Patents Examined by Robert Fennema
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Patent number: 9789629Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting concrete rheology requiring only that load size and target rheology value be selected initially rather than requiring inputs into and consultation of a lookup table of parameters such as water and hydration levels, mix components, temperature, humidity, aggregate components, and others. Dosage of particular rheology-modifying agent or combination of rheology-modifying agents is calculated based on a percentage of a nominal dose calculated with reference to a nominal dose response (“NDR”) curve or profile. The NDR profile is based on a correlation between a rheology value (e.g., slump, slump flow, yield stress) and the rheology-modifying agent(s) dose required to change rheology value by one unit (e.g., slump change from 2 to 3 inches) such that exemplary methods can employ corrective dosing based on the NDR and the measured deviation by the system.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: VERIFI LLCInventors: Eric Koehler, Mark F. Roberts, Roy J Cooley, Steve Verdino
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Patent number: 9778644Abstract: A method for control of a drive for a tool or workpiece uses pilot control and a device with a control apparatus, the pilot control taking place depending on a frequency of movement. At least one of a frequency component of the reference value, a spectrum of the reference value, and a part thereof is used as the frequency of movement. At least one pilot factor is determined depending on the frequency of movement, and the at least one determined pilot factor, multiplied with a pilot value that corresponds to or is a derivative of the reference variable is used for pilot control. In this way, a contouring error can be advantageously reduced.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Schneider GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Gunter Schneider, Christoph Klein
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Patent number: 9778627Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a power network that includes a plurality of power generation facilities connected to an electricity grid and a plurality of power storage facilities connected to the power generation facilities. The method includes monitoring a production capacity of the power generation facilities, monitoring a storage capacity of the power storage facilities and determining an optimal facility control plan on the basis of the storage capacity and the production capacity. The method further includes operating the power network, according to the facility control plan, to feed power from the power generation facilities into the electricity grid and/or to transfer power from the power generation facilities to the power storage facilities and/or to consume power from the power storage facilities.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Michael Stoettrup, Kaj Skov Nielsen
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Patent number: 9774191Abstract: The invention provides a method for coping with an unintentional islanding of an electrical distribution grid within a Commelec-type framework for the real-time control of micro-grids, of Resource Agents (RA) controlled by Grid Agents (GA), comprising at least maintain at any time before the unintentional islanding occurs a rating of all resource agents controlled by a same grid agent in view of their ability to be a slack resource, by computing the rating based on a power availability and on a state-of-energy of each resource, the state-of-energy quantifying an amount of energy that may be withdrawn from a potential slack irrespectively of a PQ profile, whereby the PQ profile describes bounds for active and reactive power that a resource can inject or absorb; and a shedding list of all the resources that have to be shed if a current best candidate slack resource is selected, the current best candidate slack resource being the slack resource having the best rating of all resources as determined in the step ofType: GrantFiled: September 6, 2015Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)Inventors: Mario Paolone, Jean-Yves Le Boudec, Andrey Bernstein, Lorenzo Enrique Reyes Chamarro
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Patent number: 9766600Abstract: A system for and a method of supplying electrical power to a plurality of refrigerated containers. The method includes obtaining carriage criteria of one or more refrigerated containers, processing the carriage criteria in a central processor configured to control power supply to a plurality of refrigerated containers, on basis of output of the central processor, managing electrical power supply to the plurality of refrigerated containers.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: APM TERMINALS MANAGEMENT B.V.Inventor: Ross Colin Clarke
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Patent number: 9754846Abstract: In fabrication of an integrated circuit having a layer with a plurality of conductive interconnects, a layer of a substrate is polished to provide the layer of the integrated circuit. The layer of the substrate includes conductive lines to provide the conductive interconnects. The layer of the substrate includes a closed conductive loop formed of a conductive material in a trench. A depth of the conductive material in the trench is monitored using an inductive monitoring system and a signal is generated. Monitoring includes generating a magnetic field that intermittently passes through the closed conductive loop. A sequence of values over time is extracted from the signal, the sequence of values representing the depth of the conductive material over time.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Wei Lu, Zhefu Wang, Zhihong Wang, Hassan G. Iravani, Dominic J. Benvegnu, Ingemar Carlsson, Boguslaw A. Swedek, Wen-Chiang Tu
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Patent number: 9753455Abstract: A controller for a building management system is configured to analyze faults in the building management system. The controller detects a fault in the building management system by evaluating data of building management system using a system of rules. The controller determines a conditional probability for each of a plurality of possible fault causes given the detected fault. The controller determines the most likely fault cause by comparing the determined probabilities and electronically reports the most likely fault cause.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: Kirk H. Drees
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Patent number: 9752569Abstract: A method and system detects and resolves impending failures in a sump pump. The method and system may measure a current water level in a sump basin, which houses the sump pump. The current water level may be determined by a water level sensor placed slightly above a set water level mark in the sump basin. If the current water level is above the set water level mark, the method and system may activate a mechanical shaker that produces vibrations to physically shake the sump pump. If the current water level is below the set water level mark, the method and system may determine potential problems associated with the sump pump by analyzing a motor of the sump pump.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Scott C. Morris, Shawn M. Call, Jackie O. Jordan, II
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Patent number: 9746858Abstract: A control device of the present invention estimates warm-up time that it takes for a warm-up of a machine based on the temperature of the machine to be warmed up and the saturation temperature that is unique to the machine. Warm-up start time is calculated based on the obtained warm-up time and predefined warm-up end time. In this way, the warm-up can be efficiently performed as the warm-up can be performed for an appropriate period of time in consideration of the saturation temperature unique to the machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Fanuc CorporationInventor: Kaname Matsumoto
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Patent number: 9746839Abstract: The responsive load control method manages the allocation and adjustment of service triggering grid frequencies across a population of responsive loads. The responsive load control method is particularly suited to responsive loads that have substantially no duty cycle or which have a long duration (>1 hr) duty cycle. With this responsive load control method provision of the responsive load service is shared fairly amongst the population of contributing responsive loads.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: OPEN ENERGI LIMITEDInventors: Katie Bloor, Kimon Roussopoulos
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Patent number: 9746846Abstract: A device may obtain, from one or more cameras, an image that depicts one or more encoded decals positioned on a body of a vehicle. The device may process the image and may identify, based on processing the image, one or more characteristics of the one or more encoded decals. The device may determine, based on the one or more characteristics of the one or more encoded decals, positioning information to be used to position a loading bridge relative to the body of the vehicle. The device may determine one or more control signals based on the positioning information. The device may provide the one or more control signals to one or more actuators to automatically position the loading bridge relative to the body of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions LimitedInventor: Andrew J. Truscott
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Patent number: 9737417Abstract: A method, apparatus, media and signals for producing a representation of a mold for forming an appliance for a living body is disclosed. The method involves identifying points representing a line corresponding to an intended edge of the appliance on a surface of the mold, the surface being defined by an input plurality of points representing a general shape of the mold. The method also involves identifying regions extending along the surface on opposite sides of the line, adjusting at least one coordinate of at least one of the input plurality of points that falls within at least one of the regions to alter the shape of the surface in the at least one region to produce a modified surface representation, and storing the modified surface representation in a computer memory to produce a modified representation of the mold.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Vorum Research CorporationInventor: Robert Malcolm Sabiston
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Patent number: 9740195Abstract: To further optimize an operation of a power plant. The system has a storage cell which charges utilizing surplus electric power generated by a power plant 10 and a database 23 which accumulates at least information on power consumption for each power plant apparatus 11 (hereinafter, described as an in-plant apparatus). An integrated controller 225 compares power consumption of the power plant apparatus 11 in operation in the case of executing each function among a plurality of functions and an electric discharge capacity of the storage cell, and selects an executable function within a range of the electric discharge capacity of the storage cell. Then, it controls to execute the selected function utilizing electric power supplied from the storage cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Katsuhide Kitagawa, Kazuyasu Asakura, Tohru Akatsu, Hiroto Takeuchi
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Patent number: 9720424Abstract: A system can include an interface to receive sensed data and economic data; a production control framework that includes a module for modeling motor efficiency of an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling gas composition of a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling solid dynamics in a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module to update one or more of the modules for modeling in response to receipt of data via the interface; and an interface to output control commands to a controller for an electric submersible pump based at least in part on data received by the interface and analyzed by the production control framework. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Adunola Ige, Obinna Ilochonwu, Arthur I Watson, Grant T Harris, Ian Roberge
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Patent number: 9720387Abstract: Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also applies to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection controllers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITYInventor: Zhiqiang Gao
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Patent number: 9714772Abstract: A thermostat may include a housing, a user interface, temperature sensors providing temperature sensor measurements, and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system based on a comparison of a determined ambient temperature and a setpoint temperature. The thermostat may (i) determine time intervals in which direct sunlight is incident on the thermostat; (ii) during time intervals in which direct sunlight is not incident on the thermostat, process the temperature sensor measurements according to a first ambient temperature determination algorithm to compute the determined ambient temperature; and (iii) during time intervals in which it is determined that direct sunlight is incident on the thermostat, process the temperature sensor measurements according to a second ambient temperature determination algorithm to compute the determined ambient temperature that compensates for a heating of the thermostat caused by the direct sunlight.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Yash Modi, Yoky Matsuoka, John B. Filson
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Patent number: 9710862Abstract: A terminal device sets a beneficial use time slot for regarding the electrical consumption in the beneficial use time slot as the beneficial, a waste use time slot for regarding the electrical consumption in the waste use time slot as the waste, and an efficiency improvement time slot for regarding the electrical consumption in the efficiency improvement time slot as the electrical consumption to be reduced. On the basis of the data of an amount of the electrical consumption of the device to be monitored, calculating an amount of the electrical consumption in each the time slot and displaying an amount of the electrical consumption in each time slot are preformed.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Misayo Kobayashi, Ryuichi Maeda, Tomoya Sogou, Yoshifumi Murakami, Hiroki Kazuno, Hisashi Takayama
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Patent number: 9709970Abstract: A central processing unit of a control device includes: a control calculation unit that performs calculation on the basis of storage content of a nonvolatile storage unit and controls a machine; an update unit that accepts operation input in a first maintenance mode or a second maintenance mode, which has a narrower operable range than the first maintenance mode, and updates the storage content of the nonvolatile storage unit in accordance with the operation input; a security management unit that determines permission or prohibition of the operation input in the first maintenance mode with the use of a hardware key; and a security management unit that determines permission or prohibition of the operation input in the second maintenance mode without the use of the hardware key.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKIInventors: Yumie Kubota, Kiyoshi Hirakawa, Yuichi Haruki
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Patent number: 9703297Abstract: A control device for a powder spray coating device and a powder spray coating device are specified. With the aim of ensuring operational reliability during the coating operation of the powder spray coating device, while at the same time preserving the required coating efficiency, the solution according to the invention provides for the control device an assessment device, an enabling device and a first communication interface, the assessment device being designed for assessing on the basis of at least one code received from the powder spray coating device by means of the first communication interface whether or not reliable operation of the powder spray coating device is ensured and passing on the assessment result to the enabling device, the enabling device being designed in turn for enabling operation if the assessment result is positive.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: GEMA SWITZERLAND GMBHInventors: Felix Mauchle, Marlo Vasella
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Patent number: 9696773Abstract: A network system is provided. The network system includes: at least one component selected from an energy receiving unit receiving energy and an energy management unit managing the energy receiving unit. The energy receiving unit or the energy management unit receives energy rate related information; an energy usage amount or a usage rate of when the component is controlled on the basis of at least the energy rate related information is less than that of when the component is controlled without the basis of at least energy rate related information; if the energy rate related information is high cost information, a function of one component constituting the energy receiving unit is limited; and an operating time or an output of the energy receiving unit is adjusted in correspondence to the limited function of one component.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Junho Ahn, Yanghwan Kim, Hoonbong Lee, Koonseok Lee, Seogho Go, Jonghee Han, Donghyun Kim