of the resources based on the selected at least one configuration strategy and one of the selected resource allocation constraints or the selected configuration mode.

Abstract: A computer peripheral apparatus of this invention has a check step of checking whether received data is infected with a computer virus. If the received data satisfies a predetermined condition, the apparatus executes the check step before predetermined data processing. If the received data does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the apparatus executes the check step before the predetermined data processing.

Abstract: A microcontroller device in which complex processing procedures to be executed iteratively are implemented in a hardware manner by finite state machines, the deice including a module for managing the processing procedures and an interrupt managing module, and a set of registers for enabling interruption of execution in the module, for managing the processing procedures and transfer of control to the interrupt manager, as well as for enabling restoration of the control to the manager of the processing procedures. The registers store information regarding the type of interrupt and the state on which it intervenes. Selection information is derived from the contents of the registers to establish whether the interrupt operates on a standard instruction or else on an iterative procedure, and in order to command operation of the control unit accordingly.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium of modeling and/or for controlling a manufacturing process is disclosed. In particular, a method according to embodiments of the present invention includes the step of identifying one or more input parameters. Each input parameter causes a change in at least two outputs. The method also includes the step of storing values of the identified inputs and corresponding empirical output values along with predicted output values. The predicted output values are calculated based on, in part, the values of the identified inputs. The method also includes the step of calculating a set of transform coefficients by minimizing a score equation that is a function of differences between one or more of the empirical output values and their corresponding predicted output values.