Patents by Inventor Holden R. Caine

Holden R. Caine has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10508987
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for analyzing the performance of an irradiance sensor of a photovoltaic system. More specifically, a remote calibration system may receive irradiance data from an irradiance sensor of a PV system. The remote calibration system may then filter the irradiance data using one or more of a threshold filter, a curve fit filter, and a correlation filter. The filtered irradiance data is then compared to an estimated irradiance to generate an irradiance weighted average which may be used to adjust subsequent irradiance data provided by the irradiance sensor. A report system can be adjusted with the irradiance weighted average to prevent generation of a report for the irradiance sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Also Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Publication number: 20180073980
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for analyzing the performance of an irradiance sensor of a photovoltaic system. More specifically, a remote calibration system may receive irradiance data from an irradiance sensor of a PV system. The remote calibration system may then filter the irradiance data using one or more of a threshold filter, a curve fit filter, and a correlation filter. The filtered irradiance data is then compared to an estimated irradiance to generate an irradiance weighted average which may be used to adjust subsequent irradiance data provided by the irradiance sensor. A report system can be adjusted with the irradiance weighted average to prevent generation of a report for the irradiance sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Patent number: 9660574
    Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for characterizing and monitoring photovoltaic power systems, and more particularly, to solar monitoring systems that provide notification of fault and performance conditions. Mistaken fault conditions causing false alarms are corrected by use of current weather conditions and performance data to adjust fault detection algorithms and control features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Also Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Publication number: 20160190984
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for analyzing and classifying the losses of a photovoltaic array. The system and method compares expected power output and to actual power output and can determine a photovoltaic string, combiner, or inverter is generating less power than expected due to at least one of snow cover, soiling, and inverter clipping. The system and method can then determine an amount of power lost during a period of time the photovoltaic string, combiner, or inverter is experiencing snow cover, soiling, or inverter clipping and determine a value of the amount of power lost during the period of time. Various user interfaces enable a user to view one or more reasons why a PV string, combiner or inverter is generating less power than expected and the value of the amount of power lost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Publication number: 20160155318
    Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for characterizing and monitoring photovoltaic power systems, and more particularly, to solar monitoring systems that provide notification of fault and performance conditions. Mistaken fault conditions causing false alarms are corrected by use of current weather conditions and performance data to adjust fault detection algorithms and control features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Publication number: 20150012258
    Abstract: A system and method of the invention adjusts an existing system model of a PV system to provide better information regarding projected performance of the PV system. The resulting model enables a user to more accurately compare actual versus expected performance, thereby quantifying performance degradation due to soiling, aging and component failures while also verifying the design assumptions. A method of the invention includes selecting days of historical data that will result in the highest quality results (e.g., high energy output, minimal clouds); determining key metrics and relationships between measured data and site characteristics to identify how to optimize model parameters; running simulations of the model over the key days to determine the best value for each model parameter that results in the closest match between the model and measured system output; and conducting iterations of the simulations to adjust various model parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Patent number: 8725437
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for monitoring performance of a photovoltaic array. The system and method reduces the need for monitoring equipment by collecting measurement data associated with a plurality of photovoltaic strings. Failure and performance degradation detection is improved through the use of monitoring conditions, performance thresholds, and auto-calibration. Various user interfaces enable a user to modify or adjust the monitoring system and method, as well as monitor the performance of a photovoltaic array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Also Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Patent number: 8214270
    Abstract: The method and system of the present invention provides for data gathering of energy systems, calculation of billing information for the energy systems to include both traditional energy sources and renewable energy sources, and creation of various outputs to include various user interfaces applicable to overall management of the energy systems. The user interfaces can include integrated, real-time billings to a consumer that measure the cost of the primary energy as well as savings provided by renewable energy sources. The present invention also provides predictive analysis for various aspects of energy use in order to better manage particular facilities that may incorporate renewable energy sources. The gathered data and the various user interfaces enables a user to modify or adjust the use of the renewable energy sources at selected sites to maximize their impact on reducing the cost of the primary energy bill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Also Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schaefer, Holden R. Caine
  • Publication number: 20120084027
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for monitoring performance of a photovoltaic array. The system and method reduces the need for monitoring equipment by collecting measurement data associated with a plurality of photovoltaic strings. Failure and performance degradation detection is improved through the use of monitoring conditions, performance thresholds, and auto-calibration. Various user interfaces enable a user to modify or adjust the monitoring system and method, as well as monitor the performance of a photovoltaic array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: ALSO ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Publication number: 20110289484
    Abstract: A system is provided for creating and deploying script for web-based applications. The user can enter and edit the contents of a script package via a web application. During development, the script package may be sent to the server to be compiled and checked for errors. A simulated run-time environment can be generated on the server that can execute the script under a set of predefined conditions. The simulated run-time environment can allow the script to be tested before deployment. The results of the compile and execution tasks are sent back to the client so that the user can debug and perfect the script. The script package may then be stored in a database for continued development and/or editing and eventual deployment to a web server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Also Energy
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine
  • Publication number: 20100174643
    Abstract: The method and system of the present invention provides for data gathering of energy systems, calculation of billing information for the energy systems to include both traditional energy sources and renewable energy sources, and creation of various outputs to include various user interfaces applicable to overall management of the energy systems. The user interfaces can include integrated, real-time billings to a consumer that measure the cost of the primary energy as well as savings provided by renewable energy sources. The present invention also provides predictive analysis for various aspects of energy use in order to better manage particular facilities that may incorporate renewable energy sources. The gathered data and the various user interfaces enables a user to modify or adjust the use of the renewable energy sources at selected sites to maximize their impact on reducing the cost of the primary energy bill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Robert J. Schaefer, Holden R. Caine
  • Publication number: 20030161009
    Abstract: A method for selecting and ordering photographic prints from a remote location that is apart from a lab. A roll of exposed film may be processed to produce film images of the images on the roll, which may be scanned to create a digital image file. The digital image file may be used to create a positive high-resolution digital image and/or a corresponding positive low-resolution digital image. A lab digital image file is created, including digital image data related to the low-resolution digital images and embedded lab meta data. At the remote location the lab digital image file is manipulated to display the digital images. One of the digital images at the remote location may be selected, along with order parameters. A studio digital image file is created, including the digital image data, the embedded lab meta data and embedded order meta data. A photographic print may then be created using the lab digital image file or the corresponding film image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Kenji Yokoo, Scott Brownstein, Holden R. Caine
  • Patent number: 5410415
    Abstract: A digital image processing system digitizes and stores photographic film images in their captured orientation on film, in order to obviate the need to physically rotate the film scanner relative to the film for vertical images, thereby significantly reducing the complexity and cost of the scanner. Instead, each stored image file has an associated presentation control file, which contains orientation and aspect ratio information, so that the image playback device will know how each image has been stored on the digital image database, such as a compact disc. When the disc is inserted into a playback device for driving an output display such as a color TV monitor, the playback device is readily able to decode the playback control information in the course of reading out the digitized image, so that the image will be displayed in an upright orientation and at the correct aspect ratio for the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Parulski, Scott A. Brownstein, Holden R. Caine, Michael S. Axman
  • Patent number: 5270831
    Abstract: A digital image processing system digitizes and stores photographic film images in their captured orientation on film, in order to obviate the need to physically rotate the film scanner relative to the film for vertical images, thereby significantly reducing the complexity and cost of the scanner. Instead, each stored image file has an associated presentation control file, which contains orientation and aspect ratio information, so that the image playback device will know how each image has been stored on the digital image database, such as a compact disc. When the disc is inserted into a playback device for driving an output display such as a color TV monitor, the playback device is readily able to decode the playback control information in the course of reading out the digitized image, so that the image will be displayed in an upright orientation and at the correct aspect ratio for the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Parulski, Scott A. Brownstein, Holden R. Caine, Michael S. Axman
  • Patent number: 5196864
    Abstract: A multiple printhead thermal printer has a receiver and a print drum supporting the receiver as dye is thermally transferred to the receiver during printing. Electronic circuitry controls registration of the receiver during printing so that the color separations are aligned to produce a clear, crisp image. This registration is achieved by introducing line delays to receive the image data prior to the image data reaching the modulators which process the image data for the second and third printheads. The position of the image produced by a thermal printhead along the print direction is determined by when data is sent to the printhead. Delaying the printing of a line by some fraction of a line time proportionally repositions the print line by a fraction of a line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Holden R. Caine