Patents Examined by Chad Rapp
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Patent number: 8935008Abstract: A method for detecting heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) components is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring an initial current at a current sensor in a circuit, while a relay is de-energized; energizing the relay; measuring, at a periodic interval, an energized current while the relay is energized; incrementing a counter if an absolute difference between a first voltage related to the energized current and a second voltage related to the initial current is above a threshold; and determining a HVAC component is present if the counter exceeds a pre-determined value during a pre-determined time period.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Timothy Wayne Storm, Daniel J. Mitchell
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Patent number: 8924001Abstract: Based on a model for determining optical emission intensity values Y at wavelengths from actuator values X of an etching apparatus, X is calculated from Y to achieve preferable Run-to-Run control over Y. A relation between X and Y is defined as a control model (matrix model C1, ratio-constraint model C2) based on an algebraical expression with ?X as an input and ?Y as an output. In etching process control, ?X (manipulated volume) is calculated from ?Y (controlled volume) using the control model, based on a non-control optical emission intensity value Y, to set X (S1) for the etching process, during which Y is monitored. Based on an actual value for Y, a non-control optical emission intensity value Y to be used in the next wafer etching process is calculated.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Toshihiro Morisawa, Daisuke Shiraishi, Satomi Inoue, Akira Kagoshima
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Patent number: 8903559Abstract: A commissioning method and system. The method includes receiving details of a configuring process enabled by a power grid monitoring/control device associated with a power grid network topology comprising monitoring points associated and a power distribution grid. The power grid network topology is validated with respect to a configuration of measurement types, event types, and controls of the power distribution grid. Network point identifiers for each of the monitoring points are retrieved and a mapping report associating the power grid monitoring/control device with the power grid network topology using the network point identifiers is generated. The power grid monitoring/control device is registered for remote operation functionality and multiple grid events. The power grid monitoring/control device is commissioned into the power distribution grid.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2014Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael L. Coyne, Vrunda R. Negandhi, Pradeep Pappu, Manish C. Patel, Abhay K. Patra
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Patent number: 8897925Abstract: A heat dissipation control system comprises a sensing unit, an artificial neural network computing unit, and two heat dissipation units. The artificial neural network computing unit performs computation for controlling based on a plurality of electronic-device temperatures sent out by the sensing unit. The computation for controlling performs a back propagation algorithm on an objective function which is defined a as the square of an error function. Accordingly, cooling effects suitable for the heat dissipation units are generated in order to achieve an optimum heat dissipation effect.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Inventec CorporationInventors: Chien-An Chen, Chih-Chien Lin
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Patent number: 8892262Abstract: A programmable wall station system for controlling automated coverings includes at least one automated covering adapted to receive command signals, and a computer which includes a processor and a computer connection port. The processor is programmed to receive location input, position input for the automated coverings, schedule input, and generate scheduled events based on any of the received input. A wall station includes a controller and a station connection port that is linkable to the computer connection port. The controller is programmed to receive scheduled events from the processor when the station connection port and computer connection port are linked to one another and generate command signals based on the scheduled events for receipt by the automated covering to control its operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Qmotion IncorporatedInventors: Willis J. Mullet, Ben L. Garcia, Yan Rodriguez, Jeffrey P. Hughes, Matthew W. Kirkland, Jonathan L. Watts
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Patent number: 8831767Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a parameter of a measurement device during polishing, damage to a specimen during polishing, a characteristic of a polishing pad, or a characteristic of a polishing tool are provided. One method includes scanning a specimen with a measurement device during polishing of a specimen to generate output signals at measurement spots on the specimen. The method also includes determining if the output signals are outside of a range of output signals. Output signals outside of the range may indicate that a parameter of the measurement device is out of control limits. In a different embodiment, output signals outside of the range may indicate damage to the specimen. Another method includes scanning a polishing pad with a measurement device to generate output signals at measurement spots on the polishing pad. The method also includes determining a characteristic of the polishing pad from the output signals.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corp.Inventors: Kurt Lehman, Charles Chen, Ronald L. Allen, Robert Shinagawa, Anantha Sethuraman, Christopher F. Bevis, Thanassis Trikas, Haiguang Chen, Ching Ling Meng
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Patent number: 8798774Abstract: Each of the water heaters 1 performs a master and slave setting process that transmits prescribed response data to the other water heaters 1 via a communication line 8 at a timing according to its own identification number and different from those of the other water heaters in a prescribed master and slave setting time period, that sets the water heater itself to slave in a case of receiving the response data from another water heater 1 assigned with an identification number having a priority higher than its own identification number in the master and slave setting time period, and that sets the water heater itself to master in a case of not receiving the response data from another water heater assigned with an identification number having a priority higher than its own identification number in the master and slave setting time period.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Rinnai CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Mori, Yukihiro Suzuki
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Patent number: 8793021Abstract: An appliance for conditioning air of a room comprises one or more power consuming features/functions including a temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the appliance in the energy savings mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric K. Watson, John K. Besore, Brice Alan Bowley, Jeff Donald Drake, Michael F. Finch, John Joseph Roetker, Steven Keith Root, Gregory M. Thomas, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan
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Patent number: 8774959Abstract: Provided is a method of calculating a temperature distribution with higher accuracy than a conventional method, which calculates a temperature distribution of an inner surface of a silica powder molded body during manufacturing based on boundary conditions corrected in accordance with the actually measured temperature in consideration of plasma radiation by arc discharge and heat radiation of arc discharge.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignees: Japan Super Quartz Corporation, Shibaura Institute of TechnologyInventors: Toshiaki Sudo, Eriko Suzuki, Naoki Ono
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Patent number: 8738156Abstract: A bra comprises a signal-activated fastener which may be utilized to unfasten the bra when the signal-activated fastener receives a clapping sound generated by a person clapping his/her hands. Specifically, a strapless bra includes a sensor, a controller, and a fastener assembly cooperating to cause the bra to unfasten upon reception of the clapping sound.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Biometric Lingerie, Inc.Inventor: Michael Mansour Ahmadshahi
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Patent number: 8718829Abstract: A commissioning method and system. The method includes receiving details of a configuring process enabled by a power grid monitoring/control device associated with a power grid network topology comprising monitoring points associated and a power distribution grid. The power grid network topology is validated with respect to a configuration of measurement types, event types, and controls of the power distribution grid. Network point identifiers for each of the monitoring points are retrieved and a mapping report associating the power grid monitoring/control device with the power grid network topology using the network point identifiers is generated. The power grid monitoring/control device is registered for remote operation functionality and multiple grid events. The power grid monitoring/control device is commissioned into the power distribution grid.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael L. Coyne, Vrunda R. Negandhi, Pradeep Pappu, Manish C. Patel, Abhay K. Patra
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Patent number: 8718800Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for changing a mode in a proportional integral differential (PID) controller, which removes an impact generated in a mode change and stably performs the mode change when the operational mode of the PID controller is changed from a manual mode into an automatic mode or vice versa. The apparatus includes a PID operator configured to generate a driving signal by performing a PID operation in an automatic mode or a manual mode based on a manual mode change signal or an automatic mode change signal; a manual mode buffer configured to process the generated driving signal and output the processed driving signal to a load driver when the manual mode change signal is generated; and a speed difference integral calculator configured to analyze the generated driving signal and output the analyzed driving signal to the PID operator when the automatic mode change signal is generated.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tae Soo Jung
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Patent number: 8676391Abstract: System and method for controlling a stuck nozzle system installed between first and second turbines connected in series to a compressor. The method includes determining whether the nozzle system is stuck; instructing the first turbine to increase a minimum speed reference when the nozzle system is stuck; verifying whether the nozzle system continues to be stuck; instructing the compressor to increase an inlet bleed heat (IBH) flow from a current value to a maximum value when the nozzle system is stuck; verifying whether the nozzle system continues to be stuck; and instructing the compressor to increase an inlet guide vanes (IGV) angle from a current value to a maximum value when the nozzle system is stuck.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.Inventors: Carmine Allegorico, Carlo Trombi
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Patent number: 8660708Abstract: A system provides space conditioning zone control in a building for efficient energy use and conservation of energy resources. The system includes an energy transfer module coupled to a solar thermal system to receive a first airflow and an auxiliary thermal module coupled to the energy transfer module for processing a return airflow to provide a conditioned airflow for one or more spatial zones. The system further includes a zone controller coupled directly to the auxiliary thermal module and a thermostat in each spatial zone for operating the auxiliary thermal module. Furthermore, the system includes a master control module wirelessly communicated with each thermostat and configured to operate the energy transfer module. The master control module initiates a transfer of the first airflow based upon a first setpoint before the zone controller initiates a generation and transfer of the conditioned airflow based upon a second setpoint.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: PVT Solar, Inc.Inventors: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy, Joshua R. Plaisted
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Patent number: 8655489Abstract: An air-conditioning controller is configured to receive an operation input for an air-conditioning apparatus capable of being set to a plurality of airflow direction settings. The air-conditioning controller includes a switching button, a determination unit and a display unit. The switching button is for switching between the airflow direction settings. The determination unit is configured to determine a currently selected airflow direction setting based on an operation input inputted via the switching button. The display unit is configured to simultaneously display an image and a character corresponding to the airflow direction setting determined to be currently selected by the determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2008Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Kaya Horiuchi, Hisashi Sumida, Takashi Hasegawa, Kiyoshi Shima
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Patent number: 8645000Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature controller having phase control and zero-cross cycle control function that can be achieved at a low cost by controlling power that is supplied to a load, by generating a phase control signal or a zero-cross control signal according to control target temperature of a load, using a microcomputer.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Autonics CorporationInventor: Hwan-Ki Park
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Patent number: 8644994Abstract: A spatial correlation system and method is disclosed to infer and anticipate the environmental and other conditions of an energy park from individual energy collector information. Individual collector information is acquired and formatted into a pixelized image according to the spatial location of the collector. Image processing and other spatial correlating algorithms are applied to generate spatially correlated descriptions of the energy park. The descriptions are of the current and anticipated conditions. The collectors are made to respond to the descriptions in order to maximize energy collection, avoid disruptive conditions, and reduce stress loading. The system combines locally acquired collection information in a manner that replaces costly collector instrumentation.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Inventor: Kitchener Clark Wilson
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Patent number: 8626320Abstract: A process in an electro-mechanical system having a plurality of controllable components, is controlled by: (a) storing component objects each corresponding to a component and having activation and/or feedback data for that component; (b) storing operation objects each referencing an operation to be carried out on a component and a pointer to the relevant component object; (c) storing process steps each referring to operation objects; and (d) sequentially processing process steps, by: following each reference to an operation object to determine the operation type and the component object, and performing a data operation to be component object to cause the operation to be carried out on the relevant component. In this way, a system controller can be used to activate components in dependence on the activation state of corresponding component objects and to update the feedback states of component objects in dependence on signals received from the components.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Inventors: Timothy Sexton, Eoai Keogh
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Patent number: 8600559Abstract: The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes a sensor and a local controller. The sensor is configured to detect a fault condition associated with operation of a demand unit. The local controller, associated with the demand unit, is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor and to communicate the sensor data over the network. A network controller is configured to receive the sensor data via the communication network and to generate an alert in the event that the sensor data indicates the fault condition.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Wojciech Grohman, Darko Hadzidedic, Kamala Kodihally Nanjundeshaiah, Michael Courtney
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Patent number: 8600524Abstract: A control system, a safety system, etc., within a process plant may each use one or more state machine function blocks that can be easily integrated into a function block diagram programming environment. Such a state machine function block may include one or more inputs, which may cause astute machine implemented by the state machine function block to change states. The state machine function block may determine a next state to which it is to transition based, at least in part, on data indicative of the next state to which to transition, if any. The configuration data may be retrieved from a database based on the current state of the state machine and at least one of the inputs. The state machine function block may also include one or more outputs that are generated based on the state of the state machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Gary K. Law, Michael G. Ott, Kent A. Burr, Godfrey R. Sherriff