Abstract: A cooperative camera network involving segmenting an image of an object and extracting a color signature from it. The color signature may be matched with the other signatures in an attempt to identify the object. There also can be combining and fusing the tracking of people and objects with image processing and the identification of the people and objects being tracked in an area or facility.

Abstract: A controller capable of monitoring a receiving circuit for receiving machine information. Machine information from a machine is received by a plurality of independent systems and the external signals received by the plurality of systems are compared, thereby, a receiving state of the receiving circuit is monitored. The controller includes a plurality of independent receiving units for receiving the external signal and monitoring units for comparing signals received by the plurality of receiving units, to monitor the receiving units based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention is a substrate processing method comprising the steps of successively extracting unprocessed wafers from a cassette, successively conveying the extracted wafers to a plurality of processing units, causing the processing units to process the wafers in parallel, and returning the processed wafers to a cassette. A process completion prediction time at which processes for one lot are completed is calculated and displayed corresponding to a process recipe that has been set to a plurality of wafers for at least one lot. Corresponding to the process completion prediction time, a cassette that contains a plurality of unprocessed wafers for one lot is accepted. A cassette that contains a plurality of processed wafers for one lot is returned.

Abstract: An intelligent microsensor module (10, 100, 210, 300, 355, 410) is provided that can fuse data streams from a variety of sources and then locally determine the current state of the environment in which the intelligent microsensor is placed. The resultant state rather than raw data is communicated to the outside world when the microsensor is queried. The intelligent microsensor module (10, 100, 210, 300, 355, 410) of the present invention can locally determine and execute an action to be taken based on the determined state of the environment. The module (10, 100, 210, 300, 355, 410) can be readily reconfigured for multiple applications.

Abstract: A process plant uses an asset utilization expert to collect data or information pertaining to the assets of the process plant from various sources or functional areas of the plant including, for example, the process control functional areas, the maintenance functional areas and the business systems functional areas. This data and information is stored in a database and is sent to and manipulated in a coordinated manner by tools, such as optimization and modeling tools. This data is also redistributed to other areas or tools where it is used to perform overall better or more optimal control, maintenance and business activities. Information or data may be collected by maintenance functions pertaining to the health, variability, performance or utilization of a device, loop, unit, etc. and this information may then be sent to and displayed to a process operator or maintenance person to inform that person of a current or future problem.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for controlling plating pulse rectifiers are provided by identifying one of the plurality of plating pulse rectifiers as a master plating pulse rectifier and identifying at least one of the plurality of plating pulse rectifiers, other than the master plating pulse rectifier, as a slave plating pulse rectifier. A recipe comprising a pulse pattern is downloaded to the master plating pulse rectifier and the slave plating pulse rectifier. A synchronization signal is transmitted from the master plating pulse rectifier upon initiating the pulse pattern of the recipe to the at least one slave plating pulse rectifier so as to cause the slave plating pulse rectifier to initiate the pulse pattern of the downloaded recipe. Plating pulse rectifiers suitable for use as master/slave plating pulse rectifiers and systems incorporating such plating pulse rectifiers are also provided.

Abstract: An on-line optimizer is provided wherein a boiler (720) is optimized by measuring a select plurality of inputs to the boiler (720) and mapping them through a predetermined relationship that defines a single value representing a spacial relationship in the boiler that is a function of the select inputs. This single value is then optimized with the use of a plant optimizer (818) which provides an optimized value. This optimized value is then processed thought the inverse relationship of the single modified value to provide modified inputs to the plant that can be applied to the plant.

Abstract: A simulation procedure simulates the response of a process control loop having a controller tuned according to a set of tuning parameters to illustrate, for example, the overshoot, oscillation, response time, etc. of the controller as tuned. As part of the simulation procedure, a robustness map, such as a plot illustrating phase margin versus gain margin or other robustness qualities, is created and the robustness of the simulated control loop may be plotted as a point on the robustness map. During the creation of the robustness map, different sets of tuning parameters for a region in which the process control loop is stable are determined and stored and the corresponding robustness qualities of the loop having a controller tuned according to these tuning parameters are also determined and stored. The robustness map is then displayed to a user showing the stable region.

Abstract: A universal robust filtering process is adapted for eliminating the need of prediscretizing a continuous-time differential model into a discrete-time difference model. It provides a universal robust solution to the most general formulation, in the sense that the system dynamics are described by nonlinear continuous-time differential equations, and the nonlinear measurements are taken at intermittent discrete times randomly spaced. The universal robust filtering process includes the procedures of validating the measurement using fuzzy logic, and incorporating factorized forward filtering and backward smoothing to guarantee numerical stability. It provides users a reliable and convenient solution to extracting internal dynamic system state estimates from noisy measurements, with wider applications, better accuracy, better stability, easier design, and easier implementation.

Abstract: The provides improved control devices, systems and methods for operation thereof. These rely on control devices that provide virtual machine environments in which Java objects, or other such software constructs, are executed to implement control (e.g., to monitor and/or control a device, process or system). These objects define blocks which are the basic functional unit of the control. They also define the input, output and body parts from which blocks are formed, and the signals that are communicated between blocks. The objects also define nested and composite groupings of blocks used to control loops and higher-level control functions.

Abstract: The system and method disclosed herein allow a user to retrieve data from various process control loops and organize that data in dynamic manner to allow for multiple types of data analysis. A user may associate individual process control loops into groups and analyze the data and impact of select process control loops in those groups. Since the associations of process control loops into groups can be done dynamically, the user is able to easily reconfigure groups (i.e. add or remove process control loops) and redo the analysis. Another feature is the storage of both the data retrieved and the results of the analysis so that comparisons can be performed and reports can be generated.

Abstract: The invention is a method, or a computer implementation thereof, which computes the boundaries of sets that result when two or more sets are multiplied or divided, in the vector sense attributed to Minkowski. In a preferred form, the invention is a novel and useful enabler for devising compensators that effect robust control. Control system designers desire compensators that are robust to uncertainties in plant parameters. The invention solves this problem by identifying, for any frequency, those points in the complex plane which can be mapped into compensators. When applied to the design of control systems, the invention pertains either in the case of a single frequency, or to multiple frequencies. It also pertains to either single or multiple inputs or outputs. The invention generalizes to multi-dimensional applications, not necessarily control-theoretic, wherein problems can be modeled by combinations of Minkowski quotients, products, and sums.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing or determining parameters for a system are disclosed. These systems and methods exploit the Tensor Convolution Block Toeplitz (TCBT) structure involved in certain systems wherein a symmetric positive definite linear system of equations needs to be solved in the design or determination of the parameters for the system. Further, these methods and systems employ a TCBT-PCG process that uses a fast matrix-vector multiply in order to improve the computational efficiency in the design or determination of these system parameters.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for detecting a watermark in an information signal. The method may include the steps of computing the correlation (dk) of the watermark (Wi) and the information signal (e.g. an image Q) for a plurality of positions (k) of the watermark with respect to the information signal, and detecting whether at least one of the respective correlation values exceeds a given threshold. The step of detecting may include determining the standard deviation (&sgr;d) of the respective correlation values (dk), and setting the threshold to a given multiple (T) of the standard deviation. The multiple (T) is derived form a desired false alarm rate (watermark detected when there is none, or no watermark detected when there is one).

Abstract: A system of providing fast machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD) basis weight adjustments using a simultaneous multi-point water weight sensor which provides independent MD and CD measurements is described. The water weight sensor is placed under the wire of the sheetmaking machine and provides fast wet end water weight measurements which are converted into predicted dry end basis weight information and used to control operating variables of machine elements in the sheetmaking machine to compensate for high frequency process variations. MD wet end measurements are used to control operating variables of machine elements that influence the MD dry end basis weight and CD wet end measurements are used to control operating variables of machine elements that influence CD dry end basis weight.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring process parameters associated with a manufacturing or testing process. The system includes: at least one machine which is used in the manufacturing or testing process; at least one sensing device, coupled to the at least one machine, for measuring a process parameter associated with the at least one machine; and a controller, coupled to the at least one sensing device, for receiving and storing measured data from the at least one sensing device. The method includes the acts of: measuring a value of a process parameter associated with a machine used in the manufacturing or testing process; converting the measured value of the process parameter into a digital data signal having a specified data format; transmitting the digital data signal to a controller; and storing the digital data signal in a database.

Abstract: A kiln thermal and combustion control. A predictive model is provided of the dynamics of selected aspects of the operation of the plant for modeling the dynamics thereof. The model has at least two discrete models associated therewith that model at least two of the selected aspects, the at least two discrete models having different dynamic responses. An optimizer receives desired values for the selected aspects of the operation of the plant modeled by the model and optimizes the inputs to the model to minimize error between the predicted and desired values. A control input device then applies the optimized input values to the plant after optimization thereof.

Abstract: Process for setting controller parameters (PA, K1 . . . Kn) of a state controller (SC) which, together with a plant (PL), forms a closed control circuit (C). The controller parameters (PA, K1 . . . Kn) are variable only in such manner that, in a representation of the poles (P1 . . . P5) of the closed control circuit (C) in a complex frequency range plane (FP, IM, RE), the setting of the controller parameters causes a shift of the poles (P1 . . . P5) approximately along semi-circular arcs (K) and/or origin rays (A1 . . . A3). It is advantageous that according to the process of the invention the setting of the controller parameters (PA, K1 . . . Kn) of the state controller (SC) can be performed by setting predetermined setting parameters that are, from a control-technological standpoint, easily understandable and recognizable. Such parameters are, for example, amplitude factor (&kgr;), rise time (&mgr;), or transient recovery time (t).

Abstract: A plant (72) is operable to receive control inputs c(t) and provide an output y(t). The plant (72) has associated therewith state variables s(t) that are not variable. A control network (74) is provided that accurately models the plant (72). The output of the control network (74) provides a predicted output which is combined with a desired output to generate an error. This error is back propagated through an inverse control network (76), which is the inverse of the control network (74) to generate a control error signal that is input to a distributed control system (73) to vary the control inputs to the plant (72) in order to change the output y(t) to meet the desired output. The control network (74) is comprised of a first network NET 1 that is operable to store a representation of the dependency of the control variables on the state variables. The predicted result is subtracted from the actual state variable input and stored as a residual in a residual layer (102).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing a process based on displaying data to a user from a plurality of different sources and a machine-readable medium for implementing such a method. The present invention also provides a mapping system and a method for displaying data to a user employing a hierarchy including data nodes and data leaves.

Abstract: Product data from a manufacturing process is analysed using techniques adapted from the study of chaos. Future values of a series of product data are predicted and an attractor structure is determined from the product data. This enables the manufacturing process to be monitored, controlled and analysed. Action can be taken to modify the manufacturing process using the results from the prediction and attractor structure to reduce costs and improve performance and efficiency.

Abstract: A flexible multifunction model-free adaptive controller capable of controlling a very broad range of processes uses storage and selective use of multiple controller parameter sets, measurement filtering, transient prediction and use of extra controllers to dynamically set constraints for the output of the process controller in order to deal with transients resulting from sudden input changes, yet allow the process to run close to its physical limitations under dynamically varying operating conditions and periodic large processing parameter changes.

Abstract: A method for predicting equipment performance. Input data representing an equipment parameter is obtained. The input data includes a range of values corresponding to the equipment parameter. The input data is provided to a model and a data set is generated corresponding to the model response to the input data. A set of equations is derived representing the data set. The set of equations is statistically processed to generate a probabilistic representation of equipment performance.

Abstract: An optimization process for optimizing inputs data relating to a function of a plurality of input-signals for which it is desired to find output values which give an optimum value of the function. Such output values are found by performing a plurality of cycles to reach a convergence, each of which cycles includes: (a) providing an old current value of each input signal, (b) selecting a test value of one or more input signals; (c) generating the function from the selected test values; and (d) selecting a new current value in dependence upon the relationship between the value of the function for the test value and the value of the function for the old current value. The test values include values close to old current values so as to move the input signal towards a local convergence for the output values.

Abstract: A dedicated bandwidth switch backplane has efficient receive processing capable of handling highly parallel traffic. Packets must pass a filtering check and a watermark check before the receive port is allowed to release them to a queue. Highly efficient algorithms are applied to conduct the checks on the packets in a way which expedites receive processing and avoids contention. A hybrid priority/port-based arbitration algorithm is used to sequence filtering checks on pending packets. A watermark comparison algorithm performs preliminary calculations on the current packet using “projected” output queue write addresses for each possible outcome of the queueing decision on the preceding packet and using the actual outcome to select from among preliminary calculations to efficiently address the outcome-dependence of the current packet's watermark check on the queueing decision made on the preceding packet.

Abstract: A valve positioner system that includes one or more unique control methods and devices, including several routines to facilitate the continuous maintenance, calibration and adjustment requirements of the valve. The positioner system may utilize pressure and position feedback signals to monitor the valve. The positioner system may utilize an external controller for various diagnostic and other routines. The positioner system can provide automatic positioning and can operate in a manual operating mode or an automatic operating mode. The positioner system can diagnose the valve while the valve process is running or during a maintenance operation. The positioner system can provide nonlinear control of the valve position. The positioner system can self-tune and self-characterize the valve to assure uniform position control. The positioner system can provide valve control through pressure feedback when a position feedback fails or other diagnosed problems.

Abstract: An article including a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed, causes receipt of a control request for a medical-monitoring device located on a client and determining if the control request is serviceable by the medical-monitoring device. In addition, the instructions also include sending the control request unaltered to the client if the control request is serviceable by the medical-monitoring device, and modifying the control request to a serviceable control request if the control request is not serviceable by the medical-monitoring device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a semi-empirical process simulator used to determine process values in a plasma process for creating a desired surface profile on a process substrate includes providing a test model which captures all mechanisms responsible for profile evolution in terms of a set of unknown surface parameters. A set of test conditions is derived for which the profile evolution is governed by only a limited number of parameters. For each set of test conditions, test values are selected and a test substrate is actually subjected to a test process defined by the test values, thereby creating a test surface profile. The test values are used to generate an approximate profile prediction and are adjusted to minimize the discrepancy between the test surface profile and the approximate profile prediction, thereby providing a final model of the profile evolution in terms of the process values.

Abstract: An article including a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed, causes receipt of a control request for a medical-monitoring device located on a client and determining if the control request is serviceable by the medical-monitoring device. In addition, the instructions also include sending the control request unaltered to the client if the control request is serviceable by the medical-monitoring device, and modifying the control request to a serviceable control request if the control request is not serviceable by the medical-monitoring device.

Abstract: A plant control system has a reference value setting unit for variably setting a reference value for an air-fuel ratio to be given to an exhaust system including a catalytic converter, depending on a component based on an adaptive control law of a manipulated variable of the air-fuel ratio generated by a controller according to an adaptive sliding mode control process in order to converge an output of an O2 sensor disposed downstream of the catalytic converter to a target value. The plant control system also has an estimator for estimating the difference between an output of the O2 sensor after the dead time of the exhaust system and a target value therefor, using the difference between the set reference value and a detected value of the air-fuel ratio, and giving the estimated difference to the controller.

Abstract: An adaptive control method employs an adaptive signal generation algorithm 11 for generating an adaptive signal y(n) which cancels a cyclic signal y(n) at a measurement point 24, and an adaptive coefficient vector renewing algorithm 12 for renewing the amplitudes a(n) and phases &phgr;(n) of the adaptive signal y(n). The adaptive coefficient vector renewing algorithm 12 is quasi-normalized by a sum [A(&ohgr;)+&ggr;]. The A(&ohgr;) is a gain measurement of a transfer characteristic 23, and the &ggr; is a divergence prevention constant. Hence, in a frequency region where the gain A(&ohgr;) is high, a step size is small so that the stability of the adaptive control method can be enhanced. In a frequency region where the gain A(&ohgr;) is low, the step size is large so that the adaptability can be improved. As a result, the convergence stability and the characteristic following the frequency variation are compatible with each other.

Abstract: A distributed control system including self-organizing components which are preselected on the basis of built in behaviors which are needed to perform a particular application. The built in behaviors enable the components to automatically self-organize and perform the application once coupled to the network.

Abstract: Automatic monitoring system and method for providing an instantaneous tool status indication for a stock removal cutter when cutting workpieces in accordance with a given machining operation for which a substantially new stock removal cutter of the same type has a reference average tool wear coefficient R0. The system includes a torque monitor (7) for measuring a main drive cutting torque M during the cutting of an ith successive workpiece. Coupled to the torque monitor (7), is an instantaneous tool wear coefficient processor (13) for calculating a plurality of instantaneous tool wear coefficients r(j) during the cutting of the ith successive workpiece.

Abstract: A method for weight blending of granular materials comprises at a remote site generating a command for desired operation of granular material weight blending apparatus; encoding said command into transportable time-stable machine readable tangible storage media; transporting said media to a bar code reader operatively connected to said granular material weight blending apparatus; scanning the tangible media having the command encoded thereon to read the command; and providing the read command as input to a in microprocessor operatively connected to said granular material weight blending apparatus for regulating operation of the same.

Abstract: A coefficient generator, data processing system and method of data reduction in correspondence with multiple-term parametric relationships, and particularly provides for data reduction in correspondence with approximative descriptions which include multiple dependent-variable terms whose higher order derivatives do not vanish. Forms of inverse of deviation variations are implemented to provide weighting which will correct for nonlinear function variations. The forms of inverse deviation weighting are implemented for representing forms of residual weighting and forms of implied squared residual weighting. Represented phases of function similation establish adept equations and implement forms of data processing and representing. Adept data processors correspondingly provide for characterizing approximating relationships in correspondence with provided data.

Abstract: A digital signal process of a plurality of functions is enabled by a common hardware constructed on one chip having input terminals t1, t2 and t2'; output terminals t3 and t4; and a control signal input terminal t5. The chip is constructed to include class sorting circuits 111a and 111b; delay and selecting circuits 112a and 112b; switching circuits 113a and 113b; switching circuits 114a and 114b; coefficient memories 115a and 115b; filter operating circuits 116a and 116b; a line delay circuit 117; a product sum operating circuit 118; and a switching circuit 119. Signal flow and circuit functions are selectively controlled by control signals. The functions of the chip can be consequently switched and a plurality of signal processes are realized by one chip.

Abstract: An adaptive controller using an adjustment law expressed in recurrence formula, including a plant, a controller which controls an input to the plant, and a parameter adjuster which adjusts a parameter of the controller. In the controller, an input to the parameter adjuster is multiplied by a coefficient other than 1 such that the range of change of the parameter adjuster's internal variable is restricted to a predetermined limit. With this arrangement, the controller can be realized on a less expensive and fewer-bit-length microcomputer such as 16-bits. The input to the parameter adjuster may be made up of the control input to the plant and an output therefrom. Alternatively, the input to the controller and an output from the plant may be both multiplied by a coefficient other than 1 to be input to the parameter adjuster.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically tuning a PID controller resident within a PID control loop. The PID control loop includes a PID controller and a process. The process supplies a process variable which is compared to the loop input. The result of the comparison is supplied to the PID controller, and the PID controller drives the process. A relay is applied to the loop input. The relay compares a set point value to the process variable. If the set point value is greater than the process variable, the relay drives the loop input with a first amplitude value. If the set point value is less than the process variable, the relay drives the loop input with a second amplitude value. In response to the set point relay, the process variable develops a sustained oscillation. The period and amplitude of the sustained oscillation are measured. A new set of PID controller parameters are calculated from the period and amplitude of sustained oscillation.

Abstract: Detecting section detects joint angles and the relative angle of rotation from a plurality of rotatable operating tools mounted on a single mobile platform of a construction machine. Interference distance calculator, having recorded predetermined point positions for each operating tool, derives the distances between the plurality of operating tools on the basis of the detection results and the point positions, and calculates the shortest approach distance from these distances. If this shortest approach distance is less than a prescribed set distance, anti-interference controller issues a warning to alarm via the output controller, and it outputs anti-interference control to hydraulic control section CC such that the approaching tool is halted or slowed down, or the velocity of the operating tool being approached is matched to that of the approaching tool depending on the set mode.

Abstract: The order of optical conditions and mask conditions necessary required in a photolithography process to be varied is designated so as to minimize the number of recalculations for a transmission cross-coefficient and a Fourier transform of a mask. The conditions are systemically varied and Fourier transforms of the mask and the transmission cross-coefficients are tabulated. With the resultant tables, the parametric analysis for calculating the light intensity distribution is performed.

Abstract: A system and method for debugging and tuning a process control network having distributed control functions implemented by a set of field devices communicatively linked over a bus includes an operational scheduler that schedules the execution of each of a number of process control functions and communication functions performed by the field devices to define a process control scheme and an indicator that indicates one or more process control scheme locations at which the process control scheme is to be automatically or conditionally interrupted to thereby enable debugging and/or tuning of the process control network. A controller interrupts execution of the process control scheme at the indicated flow locations, communicates process data to a user to display the current or a past state of the process to a user and waits for user input before continuing with operation of the process control scheme.