1461175389-1fb74917-c957-4513-9c00-425a35d9243d

1-18. (canceled)
19. Prediction method for dynamically evaluating and forecasting stochastic events, in which an event data set is applied to a request input (11) of a processing unit (5) as a request (35), in the form of a defined, but not necessarily standardized, n-tuple, and each event data set is answered with a binary event value, 0 or 1, at a response output (12) of the processing unit (5), whereby then the event data set is rejected or passed to a subsequent evaluation unit (6), as a function of this event value, the evaluation result of which unit is fed back to a return input (10) of the processing unit (5), whereby the parameters of the event data sets can be defined by means of a set-up input (15) of the processing unit (5), whereby additional parameters can be entered into and defined in the event data set to be processed, \u201con the fly,\u201d or parameters can be eliminated, by way of the set-up input (15).
20. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein the process unit (5) has an additional cut-off input (14), at which the ratio of the binary event values relative to one another is set.
21. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein the processing unit (5) and the subsequent evaluation unit (6) are switched in the manner of a simple, self-adapting regulation circuit, whereby cycling and control of the prediction method as a whole are carried out by the processing unit (5).
22. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein at the subsequent evaluation unit (6), a characteristic vector, in each instance, is handed over to two separate inputs (16, 17), whereby the one characteristic vector, in each instance, comprises a target parameter value, and the other characteristic vector, in each instance, is not occupied with regard to the target parameter, and for each paid of characteristic vectors handed over to the evaluation unit (6), a target parameter value is output, after the evaluation process has been run through, whereby this target parameter value is fed back to an additional score input (23) of the processing unit (5).
23. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein the event data sets are applied to the request input (11) of the processing unit (5) in the form of an n-tuple, whereby n is changeable.
24. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein the evaluation result fed back to the return input (10) of the processing unit (5) is a numerical value.
25. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein the evaluation process applied in the evaluation unit (6) has an incremental learning mechanism for improving the evaluation result, in which first optimization of the evaluation process by means of a defined number of predetermined training event data sets takes place, which are applied sequentially, whereby subsequently, further optimization of the evaluation process is provided, in such a manner that a time-related evaluation of the evaluation results takes place, in such a manner that older evaluation results flow into the self-adaptation of the evaluation process with weaker priority than more recent evaluation results.
26. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein the prediction method is divided, depending on the learning progress, into at least three method runs that can be differentiated, whereby in a first method run, the event data sets to be evaluated are written into a request cache (24) of the processing unit (5), and fundamentally evaluated with the event value 1, and the evaluation results returned to the return input (11) are stored and their quality is evaluated, whereby when a defined threshold value of the quality is reached, a switch takes place to a second method run, in which now the self-adapting evaluation process that takes place in the evaluation unit (6) is interposed, and it now depends on this evaluation whether 1 or 0 is output as the event value at the response output (12), whereby in the further proceedings, only the event data sets in connection with which the event value 1 was output at the response output (12) are stored in the request cache (24), and finally, when a further threshold value of the threshold parameter counter (31) is reached, a third method run is started, in the course of which the work is carried out with a changed parameter data set, within the evaluation unit (6).
27. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein the changes in the parameter set are detected and displayed on a display device, preferably in the form of a change curve.
28. Prediction method according to claim 19, wherein a sequential training data stream is passed to the prediction method, by way of an endless loop, until the prediction method has reached a predetermined quality andor stability, and the results are filed in a score card.
29. Prediction device for dynamically evaluating and predicting stochastic events, comprising a processing unit (5) and an evaluation unit (6), for implementing an evaluation process, which are connected with one another in the form of a simple, self-adapting regulation circuit, whereby the processing unit (5) has a request input (11) to which an event data set in the form of an n-tuple is applied, in each instance, and a response output (12) for outputting a digital event value, 0 or 1, in response to the event data set, in each instance, is provided, whereby either feed-back of the evaluation result of the evaluation unit (6) to an additional score input (23) of the processing unit (5) is provided as a function of the event value, with the interposition of the evaluation unit (6), or no further processing of the event data set is provided, and the processing unit (5) has an additional set-up input (15), by way of which the type and number of the variables of the event data set can be entered andor changed \u201con the fly.\u201d
30. Prediction device according to claim 29, wherein the processing unit (5) has an additional cut-off input (14) at which the ratio of the digital event values relative to one another can be set.
31. Prediction device according to claim 29, wherein a request cache (24) for intermediate storage of the event data sets as well as a counter for storing the number of the event data sets answered with the event value 1 is assigned to the processing unit (5).
32. Prediction device according to claim 29, wherein the evaluation device (6) that follows the processing unit (5) has two separate inputs (16, 17), to which two characteristic vectors are applied, in each instance, whereby one of the characteristic vectors, in each instance, has a target variable, and in the case of the other characteristic vector, in each instance, the target value is not occupied.
33. Prediction device according to claim 29, wherein the processing unit (5) and the evaluation unit (6) are disposed in a common computer system, whereby this computer system is connected with a display unit (1) and this computer system stands in data connection with a customer database (3), whereby the event data set comprises the purchase decision of the customers in connection with possible offers andor other parameters.
34. Prediction device according to claim 29, wherein the prediction device (4) is connected with a telephone system (2), and the customer data set from the customer database (3) is played for the prediction device (4) as a function of the telephone number of the caller, in each instance, and subsequently, a prediction of the purchase decision is output by way of the display device (1), by means of one or more event data sets that represent possible offers to the customer, in each instance.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A shape measuring apparatus comprising:
a probe having a stylus tip at the tip;
a mover that moves the stylus tip on a surface of a workpiece to be measured;
an information acquirer, implemented by a processor, that acquires design information of the workpiece;
a path setter, implemented by a processor, that sets a path along which the stylus tip is moved, based on the design information;
a path component calculator, implemented by a processor, that calculates a path velocity vector which is a velocity component vector of the probe along the path;
a push direction component calculator, implemented by a processor, that detects a deflection of the probe toward the workpiece, and calculates a push correction vector which is a velocity component vector to be used for correcting the deflection to a prescribed reference deflection;
a locus correction component calculator, implemented by a processor, that detects an amount and a direction of locus deviation of the probe from the path, and calculates a locus correction vector which is a velocity component vector to be used for returning the probe position to the path based on a current position of the probe and the path;
a velocity synthesizer, implemented by a processor, that calculates a velocity synthesis vector by combining the path velocity vector, the push correction vector, and the locus correction vector; and
a drive controller, implemented by a processor, that moves the probe according to the velocity synthesis vector,
wherein the push direction component calculator calculates the push correction vector using a normal direction of the workpiece at a position where the stylus tip is in contact with the surface of the workpiece as a push direction.
2. The shape measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the velocity synthesizer corrects the path velocity vector by multiplying the path velocity vector by a path direction gain, and calculates a velocity synthesis vector based on a corrected path velocity vector, the push correction vector, and the locus correction vector; and
the path direction gain is set smaller when the difference between the deflection and the reference deflection is larger than a prescribed first threshold value and the locus deviation amount is larger than a prescribed second threshold value than when at least one of a condition that the difference is smaller than the first threshold value and a condition that the locus deviation amount is smaller than the second threshold value is satisfied.
3. The shape measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the velocity synthesizer corrects the push correction vector by multiplying a push direction correction gain, and calculates a velocity synthesis vector based on the path velocity vector, a corrected push correction vector, and the locus correction vector; and
the push direction correction gain is set smaller when the difference between the deflection and the reference deflection is smaller than or equal to a prescribed first threshold value than when the difference is larger than the first threshold value.
4. The shape measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the velocity synthesizer corrects the locus correction vector by multiplying the locus correction vector by a locus correction gain, and calculates a velocity synthesis vector based on the path velocity vector, the push correction vector, and a corrected locus correction vector; and
the locus correction gain is set smaller when the locus deviation amount is smaller than or equal to a prescribed second threshold value than when the locus deviation amount is larger than the second threshold value.

1461175378-94b4a2d2-5369-4d91-93a5-487f3371099d

1. A turbine bucket tip clearance control system comprising:
a rotor assembly including a rotor having a plurality of axially spaced wheels, each of said axially-spaced wheels mounting an annular row of buckets, said annular row of buckets on at least one of said plurality of axially-spaced wheels having a radially outer tip shroud provided with at least one seal tooth;
a stator assembly including a radially inwardly facing, axially-stepped surface, said axially-stepped surface formed with radially inner and outer seal surfaces connected by a shoulder; and
wherein said stator assembly and said rotor assembly are shiftable axially relative to each other, enabling selective shifting of said at least one seal tooth to a location radially opposite one of said radially inner and outer seal surfaces to thereby selectively alter a clearance gap between said at least one seal tooth and said radially inward facing axially-stepped surface.
2. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 1 including means for shifting said rotor assembly axially relative to said stator assembly.
3. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 1 including means for shifting said stator assembly axially relative to said rotor assembly.
4. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 1 wherein said radially outer tip shroud is provided with at least two seal teeth.
5. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 1 wherein said at least one seal tooth is formed with an axially-oriented seal edge.
6. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 1 wherein said at least one seal tooth is formed with an acutely angled seal edge.
7. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 1 wherein said shoulder is oriented at substantially 90 degrees relative to said radially inner and outer seal surfaces.
8. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 1 wherein said shoulder is oriented at substantially 45 degrees relative to said radially inner and outer seal surfaces.
9. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 8 wherein said shoulder is oriented at substantially 90 degrees relative to said radially inner and outer seal surfaces.
10. A turbine bucket tip clearance control system comprising:
a rotor assembly including a rotor having a plurality of axially spaced wheels, each of said axially-spaced wheels mounting an annular row of buckets, said annular row of buckets on at least one of the plurality of axially-spaced wheels having a radially outer tip shroud provided with at least one seal tooth;
a stator assembly surrounding said tip shroud and formed with radially inwardly facing seal surfaces including at least one axially-oriented surface substantially parallel with the rotor axis and at least one contiguous acutely angled surface wherein said at least one axially-oriented surface defines a maximum clearance gap and said at least one contiguous acutely angled surface defines a range of clearance gaps less than said maximum clearance gap.
11. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 10 wherein said at least one seal tooth is formed with an axially-oriented seal edge.
12. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 10 wherein said at least one seal tooth is formed with an acutely angled seal edge.
13. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 10 including means for shifting said rotor assembly axially relative to said stator assembly.
14. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 10 including means for shifting said stator assembly axially relative to said rotor assembly.
15. The turbine bucket tip clearance control system of claim 10 wherein said tip shroud is provided with at least two seal teeth.
16. A method of controlling tip clearances between a tip shroud on an annular row of turbine buckets mounted on a turbine rotor and a substantially concentrically arranged turbine stator, wherein the tip shroud is provided with at least one radially outwardly projecting seal tooth, and wherein said stator includes a radially inwardly facing surface including at least first and second seal surfaces defining at least first and second seal clearances, respectively, with a seal edge of said at least one radially outwardly projecting seal tooth, the method comprising:
shifting one of said turbine rotor and said turbine stator axially to cause said at least one radially outwardly projecting seal tooth to radially align with said first seal surface during transient operations of the turbine; and
shifting one of said turbine rotor and said turbine stator axially to cause said at least one radially outwardly projecting seal tooth to radially align with said second seal surface when the turbine is operating at substantial thermal equilibrium.
17. The method of controlling tip clearances according to claim 16 wherein said turbine rotor is shifted axially relative to said stator.
18. The method of controlling tip clearances according to claim 16 wherein said stator is shifted axially relative to said rotor.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first and second seal surfaces is oriented at an acute angle relative to an axis of rotation of said turbine rotor and wherein a seal edge of said at least one seal tooth is oriented at a substantially identical acute angle.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first and second seal surfaces is oriented at an acute angle relative to an axis of rotation of said turbine rotor and wherein a seal edge of said at least one seal tooth is oriented substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A system, comprising:
a hardware memory; and
at least one processor in communication with the hardware memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
provide a pattern entry image to a user,
receive pattern entry data associated with a pattern drawn by the user on the pattern entry image,
associate an electronic commerce transaction to be performed with the pattern entry data, and
store the pattern entry data and the electronic commerce transaction in the hardware memory.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic commerce transaction is based on a location on the pattern entry image where the pattern is drawn.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to provide pattern association options to the user and to associate the electronic commerce transaction to be performed with the pattern entry data by receiving selected ones of the pattern association options from the user.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pattern association options comprise a transaction type option, a currency amount option, and a recipient option.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the selected ones of the pattern association options comprise a specific currency amount to be sent or received by the user and wherein the pattern entry data corresponds to the specific currency amount.
6. The system of claim 3, wherein the selected ones of the pattern association options comprise a specific recipient or a specific payer of funds from or to the user and wherein the pattern entry data corresponds to the specific recipient or the specific payer.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pattern entry image comprises a dot matrix having a user-selected number of rows and columns of dots.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pattern entry image comprises a user-selected image.
9. A method, comprising:
providing, electronically by a hardware processor, a pattern entry image to a user;
receiving, electronically by the hardware processor, a pattern entry associated with the pattern entry image from the user;
recognizing, electronically by the hardware processor, the pattern entry;
obtaining, electronically by the hardware processor, stored pattern association selections associated with the pattern entry, wherein the stored pattern association selections specify a transaction; and
executing, electronically by the hardware processor, the transaction using the pattern association selections.
10. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the stored pattern association selections comprise a payment amount and a recipient and wherein the executing comprises sending a payment from the user to the recipient.
11. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the stored pattern association selections comprise a currency amount and a recipient and wherein the executing comprises requesting a payment of the currency amount from the recipient.
12. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the stored pattern association selections comprise an invoice transaction type and a recipient and wherein the executing comprises:
generating an invoice; and
sending the invoice to the recipient.
13. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the pattern entry corresponds to a pattern drawn by the user on the pattern entry image, the method further comprising:
determining, electronically by the hardware processor, a location on the pattern entry image at which the pattern was drawn by the user.
14. The method defined in claim 13, wherein the executing comprises:
executing the transaction based on the determining.
15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having a plurality of machine-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a server, are adapted to cause the server to perform a method comprising:
providing a pattern entry image to a user;
receiving a pattern entry associated with the pattern entry image from the user;
recognizing the pattern entry;
obtaining stored pattern association selections associated with the pattern entry, wherein the stored pattern association selections specify a transaction; and
executing the transaction using the pattern association selections.
16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium defined in claim 15, wherein the stored pattern association selections comprise a payment amount and a recipient and wherein the executing comprises sending a payment from the user to the recipient.
17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium defined in claim 15, wherein the stored pattern association selections comprise a currency amount and a recipient and wherein the executing comprises requesting a payment of the currency amount from the recipient.
18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium defined in claim 15, wherein the transaction comprises an invoicing transaction and wherein the executing comprises:
generating an invoice; and
sending the invoice to a recipient.
19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:
determining a location on the pattern entry image that corresponds to the pattern entry.
20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving location-dependent amount change information from the user.