Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for correlating trace data from asynchronous machines, such as asynchronous emulation machines. A data capture signal is received from each of the plurality of asynchronous machines. The data capture signal from each of the plurality of asynchronous machines is sampled. Then the sampled data capture signal from each of the plurality of asynchronous machines and a cycle count are stored. A trace synchronization system is coupled to each of the plurality of asynchronous machines for receiving the data capture signal from each of the plurality of asynchronous machines. The trace synchronization system operates no slower than the data capture signal from each of the plurality of asynchronous machines, so that no data capture signals are missed.

Abstract: A position calculation method that calculates the correct position of a terminal even when errors are not distributed symmetrically for positive and negative values, by calculating the position of a terminal using the delay time of received signals. The method calculates a first range that is a difference between a range from the terminal to each of antenna and a range from the terminal to a base antenna, the range being calculated from a wireless signal delay time; calculates a second range that is a difference between a range from an assumed terminal position for calculation to each antenna and a range from the assumed terminal position for calculation to the base antenna; calculates a likelihood of the position of the terminal, repeats these procedures to obtain a point where the likelihood is maximized, and determines an obtained most likely solution as the position of the terminal.

Abstract: A production control system provides real-time monitoring of process parameters in an automated production line that manufactures contact lenses, the line and having a plurality of process stations with each process station having one or more process control devices that control production operations at each respective process station and generates production parameter data therefrom. The system includes a line monitor device for receiving an externally generated production order including a lot number, product type, and quantity, and further coordinates manufacturing processes at each of the plurality of process stations, and tracks order production. A plurality of cell monitor devices retrieves the production data from one or more process control devices and processes the data to ensure that production parameters are within predefined limits.

Abstract: A quite novel electromagnetic wave source probing device and a method with such a device in which the probing time can be shortened. Magnetic field to time characteristics generated from a subject to be measured are measured in a plurality of positions. Electric field to frequency characteristics generated from the subject to be measured are calculated by use of the plurality of measured magnetic field to time characteristics. Frequency components exceeding a predetermined electric field value are extracted in the calculated electric field to frequency characteristics. Positions where currents having the extracted frequency components exist in the subject to be measured are outputted.

Abstract: A load simulator and switch are connected to a power source of a plasma processing device. The switch allows the load simulator to be electrically connected to the power source to allow testing of the power source. The switch and load simulator allow the testing of the power source without mechanically removing the power source from the plasma processing device. In addition, the switch allows the connection of the load simulator to the power source while the power source is on, avoiding the requirement of turning off the power source before connecting the load simulator.

Abstract: Meter electronics for a Coriolis flowmeter capable of being intrinsically safe. A signal conditioner receives power from a power supply in a host system remote from the signal conditioner. Drive circuitry in the signal conditioner generates a drive signal and applies the drive signal to a driver affixed to at least one conduit of the Coriolis flowmeter. Pick-off signal conditioning circuitry in the signal conditioner receives input signals from a first pick-off sensor and a second pick-off sensor affixed to the at least one conduit of the Coriolis flowmeter, generates information indicating properties of a material flowing through the conduit from the input signals, and transmits output signals containing the information to the host system.

Abstract: A method of estimating the position of a transmitter using angle-of-arrival values determined at each of a plurality of base stations. The method includes calculating a position estimation using the angle-of-arrival values from all of the base stations, calculating an error at each of the base station, and removing those base stations whose error exceeds a threshold from the calculation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable on-site tester to test a disc drive at a location remote from the disc drive manufacturer. The tester supports multiple disc drive interfaces by supporting multiple drive initiator cards, one of which is selected for use at a time. A tester which controls operation of the tester is attached to a local computer via a tester interface. The proper drive initiator card is selected for connection to the tester interface such that the drive initiator card supports the disc drive interface format of the disc drive to be tested. The tester may be configured to support different disc drive interfaces by connection of various drive initiator cards to the tester. The drive initiator cards are mounted to one or more drive initiator card supports, which are oriented in the tester such that the selected drive initiator card is electrically connected to the tester.

Abstract: The invention provides a remotely-operable tester, designed to test multiple disc drives utilizing different interfaces simultaneously. The tester performs tests essentially similar to those performed by the manufacturer, and so is capable of accurately diagnosing disc drive problems without requiring the return of suspected defective disc drives to the manufacturer. Testers are attached to a local computer, which controls operation of the testers and communicates test results via a network connection to one or more other networked computers. The tester is capable of regulating power supplied to the disc drives under test, and of regulating the temperature within the tester. Each bay of the tester may be configured to support a different disc drive interface, and a drive initiator card attached to each bay supports disc drive interface formats needed for the various possible bay configurations.

Abstract: A device for determining the operational condition of a mechanical apparatus (11-15) mounted in or to a spacecraft (10) which includes an acceleration pickup (20) attached to the spacecraft (10) for measuring the acceleration of the spacecraft (10), and an operational condition determination device with a memory for prestored known acceleration patterns of the apparatus (11-15). The acceleration patterns or parameters of the spacecraft (10) detected by the acceleration pickup (20) are compared with the known acceleration patterns or parameters of the apparatus (11-15) from the memory to determine the operational condition of the apparatus (11-15).

Abstract: The present invention relates to fault detection in a large population of motors of a common motor type. Initially, a plurality of motors of a common motor type is tested to obtain a first residual based on selected measured operating parameters. A second residual is then developed for each individual motor comprising the plurality of motors. If the difference between the first and second residuals exceeds a selected threshold, the motor generating the second residual is defective and removed from the plurality of motors and the threshold is adjusted to reflect the removal of the defective motor from the plurality of motors. The first residual may be used to monitor the operation of motors not included in the original plurality of motors to detect impending failure.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing an actuator includes supplying a predeterminable amount of energy to an actuator through a charge-reversal circuit. Faulty functional statuses of the actuator and its supply lines and/or its drive circuits, short- or long-term interruptions, short-circuits within the actuator or its supply lines, or excessively low capacitance values may be deduced from a discrepancy between reference values and determined variables including actuator voltage, actuator current, and actuator charge. A short-circuit of an electrical connection within the actuator or an electrical connection between the drive circuit and the actuator can be deduced if the actuator voltage is less than a lower voltage value. An interruption in the electrical connection within is the actuator or an electrical connection between the drive circuit and the actuator may be deduced if an actuator peak current is less than a lower current value. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using control apparatuses and read/write apparatuses within a disc drive to create a microtrack that is used to probe the magnetic sensitivity of each portion of a magnetic stripe of a magneto-resistive read/write head in the disc drive. The method can be executed by first selecting a target track and then recording a test signal along the target track. Next, the target track is trimmed to create a microtrack, the microtrack having a microtrack width less than the stripe width, the microtrack having a first circumferential edge and a second circumferential edge. Subsequently, the magneto-resistive stripe is positioned at various radial locales traversing the microtrack, and at each locale the magneto-resistive stripe is used to read the test signal recorded on the microtrack, thereby producing a detected signal at each of the various locales. Finally, a signal-strength profile is determined.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the existence of an in-range failure of a speed sensor involves sensing the speed of a moving device at three consecutive instances in time, wherein the time intervals between these instances in time are preferably equally spaced, and wherein each time interval is relatively short in duration to thereby correlate in time to the waveform characteristics of most anticipated in-range speed sensor failures. The sensed speed at each of these three instances in time is utilized in an excursion formula, preferably implemented by programmable logic, that calculates the total sum of the change in speed between the three instances in time.

Abstract: An application specific automated test equipment system for source synchronous bus interface devices is described. A native interface board is provided to interface an automated test unit and a device under test. The native interface board is configured with devices selected to recreate a native environment of the device under test. A first clock drives the devices on the native interface board. A second clock drives the device under test. The second clock signal is derived from the first clock signal to form a substitute clock signal that can be adjusted in relation to the first clock signal. Input and output timing relationships of the device under test are determined by altering the arrival time of the substitute clock at the device under test with respect to the timing of the first clock signal.

Abstract: A circuit for testing the functionality of an analog circuit of a satellite includes a multiplexer that is coupled to a circuit element to be tested. An analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the multiplexer. A test signal generator is coupled to a controller. The controller is also coupled to the analog-to-digital converter. The controller generates test signals that are coupled to the circuit element. Response signals are generated from the circuit elements and are received by the controller through the multiplexer and analog-to-digital converter. The controller compares the response signals to a predetermined signal indicative of a proper response. An indicator is coupled to the controller to provide an indication of whether or not the circuit elements are functioning properly.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing an actuator includes supplying a predeterminable amount of energy to an actuator through a charge-reversal circuit. Faulty functional statuses of the actuator and its supply lines and/or its drive circuits, short- or long-term interruptions, short-circuits within the actuator or its supply lines, or excessively low capacitance values may be deduced from a discrepancy between reference values and determined variables including actuator voltage, actuator current, and actuator charge. A short-circuit of an electrical connection within the actuator or an electrical connection between the drive circuit and the actuator can be deduced if the actuator voltage is less than a lower voltage value. An interruption in the electrical connection within the actuator or an electrical connection between the drive circuit and the actuator may be deduced if an actuator peak current is less than a lower current value. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A methodology for testing a floppy disk unit having a large storage capacity, the floppy disk unit being connected to a notebook computer, involves giving corresponding commands to a multi-purpose connector for the disk unit in order to confirm that the disk unit has been properly connected, testing the operation capabilities of the disk unit for various types of diskettes while having the disk head proceed to read-out, write-in, and seek on each track of the diskettes in various movement modes, and having the disk unit perform eject and format functions to ensure normal operation of each function by the disk unit.

Abstract: A system for testing inductive write head elements of a head stack assembly (“HSA”). A completed HSA is placed in a test apparatus. Test probes are aligned and placed in electrical contact with the head elements, preferably at a location between the head and the preamplifier. The HSA is then placed in a changing magnetic field. A low frequency magnetic field may be applied to test the head elements. The changing magnetic field induces electrical signals within the head elements. By analyzing these electrical signals, the condition and characteristics of the each head element can be determined.

Abstract: A procedure determines the parameters for an electric drive that controls a synchronous elevator motor having permanent magnets, a computer controlling the operation of the electric drive being provided with a control model describing the elevator and containing settable parameters. To determine electric drive parameters, an elevator car installed in the elevator shaft is allowed to enter a motional condition produced by the balance difference between the elevator masses using two different loads connected to the terminals of the synchronous motor, the rotational speed, electromotive force and synchronous reactance of the synchronous motor are measured while the elevator car is in a constant motional condition, and the stator resistance is measured via a separate measure. A control model describing the elevator is computed and formed from these measurements.

Abstract: A method and system to enable extended testing of computer system drives that allows concurrent processing of input/output requests directed at the physical drive being tested, the computer system having a plurality of drives, a drive testing program stored in the computer's memory, and a drive exchange program stored in the computer's memory. The drive exchange program includes the steps of a) copying information and writes from a drive to be tested to a spare drive, b) logically replacing the drive to be tested with the spare drive, c) interfacing with the drive testing program, and d) allowing the drive testing program to test the drive to be tested.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed toward a method and an apparatus for mapping the magnetic field strength or flux density of a magnetic source. The invention provides a robotically controlled sensor which is moved in a controlled manner throughout an area of flux density and the variations in the flux density are recorded. The position and recorded magnetic field strength at numerous points throughout the test area are recorded and the data is assembled into a graphical representation the end result of which is a multi-dimensional mapping of the magnetic field strength as a function of distance from the source. The testing method and apparatus provide a convenient methodology for accurately determining dosimetry and tissue penetration of therapeutic magnetic devices.

Abstract: A method of testing the durability and performance of a spindle motor in a CD-ROM drive includes the steps of (a) setting a test repetition number of rotation/halt operations of the spindle motor, and a test delay time; (b) executing a rotation/halt command of the spindle motor at a predetermined time interval, when a test command is input; (c) comparing the operation state of the spindle motor with the input command and determining whether an error has occurred, after the test delay time from the time when the rotation/halt command of the spindle motor was input;(d) providing a visual display of an error state, when an error has occurred at step (c); and (e) increasing the value of a counter and returning to step (b) if the counter value is less than the test repetition number, and providing a visual display of test completion if the counter value is not less than the test repetition number, when no error has occurred at step (c).

Abstract: An electroconductive roller which is to be installed in an image forming apparatus is provided with a core, a roller body which includes an elastic member having conductivity, and is provided on the outer circumference of said core, and an electroconductive coating layer covering an outer circumferential surface of said roller body. When glossiness of said coating layer is measured, a difference between common logarithms of a maximum value and a minimum value of measurement values is less than 0.1.

Abstract: A sewing machine is provided with: a stitch forming device; a driving device for driving the stitch forming device; a controller for controlling the driving device; an inputting device for inputting peculiar information, which is related to management of the sewing machine and peculiar to the sewing machine; a memory for storing the peculiar information inputted by the inputting device; and a displaying device for displaying the peculiar information stored in the memory.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of profiling a total vector potential field of a periodic permanent magnetic field structure, wherein desired elements of the total vector potential field are known. The magnetic field structure comprises a plurality of magnets having individual vector potential fields which collectively form the total vector potential field. The method provides for using an electromagnetic solver to generate data files representative of each individual magnet's contribution to the total vector potential field.

Abstract: The vibration level of a CD-ROM disc is determined in a computer system by installing the disc onto the disc drive. The disc is spun on the disc drive up to an identification speed. The table of contents on the disc is read to determine by disc serial number that the disc is a data disc. Also, the serial number is compared with a file stored in memory to determine that the data disc has been previously tested. The system memory also provides testing information indicating a speed for operating the identified disc without noticeable vibration. The disc drive then operates the identified disc at the indicated speed.