Abstract: The control of emissions from fossil-fired boilers wherein an injection of substances above the primary combustion zone employs multi-layer feedforward artificial neural networks for modeling static nonlinear relationships between the distribution of injected substances into the upper region of the furnace and the emissions exiting the furnace. Multivariable nonlinear constrained optimization algorithms use the mathematical expressions from the artificial neural networks to provide the optimal substance distribution that minimizes emission levels for a given total substance injection rate.

Abstract: A thermal comfort controller using various recovery methods to change the indoor temperature to meet set points in a setup/setback schedule to maintain thermal comfort for occupants of an enclosure. The thermal comfort controller further comprising an apparatus to determine the expected energy savings when modifying the setup/setback schedule for the enclosure in which the temperature controller is used. The energy savings information may be displayed to the enclosure occupant for further consideration.

Abstract: A vacuum network control system includes a vacuum network controller hub communicating over a public high-speed network, where the hub has an address registered with respect to the non-local network and communicates over a first local high-speed network. Vacuum network controllers (VNCs) communicate with the hub over the first local network. Each VNC has a dynamically assigned local address and communicates with at least one component intrabus module over a second local high-speed network. Each module has a dynamically assigned local address and further communicates with one or more monitor and control end units over a local device network. Each monitor and control end unit has a dynamically assigned address. Monitor and control end units include taps, which provide at least one of analog, digital or serial I/O, and components, for example, vacuum pumps.

Abstract: A method for controlling a decisional process when pursuing an overall aim in a specific field of application, such as economic, technical, organisational or similar, which is automated by the placing in relation, according to rules and strategies predetermined in accordance with the overall aim of at least one knowledge object reflecting a point of view of the field of application and comprising an item of information interpreted as an alarm sign for the decisional process with other knowledge objects reflecting other points of view or other fonctional competencies of the same field of application or of other fields.

Abstract: A predictive apparatus for controlling or regulating supply values (T_VRL) includes a first data store in which rules, based on a linear consumer model, for calculating process values are stored, a second data store in which rules for restrictions or limit values to be observed for process values and for values derived from process values are stored, and further also means for repeatable optimizing of the energy consumption or of the energy costs with the aid of linear or quadratic programming. The apparatus is configured such that the optimizing can be carried out over a sliding time horizon.

Abstract: A method for automatically converting print jobs stored in printshop job description language (PSDL) files into workflow for a specific printshop is disclosed. A print job stored in a PSDL file is extracted from the PSDL file and used to generate a proposed workflow and accompanying job cost estimate. The workflow generated by the illustrated embodiment merges the job resource requirements of the print job with the resource and material availability of the printshop. The generated workflow and an accompanying job cost estimate for producing the workflow in the printshop are transmitted to the original job submitter for approval prior to beginning the printing process. Alternately, the job submitter is capable of submitting the print job in PSDL format to a printshop via the Internet.

Abstract: An arrangement for visualizing the illumination by at least one vehicle headlight of a zone situated in front of the vehicle as considered in the forward driving direction includes a camera mounted on the vehicle and operative for taking a succession of scenes of the environment of the vehicle including the aforementioned zone as the vehicle travels on a roadway in the forward driving direction. A visualization device including a monitor visually renders the scenes obtained from the camera, and a simulated rendition of the region illuminated by the headlight is presented in the succession of scenes appearing on the monitor. The light beam issued by the headlight is presented in a simplification as a light cone.

Abstract: Method for determining a state variable x from at least one sensor value by a cost function prepared for a measured value y for implementation in an arithmetic unit of a sensor system having at least one sensor and wherein the cost function depends on the respective state x to be measured and gives a deviation of an actual measured value from the calibration as a function of state x in order to determine the sought state x from this minimum. For the cost function, at least one approximation function is set up on the basis of at least one approximation region within the state region x, by which an approximation of the cost function is carried out with approximation functions with negligible error, wherein the sums of the approximation regions cover the entire relevant state region, and at least all local minima are determined on the basis of the approximation, in a selection of approximation regions, wherein optionally a global minimum is determined from the comparison of local minima.

Abstract: A method of determining the most cost effective manner in which to provide a given number of memory or logic gates for a particular application. The method takes into consideration both the cost per memory bit of fabricating memory cells on a semiconductor chip as a function of the number of memory cells on the chip (i.e, the chip size), and the costs of assembling multiple memory chips into a larger memory device using different assembly and packaging configurations. By considering the fabrication and packaging costs together, the most economically efficient combination of memory chip size and packaging method to produce a desired memory capacity can be determined.

Abstract: A Virtual Design Module (VDM) used in a networked design environment generates manufactured product designs that are near optimal in terms of cost and production cycle time by using design data files containing alternative parts and manufacturers information. Numerous product design alternatives are considered and evaluated in terms of design-manufacturing-parts-supplier feasibility and real-time information on cost and production cycle time for realization. The VDM generates a population of new designs with appropriate board design information to allow for design-manufacturer-supplier decision making and determines the feasibility of each member of the current generation of designs and rejects designs that are not feasible. The VDM triggers Mobile Software Agents (MSA) that obtain data for parts availability, cost, lead time and manufacturer data for manufacturing availability, cost and lead time for each feasible member of the current generation of designs and return the data.

Abstract: A control system for the manufacture of a product. A network of activities is created in a primary computer and a baseline schedule is determined. The baseline schedule dates are transmitted to a plurality of secondary computers. The secondary computers monitor external elements used in the activities and predict constraints using delta values. Delta values are a direct estimate of the impact on the final completion date. This allows potential effects to be evaluated in parallel. Resources are redistributed based on the delta values to minimize time and cost.

Abstract: The pump station control system and method monitors and displays a time history of the operating parameters of a pump station. Sensed operating parameters are transmitted to an operator in real time and are stored at predetermined time intervals over a predetermined period of time. A real-time cost parameter of the system is calculated that provides a measure of the cost per throughput of the material being pumped. The system can be optimized for the cost parameter by controlling system variables such as pump speed in response to the level of fluid.

Abstract: A control system for the production of a product or for a project. A primary project control computer oversees a plurality of secondary computers which manage each activity in the project. The system uses baseline schedule dates and measures variances to these dates. Resources are allocated based on the variances to minimize time and cost. Activity variance goals are individually assigned to each activity which is an improvement over the previous project-wide single goal method. An individual additional cost threshold may also be assigned to each activity.

Abstract: A device and method that automatically tune a valve controller coupled to a process control loop generate a plurality of sets of tuning parameters for use by the controller, deliver a test signal, such as a blocked sinusoidal signal, to the controller to force the process control loop through a test cycle while each of the plurality of sets of tuning parameters are being used by the controller and measure a response of the process control loop during each of the test cycles. The device and method then calculate a performance index for each of the plurality of sets of tuning parameters based on the measured responses and select one of the sets of tuning parameters based on the calculated performance indices. The selected set of tuning parameters is then loaded into the controller for use during normal operation of the process control loop.

Abstract: A method and computer system for controlling an industrial process are disclosed. The industrial process has problems which adversely effect its performance. A personal computer is programmed with a database and a custom application. The database contains data describing the attributes and performance of the process to be controlled. The custom application calculates the financial value of each of the problems. The calculation of the financial value of each problem takes into account market conditions which affect the amount of product which could be sold if made and the marginal profitability of the product and how much optimum process time each problem takes up. The financial values of the problems are used to prioritize the problems, allowing them to be remedied accordance with their priority.