text:
Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 3: The Brain
Harvard University via edX
1 Review 3180 students interested
Found in Biology
Provider edX
Session Self Paced
Certificate $99 Certificate Available
Effort 3-5 hours a week
Start Date Self paced 19th Apr, 2016 19th Apr, 2016 30th Sep, 2015
The human brain is a fantastically complex system, capable of transforming a torrent of incoming information into thought and action. In this course, we will look at how the various subsystems of the brain work together to enable us to survive and thrive in a changing world.
Each lesson will challenge you with interactive segments, animations, and documentaries that explore the richness and complexity of the brain. Our forums will provide you with a place to meet other students around the world, and you can learn from each other through a series of discussion questions.
Do you want to learn about how brains perceive the world? Join us as we explore sensation, perception and the physiology of functional regions of the brain.
The human brain is a fantastically complex system, capable of transforming a torrent of incoming senses into thought and action. In this module, we will look at the brain from a human-centric viewpoint, exploring how the various subsystems of the brain work, enabling us to survive and thrive in a changing world.
Lesson 1: Vision
One of the most developed senses in humans is our vision. In lesson 1, "Vision," we take a deep dive into the visual system. How do we see, and more importantly, how do we understand what we see?
Lesson 2: Audition
One of the many ways we communicate with one another and create community is through sound. In lesson 2, "Audition," we will go on a journey that follows the path of sound waves as they are detected in the ear and processed in the brain.
Lesson 3: Touch, Taste, Smell, and the Remaining Senses
There are more than just five senses in the animal kingdom. Consider eels with their ability to sense electric fields or vampire bats that can track down prey via infrared detection. In lesson 3, "Touch, Taste, Smell, and the Remaining Senses," we explore both the remaining traditional senses - touch, taste, and smell - as well as some of the more unusual ones.
Lesson 4: Movement and Action
Perceiving the world is useless if we cannot act. The motor subsystems of the brain execute and coordinate our movement. In lesson 4, "Movement and Action," we discuss how the nervous system makes your muscles contract in a coordinated manner, so that you can move and interact with your surroundings.
Lesson 5: Subcortical Brain Areas
While a highly-developed cortex is one of the key hallmarks of humanity, there's quite a bit more to the brain than cortex. In lesson 5, "Subcortical Brain Areas," we explore the critical brain systems that keep us alive, help us orient to stimuli in our environment, and allow us to form new memories.
Lesson 6: Brain Anatomy
In the last lesson of this course, "Brain Anatomy," we wrap up our investigation of the brain with a closer look at the structures found in the sensory and motor systems in a real human brain.
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Review for edX's Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 3: The Brain
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Sangudevan is a Tamil action movie directed by Sudhakar.The movie has Vijay Sethupathi and Dhanshika in lead roles.
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AZBD Note: And what do most people also do when they get a drivers license? Register to vote also. Who overwhelmingly votes for socialist/communist candidates? Good little Marxists from third world hell holes who don't give a damn about America and crossed the border illegally.
Under the heading "IMMIGRATION" —- slyly omitting the key word, "illegal" —- the pro-amnesty/open borders local newspaper illustrates how it has earned its name: The Periódico de la República de Arizona. The report by Daniel Gonzalez is titled in bold-faced caps, "ROAD CLEARS FOR 'DREAMER' DRIVERS.
The legislative acronym D.R.E.A.M.E.R., representing Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors has been consigned to the political trash heap by the leftist, agenda-driven newspaper in favor of the softer version, implying one who is simply enjoying a deep sleep. In fact, it represents a nightmare.
The first two sentences of Gonzalez' report deceptively uses the word "immigrant" twice when referring to illegal aliens, who have done nothing to facilitate applying for legal citizenship as true immigrants do.


Video poker is generally in view of two sorts of hands. In the event that you have a hand that isn't only a group of awkward cards, then you'll regularly either have a draw or something to that effect of a couple based hand. Pair-based hands are entirely straight-forward to play, so they aren't too intriguing generally. Draws, then again, have a considerable measure of moving parts, so their worth can change a lot. We're going to demonstrate to you a few thoughts on various types of draws and what you have to think about their relative quality to made hands and each other.
Unless you have a straight flush or better, four cards to an imperial flush is the most ideal way you can play your hand. Regardless of the possibility that you have a made straight or a made flush, running with a four-card regal draw is a vastly improved play. The motivation behind why this is the situation shows us a great deal about the estimation of draws. To begin with, you get a huge amount of quality from the one card in the deck that will give you the regal. Second, you have a great deal of different cards that can give you straights and flushes that have a decent esteem themselves.
What's regularly ignored here is the way that illustrious flush draws have no less than three high cards. This implies there are nine (some of the time 12) more cards in the deck that give a 1x payout. While this won't not appear like much with regards to the majority of the enormous hands you can make with such an effective draw, it's the way to why different draws are more grounded than others. We should take a gander at a decent case that most experienced players commit an error with all the time.
Assume you have something like AcQcTc7c7d. The pair of sevens isn't as solid as the flush draw, and in light of the fact that that is surely understood, it will lead most players to play the four-card flush draw. Notwithstanding, that is an oversight. Running with the AQT blend independent from anyone else is very, and the estimation of the high cards is a major motivation behind why this is the situation.
Another great illustration is the hand KQJTT with no flush draw. Most players realize that little matches are more regrettable than open-finished straight draws, so they will run with TT here. Be that as it may, the right play is utilizing the KQJT draw rather due to the expanded force from the high cards.
Joker Poker is exceptionally atypical in the video poker world for having three principle sorts of paytables that are all viewed as standard. You can play a rulers or better, aces or better, or two sets in addition to paytable with this diversion, and that implies that taking in the right systems will rely on upon which of the specific arrangements you're playing. The rulers or better form is truly essential to learn on the grounds that the procedures you learn in this variant can apply straightforwardly to the next two sorts with exceptionally minor changes, so we're going to take a gander at a couple key hands here where you have a trump card in your grasp.
Begin with XKh7h5h8c where the X is the joker. Your primary choices here are the flush draw or keeping the pair of rulers. As it happens, the flush attract will be justified regardless of more with a normal payout of 2.021x while the enormous match just gives you 1.687x. What's vital to note is that there's a third choice that verges on being the best choice with a three-card straight flush draw on the off chance that you keep 7hX5h, and that gives a 1.661x payout by and large. Note that if the two singletons were sequential like 7h6hX that it would be a more grounded play than the single pair.


"Differential Responsiveness of Holstein and Angus Dermal Fibroblasts t" by Aimee L. Benjamin, Benjamin B. Green et al.
Background: We have previously found substantial animal-to-animal and age-dependent variation in the response of Holstein fibroblast cultures challenged with LPS. To expand on this finding, fibroblast cultures were established from dairy (Holstein) and beef (Angus) cattle and challenged with LPS to examine breed-dependent differences in the innate immune response. Global gene expression was measured by RNA-Seq, while an epigenetic basis for expression differences was examined by methylated CpG island recovery assay sequencing (MIRA-Seq) analysis. Results: The Holstein breed displayed a more robust response to LPS than the Angus breed based on RNA-Seq analysis of cultures challenged with LPS for 0, 2, and 8 h. Several immune-associated genes were expressed at greater levels (FDR < 0.05) in Holstein cultures including TLR4 at all time points and a number of pro-inflammatory genes such as IL8, CCL20, CCL5, and TNF following LPS exposure. Despite extensive breed differences in the transcriptome, MIRA-Seq unveiled relatively similar patterns of genome-wide DNA methylation between breeds, with an overall hypomethylation of gene promoters. However, by examining the genome in 3Kb windows, 49 regions of differential methylation were discovered between Holstein and Angus fibroblasts, and two of these regions fell within the promoter region (-2500 to + 500 bp of the transcription start site) of the genes NTRK2 and ADAMTS5. Conclusions: Fibroblasts isolated from Holstein cattle display a more robust response to LPS in comparison to cultures from Angus cattle. Different selection strategies and management practices exist between these two breeds that likely give rise to genetic and epigenetic factors contributing to the different immune response phenotypes.
Benjamin, Aimee L.; Green, Benjamin B.; Crooker, Brian A.; McKay, Stephanie D.; and Kerr, David E., "Differential Responsiveness of Holstein and Angus Dermal Fibroblasts to LPS Challenge Occurs without Major Differences in the Methylome" (2016). Open Dartmouth: Faculty Open Access Articles. 409.


California Grill: Currently under renovation, this is our favorite destination. The food is amazing and the views are phenomenal. An anniversary dinner where you have dessert while watching the Wishes fireworks makes for a perfect night. And yes, it will reopen by December.
Monsieur Paul: Yes, it is in a theme park, but you would never know it. Fine French cuisine from one of the world's masters.
Flying Fish Cafe: If seafood is your thing, I think this could be your hidden gem. The BoardWalk outside can also serve as a lovely pre- and post-dinner area for strolling and enjoying the night.
Citricos: Mediterranean cuisine in a glorious resort.
Hollywood Brown Derby: A bit busy, as it is inside a theme park, but still a wonderful meal with the feeling that you are really in tinseltown.
Il Mulino: Italian contemporary elegance.
Victoria & Albert's: This is the epitome of fine dining at Walt Disney World. With a suit coat required of the gentleman, the formality of the dinner can be lost on some guests, but the cuisine and service are stellar. Expensive, but any foodie will tell you it is well worth it.
Personal order of preference would be California Grill, Monsieur Paul, Victoria & Albert's, Citricos, then Brown Derby. But all of these are great, and I am sure I missed a few.
As for reservations, you can call on June 10, 2013.


Higher, faster, further, are popular attributes in the first snowkiting school in Achensee.
Kiting on skis or on a snowboard across the snow-covered pastures, using only the power of the wind!
Those of you who want to learn how to surf across the snow on skis, or on a snowboard, like a real expert with a kite sail, are in just the right place.
In Achensee's Snowkiting School everyone will find what they are looking for … from expert to beginner – a mix of superb courses means that no-one will be bored.


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90 — радянська серія великопанельних будинків, поширених, зокрема, і в Україні. Розроблена в , індустріальне виробництво розпочато в 1971 р. Найпоширеніші 9-поверхові секції, зустрічаються і 5-поверхові.

На поверсі 4 квартири, в кутових секціях 6. Кроки поперечних стін 3 і 3,6 м, прогони в 5,7 (4,2 + 1,5) і 6,6 (1,5 + 4,2 + 0,9) м. Висота поверху 2,8 м, де висота стелі 264 см, товщина перекриття 16 см. Висота дев'ятиповерхового будинку 29,7 м. Панелі залізобетонні, окрім міжкімнатних гіпсових.

Характерними ознаками серії є: панелі на два вікна (з боку входу — одне з них велике); сторона входу без балконів; стіна кімнат відстоїть на 0,9 м від стіни під'їздного майданчику з кухнями; площина балконів деяких секцій під кутом за рахунок зменшеної на 1,5 м довжини кімнати.

Примітки

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Knowledge hub » Business loans » Film and TV tax credit loan
Film and TV tax credit loan
Up to 75% of expected credit, typically loans between £50,000 and £2m
Typically 4-6 months, but depends on project and track record of production company
Loan interest typically 0.5-2% per month plus fee
Purpose of finance
To help cash flow for production and post-production
Production companies ('independents' or co-productions with other countries) that qualify for either film or high-end TV tax credits
A film and TV tax credit loan is a newer type of loan that uses your future film and high-end television tax credit payments (from HMRC) as security. The loan works on the same principle as an R&D tax credit loan. You have to first qualify for either film or high-end TV tax credits.
There are a number of finance providers who help producers access their film and TV tax credits sooner than they would otherwise be able to if they had to wait for final accounts and HMRC approval.
These lenders might advance you funds against your film or high-end television tax credit claim – so it follows that you first need to qualify for a film or high-end television tax credit before you can access a tax credit loan.
While film and high-end television tax credits are a great way of funding your production and post-production (in the form of a tax credit), you might not see the money for up to two years. This is because you have to wait until the end of your company's financial year before you can prepare your accounts and file for the tax credit. You then have to wait an extra 6-12 weeks (often with delays) while HMRC processes your claim before paying your tax credit if your application is successful.
With a film and TV tax credit loan, you don't have to wait for HMRC. Like any loan, however, you have to pay interest and you might have to pay a fee.
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Rick Mocklin and the Southern Voice Band was formed in late September of 2015. Front man and lead singer, Rick Mocklin, had been singing part time with Harvey Jesus and Fire, when Harvey told Rick he should really consider forming his own band. Rick took Harvey's advice and put the wheels in motion to form Southern Voice.
Fast forward to the present day, and the band has gelled. Rick continues to be the front man and lead singer, while veteran musicians, Sid Bardfield, Robby Treadaway and Mitch Carroll complete the lineup. It took over two years to complete this foursome, but it's quite evident these guys enjoy every minute on stage.
Rick Mocklin plays the congas and handles the bulk of the singing. Sid Bardfield also sings a number of tunes, and plays a very soulful and blues infused lead guitar. Robby Treadaway also sings and plays keyboards. His keyboard solos are sure to want to make you sway to the music. Mitch Carroll sings and plays saxophone. Mitch's rendition of Europa is so smooth, even Gato Barbieri would give it a thumbs up.
When you watch a Southern Voice show, you are immediately drawn into the energy and enthusiasm. As Rick Mocklin has said time after time, "If you give us a chance, we will not let you down. We are four guys having one heck of a time out there."
We play 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's (Oldies, Pop, Country and Classic Rock) We also perform songs from current artists like Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake.
We play any type of venue imaginable. We play wedding receptions, private and corporate events, birthday parties, fairs and festivals along with block parties and bars. If you need music and want your guests to have a good time, we are your band.
Our goal is to play what the audience wants to hear. Our interaction level is second to none. Rick Mocklin has been behind a microphone since he could talk, and he knows how to make an audience feel like they are center stage and part of the show. Clients can expect lots of energy and enthusiasm from every member of Southern Voice Band. As a band, we are grateful for every opportunity to play for a crowd. At the end of every performance, we want to hear you say, "those guys were awesome."


Add-in program instructs operable through a general purpose spreadsheet program in a personal computer to move real-time status and control messages directly between cells in the displayed spreadsheet and addressed registers of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) is disclosed. The PLCs operate such as machine tools for processing stations and connect together and to an interface card in the personal computer over a network. The invention facilities a user's real-time monitoring and control of the manufacturing performed at the machine tools or processing stations through mathematical and logical features of the spreadsheet, which are well known and easy for a user to implement.
This invention generally relates to programmable logic controllers that direct the automatic operation of such as machine tools, and process equipment to manufacture goods and chemicals, and particularly relates to furnishing true real-time control of such programmable logic controllers (PLCs) through a general purpose spreadsheet program operating in a personal computer.
Machine tools such as screw machines have come to be operated automatically. This eliminates the cost of manual labor in operating the machine and can achieve more uniform products. The automation originally occurred by arranging relays to perform the logical functions of proceeding through a manufacturing process. Switches sensed the movement of tools relative to the work piece and caused the opening and closing of the relays; the relays in turn caused the sequential selection and operation of different tools on the work piece.
Much skill is required however to design the system, to set-up the limit switches at the proper locations, to connect the switches to the proper relay solenoids and to connect the relay contacts to the proper motors, timers and solenoid controlled valves in achieving the automated operation. Changing even one dimension of a part being made or one process variable in a chemical reaction moreover required skilled labor to re-wire the control switches or relays. Such systems worked well in producing large numbers of parts from a single set-up, but the development of manufacturing fewer numbers of more customized parts on one machine made the frequent changes of the relay controlled machines too expensive.
Responsive to this rise in cost, PLCs replaced the relay controls. PLCs furnished a fixed wiring from the switches, motors, and solenoid valves to a general purpose logic device. This eliminated rewiring the controls for each different part or variation of a part to be made. The set-up for each different part or variation of a part then only required changing the logical commands in the logic device. With the advent of the microcomputer as the logic device, changing the logical commands in the logic device became a matter of re-programming the microcomputer. Skilled labor then only had to write one program to make each different part or variation of a part, and an unskilled operator then could load the different programs into the PLC as desired to make a desired part. This substantially eliminated costly set-up for each different part; the manufacture of that part or the running of that process was fixed, however, by the fixed nature of the program.
The fixed nature of the program does not always allow for varying automatic operation of the screw machine, for example as the material of the work piece varies, or for example as the characteristics of a process feedstock vary. Moreover, the fixed program does not allow an operator to vary the manufacturing or processing parameters as changes occur in the manufacturing or processing operation to achieve desired efficiencies and levels of quality.
The PLCs have been linked together in networks over co-axial cable to co-ordinate the operation of an entire manufacturing or processing plant. The network require separate interface modules terminating each drop of the co-axial cable to perform the necessary handshaking for positive message transfer between the addressable registers of the PLCs. These messages usually comprise status information indicating the condition of the sensors and drives of each machine tool or processing station and control information commanding the operation of the drives or valves of the tools or stations. The messages also can contain numerical information indicating the number of parts made or the temperature or pressure of a point in a process.
A centrally located programming device can also be connected to the network to change the program or sequence of logical steps to be implemented by any selected PLC on the network. Such a programming device can be a personal computer, for example an IBM or IBM-compatible personal computer, operating a program that displays relay ladder diagram charts that a skilled user develops to create desired logical steps for a PLC. The personal computer also contains a network interface circuit card, connected to the co-axial cable, that handles the network handshaking and positive message transfer in response to commands by the personal computer written to and from accessible registers on the circuit card. The registers of the interface card are available to programs running in the personal computer able to access them to enable customized programs to send and receive messages across the PLC network.
Programming the PLC's over the network with the relay ladder diagram chart program in a personal computer enables a programmer to change the set operation of a machine or process as desired. The operation at the personal computer, however, is still one step, the programming step, removed from personally controlling operation of the machine tool or process station. Any manufacturing changes desired by the operator must be implemented through re-programming the individual PLC.
Developing customized programs that directly enable an operator at a personal computer to supervise and actually control the automatic operation of the PLCs quickly becomes expensive due to the large amount of highly skilled labor required. Such custom programs obtain stated information from the PLCs as it occurs and send control information in response to changes in the status information. Such information exchange is described as "real time" to emphasize that there exists little or no delay in receiving the information after the information becomes "real" or available. The cost of updating or varying the customized programs to provide flexibility in the automated operation of an entire plant becomes prohibitive. Further, varying custom programs often reaches a point where the cost of making the variation within the restraints of the original program exceeds the cost of writing a new custom program. The exchange of "real time" information stands as the key to true operator control of the manufacturing plant.
Programs have become available that strive to provide this real time exchange of information in controlling, monitoring and analyzing processes and instrumentation. The user provides a circuit card interface between his process or instruments and the personal computer. The user also writes a device driver program for the personal computer that facilitates the operating system program to communicate with the circuit card interface. The user then installs a commercially available information acquisition program to transfer the desired information between the operating system program and popular and commercially available spreadsheet, data base and analysis programs. The user then exercises control of the manufacturing processes from the spreadsheet, data base or data analysis program through the information acquisition program. This, however, has some undesirable aspects.
From the user's perspective, every transfer of information to and from the spreadsheet, data base or analysis program must occur through menu selected keystroke commands. Sending information to a PLC occurs by transfers to the acquisition program, the operating system program, the device driver program, the interface card, and the network to the addressed PLC registers. Reading from addressed PLC registers requires sending a transmit command to the addressed PLC in the described sending sequence and then sending a read command to the acquisition program to get the transmitted information from reply registers in the interface card through the device driver program, the operating system program and the acquisition program. While the speed of personal computers reduces all of these transfers to short, almost unnoticeable periods, there are still some things that cannot be done. For example, the calculation of the arguments contained in the cells of a spreadsheet program cannot directly move information between addressable registers of a PLC and the cells of a displayed spreadsheet. Also, writing a device driver for the interface card remains a time consuming and highly skilled task.
The invention furnishes a program or instruction means that operates through a general purpose spreadsheet program to effect information transfers to and from the addressable registers of a PLC and assigned cells of a displayed spreadsheet directly from the spreadsheet program and without transfers through the operating system program or a specially written device driver program. This facilitates a manufacturer configuring a PLC network with a central control of the manufacturing operation from a spreadsheet program operating in a personal computer. Operator control of the PLCs connected to the network occurs through the flexible and easily understood features commercially available in general purpose spreadsheet programs and facilitates true "real time" control and monitoring of the manufacturing plant directly from the displayed spreadsheet of the spreadsheet program.
The invention provides single @ function WRITE commands in cells in the displayed spreadsheet to transfer information contained in that cell or information contained in relatively addressed cells to be written into desired and addressed PLC registers. A single @ function READ command in cells of the displayed spreadsheet causes the addressed PLC to transmit the information contained in certain addressed registers directly into that cell or relatively addressed cells in the displayed spreadsheet. These @READ and @WRITE functions become executed simply upon recalculating the displayed spreadsheet to effect the information transfers.
The invention also provides menu selected commands for reading or writing blocks of information between addressed PLC registers and ranges of cells in the displayed spreadsheet. These menu selected commands operate through the spreadsheet program free of any acquisition program or device driver program.
The invention also provides for automatic storage of information transmitted to the central controller from the PLCs at regular intervals or as conditions change in the PLCs. These transmissions from the PLCs to the central controller usually are initiated by the PLCs. The invention furnishes an interrupt program that moves the messages received in the interface circuit card to respective memory locations forming a mailbox for each PLC. This prevents sequential messages from one PLC from overwriting the previous message and losing the information content. Thus the sequential messages initiated from one PLC are stored by the present invention in one mailbox area of sequential memory locations. Under an operator selected menu command, the invention moves all of the sequential messages from each PLC into assigned ranges of cells in the displayed spreadsheet.
In particular, the invention involves a system for operating equipment in which a PLC proximate a machine tool or processing station controls the specific operation of that machine tool or processing station. The PLC also is connected to a network of PLCs and is able to receive messages that control operation of the machine tool or processing station and is capable of transmitting messages indicating the condition of the machine tool or processing station. These messages are in the form of electrical signals usually carried on co-axial or twin-axial cable.
A personal computer or processor includes an interface circuit card electrically connected to the data, address and control leads of the personal computer. Usually this interface circuit card rests in an expansion slot of the personal computer. The interface card connects to the network of PLCs and includes addressable registers to which the PLCs can transmit messages. The interface card also includes command and reply registers that can respectively transmit and receive messages to and from the PLCs. The registers of the interface card are accessible by instructions executed in the personal computer.
The personal computer typically includes a visual display, a keyboard, instruction storage memory and a central processor. This central processor executes instructions, in the form of electrical signals, contained in the instruction storage memory in cooperation with characters provided to the displayed and readable by a user and in cooperation with characters received from the user through the keyboard.
This system also includes a general purpose spreadsheet program contained in the instruction storage memory for effecting a general purpose spreadsheet program in the personal computer. This spreadsheet program causes a spreadsheet to be displayed on the visual display. The displayed spreadsheet presents cells into which the user can insert information and @functions to execute desired arguments. The displayed spreadsheet also provides menu commands selectable by the user to effect desired actions in the displayed spreadsheet, but the spreadsheet program normally is only able to effect movement of information between defined files of data contained in the memory and the cells.
for cell contained 5/8 functions and menu commands to move messages directly between the cells and the interface card with the lo interface card then moving the messages across the network of PLCs. This obtains a system in which the user can transmit messages controlling the operation of the machine tool or process station directly from the cells of the displayed spreadsheet to the addressed registers of a PLC and can request messages indicating the condition of the machine tool or processing station directly from the cells and receive the status information messages indicating the condition of the equipment directly in the cells.
In another aspect, this system includes add-in instruction means contained in the memory for presenting add-in menu commands and interrupt selected instructions. These add-in menu commands and interrupt selected instructions operate through the spreadsheet program for the interrupt instructions to move sequentially received messages initiated by the PLCs and received in the interface card to respective assigned address locations in memory upon occurrence of an interrupt signal generated by the interface card indicating receipt of such messages. User selection of the add-in menu commands move the message from the locations in memory to respective assigned ranges of cells in the displayed spreadsheet. Messages initiated from the PLC indicating the condition of the machine tools or process stations thus can be saved and moved directly to the cells of the displayed spreadsheet.
The general purpose spreadsheet program in the personal computer becomes initialized for operation with the message transfer from the cells of the displayed spreadsheet through a displayed initialization spreadsheet operating through the spreadsheet program. Add-in instructions contained in the memory provide this initialization spreadsheet and care for the loading of address assignments into certain memory locations accessible by the different parts of the spreadsheet program for effecting and achieving the desired result.
The invention also encompasses a substrate such as a floppy disk ordinarily used in personal computer, carrying the add-in instructions for effecting the transfer of message information to and from the cells of the displayed spreadsheet through the spreadsheet program.
With this invention, an operator can monitor and control the operation of many PLCs on a "real time" basis as conditions change in the manufacturing environment. The spreadsheet program provides many mathematical arguments that can be arranged to perform complex calculations rapidly in determining desired efficiencies and qualities of manufacturing. The ability to obtain "real time" data and give "real time" manufacturing commands in conjunction with these calculations for controlling large manufacturing plants achieves manufacturing control not previously available in an economical and easily understood system.
FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram depicting the organization for the add-in instructions of the invention for forming the add-in file SYLAF.ADN .
In FIG. 1, a plant network 20 of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to operate equipment stands connected to a personal computer 22 through a circuit card interface 24. The personal computer 22 operates a general purpose spreadsheet program 26 that has no ability to get or give real time messages over the plant network of PLCs. This spreadsheet program can be such as LOTUS 1-2-3 available from Lotus Development Corporation, Cambridge, Mass. The invention furnishes an add-in program 28 that operates through the general purpose spreadsheet program 26 to effect real time message transfers between the plant network of PLCs 20 and cells of the spreadsheet program 26. The transfer of messages through the spreadsheet program to the circuit card interface is depicted by double arrowheaded conductors 30 diagrammatically indicating the message transfer path, and the connection between the plant network 20 and the circuit card 24 is depicted by conductors 32.
In constructing this system 18, the user interconnects all of the PLCs with desired co-axial or twin-axial wires and constructs and arranges all the PLCs to effect positive message transfer between addressed registers of the PLCs. The user then obtains an interface circuit card 24, and installs it in an expansion slot of a personal computer 22. The interface card 24 then becomes connected to the network 20 and is assigned suitable network addresses. The user then loads the general purpose spreadsheet program into the personal computer using disk drives as desired and finally loads the add-in program 28 of the invention into the program files of the spreadsheet program.
The owner of the spreadsheet program known as LOTUS 1-2-3 has provided suitable instructions in the spreadsheet program for accepting the add-in program disclosed herein. The developer of the LOTUS 1-2-3 program also commercially sells program instructions under the trademark LOTUS Developer Tools used by the inventor of the present invention to effect the operation he desired. The LOTUS Developer Tools instruction program enables a programmer to develop instructions that extend or enhance the capability of the spreadsheet program and to create new 5/8 functions to be implemented in a LOTUS 1-2-3 spreadsheet. The program instructions of the LOTUS Developer Tools programs form no part of the invention herein but were used to develop the program instructions used in the invention. After all of this preliminary construction and arrangement of the hardware and program instructions, the user stands ready to program the PLCs and control the operation of the machine tools and process stations that they operate.
In FIG. 2, the plant network 20 interface assembly 34 connects to conductors 32 and is assigned address 45. PLC 36 connects to interface assembly 34 to operate machine 38 and is assigned address 045. PLC 40 also connects to interface assembly 34 to operate machine 42 and is assigned address 145. Interface assembly 44 likewise connects to conductors 32 and is assigned address 22. PLC 46 connects to interface assembly 44 to operate machine 48 and is assigned address 022. PLC 50 connects to interface assembly 44 to operate machine 52 and is assigned address 122. Interface assemblies 34 and 44 thus provide hardware connections to the co-axial or twin-axial conductors 32 and provide the two least significant numbers in the addresses for the PLCs 36, 40, 46 and 50. Conductors 32 connect to interface circuit card 24 at connector 54. In this system, interface card 24 has been assigned address 009 for purposes of explanation. Interface card 24 also can connect to an auxiliary or local PLC 56 through conductors 58 and connector 60. PLC 56 has been assigned 107 and is similar in construction and designed to PLCs 36, 40, 46 and 50. PLC 56 contains sensor and control registers 62 that connect to sensors 64, controls 66 and machine under control 68. The connections between PLCs 36, 40, 46 and 50 to their respective machines parallel the connection between PLC 56 and machine 58. PLC 56, its machine under control 68 and the connection to interface card 24 define what can be called a local system 70.
Interface card 24 includes command, reply and receiving registers 72 and can produce an interrupt signal on leads 74 under conditions to be described.
Personal computer 22 includes RAM memory 76 that contains the spreadsheet program 26, the add-in 28, mailbox memory locations 78 and pointer to local variables memory location 80.
Spreadsheet program 26 presents cells, menu driven commands and @ functions that can be inserted in the cells. Add-in program 28 present three features: menu commands to initialize the features for moving messages between the cells and the PLC registers, block moves of information between the cells and the PLC registers, fixed and floating point information formats and dumping the contents of the mailbox memory locations to assigned cells in the spreadsheet; @ functions to move messages between the spreadsheet cells and the PLC registers, and to perform logical operations; and interrupt driven information transfers from the interface card registers to corresponding memory locations in the mailbox area of the RAM memory 76. The add-in program 28 also includes memory locations 82 for local variables used in effecting the message transfers through the spreadsheet program 26.
Personal computer 22 also includes an operator usable keyboard 84, a visual display 86, a disk drive 88 that can receive a disk 90 carrying the spreadsheet program 26 or the add-in program 28. Disk 90 comprises a substrate capable of carrying program instructions in the form of such as magnetic bits but could be any other kind of substrate desired to carry the program instructions for loading into the memory of the personal computer.
It will be understood that software programs and instructions can constitute structure and materials in many different forms. For example, a program set of instructions can constitute magnetic signals or indicators on a magnetic substrate such as a floppy disk. Executing these instructions effects electrical signals across conductors in the processor to achieve desired results.
It will be understood that in the arrangement depicted in FIG. 2, the add-in program 28 operates through the spreadsheet program 26 to perform the indicated message transfers. After the add-in program becomes installed, the user operates only through spreadsheet 5/8 functions and men commands to effect the message transfers to the address registers of the PLCs. Alternatively, the plant network 20 of PLCs and the local systems 70 can be arranged as desired to operate desired machine tools and process stations.
Referring to FIG. 3, add-in program 28 provides menu commands 92 that the user enters through a keystroke of ALT-F7 on the keyboard of the personal computer. The interrupt instructions 94 perform a mailbox interrupt routine identified in the source code listing herein as MAIL.sub.-- INT. The interrupt instructions 94 also perform a timer interrupt routine identified in the source code TIMER.sub.-- INT. The user selectable @ functions insertable in the cells of the displayed spreadsheet include @READ, @WRITE, @BREAD, @BWRITE, @SYLERR, @MAIL, @FPREAD, @FPWRITE, @AND, @OR, @NOT and @TIMEOUT.
These @ functions operate with a particular format of information enclosed in parentheses following the @ function command. The format of information can include an address route specified to be a string of numbers separated by commas identifying first the address of the interface card in the personal computer and secondly the address of the PLC. Following the address can be a register addresses simply stated with a decimal number. Following the register number is a count number stated as a positive decimal number to indicate the number of registers in addition to the identified register from which information is to be read or written. Lastly, a bit number, ranging from 1 to 16 identifies the particular bit in a particular register in a particular PLC to be read to or from the cells.
With this format of message information, the @READ function requires the address and register information to read one register from the PLC device. The @WRITE function requires the address, register and value to be written to the identified register in the PLC. The values can range from -32768 to +32767. The @BREAD function requires an address, register and bit number format to read the register and return the contents of the identified bit position to the cell. The @BWRITE function requires the address, register, bit number and value to write a particular bit to an addressed register. A value of zero turns the bit off while a value not equal to zero turns the bit on. The @SYLERR function gives the last error message produce by the interface card.
The @MAIL function requires no following message information and obtains the address of the receiving register that received the last network message initiated by a PLC. This will be described presently.
The @FPREAD function requires an address and register identification to read one floating point register from a PLC. The register must be identified with an odd number. This returns a floating point number to a cell. The @FPWRITE function requires an address, register and value to write one floating point number to two registers starting at the identified register value. The register must be odd, and the value must be a floating point number in the range of -3.4E38 to 3.4E38.
The @TIMEOUT function specifies the maximum time to wait before a response is received from a PLC on the network and requires the specification of time in seconds. The logical functions occur in accordance with their names.
In FIG. 4, the menu 98 appearing upon the user entering the keystrokes ALT-F7 comprise five commands. Initializing the local interface card operates through the INIT routine in the source code. Reading a block of 128 registers from a PLC operate through the routine BLOCK.sub.-- READ. Writing information to a block of 128 PLC registers operates under the routine BLOCK.sub.-- WRITE. The floating point command operates through a sub-menu to read or write a block of 32 registers. Reading the block of 32 registers operates through the floating point numbers routine FP.sub.-- READ. Writing to a block of 32 registers operates under the floating point numbers routine FP.sub.-- WRITE.
The mailbox command under the ALT-F7 menu operates through two nested sub-menus. The first sub-menu 102 presents three commands. The SET command sets or assigns the mailbox memory locations 78 in the RAM memory 76 that receive information or data from a group of registers in the interface card 24. The SET command sets or assigns the cell locations in the displayed spreadsheet program that are to receive the mailbox data or messages. This command operates through the routine MAIL.sub.-- SET.
The second command under the first sub-menu 102 is the DUMP command to execute the movement of the contents of the mailbox memory locations from the RAM memory to the assigned cells in the displayed spreadsheet program. The DUMP command operates under the routine MAIL.sub.-- DUMP.
The third command under the first sub-menu 102 is reset and calls up a sub-sub-menu 104 with two commands in it. The first command of the sub-sub-menu 104 is OUTPUT and changes the displayed spreadsheet cell locations receiving data or information from the DUMP command. The OUTPUT command operates under the routine MBR.sub.-- OUTPUT. The second command under the sub-sub-menu is a mailbox command. It operates to clear a specified or assigned mailbox from the memory locations in the RAM memory. It operates under the routine of MBR.sub.-- MB.
The last command under the ALT-F7 menu is to quit the menu.
In FIG. 5, network messages addressed to particular receiving registers 106a through 106n in interface circuit card 24 pass over conductors 32. Substantively, the PLCs have been programmed to initiate message transfers to the interface circuit card at address 009 periodically or upon changes in the status of the controlled machine tool or process station. The initiation of sending the messages becomes programmed into the PLCs under operator control. Each PLC addresses a particular one of the receiving registers 106a through 106n for receiving the sent message Alternatively, the interface circuit card 24 can have one receiving register to receive all messages initiated by the PLCs upon suitable arrangement of the system to insure positive receipt and protection of the messages. In this system, interrupt-call program 94 moves the messages from the receiving registers to the respective assigned mailbox memory locations 78a through 78n while adding a time/date identifying information with each message. This later identifies to the spreadsheet program and the user the relative time of the status message from the PLCs. In moving the messages from the registers to the mailbox memory location, the interrupt-call program 94 will move the sequential messages received in receiving register 106a into sequential memory locations following memory locations 78a. The user assigned the mailbox memory locations 78a under control of the set mailbox location command in sub-menu 102 depicted in FIG. 4. Each mailbox can be as large as desired by the user to retain the sequential messages and time/date stamp of the messages until they are moved into the displayed spreadsheet.
Menu selected DUMP command 108 can be executed when desired by the user to move the contents of each mailbox in memory locations 78a through 78n to respective and assigned ranges of cells 110a through 110n in displayed spreadsheet 112. Thus the sequential messages and time/date stamps in memory locations 78a comprising one mailbox are moved by the DUMP command routine 108 moving them to sequential cells 110a in the displayed spreadsheet 112. In this manner, sequential message from the PLCs received in receiving register 106a are transferred to the mailbox memory locations 78a and then are dumped into the range of cells 110a. Likewise, PLC initiated messages to receiving register 106n are moved under interrupt program control to the mailbox at memory location 78n. The DUMP command routine moves the messages in mailbox memory location 78n into the range of cells 110n. This neatly provides organized and assigned transfer of PLC initiated messages to the displayed spreadsheet to insure positive message transfer to the cells and to insure against loss of PLC initiated messages.
In FIG. 6, spreadsheet program with add-in features 26, 28 identified in one block because they operate together as one unit and shall be identified with the double reference characters 26, 28. Spreadsheet program 26, 28 presents another spreadsheet screen 14 including an @READ function in cell C4. In cell C4, the @ function @READ ("route 009, 145", 28) indicates to the command registers 116 that a message is to be sent across the network conductors 32. The message commands PLC address 145 to send the contents of its register 28 back to the interface circuit card address 009, and thereafter the message received from the PLC address 145, register 28 is to be placed in cell C4 of the spreadsheet screen 114. Upon calculation of the spreadsheet screen 114, or the portion of the spreadsheet screen including cell C4, this @READ command becomes executed. The spreadsheet program 26, 28 operates to tell the interface circuit card 24 to send and receive the appropriate messages through respective command registers 116 and reply registers 118. Upon receipt of the message containing the contents of PLC address 145, register 28, the spreadsheet program 26, 28 obtains the contents of the reply register 118 and moves it into the cell C4 from which the user can observe the number 100.
In FIG. 7, spreadsheet program 26, 28 presents another spreadsheet screen 120 having a cell E4 containing an @WRITE function. That function is @WRITE ("route 009, 022", 56, 300). It indicates that interface circuit card 24, address 009 is to write a message to PLC address 022, register 56 with the message containing the contents of cell E4 which is 300. Upon executing the spreadsheet screen 120 or that portion containing cell E4, spreadsheet program 26, 28 conveys the necessary information to command register 116 and interface circuit card 24 to effect the desired message. That message then travels across the conductors 32 to PLC 46 having address 022 and register 56 to insert the number 300 therein.
The @ functions depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 thus can be used upon normal recalculation of the spreadsheet screens 114 and 120 to transfer information between the cells of the spreadsheet screen and registers of desired PLCs. The user does not have to prompt individual message transfers and the user can write the mathematical and logical @ functions available in the general purpose spreadsheet program 26 to establish procedures for automatically controlling operations of such as machines 42 and 48. Specifically, the @READ function depicted in FIG. 6 can indicate the number of screws manufactured on an automatic screw machine 42. When that number equals 100, the mathematical and logical @ functions inserted into such as spreadsheet screen 120 by the user can write the value 300 into PLC address 022, register 56 to advance a conveyor machine 48 to the next work station.
In FIG. 8, spreadsheet program 26, 28 presents another spreadsheet screen 122 used in conjunction with the menu selected READ command 124 to read a block of PLC registers into a range of cells in spreadsheet 122. The READ command 124 first prompts the user to enter the route, register and count range of PLC registers to be read, respectively in cells A2, B2 and C2. Thus the message route is 009, 145. The register to read starts at register 28, and the range of PLC registers thereafter is three. The READ command 124 also prompts the user to enter the output range of cells to receive the contents of the PLC registers. In spreadsheet screen 122, the user has entered the cells to be A5, B5 and C5. Upon executing the menu READ command 124, spreadsheet program 26, 28 moves appropriate message information to command registers 116 which sends appropriate messages over conductors 32. PLC 40 having address 145 receives the READ command and transmits messages containing the contents of registers 28, 29 and 30 back to the interface circuit card 24 having address 009. Substantively, registers 28, 29 and 30 in PLC 40 can represent the status of screw machine 42. When reply registers 118 receive the messages containing the contents of registers 28, 29 and 30, spreadsheet program 26, 28 moves the information content thereof respectively into cells A5, B5 and C5.
In FIG. 9, spreadsheet program 26, 28 presents a new spreadsheet screen 126 used to write a block of data to the registers of a PLC. The menu selected write command 128 first prompts the user to enter the route, register and count range of the PLC registers to be written to. This information contained in spreadsheet screen 126, cells A2, B2 and C2 respectively. The WRITE command 128 also prompts the user to enter the range of cells, the contents of which are to be written to the PLC registers. This information is contained respectively in cells A5, B5 and C5. Upon executing the WRITE command 128, spreadsheet program 26, 28 moves the appropriate information to command registers 116 of interface circuit card 24. Interface card 24 then sends the appropriate messages across the conductors 32 to PLC 40, having address 145, and particularly to registers 5, 6 and 7. This information can be such as control information to control the operation of such as automatic screw machine 42.
In this manner, the menu selected READ and WRITE commands can monitor the status of a machine and control its operation through menu selected commands and spreadsheet screen contained messages address and content information.
In FIG. 10, spreadsheet program 26, 28 presents an initialization spreadsheet screen 130 used to initialize local variables and information in the interface circuit card 24 before message transfers can occur. Interface circuit card 24 contains dip switches that are user setable to assign an address of the personal computer to the registers of the interface circuit card 24. In the example depicted in FIG. 10, this address is selected to be CA000 expressed in hexadecimal. Circuit card 24 also contains control information registers for receiving and containing a network address 132, the number of PLCs on the network 134, the speed at which the network operates 136 and the interrupt signal 138 produced by the circuit card 24 on lead 74, previously explained. Spreadsheet screen 130 contains respectively in cells C2 through C6 the information inserted by the user to initialize the spreadsheet program 26, 28 and the circuit card 24. Upon execution of a menu command, spreadsheet program 26, 28 moves this information of spreadsheet screen 130 to the circuit 24 and to two local variables memory locations 140 and 142. As depicted in FIG. 10, the memory locations for the two indicated local variable occur within the spreadsheet program 26, 28 for easy access thereto. In particular, cell C2 indicates that the network address for card 24 shall be 009. Cell C3 indicates that the number of PLCs in the network is 100. Cell C4 indicates that the speed of the messages on the network is indicated by the code 62. Cell C6 indicates that the mailbox interrupt signal shall be number 2. These four pieces of information respectively are moved to registers 132 through 138 and circuit card 24 upon execution of a menu selected command, such as INITIALIZE invoked by ALT-F7. Additionally, cell C5 indicates that the address of the circuit card 24 in the expansion slot of the personal computer has been set to be CA000 and hexadecimal, and this information is moved by the spreadsheet program 26, 28 to the NIM.sub.-- SEG local variable memory location 140. The mailbox interrupt number 2 also is moved by the spreadsheet program 26, 28 to the interrupt local variable memory location 142. The contents of cells D8 and D9 indicate to the spreadsheet program 26, 28 that subsequent selections of the spreadsheet program in the personal computer automatically can initialize the spreadsheet program 26, 28 to the values indicated in cells C2 through C6 and that it can automatically attach the @ functions into the spreadsheet program 26, 28.
In FIG. 11, the interrupt call program 94 operates to move messages from the interface circuit card 24 into the assigned mailbox memory locations in mailbox memory locations 78 together with the time and date information. Interrupt call 94 directly operates to move the operating system time 144 into memory location A, expressed in hexadecimal. A periodic hardware interrupt 146 occurs in the personal computer regular intervals. The timer interrupt routine, TIMER.sub.-- INT 148 increments a date variable and places same in a memory location 150 of a "date" variable among the local variables of the spreadsheet program 26, 28.
Previously, a menu selected mailbox SET command 152 is used to effect a routine 154 that assigns memory locations for the mailbox and that effects a routine 156 to initialize a start-date variable from the operating system date. Routine 156 places the "start-date" variable in memory location 158 of the local variables.
The operating system displays the date by using an offset from a fixed date such as January 1, 1900. During the initialization of the spreadsheet program 26, 28, through the menu selected mailbox command 152, the add-in commands 28 ascertain the offset from that initial date to the present date and insert an indication of same in the "start-date" variable memory location 158. The operating system normally does not provide the date or date offset in a manner accessible from the spreadsheet program with add-in features 26, 28 so instead, the invention provides the timer interrupt routine 148. This counts the periodic hardware interrupts occurring in the personal computer at 18 times a second to increment a "date" variable and place it in the memory location 150. Thus the date column of the memory location of the mailbox carries an offset from the initial date of the operating system to the present date. Later, the menu selected dump command 108 can use the offset with the start-date variable properly to format the date in such as cell A3 of the displayed spreadsheet 112. The operating system time, which is available directly from the operating system time to the spreadsheet program with add-in features 26, 28 rests in the time column of the memory location of the mailbox and can be transformed upon the effecting the menu selected DUMP command 108 to present the proper time at such as cell B3 in the displayed spreadsheet 112. The date format and time format functions become effected through blocks 160 and 162 respectively.
As previously explained, the menu selected DUMP command 108 moves the messages from the respective mailboxes in the memory location 78 into the assigned output cells of the displayed spreadsheet 112. In the depicted example of FIG. 11, the output ranges of cells are A3 through E3.
In FIG. 12, the add-in program 12 has been assigned to memory locations 164 and 166. These can be sequential or non-sequential as desired by the add-in features of the spreadsheet program 26. In any event, memory locations 164 contain the program named SYLAF.ADN for the @ functions while memory locations 166 contain the program called SYL.ADN for the menu and interrupt commands. Memory locations 166 also include the memory locations 82 of the local variables such as IPC.NIM.sub.-- SEG, IPC.ACTIVE and IPC.TIMEOUT.sub.-- SECS.
When the spreadsheet program 26 loads the add-in files into the memory locations, it first loads the SYL.ADN file into memory location 168. After loading, the spreadsheet program 26 executes the start-up init routine 168. That routine 168 executes block 170 to clear the pointers to the locations of the local variables contained in memory locations 80. Memory locations 80 comprises an inter-program communications areas containing pointers to the memory locations of local variables. The memory location of the pointer is defined to be addresses 04F8 hexadecimal and 04FA hexadecimal. The first address carries the offset of the pointer while the second address carries segment of the pointer.
When the spreadsheet program 26 next loads the memory locations 164 with the program SYLAF.ADN, the start-up routine 172 contained therein sets an error if the pointers are not cleared. That occurs at block 174.
The next thing that occurs is for menu selected initialized routine 176 under memory locations 166 to set the pointers to the locations of the local variables at block 178. The menu selected initialized routine 176 also sets the contents of the local variables in block 180 as has been described.
Thereafter, menu selected function routines 182 get and use the contents of local variables through block 184 with the variables being contained within the file or program of SYL.ADN which also contains the menu selected function routine. Thus the menu selected function routines do not need the offset pointer to the local variables but can access them directly.
The @ function routines, however, can be located other than sequentially with the local variables and get the pointer to the local variables through block 186. Once the @ function routines 188 have the pointers to the local variables, they can obtain the information contained therein to execute the desired message transfers previously described.
In FIG. 13, master file 190 for the menu functions SYL.ASM includes files SYLI.ASM, SYLHELP.ASM, SYLINT.ASM, SYLMB.ASM, SYLMDATE.ASM, SYLERR.ASM, SYLADDR.ASM, and SYLFP.ASM. These include files perform functions identified in block 190. These menu function files of master file 190 become assembled in block 192 to obtain the add-in file SYL.ADN in block 194.
In FIG. 14, master file 196 for the @ functions includes the SYLAF.ASM file and include files SYLFPAT.ASM and SYLNORM.ASM. The include files in master file 196 perform the identified functions. These files are assembled in block 198 to obtain the add-in file SYLAF.ADN in block 200.
In the preferred embodiment, the PLC network 20 is that made and sold by the Square D Company of Palatine, Ill., under the SY/NET trademark of programmable logic controllers, network interface modules and SY/LINK interface cards for personal computers. The PLCs in this network are identified with the mark SY/MAX. Network specifications for all of this hardware and relay ladder programming instructions are commercially available.
Modifications and variations of the present inventions are possible in light of the above teachings. It will be understood that different commercial versions of spreadsheet programs may use variations of the names used herein for functions used or inserted in the cells. For example, the @functions can also be called functions without the @ prefix. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
D. add-in instruction means contained in said memory for presenting add-in @ functions and add-in menu commands operating through said spreadsheet instruction means, said add-in instruction means for moving messages directly between said cells and said programmable logic controller via said interface means, said messages moving from said cells to said programmable logic controller comprising said control messages for controlling the operation of said equipment and said messages moving from said programmable logic controller to said cells comprising said status messages indicating the condition of said equipment.
2. The system of claim 1 in which said add-in instruction means includes @read means for causing said programmable logic controller to transmit a status message to said spreadsheet instruction means.
3. The system of claim 2 in which said @read means includes characters indicating an @read function and route addresses of said interface means and said programmable logic controller.
4. The system of claim 3 in which said @read means includes characters indicating a certain register in said programmable logic controller, the contents of which are to be sent in said status message.
5. The system of claim 2 in which said cells of said spreadsheet instruction means are addressable by characters from said keyboard and said @read means are addressed into a certain cell by characters from said keyboard.
6. The system of claim 1 in which said add-in instruction means includes @write means for transmitting a control message to said programmable logic controller.
7. The system of claim 6 in which said @write means includes characters indicating an @write function and route addresses of said interface means and said programmable logic controller.
8. The system of claim 7 in which said @write means includes characters indicating a certain register in said programmable logic controller that is to receive said control message.
9. The system of claim 1 in which said add-in instruction means includes menu initialize means for moving initial system information to said interface means.
10. The system of claim 1 in which said add-in instruction means includes first file means for containing local variables used to move messages directly between said cells and said interface means and for containing said menu commands, said add-in instruction means also including second file means for containing said add-in @functions, and said spreadsheet instruction means including assignment means for assigning said first and second file means to specific memory locations.
E. add-in instruction means contained in said memory for presenting add-in menu commands and interrupt selected instructions operating through said spreadsheet instruction means for said interrupt selected instructions to move sequentially received messages from said message registers to respective assigned address locations in said memory upon occurrence of each interrupt signal, and for said add-in menu commands to move said messages form said assigned address locations in said memory to respective assigned cells in said spreadsheet instruction means so that messages from said programmable logic controllers indicating the condition of said equipment can be saved and moved directly to said cells.
d. add-in program means contained in said processor means for executing an action in said spreadsheet means to cause said spreadsheet means to transmit said message from said cell through said registers in said process means to the said addressed particular register in said particular programmable logic controller.
13. The device of claim 12 in which said means for executing executes an @WRITE function.
D. supplemental instruction means contained in said memory for operating through said spreadsheet instruction means to move messages directly between said cells and said addressable registers in said programmable logic controller through said interface means, so that said user can transmit addressed messages controlling the operation of said equipment directly from said cells to said addressable registers in said programmable logic controller, can request messages from said cells indicating the condition of said equipment, and can receive in said cells said messages initiated by said programmable logic controller indicating the condition of said equipment.
4038533 July 26, 1977 Dummermuth et al.
4149235 April 10, 1979 Froyd et al.
4180860 December 25, 1979 Driscoll et al.
4215398 July 29, 1980 Burkett et al.
4228495 October 14, 1980 Bernhard et al.
4648062 March 3, 1987 Johnson et al.
Lotus Development Corporation, "Lotus Measure; Data Direct to Lotus Spreadsheets"; 1986, 1987, Cambridge, Mass. Lotus Development Corporation, "Lotus Developer Tools, Comprehensive Developer Tools for 1-2-3 and Symphony". Strawberry Tree Computers, Inc., "Laboratory and Industrial Data Acquisition and Control", Sunnyvale, Calif.--`Labtech Real Time Access for the IBM PC`, pg. 40;--`Labtech Notebook for the IBM PC`, pgs. 38 and 39;--`Labtech Acquire for the IBM PC`, pages 40 and 41. Lai, Robert S.; Writing MS-DOS Device Drivers, 1987, Waite Group, Inc., pp. 13-17, 28-30 and 36-37. Square D Company automation products literature. Microsoft Systems Journal, "Special Windows Issue"; vol. 1, No. 1, Oct. 1986; pp. 11-14. Microsoft Systems Journal, "Interprogram Communication Using Windows' Dynamic Data Exchange", vol. 2; No. 5, Nov. 1987, pp. 13-26 and 33-38.


"Battlefield V" has a new launch date. The first-person shooter is being delayed by one month, and will now come out on Nov. 20, developer DICE announced on Thursday.
DICE wants to make some "meaningful improvements" to the core gameplay experience, general manager Oskar Gabrielson said in a statement on the "Battlefield V" website. These include adjusting gameplay tempo, improving soldier visibility, and reducing player friction. Players can check out these changes during the game's open beta, which starts on Sept. 6 (early access begins Sept. 4).
"Battlefield V" was originally scheduled to launch on Oct. 19, where it would've faced some stiff competition from other AAA titles. "Assassin's Creed Odyssey" comes out on Oct. 5, "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4″debuts on Oct. 12, and "Red Dead Redemption 2" releases on Oct. 26.
The delay could also give DICE some time to work on "Battlefield V's" new battle royale and its co-op mode, Combined Arms. Both are expected to arrive post-launch.


Balance and stability are something we all take for granted until we start to see it decline as we age. Some seniors may feel that a little loss of balance comes with age, but even a little instability can cause a fall that they may not fully recover from.
1 in 4 seniors fall each year.
Every 11 seconds someone goes to the ER because of a fall, and every 19 sec someone dies from a fall.
90% of hip fractures are due to falls.
Falls are the #1 cause of brain injuries.
What if we could reduce the risk of falling with a few minutes a day of exercise?
Among my base of clients as a personal trainer, I see many people over the age of 65. Their activity level through the years has had a direct correlation to their level of stability and balance. Staying active is key to slowing down stability problems. Adding in 5-10 min. a day of stability training could improve quality of life and prevent a possible debilitating fall.
One leg stand: Stand on one leg for 15-30 sec. Keep core tight and always have something you can grab if you lose your balance like a stair rail or countertop.
Heel toe walk: Walk along a straight line and put one foot in front of the other. Try not to touch your feet together as you walk. Hold your arms straight out to the side if this is difficult.
Slow marching: Walk along a straight line and pick up you front knee to 90 degrees as you walk….like you are slowly marching.
Step over objects: Place same size objects apart that are longer than your shoe length.Step over the objects as you walk.
Lateral step overs: Once you have gotten used to forward moving balance exercises it is time to add in lateral movements. Place a shoe or yoga block on the floor and practice step over it laterally. Make sure to have both feet step back to the beginning after each movement.
One leg stands with clock arms: Stand beside a chair and hold if needed with your left hand. Raise your right knee as close to 90 degrees as possible and hold it there. Raise you right arm in front of you just to shoulder height and move it to the side and behind you as far as it is comfortable to do and then back to start. Do 5 repetitions and repeat on the other side.
To start your balance training, begin with 2 exercises each day. After you feel like you have improved, move on to two new exercises. Over a short time, you should see your balance improve as well as your confidence and quality of life!


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Home > Blog > How to Choose the Perfect Necklace for Every Occasion >
Perfect necklace sets to carry on an outstation conference
September 3, 2022 Team Blingvine
Traveling to a new place often tends to bring out the best in us, and when the trip is for an outstation conference, it certainly adds the element of independence and success, especially in the psyches of women. Gone are the days when women had to forcefully toil in the kitchens from morning to night. Today's women are bold in their choices, fearless in their approach and lion-hearted in all walks of life, let alone an outstation conference. However, when a strong willed and high-powered woman must attend an outstation conference, her attire should compliment her style and one of the best ways to make it happen is through jewelry. Necklaces and necklace sets can totally prove to be an accessory that radiates a woman's personality through various facets and explores deeper into her being.
Here are a few of Blingvine's top picks of necklace sets for your next outstation conference-
Dress to impress with a Pearl Necklace set
When a woman with a plan in her mind walks into a room and has her sight set on the goal, nothing matches her personality more than a pearl necklace. From Queen Elizabeth II to Jackie Kennedy, pearl necklaces have their own following. Quite interestingly, pearls were in fact also used as a currency in the olden times. A modern example to put through this context would be to have a quick and easy look at the Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone's one of the looks at Cannes Film Festival in 2022, where she was beautifully dressed in a white saree with a matching-colored blouse paired with a massive pearl necklace that covered almost her full shoulders. It would be an understatement to say that the pearl necklace paired with the saree left her looking like an absolute goddess. Perfectly befitting the theme for our understanding, the actress chose to adorn herself in pearl necklaces while being on an outstation trip in her career field.
Master the first impression game with a Gemstone Necklace set
It is proven by psychology that color ignites a certain emotion within the human body that can be leveraged when it comes to fashion and fashionable sense. It is a novel idea to in fact pair gemstone necklaces with professional dresses at outstation conferences because they will speak volumes about your personality and will accentuate your fashion quotient as the English Rose.
Minimalism to your rescue with Crystal Necklace set
Whenever one is on an outstation trip, it allows them to bring out a newer version of themselves. A version that demands no explanations or justifications from the newer surroundings. To perfectly match the newness involved, a crystal necklace set allows the brightness to shine through and bring out a fresh accumulation of energy, all set to conquer the conference.
Effortless look with an Enamel Necklace set
Many trends have come and gone by but there hasn't been something as long-lasting as the effortless makeup, wardrobe or in this case, jewel look. When a woman is out on a conference concerning her career, an effortless look with enamel necklace set is completely on point. It has quite been the case that women are subdued or questioned, almost mockingly, with regards to their "extra look" however, this effortless appeal with the enamel necklace set does not question that identity as there are often hints of extras but are overpowered by the effortless, unique art of enamel and its making.
Its' Gold' O Clock: Gold Plated Necklace set
In the history of human civilization, the glamor and desirability of gold has never seen a low point. Since time immemorial, gold has been the first choice for women across the globe. For an outstation conference, gold can act symbolic of being cultured and take the shape of being well connected to the roots, apart from appearing simply brilliant.
With all the necklaces set and done, the article must have left your mind brimming with ideas for your next outstation conference. Last but not the least, be reminded that it is very pertinent to bring along your best set of dresses with your best set of necklaces but not never forget your top level of confidence, charm and freshest burst of energy.
For more such beautiful necklace sets that will absolutely go with your attire at the next outstation conference, you can check out Blingvine's latest collection of necklace sets.
6 Bold Valentine's Day Gifts
Let's take a look at some Valentine's day gift ideas that'll sweep the floor from under their feet!
Best Valentine's Day Gifts For Specific Eras
Valentine's gift ideas for specific eras has got you confused? Read the article to find out the most nostalgic valentine's day gifts for your valentine.
Useful Gifts For To Get Him This Valentine's Day
With the amount of gifts one can receive in a year, the events of gifting can blend into each other. In such an instance, you'd probably want to make your...


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CDPR Is Already Acting Like A Big Publisher
Published: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 - 12:00 | By: Andrew Otton
Gaming Opinions
Game Info More about this game
Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Google Stadia
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Didn't take long to get here, either
The Witcher 3 only released back in 2015, and for those that don't remember, CD Projekt Red was surging in popularity, but they weren't necessarily a household name. In that short five years, CDPR has become one of the most well-known companies in gaming. That explosion of success and notoriety seems to have had a negative impact on them overall.
Ironically, the main characters of Cyberpunk 2077 all rail against the actions of corporations. I mean, part of the game is sympathizing with a guy who hated a corporation so much he literally took a giant bomb to their massive headquarters and blew it up. Really hard not to notice the irony with the corpo crap CDPR has pulled so far with Cyberpunk 2077.
The first big sign of concern was journalist Jason Schreier's reporting on CDPR's use of crunch in development. I'm not going to get into crunch at all, you can read more about it here, other than to say that its use is unacceptable. Further, the alleged way crunch was used at CDPR for Cyberpunk 2077 is abhorrent.
This guy has a lot to say about big corps.
Something all big publishers share is their obsession with control. That control comes in the messaging for their game, like the marketing, and who they do and do not give access to. Anyone in the gaming press that's had to deal with the big publishers will know exactly what I'm talking about.
I once had a recorded interview with a developer where someone from one of those big companies constantly interrupted to say we couldn't use that, can't talk about that, etc., basically ruining the interview. So, even to that micro level, they're all about controlling a message.
In the case of CDPR and Cyberpunk 2077, they exerted control over the review process. Not since Bethesda's ridiculous actions in 2016, basically saying no more review copies before launch, has a company's handling of reviews been so poor.
For the transparency of our experience, we submitted for a PC review copy as soon as we could, only to receive approval for that copy the day before release. Based on what we were told, that was the case for all North American reviewers that were not in the initial batch of reviews.
While not unusual, only a select few received early review copies. That's the norm with big games, as CDPR does have an interest in only giving it to trusted reviewers who aren't going to leak things. However, the reviews were only on PC, so no console reviews.
pic.twitter.com/jtF5WKCiro
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) December 14, 2020
Anyone following this story knows that's the case, and in the above tweet, CDPR admits that was the case and they made a mistake. It's particularly egregious because the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions run so terribly and are so buggy they're not really worth playing. Definitely not ready for release.
CDPR claimed in a recent conference call that they had every intention of giving reviewers console versions of the game, and that they wanted to show footage of Cyberpunk 2077 running on last-gen consoles. However, they ran out of time as they were working on the console versions right up to the end, only getting review copies out the day before release.
They also said they had lost sight of last-gen console versions of the game to focus on PC and the newest gen. The management team and the board shouldered the blame here, saying additionally that they were also far too focused on launching the game. They say as much in the tweet as well, that they knew the problems but pushed it out the door anyway.
In other words, CDPR absolutely knew the state those versions were in, waited as long as they could with pressure mounting that no console reviews were out, relented, and then sent those copies out. They then sold those versions anyway.
During that same conference call, one of the CDPR board member's only real "defense" or reply to questions about the console versions was that you could play Cyberpunk 2077. It wasn't unplayable and completely broken. If that's all they can say, they know just how awful those versions currently are.
So, CDPR seemed to deliberately hold back console reviews to hide the state those versions were in. Obviously, if we had reviews out several days to a week before release, it probably would have affected sales. Unfortunately, console reviews weren't the only ones handled poorly.
The first batch of reviews, which were very positive, were only on PC. The big limitation here was that any video review had to use the provided b-roll footage from CDPR. None of those first reviews could publish their captured footage at the time of their review. They could only release that footage at the embargo, which was about 12 hours before the worldwide launch on PC.
What other reason could there be to put that limitation on reviews other than to control the public's perception of the game? There is absolutely no defense of it. As I said, PC is in a better state with no real game-breaking bugs, but man are there are a lot of visual and other small bugs going on all the time. Reviews mentioned them, but imagine, as CDPR, a bunch of videos out there with bugs littered throughout a week before launch? Obviously, they did not want to see that happen.
Combining how they handled both PC and console reviews, it's hard to come away thinking anything other than ill intentions here. There is absolutely no way they were not aware of the states of their game across the versions and what their actions were doing.
CDPR recently announced they had sold over 8 million preorders of Cyberpunk 2077. That's a lot of pre-orders to try to hold onto. In that same conference call, they said that 59% were PC sales. With their limitations on video reviews, they were doing their best to protect all of that 8 million, and with how they handled console reviews, they were thinking of the 3 million+ sales they already had in the bag. None of this takes into account the likely million more on release day.
So, the incentive to control the reviews and manipulate them in their favor was extremely high. And do not forget, this was all at the expense of you, the people buying the game. CDPR was protecting themselves from lost sales, knowing their product had significant issues. We can't forget just how much of a betrayal this is to the developers of the game as well, lumping them in with this negative image when they have zero say when the game comes out.
And to be absolutely clear, the buggy mess in the game, while a problem, pales in comparison to CDPR's attempts to hide it. The best, most fair light this could be shed in is that CDPR had painted themselves into a corner and knew they couldn't delay the game again. So, they chose to protect their product with a series of awful decisions. In other words, the situation created this line of thinking, and they would not naturally have come to it. Still terrible, though more forgiving, and it is a very forgiving interpretation of what happened.
But why does it all matter?
Everything is stacked in favor of the big publisher when they are selling you a game. They have the money to make sure the games look flashy, they shove the marketing down our throats, and they choose what the public does and doesn't get to see.
One of the very few things that allow people to make informed decisions on whether to buy a game or not is a review. It is the only check against misleading advertising employed by these big companies. In a different way—as their intent is not necessarily to assess the game—influencers, let's players, and folks like that are important too, as they are third party showing off the game. It's not a well-rehearsed, meticulously designed demo or video pointed at your face.
Anything that affects a reviewer's attempt to convey accurate information about a game is absolutely unacceptable and indefensible. Companies have every right to protect their product, but if they want to have third-party reviews, then they have to agree that their autonomy is paramount. That is why this is all so important.
By and large, gaming media is just part of the marketing arm of games, particularly the big companies. They control what the gaming media sees and publish in almost every situation, and reviews are the one place they largely can't. So, any time that freedom to inform is threatened, it's a huge problem.
I won't go into the marketing of Cyberpunk 2077 much, as there is just so much to dissect, but they definitely made promises that weren't kept and misled on others. They also didn't do much to temper expectations either, leading to what was likely the most hyped game of all time. For example, when it was announced that you could customize the genitalia of your character, the inference everyone made was Cyberpunk 2077's character creator was going to have insane levels of detail. Well, not so much.
As of now, CDPR is offering refunds for Cyberpunk 2077 owners. That is definitely the right way to go about things, but it's hard not to also see it as the ideal for the situation they created. Refunding can be a hassle, and with the promise that they will fix the game, many people will choose to hang onto it instead. So, no canceled preorders. Plus, they're setting it up for people to praise all their hard work once everything is more or less fixed. Win win, all things considered.
There's a lot of work to be done to repair their image as one of the most pro-consumer developers out there, and who knows if they can ever get back to what they once were. To be fair to CDPR, their track record with business practices that largely benefited gamers was stellar up until now. No doubt about that whatsoever.
For now, their public messaging suggests they're committed to trying to get that back. If they do make honest attempts to do that, I'd have no problem going back to being one who sings their praises. It's going to take a lot to get me there, though.
Is CD Projekt Red's Crunch For Cyberpunk 2077 Fair?
The Uncanny Tone of Cyberpunk 2077
Andrew Otton
Editor in Chief at TechRaptor. Has long believed Dynasty Warriors 4 to be the pinnacle of gaming.


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« Episode 15: National Library Week
Library Trustees Meeting: Rescheduled »
Library Reopening
April 15, 2021 by dalandlibrary
The Library Trustees, along with the staff, are excited to announce the reopening of the Daland Memorial Library on Tuesday, April 20th.The Library will be open Tuesday-Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday 2pm-6pm, and Saturday 10am-1pm. Due to the space constraints of the building, Walk Through Service will be provided with a maximum capacity of (3) patrons at one time. Social distancing rules will apply and masks are required in the building. Curbside Pickup will remain open daily as an alternative service to entering the main building. In this phase, there will be no indoor public meetings, no indoor programs, no indoor seating, or access to the public computer. The backyard remains open for outdoor programs, outdoor meetings, and free WiFi as weather permits.We thank the community for their patience and support as we move through the planned phases towards fully reopening. The health and well-being of the community, patrons, and library staff are top priority for the Library Trustees. We look forward to welcoming you back to the library.


Standards on office lighting provide invaluable guidance on what to do and what not to do. But creating truly great workplace lighting is about much more than just adhering to the recommended numbers. Here's what you need to know to go beyond the standards.
Employers the world over are waking up to the huge influence that office lighting has on the health and productivity of their people. But many people still work under light they find uncomfortable. Key tools for fixing this are the various established standards and guidelines on office lighting. But simply adhering to the standards is not enough. It's perfectly possible to follow the recommendations and still come up with a poor lighting design. We need to look at the bigger picture. Historically, the focus of lighting for offices has been on visual performance, comfort and aesthetics. The most important factors are light levels, distribution, colour rendering and glare, all of which are covered in the European standard for workplace lighting, EN12464, and in numerous office lighting guidelines. But these factors only tell part of the story of how lighting affects people at work.
Humans evolved by the light of the sun, and our bodies use the sun's light to see, but also to set our body clocks and control our sleep-wake cycles. This means the right light at the right time keeps our minds alert and our bodies running smoothly. Too little light – or too much at the wrong time – disrupts our natural rhythms.
Unfortunately, most of the guidelines used for lighting offices were developed before such effects were understood. For example, when computers became commonplace in offices in the 1980s, it was recommended that offices be lit with high levels of horizontal illuminance and lower levels of vertical illuminance, to avoid glare on screens. Luminaires that met these requirements became the norm in offices. The unintended consequence was to limit the amount of light getting to people's eyes, meaning that workers weren't getting enough light to keep them alert. In a 2005 study using mock-up offices, lower levels of vertical illuminance were found to be linked to greater fatigue and worse sleep. The researchers came to the conclusion that the lighting in the majority of offices would not provide enough vertical illuminance, even if it met the standards.
Similarly, a study by Thorn's sister company Zumtobel and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering found that a majority of people preferred light levels of 800 lux or higher in an office setting – even though EN12464 only specifies 500 lux for desk-based tasks and 300 lux for filing and administration. EN12464 also recommends maximum glare levels for different tasks, using the unified glare rating (UGR) metric. But UGR doesn't capture everything. Recent research shows that a direct view of multiple small, intense light sources, such as the bright spots of LEDs in a ceiling light, can appear more glary than a single source – something that UGR does not predict.
Standards and guidelines provide a valuable baseline and help us avoid common mistakes, but coming up with a truly healthy lighting design requires a more holistic approach. What if, instead of judging the effectiveness of lighting by how much light the luminaires emit and how much electricity they use, we judged it by its value in creating a place to work that keeps people healthy and delivering their best? The knowledge, experience and judgement of a good contractor can make the difference between good and bad office lighting for the client.
Thorn's workplace lighting products put people at the centre of lighting design. Good design and an appreciation of how light affects people allows us to create lighting that supports comfort and wellbeing, while also being affordable, and easy to install and maintain. We do this by following the simple principles of lighting for the task, space and face. If the task can be clearly seen, the space is comfortable to be in and faces are lit clearly and evenly, then we will have created a well-lit workplace.Lighting standards are a huge help, but use them with care. Your own advice and judgement on what works can add considerable value for your customers.