Data processing: generic control systems or specific applications inventions 02/06

20060041323 - Method of inputting same data to a plurality of programmable logic controllers: A method of inputting same data into a plurality of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) is disclosed, in which to-be-inputted data is first inputted to a first PLC among the plurality of PLCs and the inputted data in the first PLC are then written first into a second PLC among the...

20060041322 - Programmable logic controller satellite interface system and method: A programmable logic controller is disclosed having a backplane; a local area network interface connected to the backplane, a satellite interface connected to the backplane operatively connectable to a remote computer via a satellite link to receive an automation control program, and an electronic memory for storing the automation control...

20060041324 - System and method of editing a program used for a programmable logic controller: Disclosed is a system and method of editing a program used for a programmable logic controller (PLC), in which a menu-based operating interface is provided through which the user of the system may edit the program by selecting a predetermined number of instructions from a plurality of instructions provided in...

20060041325 - Numerical control unit: When causing manual movement of a moving section of a machine tool, shape data of the moving section is made to move in a movement direction that has been input manually, and it is confirmed whether there is no interference with shape data of a surrounding interfering object. If interference...

20060041326 - Method and system for the electronic provision of services for machines via a data communication link: With this invention, expert knowledge from machine manufacturers is applied quickly at any time to a machine via the Internet, by providing a main computer (host) for the production and provision of machine-related data and/or services and a machine-side working computer (client), which is connected to the main computer via...

20060041327 - Automatic control and monitoring system for splice overlapping tolerance in textile ply: The present invention describes a system that enables the monitoring and automatic control of the tolerance in splice overlap of textile ply, through the identification of the overlap area (1a), identification and counting of textile cords (1b) in the referred overlap area, and the generation of a control signal for...

20060041328 - Method, system and program product for enabling rapid connection of automated tools to a device network: A tool changer includes a tool attachment mechanism and a changer electronics module. The changer electronics module implements a tool changer node on a device network for the tool changer and a tool plate node on the device network for a tool plate of an automated tool that may be...

20060041329 - Inventory group purchasing systems and methods: A system and method which allows third-parties to monitor company inventory via the Internet and World Wide Web (“web”) and automatically order needed items. The present invention also provides a forum through which resellers and customers may directly interact to resell surplus and used equipment. The present invention may also...

20060041330 - System and method for checking the accuracy of a prescription fill: A system and method are provided for checking the accuracy of a prescription fill in a pharmacy that includes activating an electronic scale coupled to a network, providing a user the ability to access a prescription to fill and displaying to the user data associated with the prescription. The method...

20060041331 - Method used by robot for simultaneous localization and map-building: A method used by a robot for simultaneous localization and map-building, including: initializing a pose of the robot and locations of landmarks; sampling a new pose of the robot during motion of the robot, and constructing chromosomes using the locations of the landmarks; observing the landmarks from a present location...

20060041332 - Robot apparatus and control method therefor, and robot character discriminating method: In a robot apparatus and a control method therefor, firstly, partial or whole state space of a behavioral model is expanded or reduced, secondly, transition to a predetermined node in the behavioral model is described as transition to a virtual node and a node group to be allotted to the...

20060041333 - Robot: There are included a surrounding pattern projection system for projecting an annular pattern light beam encircling a main unit portion from an upper side of the main unit portion to a floor surface around the main unit portion in an oblique direction with respect to the floor surface, a camera...

20060041334 - Toxic chemical substrate management systems and methods: Toxic chemical substrate management systems for use in a factory having a material management system are disclosed. The toxic chemical substrate management system includes at least a server, a processing unit and a database. The server is coupled to the material management system to receive toxic chemical substrate information, comprising...

20060041335 - Apparatus and method for servicing vapor compression cycle equipment: An apparatus and method for detecting faults and providing diagnostic information in a refrigeration system comprising a microprocessor, a means for inputting information to the microprocessor, a means for outputting information from the microprocessor, and five sensors. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules...

20060036334 - Remote controller for portable electronic device: The control device (1) for operating electronic equipment includes a generally elongated body (2) and rotatable selection means (6) rotatable to any one of a plurality of operation mode positions, display means (3, 8) for displaying information associated with each mode, and a single common activating means (7) for activating...

20060036335 - Reconfigurable vehicle accessory control panel: A vehicle accessory control panel is provided for controlling at least two vehicle accessory systems. A plurality of switches is reconfigurable for providing at least two sets of switch functions. A plurality of graphics is provided for identifying the switch functions. A plurality of illumination elements is provided for illuminating...

20060036336 - System and method for user controllable pid autotuning and associated graphical user interface: A system and method for user configuration of an autotuning algorithm for a PID controller. User input is received via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) indicating a desired characteristic of a PID controller, such as stiffness or response time. The system is excited via a proportional controller to characterize the...

20060036337 - Cutting tool angle adjustment method: A cutting tool adjustment method is disclosed to lower a cutting tool on a transparent Mylar to produce an indentation before actual scribing operation, and then to pick up the image of the indentation, and then to use a numerical analysis method and the set formula to automatically calculate the...

20060036338 - Directionless rotary encoder control system for a household appliance: An embodiment of the present invention uses an on-board microcontroller of a household appliance to receive signals from a directionless encoder attached to a knob for receiving user input and processing the signals from the direction encoder according to a control algorithm. The microcontroller may increase the output to an...

20060036340 - Electrically controlled apparatus: An electronically controlled apparatus of the present invention includes: an input-output section, which electronically processes and outputs input data; a control section, which electronically controls the input-output section according to operating status data of each component of the input-output section; a managing section, which monitors the operating status data of...

20060036339 - Field device with display: A display for on-site visualization of conditions of an automated process is disclosed. It comprises a display controller which at least temporarily provides a state indication signal representing a constellation of states of at least two process data signals. At least one of the two process data signals is derived...

20060036341 - Method and system for pcm audio ramp and decay function: A method and system for pulse code modulation (PCM) audio ramp and decay function may comprise receiving at least one control signal which indicates whether to enable a ramp-up function or a decay function. When the ramp-up function is enabled, an audio input signal may be modified such that an...

20060036343 - Portable electronic device with fast selection: A portable electronic device with fast selection is provided, which includes a circuit board; at least one bonding pad structure formed on the circuit board, such as a metal plate; and at least one conductive element provided corresponding to the bonding pad structure, such as a conductive plate. Different impedance...

20060036342 - Signal reproducing device: A signal reproducing device of the present invention includes a signal storing device, a buffer memory, and a signal processing circuit. The buffer memory is concurrently provided with a first storing area for storing a head portion of a plurality of sequential signals and a second storing area for storing...

20060036344 - System and method for generating service bulletins based on machine performance data: A computer-implemented method collects operational state and usage data from a population of networked machines in communication with a service center for the purpose of adjusting service schedules. The method includes applying domain knowledge to develop one or more hypotheses defining a correlation between usage/environment and the operational health of...

20060036345 - Systems and method for lights-out manufacturing: Complex process control and maintenance are performed utilizing a nonlinear regression analysis to determine optimal tool-specific adjustments based on operational metrics, process adjustments and maintenance activities....

20060036346 - System and method for tracking inventory: An RFID enabled paper roll includes a tubular core, a paper stock wound around the core, and a radio frequency integrated circuit electrically coupled to an antenna and positioned on the core. A system for reading a radio frequency integrated circuit positioned on an item of inventory in a warehouse...

20060036347 - Method and apparatus for processing outgoing bulk mail: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. The mail is serially fed from a stack of mail into a system transport. The system transport conveys the mail to an imaging station, which scans the mail to obtain image data corresponding to at least a portion of each piece....

20060036348 - Methods and systems for control of microfluidic devices: The present invention provides control methods, control systems, and control software for microfluidic devices that operate by moving discrete micro-droplets through a sequence of determined configurations. Such microfluidic devices are preferably constructed in a hierarchical and modular fashion which is reflected in the preferred structure of the provided methods and...

20060036349 - Method and apparatus for load reduction in an electric power system: A system for load control in an electrical power system is described, wherein one or more data interface devices are provided to a cooling system. The data interface devices are configured to receive commands for controlling the cooling system. A remote monitoring system, such as a monitoring system operated by...

20060036350 - Profile based method for deriving a temperature setpoint using a 'delta' based on cross-indexing a received price-point level signal: A method for adjusting a plurality of controlled subsystems in a building or plant that facilitates cooperative energy usage with a utility provider. By referring to a single profile of adjustments that correspond to changes in the value of a utility signal and distributing this to each relevant controller for...

20060036351 - Adaptive vibration control using synchronous demodulation with machine tool controller motor commutation: A control system and method for actively reducing vibration in a spindle housing caused by unbalance forces on a rotating spindle, by measuring the force-induced spindle-housing motion, determining control signals based on synchronous demodulation, and provide compensation for the measured displacement to cancel or otherwise reduce or attenuate the vibration....

20060036352 - Anti-vibration technique: A supporting apparatus includes a supporting member configured to support a movable member, an acceleration sensor configured to detect acceleration of the supporting member, an actuator configured to drive the supporting member, a memory configured to memorize offset data for the acceleration sensor, an offset unit configured to offset an...

20060036353 - Method of suppressing interferences in systems for detecting objects: In a method for suppressing interferences while detecting objects in a target area, a transmitter transmits a sequence of pulses into the target area, and a receiver detects the resulting reflection signal of the pulses reflected from the objects, within successive time windows that are referenced to the moment of...

20060030951 - Distributed input/output control systems and methods: Apparatus and methods for controlling a system that operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals are disclosed. During operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals. A master controller has at least first and second controllers. The first controller outputs and inputs signals over a first...

20060030952 - System and method for remotely monitoring, diagnosing, intervening with and reporting problems with cinematic equipment: A system is disclosed for communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, movie theatre equipment in theatres. The system includes a central computer storage unit for receiving and storing data representative of equipment state and status, and a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled...

20060030953 - Remote monitoring of a hot melt adhesive system: Various embodiments of a system and related methods for wireless connection of a dispensing or spraying material application system to a network for remote operations are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a wireless access point wirelessly communicating with wireless communication links for application system monitoring modules....

20060030954 - Controller interface with multiple day programming: A controller equipped with a user interface having multiple-day programming capabilities, including methods of programming such devices, are disclosed. The user interface may include one or more menus or screens that can be used to program a schedule for one or more selected days during the week. An illustrative method...

20060030955 - Method and apparatus for controlling power through a power cord: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling power through a power cord is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a power cord coupled to a power control console. The power control console may be programmed to restrict the flow of power through the power cord for only a...

20060030956 - Handheld computer with detachable communication device: 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 communication device (30) including means for voice input (43) and means for voice output (42), a mechanism (39, 41) for...

20060030957 - Method, apparatus and program for setting function to operation control of signal processing apparatus: In a method of setting a function to an operation control provided in a signal processing apparatus, a display step is carried out to display a block diagram that depicts functions of the signal processing apparatus used for processing or mixing of a plurality of input signals. Then, a selection...

20060030958 - Methods and devices for labeling and/or matching: Devices, such as computer readable media, and methods, such as automated methods, for labeling and/or matching. Some of the devices and methods are particularly useful for anatomical labeling of human airway trees. Some of the devices and methods are particularly useful for matching branch-points of human airway trees from represented...

20060030959 - Method and system for providing asynchronous tournament participations: A tournament feature is herein disclosed. This tournament feature allows asynchronous participations in which, upon or after the tournament feature ending, scores resulting from participations are evaluated to determine a winner to be awarded a prize. In an embodiment, a method of providing the tournament feature comprises conducting a wagering...

20060030960 - Method and system for providing a tournament handicap feature: A tournament feature is herein disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of providing the tournament feature comprises receiving a tournament participation authorization for a player to participate in said tournament feature; assigning a handicap to a tournament participation in said tournament feature; providing said player on one game machine with...

20060030961 - Wireless streaming audio apparatus: A wireless streaming audio apparatus receives a streaming compressed audio file from a wireless streaming server through a wireless network and plays back the streaming compressed audio file. The wireless streaming audio apparatus has a streaming and decompressing controller, an antenna, and an audio output. The streaming and decompressing controller...

20060030962 - Process for optimizing process flows: A process is disclosed for optimizing process flows in a facility, for example, a refinery, having stores, for example an oil tank, with a minimum and maximum fill level. Different raw materials, such as different types/grades of crude oil, are supplied sequentially in a predetermined quantity of batches at predetermined...

20060030963 - Sorting a group of integrated circuit devices for those devices requiring special testing: A method for sorting integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type having a fuse identification (ID) into those devices requiring enhanced reliability testing and those requiring standard testing includes storing fabrication deviation data, probe data, and test data in association with the fuse ID of each of the devices indicating...

20060030964 - System for creating 3d products: A system for creating three dimensional products is provided. The system has a plurality of subsystems, with each subsystem configured to print one layer of N1 of a plurality of layers making up a three dimensional product, where N1 is greater than 1 and to change the layer being printed...

20060030965 - Method and apparatus for automating vlsi modifications made after routing has been performed: An engineering change order (ECO) tool for automatically making changes to an IC design after the IC design has been placed, routed and verified. The ECO tool is configured to receive a directive or a list of directives and to automatically make modifications described by the directives. The ECO tool...

20060030966 - Methods and apparatus for enhancing electronic device manufacturing throughput: In some aspects, a method is provided for enhancing electronic device manufacturing throughput within an electronic device manufacturing tool. The method includes the steps of (1) for the electronic device manufacturing tool, creating an electronic device manufacturing schedule based on process factors and mechanical factors associated with the manufacturing tool;...

20060030967 - Servo tool unit attachment and detachment method: A robot controller issues a command to move a servo tool unit to a servo tool unit detachment position. During this movement, a command is issued to stop power supply to an amplifier of the servo tool unit, and a process of invalidating a disconnection error of a power line...

20060030968 - Integrated control card for conveying systems: A material handling system, and method of controlling the material handling system, includes a conveying surface with a plurality of individually controlled zones and a plurality of motors. At least one of the motors propelling the conveying surface at each zone. A plurality of motor controller circuits adapted to control...

20060030969 - Hand held ocr apparatus and method: A system is provided for the simple image capture and address recognition of mail, flats or parcels that does not require complex support or equipment and can be practiced on machinable and non-machinable mail pieces. The method described herein allows for further downstream processing of the scanned items by automated...

20060030970 - Data processing apparatus for arc welding: A data processing apparatus for processing data described in a welding operation program of an arc welding robot system. The data processing apparatus includes a data obtaining section for obtaining a plurality of position and orientation data at a plurality of different teaching points previously taught and included in the...

20060030971 - Modular irrigation controller: The present invention provides a modular controller that connects to irrigation modules with varying station terminals and a standard footprint size. Additionally, the modular controller includes surge protection options, wireless communication with PDA's and other external devices, no required position for each controller module to be connected, immediate display of...

20060030972 - Voltage collapse diagnostic and atc system: The present invention provides an analysis method for an electrical power system whereby the plurality of buses are grouped into agents, family lines of agents and families of agents based on the reactive reserves depleted when the buses are loaded. Contingencies are then applied to the electrical power system and...

20060025869 - Strategies for coalescing control processing: Strategies are described for coalescing the processing tasks associated with a series of control events that occur relatively close together in time. The coalescing can involve eliminating redundant tasks by more directly advancing to a terminal control state. One exemplary application of the control coalescing is in the playback of...

20060025870 - Apparatus for monitoring and controlling use of equipment: Apparatus is provided for controlling and limiting the amount of time that a television, computer game, or other electrical appliance can be utilized. The apparatus is inserted in the electrical cord leading to the electrical appliance and is programmable to limit the amount of time that electricity flows through the...

20060025871 - Failsafe switching of intelligent controller method and device: The present invention relates to control of and data collection from sensors associated with tools. In particular, it relates to using a controller to mediate communications among a tool, sensors associated with the tool and data users, such as a host system or distributed processors. Particular aspects of the present...

20060025872 - System and method for implementing safety instrumented systems in a fieldbus architecture: An apparatus, system and process is provided for communicating safety-related data, over an open system, from a sender to a receiver. Safety-related components, including function blocks, flexible function blocks, resource blocks and transducer blocks, as well as, safety-related objects are provided. Also, an extended safety-related protocol provides for authenticating communications...

20060025873 - Method and apparatus capable of mitigating third order inter-modulation distoration in electronic circuits: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of mitigating third order inter-modulation distortion in electronic circuits, comprising estimating an IP3 of the circuits using an empirical equation which includes at least one or more of the factors IP3˜IP3o−20 log Q+10 log F+10 log C−17.3 log k dBm and...

20060025874 - Systems and methods for providing variable output feedback to a user of a household appliance: An embodiment of the present invention uses an on-board microcontroller of a household appliance to receive signals from a directionless encoder attached to a knob for receiving user input and processing the signals from the direction encoder according to a control algorithm. The microcontroller may increase the output to an...

20060025875 - Method and system for remote update of microprocessor code for irrigation controllers: A remote download of microprocessor code for an irrigation controller is provided. A microprocessor, on an irrigation controller, is executing program code (in volatile memory) and receives a remote download of updated program code, which it stores into non-volatile random access memory, e.g., flash memory. The microprocessor is configured to...

20060025876 - Digital audio frequency optimizer: A kind of digital audio frequency optimizer, principally save previously frequency response curve of speaker and voice box in read-only memory (EFPROM). And CPU is control center. After reading serial signal of analog/digital signal transducer and arranging to be apposition signal through CPU, then send apposition signal to digital signal...

20060025877 - Method of production control and method of manufacturing industrial products: where the processes are represented by Pn (n=1, 2, . . . , k−1, k, . . . ) in the order of their closeness to warehousing; Nk represents a total quantity scheduled to be warehoused from a day as a starting point until after lead time Tk from the...

20060025878 - Interior design using rapid prototyping: A method for producing a model of an interior configuration of one or more three-dimensional objects within a three-dimensional interior space, including accepting interior space data representing at least a portion of the three-dimensional interior space; providing the interior space data to one or more rapid prototyping apparatuses to create...

20060025879 - Method and system for prioritizing material to clear exception conditions: The present invention is generally directed to various methods and systems for prioritizing material to clear exception conditions. In one illustrative embodiment, the method includes providing a plurality of workpieces, each of the workpieces having an associated quantity of material that cannot be processed until the workpiece has been processed,...

20060025880 - Host control for a variety of tools in semiconductor fabs: A software module for use within an integrated circuit fabrication facility sends commands to a tool according to a method that operates with any tool that satisfies SEMI standards to add or subtract steps in a process without reprogramming or recompiling. The program operates autonomously to change parameters of commands...

20060025881 - Simulation method and apparatus for simulating image of twisted yarn: An object of the invention is to provide a simulation method and a simulation apparatus of the image of a twisted yarn capable of forming an image close to the actuality. When the images of twisted threads (1, 2) are inputted, abstracted models (3, 4) of the twisted yarns having...

20060025882 - Marketing supporting system: An inferiority phenomena countermeasure guiding apparatus is provided. The inferiority phenomena countermeasure guiding apparatus includes an inferiority phenomena screen creator which creates an inferiority phenomena screen for displaying a plurality of inferiority phenomena in machining using a marketing object. The inferiority phenomena countermeasure guiding apparatus also includes an inferiority phenomena...

20060025883 - Integrated warehouse management system: The present invention is generally directed to an improved order fulfillment system that provides a convenient and inexpensive way of ensuring the accuracy of items being packed at a packing location, that captures order-related detail data on a carton level, and that provides a way of determining an accurate carton...

20060025884 - Systems and methods of automated tablet dispensing, prescription filling, and packaging: Systems and methods of automatically dispensing tablets are disclosed. The systems and methods of the invention provide a highly secure, highly accurate and rapid means of dispensing tablets. The system includes an automatic dispensing tablet dispensing system as shown in the Figures and provides a means of lowering errors while...

20060025885 - Apparatus and method for loading data storage devices into carriers: An apparatus and method are provided that are operable to install data storage devices such as CDs and DVDs each into a respective carrier. The data storage devices are placed in respective recesses in the respective carriers by providing an open pocket into which the data storage devices may move...

20060025886 - Apparatus and methods for identifying and processing mail using an identification code: Apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention provide for identifying and processing mail using an identification code on a mailpiece as a redundant source of identification information in a mail sorting system. In one embodiment, this information is stored in a temporary database and used for the identification and...

20060025887 - Apparatus and method for calling mobile robot: An apparatus for calling a mobile robot includes a generator installed at a remote controller, and generating an RF signal and infrared signal for calling a mobile robot when a call signal is inputted by a user; and a controller installed at the mobile robot, calculating a direction of the...

20060025888 - Environment map building method, environment map building apparatus and mobile robot apparatus: An environment map building method and an environment map building apparatus can express the surrounding embodiment with a high resolution in the height direction in a manner robust relative to observation noises. The present invention provides an environment map building apparatus for building a three-dimensional environment map to be used...

20060025889 - Travel time display device and method for industrial robot: There is provided a travel time display device for an industrial robot which can display travel time on the screen such that time taken for moving a work from any designated starting point to any other point can be seen at a glance. The travel time display device includes: a...

20060025890 - Processing program generating device: An offline programming device 1, robot control units 2a and 3a, and visual sensors 4 and 5 are connected to each other via a communication line 10. The device 1 stores and displays a shape of a work 6 generated by a CAD, for the work to be processed. Vertexes...

20060025891 - Wireless internet power control system: An energy control system for managing utility operation parameters, including a plurality of utility devices, at least one control module connected to at least one of the utility devices; a data processing module connected to the at least one control module via a wireless communications link; and a wireless internet...

20060025892 - Digital power supply controller with voltage positioning: A method for controlling the output of a switching power converter to account for high and low current loads is disclosed. A reference voltage is generated with a voltage reference generator representing a desired DC output voltage for the power converter. Then the DC voltage output of the power converter...