Patents Examined by Jay B Hann
  • Patent number: 9727928
    Abstract: A method of selecting an injectate for recovering liquid hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes designing a plurality of injectates, calculating a net present value of each injectate, and selecting a candidate injectate based on the net present value. For example, the candidate injectate may be selected to maximize the net present value of a waterflooding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Helmuth J. Heneman, Patrick V. Brady
  • Patent number: 9720393
    Abstract: An automated control of a system having a plurality of cooperating components involving controlled elements and sensors uses a simulator configured to simulate operation of the components. The simulator stores data representing states of the components and modifies the states over time in accordance with simulated operation of the system. An input module receives data from at least the sensors and updates in the simulator the data representing states of the components. An output module reads from the simulator the data representing states of the components and generates at least controlled element control signals for the controlled elements of the components. The simulator contains a virtual state machine representing the system, and automation of the system is achieved without state machine logic representing the system within the input module and the output module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: P.C. Automax inc.
    Inventor: Pierre E Cote
  • Patent number: 9711066
    Abstract: The Invention provides a method of determining a position of an object in a virtual environment and for assessing a performance in the movement of said object. Preferred embodiments provide an improved endoscope simulator and means for assessing performance in the use of an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Airway Limited
    Inventor: Paul Van Dinther
  • Patent number: 9691171
    Abstract: Systems and processes providing a tool for visualizing parallel dependency graph evaluation in computer animation are provided. Runtime evaluation data of a parallel dependency graph may be collected, including the start time and stop time for each node in the graph. The visualization tool may process the data to generate performance visualizations as well as other analysis features. Performance visualizations may illustrate the level of concurrency over time during parallel dependency graph evaluation. Performance visualizations may be generated by graphing node blocks according to node start time and stop time as well as the level of concurrency at a given time to illustrate parallelism. Performance visualizations may enable character technical directors, character riggers, programmers, and other users to evaluate how well parallelism is expressed in parallel dependency graphs in computer animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: DreamWorks Animation LLC
    Inventors: Martin Peter Watt, Brendan Duncan
  • Patent number: 9659031
    Abstract: A distributed storage system has a plurality of instances. A computer system simulates the state of the distributed storage system. The system obtains a current state of the distributed storage system and replication policies for objects in the distributed storage system. Each replication policy specifies criteria for placing copies of the relevant objects among the plurality of instances. The system receives proposed modifications to the state of the distributed storage system and simulates the state of the distributed storage system over time based on the current state of the distributed storage system, current statistical trends in the state of the distributed storage system, the replication policies for the objects in the distributed storage system, and the proposed modifications to the state of the distributed storage system. One or more reports are generated relating to time evolution of the state of the distributed storage system based on the simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Yonatan Zunger, Alexandre Drobychev, Alexander Kesselman, Rebekah C. Vickrey, Frank Clare Dachille, George Datuashvili
  • Patent number: 9633323
    Abstract: An integrated modeling and analysis system (IMAS) receives documents containing information relating to an overall operations system from a number of integrated product teams (IPTs). The IMAS creates a model architecture of the overall system the information received from the participating IPTs. The IMAS automatically imports the information without any interaction from support personnel. A discrete event modeling (DES) application in communication with the IMAS creates a DES model based on the model architecture in the IMAS. The DES application runs a simulation on the model generating statistical data relating to the overall system for analysis. The statistical data generates output reports in a format compatible with the analysis tools of the user. The IMAS includes a customizable user interface which allows a stakeholder to link and control the modeling information received from all other participating IPTs. Prior simulations and results can be archived for later reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. Fairbrother, Kimberly Z. Homsher, Dennis J. Genaw, Michael A. Leonardo
  • Patent number: 9626466
    Abstract: A variable discretization method for general multiphase flow simulation in a producing hydrocarbon reservoir. For subsurface regions for which a regular or Voronoi computational mesh is suitable, a finite difference/finite volume method (“FDM”) is used to discretize numerical solution of the differential equations governing fluid flow (101). For subsurface regions with more complex geometries, a finite element method (“FEM”) is used. The invention combines FDM and FEM in a single computational framework (102). Mathematical coupling at interfaces between different discretization regions is accomplished by decomposing individual phase velocity into an averaged component and a correction term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Yahan Yang, Linfeng Bi, Weidong Guo, Rossen Parashkevov, Xiaohui Wu
  • Patent number: 9597003
    Abstract: A cardiac signal generator includes a first circuit, a user input device, an output display, and a processing circuit. The first circuit provides, according to any of predetermined plurality of settings, cardiac signals comprising a repeating cardiac waveform, and respiratory signals comprising a repeated respiratory waveform. The output display includes a plurality of indicators, each indicator corresponding to one of the plurality of settings. Each setting includes a combination of a frequency of repetition of the cardiac waveform and a frequency of repetition of the respiratory waveform. The processing circuit causes the first circuit to provide cardiac and respiratory signals according to a selected one of the plurality of settings. The processing circuit is further configured to receive a signal from the user input device, and change the selected setting from a first setting of the plurality of settings to a second setting of the plurality of settings responsive thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MEDXCEL, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cadick, Dax Hafer
  • Patent number: 9588938
    Abstract: A device receives an initial model of a system and information that identifies a solving technique to be used to solve a mathematical problem associated with the initial model. The initial model includes an initial transfer function that describes a relationship between an input to and an output from the system. The device determines an error associated with the solving technique, resulting in an inaccurate solution to the mathematical problem. The device generates an adjusted model, based on the initial model and the error, that includes an adjusted transfer function, based on the initial transfer function, or an adjusted input to the system, based on the input to the system. The device applies the solving technique to the adjusted model, to generate a result that includes a more accurate solution to the mathematical problem than applying the solving technique to the initial model, and outputs or stores the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyson C. McNulty, Joseph J. Wargo
  • Patent number: 9519748
    Abstract: A design assistance device for a steering device and a method of assisting a steering device design which assists a design of a steering device including an intermediate shaft by using existing components of a tube yoke and a shaft yoke. A design assistance device 1 for a steering device displays a select button on a display device when a fitting length of the combination of a candidate component of the tube yoke and a candidate component of the shaft yoke satisfies a condition of a fitting length. When the select button is selected, a control device 4 may receive information in which a drawing selected by a designer is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Tomaru, Naoki Sawada, Akira Ichikawa, Ryou Oosawa
  • Patent number: 9494482
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for predicting whether a point on a computer-generated aircraft or vehicle surface is adjacent to laminar or turbulent flow is made using a transition prediction technique. A plurality of boundary-layer properties at the point are obtained from a steady-state solution of a fluid flow in a region adjacent to the point. Included in the list of boundary-layer properties are computed coefficients or weights of mode shapes that describe the boundary-layer profiles. A plurality of instability modes are obtained, each defined by one or more mode parameters. A vector of regressor weights is obtained for the known instability growth rates in a training dataset. For each instability mode in the plurality of instability modes, a covariance vector is determined, which is the covariance of a predicted local growth rate with the known instability growth rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Aerion Corporation
    Inventors: Dev Rajnarayan, Peter Sturdza
  • Patent number: 9494709
    Abstract: A subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir with wells is simulated by sequential solution of reservoir and well equations to simulate fluid flow inside the reservoir and well production rates. Sequential solution of reservoir and well equations treats wells as specified bottom hole pressure wells. This avoids solving large matrices resulting from the simultaneous solution of the reservoir and well equations which can be computationally very expensive for large number of unknowns and require special sparse matrix solvers. Such sequential solution involves regular reservoir system solvers complemented by a small matrix for the numerical solution of the well bottom hole pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ali H. Dogru
  • Patent number: 9489346
    Abstract: A method for modeling a set of observed data comprises selecting a reference model and an alternative model as possible descriptions of the set of observed data, and storing an index function for measuring fit of models to data. The method further includes performing, by one or more processors, a simulated threshold-fitting for a first of the two models, deriving an initial simulated index for the second model for fitting the second model to the simulated data, and deriving an initial boundary for simulated index difference including calculating a difference between the threshold-fit simulated index for the first model and the initial simulated index for the second model. The method further includes determining, based on a comparison, whether to update a counter used in calculating a simulated p-value, and selecting, based on the simulated p-value, one of the reference and alternative models for modeling the set of observed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Mathworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Gautam Pendse, Thomas Lane
  • Patent number: 9489756
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer program product provide the ability to utilize a degree of freedom (DOF) for a construction. In a preparation phase, a graph structure is constructed from a construction model that transforms construction primitives into graph primitives. In a search phase, all compact sub-graphs of the graph structure are identified. In a counting phase, a DOF is calculated for each compact sub-graph and adjusted based on interactions between the compact sub-graphs. In an internal DOF searching phase, an internal DOF is computed for each compact sub-graph and used to determine and solve overconstrained sub-graphs. A determination regarding whether a structure of the construction model can be modified based on the DOF and internal DOF is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventor: Michal Hrcka
  • Patent number: 9481217
    Abstract: In a computerized method for generating a finite element model of a pneumatic tire provided in the tread portion with a zero-degree band, a 2D tire model is firstly generated based on the finished tire shape in a tire vulcanization mold, where the 2D tire model includes a 2D model of a band ply. Secondary, a residual stress is computed and defined on each element of the band ply model. Then, a deformation calculation is made on the 2D tire model to obtain the deformed 2D tire model. Finally, a 3D tire model is generated by duplicating the 2D tire model around the tire rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoaki Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9449145
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for assessing a risk of disease. One method includes obtaining an anatomic model associated with a target anatomy; modeling, using a processor, an injection of one or more virtual contrast agents into the anatomic model; performing a simulation of flow of blood and the one or more virtual contrast agents through the anatomic model; and computing one or more characteristics of concentration associated with the one or more virtual contrast agents at one or more locations in the anatomic model based on the simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Sethuraman Sankaran, Leo J. Grady, Charles A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9416642
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software can be used to simulate a fracture treatment. In some aspects, physically separate rock blocks of a subterranean zone are modeled by separate block models. The block model for each physically separate rock block represents intra-block mechanics of the rock block, for example, as a group of discrete block elements. Interactions between adjacent pairs of the rock blocks are modeled by separate joint models. The joint model for each adjacent pair of rock blocks represents inter-block mechanics between the adjacent rock blocks, for example, as pre-defined joints. The block models and joint models are used to simulate an injection treatment of the subterranean zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Bai, Samuel Bryant Johnson, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Patent number: 9400853
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying under-defined geometries due to singular constraint schemes. A method includes receiving a CAD model having a plurality of geometries and determining the degrees of freedom for each of the geometries. The method includes identifying a number of constraints on each of the geometries and identifying any of the geometries that are under-defined and any of the geometries that are well-defined. The method includes identifying any of the under-defined geometries that are under-defined due to singular (UDS) and storing a UDS indicator for each of the geometries identified as UDS. The method can include identifying geometries computed from these UDS geometries (CFS) and storing a CFS indicator for each of the geometries identified as CFS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Brookes, Peter A. Knight, Ian J. Morrison
  • Patent number: 9358083
    Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of designing a number of dental restorations for a patient, wherein the method includes: selecting a composed set of teeth including a number of teeth, where the number of teeth are arranged spatially relative to each other forming a high aesthetic composition; applying the composed set of teeth to a virtual three dimensional representation of the patient's present oral situation to obtain an initial set of teeth; optionally modifying one or more parameters of one or more of the teeth in the initial set of teeth to obtain a finalized set of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: 3SHAPE A/S
    Inventors: Tais Clausen, Rune Fisker, Sven Nonboe
  • Patent number: 9361274
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for interaction detection for generalized linear models. Basic statistics are calculated for a pair of categorical predictor variables and a target variable from a dataset during a single pass over the dataset. It is determined whether there is a significant interaction effect for the pair of categorical predictor variables on the target variable by: calculating a log-likelihood value for a full generalized linear model without estimating model parameters; calculating the model parameters for a reduced generalized linear model with a recursive marginal mean accumulation technique using the basic statistics; calculating a log-likelihood value for the reduced generalized linear model; calculating a likelihood ratio test statistic using the log-likelihood value for the full generalized linear model and the log-likelihood value for the reduced generalized linear model; calculating a p-value of the likelihood ratio test statistic; and comparing the p-value to a significance level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yea J. Chu, Sier Han, Jing-Yun Shyr