676results about "Digital differential analysers" patented technology

One or more actuator driven devices on a sheet forming machine receive power and engage in bi-didrectional communications with one or more quality control systems either by having no physically connected cables to transmit the power to the actuators and no physically connected cables used for the bi-directional communications; or contactless power and communication on a power cable; or a cable connected from the power source to the actuators to provide both power and bi-directional communications; or power is provided to the actuators by a cable and the bi-directional communications are wireless.

This invention pertains to processing continuous webs such as paper, film, composites, and the like, in dynamic continuous processing operations. More particularly, it relates to controlling tension in such continuous webs during the processing operation. Tension is controlled in a dancer control system by connecting a corresponding dancer roll to an actuator apparatus or the like, sensing variables such as position, tension, velocity, and acceleration parameters related to the web and the dancer roll, and providing active force commands, in response to the sensed variables, to cause translational movement, generally including a target acceleration, in the dancer roll to control tension disturbances in the web. In some applications of the invention, the dancer control system is used to attenuate tension disturbances. In other applications of the invention, the dancer control system is used to create tension disturbances.

The derivative of a noise-containing input signal is determined by using an aliased derivative to periodically reset a filtered version of a normally determined derivative. The aliased derivative is calculated using a slower update or sampling rate than the normally determined derivative, and the filtered version of the normally determined derivative is reset to a reset value at each update of the aliased derivative. The reset value is based on a weighted sum of the aliased derivative and the filter output. The periodically reset filter output closely follows an idealized derivative of the input signal, substantially eliminating the phase delay introduced by conventional filtering.

A method and system for calibrating a time constant within an integrated circuit. A voltage storage element is charged, and the time required to achieve a reference voltage on the storage element is measured. The measured time is compared to a desired time. It necessary, an adjustable impedance is modified to change the charging time, and the cycle may be repeated until the charging time matches the desired time. In this novel manner, an actual RC time constant, as rendered in a particular integrated circuit, is measured and potentially adjusted to match a desired time constant. Advantageously, configuration information of the adjustable impedance may be communicated to other circuitry within the integrated circuit to enable such circuitry to implement the same RC time constant in analog signal processing. Consequently, embodiments of the present invention overcome incidences of wide tolerance in passive components implemented in integrated circuits. Beneficially, no external test equipment is required.

The present invention is a method for forming an object, the method comprising jetting a first material to form a plurality of layers that define a support structure increment, and extruding a second material to form a layer of the object. The layer of the object substantially conforms to an interior surface of the support structure increment.

The present invention is a method for forming an object, the method comprising jetting a first material to form a plurality of layers that define a support structure increment, and extruding a second material to form a layer of the object. The layer of the object substantially conforms to an interior surface of the support structure increment.

This invention pertains to processing continuous webs such as paper, film, composites, and the like, in dynamic continuous processing operations. More particularly, it relates to accumulating limited lengths of such continuous webs and to controlling tension in such continuous webs during the processing operation. Both tension control and limited accumulations are achieved in a festoon system by connecting a corresponding festoon to actuator or the like, sensing variables such as position, tension, velocity, and acceleration parameters related to the web and the festoon, and providing active force commands, in response to the sensed variables, to cause translational movement, generally including a target acceleration, in the upper festoon rolls to control tension disturbances in the web while providing limited accumulation of a length of the web. In some applications of the invention, the festoon control system is used to attenuate tension disturbances. In other applications of the invention, the festoon control system is used to create controlled tension disturbances.

A method for establishing frequency and phase alignment of clock signals across a domain of analog blocks coupled in a single integrated circuit. Different analog functions are implemented by selectively and electrically coupling different combinations of analog blocks. The analog blocks may be arrayed in a number of columns. A synchronized clock signal is supplied to all of the analog blocks in a combination of blocks, even when the blocks are in different columns. The frequency of the clock signal can be changed dynamically depending on the analog function to be achieved.

A technique for fast performance prediction of multivariable model predictive controllers (MPC) for large-scale spatially-distributed dynamic systems is provided. When operating an MPC for a two-dimensional sheetmaking process, the controller's performance can be separated into spatial performance and dynamic performance. The steady-state spatial performance for different sheet property modes is first predicted, thereafter, the dynamic performance is predicted on the basis of the steady-state actuator profiles. During the steady-state spatial performance prediction, the original MPC's cost function is approximated to be a steady-state cost function. Then the steady-state measurement profiles and the actuator profiles are calculated through the steady-state cost function. The actuator profiles in time series can be efficiently solved by minimizing the difference between the actuator profiles and the steady-state actuator profiles in the face of constraints. Finally, the model can be employed to expeditiously compute the measurement profiles in times series.

Respective coordinators are spawned or activated to coordinate activities with regard to respective tasks. Where the respective tasks require cooperative efforts of a plurality of controllers, the respective coordinators ensure cooperative efforts by generating and communicating cooperative commands to the plurality of controllers. The coordinators may act as clearinghouses for system data, selectively requesting and relaying system information to appropriate controllers. For example, a document processing system activates respective coordinators for respective sheets of print media. The respective coordinators orchestrate the transportation of the sheets by sequentially orchestrating the activities of sequentially selected pluralities of transportation actuator controllers. Selected sheet position information from sensors and / or from models maintained by the actuator controllers may be relayed by the coordinators to selected actuator controllers as appropriate to the sheet transportation tasks.

An apparatus and method for receiving high-speed signals having a wide common-mode range with low input-to-output latency. In one embodiment, the receiver includes an integrator to accumulate charge in accordance with an input signal during an integration time interval to produce an output voltage. A sense amplifier samples and converts the output voltage of the integrator to a logic signal; and a latch stores the logic signal. In an alternate embodiment, a preamplifier conditions the input signal prior to being integrated. In another embodiment using multiple receivers, circuitry is added to the receiver to compensate for timing errors associated with the distribution of the timing signals. In yet another embodiment, the integrator is coupled to an equalization circuit that compensates for intersymbol interference. In another embodiment, another circuit compensates for accumulated voltage offset errors in the integrator.

A three dimensional object creation system that prints objects layer by layer, the system including a plurality of printheads, the system printing at least part of each of multiple layers simultaneously.

An improved intrinsically safe field maintenance tool is provided. The tool is operable with process communication loops in accordance with a plurality of process industry standard protocols. Aspects of the invention include hardware features such as an infrared port; removable memory module; and an expansion memory module. Additional aspects of the invention include protocol-specific diagnostic methods executable with the improved intrinsically safe field maintenance tool.

A tufting machine and a method of controlling a tufting machine for forming cut and loop pile tufts of yarns in a backing material that includes a hook assembly having a series of hooks / loopers and a series of clips independently moveable between extended and retracted positions. The movement of the clips between their extended and retracted positions is selectively activated to cause transitions from cut pile tufts to loop pile tufts and loop pile tufts to cut pile tufts according to programmed pattern information.

Device and process for controlling or regulating a basis weight of a web in a web manufacturing process of a web producing machine. The device includes a first control circuit, adapted to adjust the basis weight, that includes at least one adjustable device for influencing the basis weight and at least one basis weight sensor. A second control circuit having at least one sensor for detecting a concentration of incoming backwater is also provided. The process includes measuring the basis weight of the material web, adjusting the basis weight of the web with a first control device having at least one device for influencing the basis weight, detecting a retention change in a second control circuit, and counteracting the retention change by influencing a concentration of a stock suspension placed one of onto a wire and between wires.

A stitching apparatus with thread tension control is provided. Tension in a thread is monitored during stitching apparatus operations, and remedial action is taken in response to the detection of an anomaly in the thread tension profile. The remedial action can include altering a feed rate of the thread in order to adjust the thread tension, and / or repeating a previous operation. Anomaly detection can be performed with respect to stitching or sewing operations, and also with respect to trim operations performed in connection with moving between elements and / or thread color changes.

Apparatuses and methods for model quality estimation and model adaptation in multivariable process control are disclosed. A method for updating a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) dynamical model of a process includes perturbing the process, auditing the controller model, identifying poor performing submodels and re-testing the relevant process variables, re-identifying submodels and adapting the model online while the process continues to operate within normal operating parameters. An apparatus comprises an online multivariable controller, a tester, a database to store data corresponding to manipulated variables and controlled variables, and a performance diagnosis module configured to identify problematic submodels and adapt a model used by the controller.

In a high-pass (mirrored) integrator structure that employs chopper modulation, the input and output of the mirrored integrator are connected to the input and output ports of the operational amplifier, bypassing the chopper stabilization modulators. The mirrored integrator can be used in sigma-delta analog-to-digital converters.

A process comprising identifying assets in a raw architectural CAD drawing, applying compliance and preferred criteria for creating detailed engineering specifications corresponding to said assets and producing detailed engineering CAD drawings and reports. Preferably, one or more preferred databases of criteria augment the criteria needed for compliance with local codes, said preferred databases including architecturally specific criteria and a client's professional, individual and preferred criteria. Repeated use results in ever more complete databases of preferred criteria for enabling a process requiring little or no additional intervention for processing subsequent CAD drawings. Apparatus embodying the process preferably include a computer and an interactive network system and having at least one client terminal for interacting with a client, downloading the client's raw CAD files and uploading detailed output CAD drawings to the client.

Apparatuses and methods for model quality estimation and model adaptation in multivariable process control are disclosed. A method for updating a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) dynamical model of a process includes perturbing the process, auditing the controller model, identifying poor performing submodels and re-testing the relevant process variables, re-identifying submodels and adapting the model online while the process continues to operate within normal operating parameters. An apparatus comprises an online multivariable controller, a tester, a database to store data corresponding to manipulated variables and controlled variables, and a performance diagnosis module configured to identify problematic submodels and adapt a model used by the controller.

Input circuitry is provided for a high voltage operated radiation detector to receive pulses from the detector having a rise time in the range of from about one nanosecond to about ten nanoseconds. An integrator circuit, which utilizes current feedback, receives the incoming charge from the radiation detector and creates voltage by integrating across a small capacitor. The integrator utilizes an amplifier which closely follows the voltage across the capacitor to produce an integrator output pulse with a peak value which may be used to determine the energy which produced the pulse. The pulse width of the output is stretched to approximately 50 to 300 nanoseconds for use by subsequent circuits which may then use amplifiers with lower slew rates.

An inductor architecture for resonant clock distribution networks is proposed. This architecture allows for the adjustment of the natural frequency of a resonant clock distribution network, so that it achieves energy-efficient operation at multiple clock frequencies. The proposed architecture is primarily targeted at the design of integrated inductors and exhibits relatively low area overheads. Such an architecture is generally applicable to semiconductor devices with multiple clock frequencies, and high-performance and low-power clocking requirements such as microprocessors, ASICs, and SOCs. Moreover, it is applicable to the binning of semiconductor devices according to achievable performance levels.

A band-pass filter made up by an operational amplifier and by an input circuit. The input circuit is formed by a capacitive filtering element, connected to the input of the operational amplifier; a coupling switch, coupled between an input node and the capacitive filtering element; a capacitive sampling element, coupled between the input of the filter and the input node; and a sampling switch, coupled between the input node and a reference-potential line. The coupling switch and the input sampling switch close in phase opposition according to a succession of undesired components sampling and sensing steps, so that the capacitive sampling element forms a sampler for sampling the undesired component in the undesired components sampling step, in the absence of the component of interest, and forms a subtractor of the undesired components from the input signal in the sensing step.

An image-based measurement technique that directly measures the orientation of fibers in a moving web that comprises nonwoven material measures the orientation angles of the individual fibers so that a more robust estimate of the statistical distribution of fibers is obtained. The technique includes the steps of: (a) illuminating an area on at least one side of the web with radiation; (b) obtaining at least one digital image of the illuminated area; and (c) calculating the fiber orientation of the web by processing the at least one digital image with a gradient operator thereby analyzing the distribution of observed fiber orientation angles within the image. The gradient operator is preferably of a non-integer order between ⅓ and ⅔ and particularly between ¼ and ¾. The use of fractional-gradient operators yields more reliable results than when integer order gradients are employed.

A capacitance to frequency converter includes a switching capacitor circuit, a charge dissipation circuit, a comparator, and a signal generator. The switching capacitor circuit charges a sensing capacitor and transfers charge from the sensing capacitor to a circuit node of the charge dissipation circuit. The comparator is coupled to the charge dissipation circuit to compare a potential at the circuit node to a reference voltage. The signal generator is coupled to an output of the comparator and to the charge dissipation circuit. The signal generator is responsive to the output of the comparator to generate a signal fed back to control the charge dissipation circuit. A frequency of the signal is proportional to a capacitance of the sensing capacitor.

A printing and embroidering system having a positional data appending system that is adapted to append positional data indicating positions of a first image and a second image with respect to each other to first image data representing the first image to be formed by one of printing and embroidering and second image data representing the second image to be formed by the other one of printing and embroidering, a first image forming unit with a first fabric holding member, which is adapted to form the first image based on the first image data on a fabric being held by the first fabric holding member, and a second image forming unit with a second fabric holding member, which is adapted to form the second image based on the fabric being held by the second fabric holding member, wherein the first image forming unit is provided with a mark forming system, which is adapted to form a predetermined mark represented by the positional data on the fabric, and wherein the second image forming system is provided with a misalignment eliciting system, which is adapted to elicit a misalignment between a position of the predetermined mark formed on the fabric held by the second fabric holding member and a position represented by the positional data appended to the second image data prior to forming the second image.

A compensated switched capacitor circuit comprises a switched capacitor circuit and a compensation circuit. The compensation circuit generates a reference current that varies under closed loop control to maintain a targeted slew rate for charging a reference capacitor that is determined by the input clock frequency. The switched capacitor circuit's output amplifier is configured such that its output current varies in proportion to the reference current. Thus, by configuring the reference capacitor to track the effective capacitance of the switched capacitor circuit, the settling time of the switched capacitor circuit may be made relatively insensitive to the value of and changes in the effective capacitance over a range of clock frequencies. The compensation circuit may include a clock reconditioning circuit to ensure that the switched capacitor circuit is clocked at a desired duty cycle.