Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing unwanted vibration in motion system are provided using a Robust Vibration Suppression (RVS) methodology, in which acceleration frequency spectra are obtained for each of a number of command input functions developed for moving a load a specified distance within a specified move time interval using an actuator. The frequency spectra comprise peaks, with notches defined between adjacent peaks. A desirable command input function is one with a frequency spectra having either a notch with a maximum width or a peak with a minimum magnitude relative to frequency spectra associated with other command input functions, or, alternatively, a peak with a magnitude of less than or equal to a pre-established magnitude or a frequency notch having a width greater than or equal to a pre-established width. A suitable command input function may be characterized by a ramp function, a cosine function, a sine function, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inspecting a product, comprising extracting defects from the product, classifying the defects on the basis of information about the extracted defects representing the analogy of the defects, extracting the feature data of the defects on the basis of the result of defect classification, and feeding back the feature data of the extracted defects for inspection; and to an inspection system comprising an inspecting means for extracting defects from the product, a defect classifying means for classifying the defects on the basis of information about the defects extracted by the inspecting means representing the analogy of the defects, and a feature data extracting means for extracting the feature data of the defects on the basis of the result of defect classification provided by the defect classifying means, characterized in that the feature data of the defects extracted by the feature data extracting means is fed back to the inspecting means for inspecting the product.

Abstract: A method and system for generating an improved nonlinear system model includes generating a linear system model and using a response therefrom to generate the nonlinear system model. A method and system for generating drive signals for a test system uses the improved nonlinear system model or a conventional nonlinear system model.

Abstract: A control method and system for managing operations at a well. The well operation is divided into operating phases and a set of management requirements for each operating phase are established. An associate system for each discreet management requirement produces selected outputs based upon selected inputs from all the sensed dynamic variables as well as selected inputs from knowledge bases and models. Each associate displays real time functions depending upon the processing of any operating parameter, at the selected operating phase and discreet management requirement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling plumbing fixtures includes an electronic control board having a microprocessor that accepts four inputs and produces four outputs. Inputs at other than the microprocessor's operating voltage are converted thereto. Outputs having different voltages are controlled by latching relays. The control board can be used with a Smart Sink that requires a sequenced hand washing. The control board can form a node on a network that monitors and controls the functions of multiple boards throughout a facility.

Abstract: In a controlled object, a process variable of a controlled object process is detected by a sensor and its detection time is measured by a timer. A process signal transmitting device transmits, as a process signal, the process variable and the detection time to a control apparatus. A control variable calculating device calculates a control variable based on the received process variable and a control reference value, and transmits a control signal including the control variable and the received process variable detection time to the controlled object. In the controlled object, a control signal receiving device calculates a transmission delay, that is, a difference between control signal reception time that is measured by the timer and the transmitted process variable detection time, corrects the control variable by processing it in accordance with the transmission delay, and drives an actuator by using the corrected control variable.

Abstract: A computer system and method of operating the same to optimize the operating conditions of a petroleum production field, in which a plurality of wells are arranged according to drill sites, and connected to one or more central processing facilities, is disclosed. In this disclosed embodiment, gas compression capacity is a significant constraint on the operation of the complex production field, and surface line hydraulic effects of well production are to be considered in the optimization. A genetic algorithm is used to generate, and iteratively evaluate solution vectors, which are combinations of field operating parameters such as incremental gas-oil ratio cutoff and formation gas-oil ratio cutoff values. The evaluation includes the operation of an adaptive network to determine production header pressures, followed by modification of well output estimates to account for changes in the production header pressure.

Abstract: A computer system for analyzing and automatically modifying existing process system models that includes (i) an Initial Data stage that prompts the user to enter qualitative and quantitative objectives in designing or re-designing a Process System, (ii) a Component Model stage that displays an image of the sequence of components produced or added during the process and that allows the user to edit or complete the Component Model display that includes components, which are produced during the process, operations that produce them, and functions, each consisting of an element or tool that causes an action and an element or tool that receives the action, (iii) a Process (Functional) Analysis stage that includes functional and interaction relationships of the functions and operations designating each function as harmful or useful, and ranking each useful function according to the value of its contribution to the respective operation, and performing a value link analysis of each function including the level of the

Abstract: A diagnostic test unit for deterministically measuring one or more parameters, such as dead band, dead time, response time, gain, or overshoot, of a process control device that is connected in a process control loop during operation of a process includes a switch controller, a signal generator, a switch, a response accumulator mechanism, and an analyzer mechanism. The switch controller monitors a process signal during operation of the process to determine whether the process signal is substantially stable. In the event that the process signal is substantially stable, the switch replaces a control signal with a diagnostic test signal generated by the signal generator. The response accumulator is in communication with the process control loop to obtain an indication of the response of the process control device to the diagnostic test signal. The analyzer unit then determines the device parameter from the test signal and the response indication.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for optimizing a production output of a processing device for processing flat articles, the processing device including at least one processing arrangement for receiving and processing the flat articles and which has function parameters controllable through actuators. Actual values of the function parameters are detected. Deviations of the actual values of the function parameters from set values are thereafter evaluated according to an empirically determined algorithm. A correction value for at least one of the actuators is calculated based on results of the above evaluation, and the actuator is operated based on the correction value for controlling the function parameters.

Abstract: A layer flock management system including a layer information accumulator operative to accumulate information regarding each of a multiplicity of layers in a flock and a floor layer identifier operative to identify floor layers from among the multiplicity of layers.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for dynamic optimization of a dynamic physical system having a device under control and a controller along with a modeling system having an estimator and a constrained nonlinear program. The time varying trajectories of the dynamic physical system are parameterized and run through the modeling system in order to produce a set of optimal time varying setpoint trajectories to be used in the dynamic physical system. The optimal time varying setpoint trajectories optimize the physical system to produce the desired end result (or product) of the dynamic physical system.

Abstract: A method of effecting communication in a computer system between off-chip circuitry and on-chip circuitry is disclosed, according to a message protocol in which four messages can be formulated: a data write request; a data read request; a response message; and a diagnostic message.

Abstract: A method of identifying unacceptable levels of defects in specific sections or work centers of a manufacturing process on a real time basis and initiating corrective action is disclosed. The system allows a user to define defect tolerances or thresholds for manufacturing work centers, tracks defects at the work centers, compares the level of faults with the tolerances, reports out of tolerance work centers, automatically initiates contact with the appropriate personnel to affect a correction to the out of tolerance work center, and maintains records of corrective actions taken.

Abstract: Monitoring apparatus is provided for monitoring an on-going input to detect and report events of a predetermined type as defined by a set of criteria stored by the apparatus. Detected events are reported in a report stream the data rate of which increases with the number of such events. The data rate of the report stream is regulated to lie within upper and lower bounds by changing the selectivity of the set of event-selection criteria. This changing of the selectivity of the critera is effected in such a manner that the events detected with more selective criteria constitute a subset of the events that would have been detected with a less selective criteria. In a preferred embodiment, changing the criteria selectivity is done by changing the length of a bit mask.

Abstract: A method of tracking a system (1) having sensors (3) (e.g. gas turbine engines) by providing a computer model (4) which, from changes in sensor readings, can track (follow) changes in performance parameters of the system. These may be e.g. efficiencies of various of components such as compressors and turbines. In the common embodiment, the method used (Singular Value Decomposition) is a way of computing the most likely solution when there are more performance parameters than the number of sensors used and thus a degree of redundancy. The method allows system diagnosis and most importantly a tracked model allows the selection of a tailored control regime (9) which results in optimum efficiency for the individual system (engine).

Abstract: A method for processing signals and controlling a physical system in which measurements are obtained at different time scales and/or different space scales. Signals generated from the physical system are processed by first creating a first dynamic model at a first time/space scale that consists of a first set of parameters, a first set of states and a first set of inputs. A second dynamic model at a second time/space scale is also created and consists of a second set of parameters, a second set of states and a second set of inputs. At least one of the first set of parameters in the first dynamic model are computed from the second set of states in the second dynamic model. A second estimator is then created to produce estimates of the second set of states using the second dynamic model, measurements from the first physical system at the second time scale.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for simulating and optimizing a plant model. The plant model having a multiplicity of equipment models for a desired processing plant and a multiplicity of local property models for the material components within the plant includes providing a set of initial values for each property model in a data storage area. A first set of coefficients in each property model is determined. A set of equations representing the equipment models and property models, wherein the property models having a complementarity formulation, are executed simultaneously by the digital processor by using the first set of coefficients to determine a second set of coefficients in each property model. The second set of coefficients are stored in the data storage area.

Abstract: A shower temperature and flow rate memory controller is provided including a cold and hot water valve coupled to a cold and hot water inlet line, respectively, and further connected to a shower head of a shower for allowing a controlled rate of flow of cold and hot water to the shower head upon the actuation thereof. Next provided is a temperature sensor coupled a main inlet line connected to the shower head down stream of the water valves. The temperature sensor is adapted to generate a current temperature signal indicative of a temperature of water within the main inlet line. Next provided is a housing mounted within the shower. Memory is situated within the housing for storing a plurality of settings each consisting of a predetermined temperature set signal. Associated therewith is a plurality of memory buttons situated on the housing and adapted to transmit an associated one of the settings stored within the memory.