Fault Condition Detection Patents (Class 340/3.43)
  • Patent number: 11281267
    Abstract: Methods and systems identify connection paths between a power source and a plurality of loads. A reachability signal is sent on a cable connecting a power output of the power source to a power distribution unit (PDU). The PDU receives the reachability and forwards a modified reachability signal on one or more power outputs of the PDU to one or more loads. The PDU receives a return reachability signal from the one or more loads and forwards corresponding modified return reachability signals on the cable to the power source. The power output of the power source receives a plurality of modified return reachability signals that each comprises an identity of the PDU, an identity of a respective power output of the PDU, and an identity of a respective load. A reference between these identities is stored by the power source in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: OVH
    Inventor: Miroslaw Piotr Klaba
  • Patent number: 11082323
    Abstract: The network monitoring tool comprises an input for receiving data about the performance of the network and a data processor for analysing the data in order to produce an output. The output is at least one of the identification of a fault in the network and the derivation of information about the capability of the network to supply the utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Spatialbuzz Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Blake, Michael Robert John Shannon
  • Patent number: 10949294
    Abstract: A method of correcting an error in a memory array in a DRAM during a read operation, wherein the memory array includes a data array and an ECC array, the method comprising: reading data from the memory array; when the data contains one or more erroneous data bits, correcting the erroneous data bits by an ECC decoding and correcting module in the DRAM; registering only corrected erroneous data bits and their positions in a register; controlling a plurality of write drivers in the DRAM by the register so as to write only the corrected erroneous data bits back to the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Xi'an UNIIC Semiconductors Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alessandro Minzoni
  • Patent number: 10710521
    Abstract: An abnormality monitoring device includes a control unit and a monitoring unit. The control unit includes a self-diagnosis circuit configured to perform a self-diagnosis processing during which other processing is inhibited. The monitoring unit includes an abnormality monitoring circuit and a reset circuit. The abnormality monitoring circuit is configured to perform an abnormality monitoring of the control unit. The reset circuit is configured to reset the control unit when the abnormality monitoring circuit decides an abnormality of the control unit. The abnormality monitoring circuit is configured to determine whether the self-diagnosis processing is finished, disable the abnormality monitoring of the control unit during the self-diagnosis processing, and start the abnormality monitoring of the control unit when the self-diagnosis processing is determined to be finished. Accordingly, the abnormality of the control unit is accurately monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 10701236
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit in which a usage quantity of each of the functions is stored, and a processor configured to control activation of the application, based on the usage quantity of the function employed by the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 10511381
    Abstract: A communication system includes three or more nodes, and a multi-core fiber having a plurality of cores, the multi-core fiber being used in at least a partial segment of a connection between the nodes, wherein each of nodes includes: a fault information transmitting device configured to transmit fault information indicating that a fault has occurred in a communication path between one node and another node of the nodes when it is detected that it is not possible to perform communication between the one node and the another node; and a fault location specifying device configured to specify a section between nodes in which a fault has occurred on the basis of the fault information received from the fault information transmitting device provided in each of the nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Oda, Tetsuro Inui, Akira Hirano, Wataru Imajuku, Shoukei Kobayashi, Takafumi Tanaka, Yutaka Miyamoto, Hidehiko Takara
  • Patent number: 10503166
    Abstract: A method for processing data for an automated vehicle, including operating at least two processing units, the at least two processing units being monitored by a monitoring device having at least two self-monitoring monitoring units. Defined monitoring of the processing units is carried out with the aid of the at least two monitoring units. A master functionality of the monitoring units is assumed by a defined monitoring unit. In the event of a fault of the monitoring unit carrying out the master functionality, the master functionality is taken over by a downstream monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Baumgaertner
  • Patent number: 10444730
    Abstract: Providing real-time compliance status for industrial process equipment. Aspects of the disclosure provide a common platform to receive data indicative of services performed on industrial process equipment via a plurality of formats and to provide the data representing the real-time compliance status via a unified format on, for example, a graphical user interface of a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Eurotherm Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Waterson, Jurgita Valmante, Kevin Robinson
  • Patent number: 10368338
    Abstract: There is provided a wireless device that includes circuitry configured to receive information from one or more devices connected with the wireless device, select specific information out of the information received from the one or more devices, generate shared information using the specific information as selected by the circuitry, and send the shared information to the one or more other wireless devices by direct wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BUFFALO INC.
    Inventor: Hayato Chiba
  • Patent number: 9949580
    Abstract: A reception system for receiving objects comprises at least one reception device for receiving objects, a conveyor device, which has at least one conveyor belt section for conveying objects in a conveyance direction in the at least one reception device, and a sensor device, which is arranged on the at least one reception device, for detecting objects in the at least one reception device. It is provided in this case that the sensor device is designed to emit sensor signals along different signal paths over the reception device, to conclude a fill level of the reception device on the basis of an interaction of at least one of the sensor signals with objects conveyed into the reception device. In this manner, a reception system for receiving objects is provided, which enables further automation, in particular in the conveyance of objects into a reception device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Schaefer, Guenter Baitz, Felix Neubert
  • Patent number: 9888008
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a remote monitoring system includes a monitoring apparatus displaying a screen for monitoring a power plant, a remote monitoring apparatus displaying the screen transferred from the monitoring apparatus, and a management server managing information regarding the remote monitoring apparatus. The management server includes an activation management module to acquire apparatus identification information for identifying the remote monitoring apparatus, and to return activation permission to the remote monitoring apparatus if the apparatus identification information matches apparatus identification information registered previously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yuuki Ootaki, Kazuya Shiosaki, Jin Murata, Yoko Tanno
  • Patent number: 9819985
    Abstract: In example embodiments, a system and method for managing switching between devices are provided. A consolidated catalog of applications available on devices coupled to a master device is maintained. The consolidated catalog of applications is graphically presented on a screen controlled by the master device. A selection of an application from the consolidated catalog of applications is received via a control device. Based on the selected application being located at a device coupled to the master device, input is automatically switched from the master device to the device having the selected application. As a result, a display corresponding to the selected application is presented on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: NAGRAVISION S.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Stransky-Heilkron
  • Patent number: 9696697
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to automatic switching of HMI (human-machine interface) screens based on process, task, and abnormal deviation in a power plant. According to one embodiment, a method is provided. The method can include monitoring one or more processes occurring during the operation of a turbine power plant in a steady state monitoring sequence, in which a plurality of overview screens are monitored, and at least one process state is determined. If the at least one process state indicates a predefined condition has occurred, at least one human interface screen can be presented to a user for troubleshooting, based at least in part on the severity of the predefined condition. If the determined process state does not indicate the predefined condition is present, and the at least one determined process state indicates an automated task sequence, the method present a sequence of preconfigured task screens to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rohan Saraswat, Nagesh Laxminarayana Kurella, Karthikeyan Loganathan
  • Patent number: 9543949
    Abstract: A differential signal reversion and correction circuit and a method thereof are provided. The structures of the circuit include: a data frame sending module, when the link conditions are detected, the data frame sending module generates specific logic sequence and finishes the sending by a input/output port, such that a receiving side receives, processes and analyzes the sequence, and determination of link transmission conditions are achieved; a comparator of the receiving side, which receives sequence data, performs corresponding comparing, checking and feedback controlling, thereby achieving link detection and differential correction purpose; a reversion control signal generating module, which receives a comparison result of the comparator, generates corresponding control signal, and controls the link whether to perform reversion operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: INSPUR ELECTRONIC INFORMATION INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Endong Wang, Leijun Hu, Rengang Li
  • Patent number: 9330055
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a new data center architecture that provides for efficient processing in distributed analytics applications. In one embodiment, a distributed processing node is provided. The node comprises a plurality of subnodes. Each subnode includes at least one processor core operatively connected to a memory. A first interconnect operatively connects each of the plurality of subnodes within the node. A second interconnect operably connects each of the plurality of subnodes to a storage. A process runs on a first of the plurality of subnodes, the process being operative to retrieve data from the memory of the first subnode. The process interrogates the memory of the first subnode for requested data. If the requested data is not found in the memory of the first subnode, the process interrogates the memory of at least one other subnode of the plurality of subnodes via the first interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ali R. Butt, Prasenjit Sarkar
  • Patent number: 9313258
    Abstract: In example embodiments, a system and method for managing switching between devices are provided. A consolidated catalog of applications available on devices coupled to a master device is maintained. The consolidated catalog of applications is graphically presented on a screen controlled by the master device. A selection of an application from the consolidated catalog of applications is received via a control device. Based on the selected application being located at a device coupled to the master device, input is automatically switched from the master device to the device having the selected application. As a result, a display corresponding to the selected application is presented on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Nagravision S.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Stransky-Heilkron
  • Patent number: 9246582
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques that can be used to detect network impairment, including but not limited to impairment of optical fiber networks. In an aspect, such tools and techniques can be deployed at relatively low cost, allowing pervasive deployment throughout a network. In another aspect, such tools and techniques can take advantage of a “dying gasp,” in which a network element detects a sudden drop in received optical (or electrical) power, resolution, etc. at short time scales and sends a notification across the network before the connection is completely compromised. In yet another aspect, some tools can include a supervisory function to analyze aspects of the dying gasp with the goal to determine network segments associated with an impairment and an estimate of the location of an impairment within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Mike Fargano, Michael D. Sprenger
  • Patent number: 9220151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting system, said lighting system comprising a plurality of luminaires (10, 12, 14, 16, 18), a plurality of sensors (24, 26), a central control unit (22) and a network (20) comprising networking devices for establishing a communication between the luminaires, the sensors and the central control unit. These luminaires, sensors and networking devices represent local units of the lighting system. In a standard operation mode, the luminaires (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) are controlled by the central control unit (22) on the basis of sensor data transmitted to the central control unit (22). In case of failure of operation of the central control unit (22), the lighting systems switches into a fallback mode, wherein each luminare (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) is controlled by a local unit associated to or represented by this luminaire (10, 12, 14, 16, 18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Feri, Johan Cornelis Talstra
  • Patent number: 9135099
    Abstract: A method includes, by a first circuit, converting a plurality of bits in a first format to a second format. The plurality of bits in the second format is used, by a second circuit, to program a plurality of memory cells corresponding to the plurality of bits. The first format is a parallel format. The second format is a serial format. The first circuit and the second circuit are electrically coupled together in a chip. In some embodiments, the plurality of bits includes address information, cell data information, and program information of a memory cell that has an error. In some embodiments, the plurality of bits includes word data information of a word and error code and correction information corresponding to the word data information of the word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Han Chen, Sung-Chieh Lin, Kuoyuan (Peter) Hsu
  • Patent number: 9019124
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed herein for monitoring and alerting on equipment errors. A server may receive data on a periodic basis. The data is indicative of operational states of at least one machine. The server may then analyze a quality issue associated with the received data over an alert period greater than one day, determine a type of the quality issue, and generate a warning message including an indication of the quality issue and the type of the quality issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Garrett Linn Schiff, James Anthony Gilbert, Paul Krupenas
  • Patent number: 9019085
    Abstract: An anti-disassembling device for an electronic product includes a case, a linear movement device, a circular movement device and an optical encoder. At least one retractable transmission member is connected to the case. The circular movement device is located in the case and has an encoding disk, which has multiple slots defined therethrough and teeth are defined in the periphery thereof. The at least one retractable transmission member is engaged with the teeth to rotate the encoding disk. The optical encoder has a lighting module which emits light beams through the slots of the encoding disk and a photosensitive module receives the light beams and sends a signal to the storage unit of the electronic product. The retractable device rotates when the electronic product is disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventor: Chung-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 8981930
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring appliances at a site, such as a household, business office, etc. The appliances can include, for example but not limited to, an electric oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, laundry washer, freezer, pool controller, light bulb, microwave oven, computer, television, telephone, etc. In many of the embodiments, the appliance has a computer based architecture or a controller that enables communication of data concerning the electronic appliance. In some embodiments the appliance is an apparatus with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or other passive device that can be interrogated for information concerning the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Horstemeyer, Martin Kelly Jones
  • Patent number: 8896437
    Abstract: A system includes at least one sensor and an equipment health monitoring (EHM) unit. The at least one sensor is configured to measure one or more characteristics of an asset, where the asset includes a piece of equipment. The EHM unit includes at least one sensor interface configured to receive at least one input signal associated with the asset from the sensor(s). The EHM unit also includes at least one processing unit operable to be pre-configured to identify a specified fault in the asset using the input signals and an asset-specific model that includes a combination of standard subsystem models. The EHM unit further includes at least one output interface configured to provide an indicator identifying the fault. The standard subsystem models could include standardized fault models configured to identify faults for standard assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Rajat Sadana
  • Patent number: 8803654
    Abstract: A safety apparatus includes: a latch circuit which retains an inconsistent state record when input signals from a plurality of sensors are in an inconsistent state, and frees the inconsistent state record when the input signals from the plurality of sensors are all in an OFF state; and an AND circuit which performs a sensor fault determination at timing when the input signals from the plurality of sensors are all in an ON state, the sensor fault determination including determining that at least one of the plurality of sensors is failed if the latch circuit retains the inconsistent state record and determining that none of the plurality of the sensors is failed if the latch circuit retains no inconsistent state record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyuki Kurachi, Tatsuaki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8779915
    Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for improving motion sensing. In an example, provided is a method of mitigating an error in a motion sensor signal in a mobile device. A user input signal, based on a user input to the mobile device, is received. The user input can be a keystroke, and the user input signal can be a signal resulting from the keystroke. The user input signal triggers performing a function on a motion sensor signal for a period of time. The motion sensor signal can be an output from an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope. The period of time can be based on the duration of the user input signal, and can be in a range between substantially 100 milliseconds to substantially 700 milliseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph Czompo
  • Patent number: 8760258
    Abstract: An energy management system. The energy management system includes at least one energy monitoring and control device configured to monitor the power usage of one or more electrical devices, and a security system communicatively coupled to at least one energy monitoring and control device and having at least one sensor configured to sense a security event. The security system is configured to receive information about the power usage of the electrical device and to determine an abnormal operation of the electrical device based, at least in part, on the received information about the power usage of the electrical device and a state of the security system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Marriam, Thomas P. Brown, II, John Sotack
  • Patent number: 8760307
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring device (9) for an electric appliance (1), comprising electronic control means and data and/or information storage means. Said monitoring device (9) is typically connected to a first communication network (70A, 70B) through first interface means (7) and to a second communication network (80) through second interface means (8). Said first communication network (70A, 70B) is adapted to connect at least one sensing device (93, 94, 95, 96), being capable of measuring at least one value of at least one physical quantity related to the monitored electric appliance (1), to the monitoring device (9). According to the present invention, the monitoring device (9) receives the value of at least one physical quantity through the first interface means (7), and the electronic control means use said value of at least one physical quantity in order to obtain at least one piece of information related to the monitored electric appliance (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Indesit Company S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Falcioni, Paolo Santonicola, Irene Orienti
  • Patent number: 8754776
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting and calculating the level of ambient and/or environmental noise, such as electromagnetic interference generated by electric power lines, ambient lights, light dimmers, television or computer displays, power supplies or transformers, and medical equipment. In some embodiments, the system performs frequency analysis on the interference signal detected by light photodetectors and determines the power of the interference signal concentrated in the analyzed frequency bands. The worst-case interference level can be determined by selecting the maximum from the computed power values. In some embodiments, the determined interference signal power can be compared with the noise tolerance of a patient monitoring system configured to reliably and non-invasively detect physiological parameters of a user. The results of the comparison can be presented to the user audio-visually. In some embodiments, the system can be used to perform spot check measurements of electromagnetic interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Poeze, Jesse Chen, Mathew Paul, Marcelo Lamego, Massi Joe E. Kiani
  • Patent number: 8742883
    Abstract: A method and system provides for monitoring, troubleshooting and acquiring diagnostics information from an aspirating dispensing system (10). The dispensing system (10) uses an aspirator (12) with a plurality of liquid inlet ports and a flow meter (30) connected in liquid communication with at least one of the liquid inlet ports and a liquid source. The system monitors, troubleshoots and acquires diagnostics information from one or more components of the dispensing system by monitoring operation of the flow meter (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Pelkey, Robert Eugene May, Ryan Jacob Urban, Quang Van Dao
  • Patent number: 8723643
    Abstract: In a method of switching a locked state of an electronic device with a user-verifying function, a biologic feature data from a user is captured while receiving an input from the user for an operation when the electronic device is in a locked state. Whether the biologic feature data conforms to a reference biologic feature data is then determined. If it is determined that the biologic feature data conforms to the reference biologic feature data, the electronic device is switched from the locked state into a non-locked state and directly controls the electronic device to perform the operation according to the input when the biologic feature data is determined conforming to the reference biologic feature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Wang, Fu-Chiang Chou
  • Patent number: 8711710
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for adaptive communications with utility meters based on atmospheric conditions. The systems and methods may include obtaining weather information associated with a location of a utility meter; determining, based upon the weather information, whether the utility meter location is associated with weather that affects communications performance; and modifying an acceptable communications error rate associated with the utility meter or the communications interface of the utility meter from a first value to a second value upon determining that the utility meter location is associated with weather that affects communications performance. One or more of the foregoing operations may be performed by a utility meter or a utility server computer associated with the utility meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bradley Richard Ree, John Christopher Boot
  • Patent number: 8659440
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for detecting when an end-device is physically disconnected from a commodity delivery network. One method includes determining an impedance of a power input of the end-device after the end-device experiences a power interruption, generating a message including data regarding the impedance, transmitting the message to a computer-implemented back office over at least one communication network, and automatically setting a status of the end-device to a physically-disconnected status when the data regarding the impedance indicates the impedance is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Gostrer, Winston Lew
  • Publication number: 20140049395
    Abstract: A crop production system, including at least one electrical sensor configured to measure pressure within a pneumatic flow path configured to convey a particulate material and transmit a first signal indicative of pressure, a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to detect a blockage in the crop production system based on a change in the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ka Po Catherine Hui, Joel John Octave Gervais, James Wayne Henry
  • Patent number: 8648689
    Abstract: A system includes a controller that executes a method for determining failure of the door latch sensor using both the door latch sensor and a door lock sensor. If the door latch sensor is faulty, the controller adjusts an automatic feature of the vehicle based on a door lock signal instead of a door state signal. The controller is also configured to mark the door latch signal as faulty if the door latch system is not functioning properly by using a fault counter that tracks the door lock sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Brian J Deurloo, Christopher Lee Danks, Mark Edward Zyskowski, Jeffrey James Tumavitch, Todd Curtis Spaulding, Charles C Poon
  • Patent number: 8649888
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring and control of a plurality of field devices separately provided in a safety subsystem and a process control subsystem. The field devices include conventional safety subsystem field devices associated with one or more processes or subprocesses and conventional process control subsystem field devices associated with one or more of the processes or subprocesses. The integrated and coordinated system uses complementary field device data including mappings of safety subsystem field devices and process control subsystem field devices corresponding to the same process or subprocess Signals are received from a compromised field device and its functions are delegated to its complementary field device as indicated by the complementary field device data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdelghani Daraiseh, Patrick S. Flanders
  • Patent number: 8638189
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for controlling an air conditioner and method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a system for controlling an air conditioner and method for controlling the same which can make real time control for maintaining system reliability, can make real time control of air conditioners while minimizing a network load to minimize a load on a server, and can prevent transmission and reception delay of a data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byoung Keun Cha, Duck Gu Jeon, Jae Sik Jung, Jong Hyun Han
  • Patent number: 8542088
    Abstract: A method for monitoring devices which are activated by electrical pulses, characterized in that first pulses which are transmitted to the device are counted, in that second pulses which are received by the device are counted, and in that the numbers of first and second pulses are compared with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Nusret Dagtekin
  • Patent number: 8527139
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle includes a first processor module and a second processor module. The first processor module includes a first microprocessor and memory. The second processor module includes a second microprocessor and memory. The second processor module: selectively transmits a first challenge to the first processor module for a first challenge-response test; selectively transmits a second challenge to the first processor module for a second challenge-response test; selectively transmits a third challenge to the first processor module for a third challenge-response test; selectively transmits a fourth challenge to the first processor module for a fourth challenge-response test; and selectively diagnoses a fault based on responses of the first processor module to the first, second, third, and fourth challenges. The first, second, third, and fourth challenge-response tests are each different types of challenge-response tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Mohammed Abdulla Yousuf
  • Patent number: 8515599
    Abstract: A device for evaluation of the operational capabilities of an aircraft for informing a user about the capabilities of the aircraft to carry out a mission. Included are means for detecting malfunctions of aircraft equipment adapted for functioning during a mission. An evaluation device includes means for acquisition of information about the mission; a means for calculating observed feasibility level of the mission on the basis of at least one detected malfunction and the information obtained about the mission of the aircraft; and a means for presenting a synthetic reactive indicator, representative of the observed feasibility level of the mission in at least one instant of the mission. The means for acquisition, calculation and presentation are adapted for functioning during the mission, to inform the user about the observed feasibility level of the mission depending on the detection of new malfunctions and/or the modifications of the mission in course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Dassault Aviation
    Inventors: Thibaut De Cremoux, Salvador Lopez, Philippe Le Van
  • Publication number: 20130207773
    Abstract: A system includes a controller that executes a method for determining failure of the door latch sensor using both the door latch sensor and a door lock sensor. If the door latch sensor is faulty, the controller adjusts an automatic feature of the vehicle based on a door lock signal instead of a door state signal. The controller is also configured to mark the door latch signal as faulty if the door latch system is not functioning properly by using a fault counter that tracks the door lock sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Brian J. Deurloo, Christopher Lee Danks, Mark Edward Zyskowski, Jeffrey James Tumavitch, Todd Curtis Spaulding, Charles C. Poon
  • Publication number: 20130187617
    Abstract: A battery powered electronic device (112) is protected from being stolen in connection with battery charging. A method comprises establishing a connection with an electric charging device (102), entering a locked mode of operation, where the locked mode of operation comprises monitoring an existence of an unlock signal and monitoring an existence of the connection with the electric charging device, and performing a protective action in response to a non-existence of the signaling connection and a non-existence of the unlock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventor: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
  • Patent number: 8471713
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting and calculating the level of ambient and/or environmental noise, such as electromagnetic interference generated by electric power lines, ambient lights, light dimmers, television or computer displays, power supplies or transformers, and medical equipment. In some embodiments, the system performs frequency analysis on the interference signal detected by light photodetectors and determines the power of the interference signal concentrated in the analyzed frequency bands. The worst-case interference level can be determined by selecting the maximum from the computed power values. In some embodiments, the determined interference signal power can be compared with the noise tolerance of a patient monitoring system configured to reliably and non-invasively detect physiological parameters of a user. The results of the comparison can be presented to the user audio-visually. In some embodiments, the system can be used to perform spot check measurements of electromagnetic interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Poeze, Jesse Chen, Mathew Paul, Marcelo Lamego, Massi Joe E. Kiani
  • Patent number: 8451134
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and system includes using information provided from sensors to monitor a wind turbine generator and provide signals representative of operation of the wind turbine generator, extracting signal level features from the signals, extracting model based features from the signals, calculating signal based conclusions, model based conclusions and spectral feature reinforcement based conclusions, and fusing the conclusions to provide a fault detection indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Raj Mohan Bharadwaj, Kyusung Kim
  • Patent number: 8421585
    Abstract: An alarm apparatus for sensing occurrence of abnormality in a plant that manufactures products by processing substrates, the alarm apparatus includes: means responsive to an inspection result of a surface of the substrates during manufacturing the products for aggregating degree of occurrence of defects for each monitoring unit region to produce an aggregation result, the monitoring unit region having a prescribed size configured for each type of the abnormality; means for comparing the degree of occurrence of defects in each of the monitoring unit regions with a reference; and means responsive to detection of the monitoring unit region with the degree of occurrence of defects being higher than the reference for transmitting an alarm and outputting the aggregation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yasuo Namioka
  • Patent number: 8384520
    Abstract: A window panel including at least one electronic device that includes at least one electronic memory in which is stored information that can be read remotely using an appropriate reading apparatus. An electronic device connected to the memory receives and processes data so as to transmit and enter information to and in the memory in response to signals received in a programmed way by one or more units for detecting and sending data associated with the window panel and/or a device accommodating the window panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventor: Frederic Fourreau
  • Patent number: 8373539
    Abstract: It is an objective to appropriately assure a function of limiting use of appliances that cause changes in quantities of gas used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Ueki, Kazutaka Asano, Takuhisa Ootani, Yasuo Koba, Sumiko Murakami
  • Publication number: 20130021135
    Abstract: A safety apparatus includes: a latch circuit which retains an inconsistent state record when input signals from a plurality of sensors are in an inconsistent state, and frees the inconsistent state record when the input signals from the plurality of sensors are all in an OFF state; and an AND circuit which performs a sensor fault determination at timing when the input signals from the plurality of sensors are all in an ON state, the sensor fault determination including determining that at least one of the plurality of sensors is failed if the latch circuit retains the inconsistent state record and determining that none of the plurality of the sensors is failed if the latch circuit retains no inconsistent state record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruyuki Kurachi, Tatsuaki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8310373
    Abstract: Provided is a system, a tool and a method for communicating with a faulted circuit indicator (FCI), the faulted circuit indicator including a detection circuit for monitoring an electrical conductor of a power system. The system includes a display and a first light emitting diode associated with the display. The first light emitting diode generates an optical FCI status signal in response to an occurrence of a fault in the electrical conductor. The system also includes a first microcontroller operatively coupled to the display and the detection circuit, and a handheld user command tool adapted to optically signal the display. The handheld user command tool may be also adapted to generate an optical serial communication. The optical serial communication may provide data and/or commands for operation of the faulted circuit indicator. The display may be integrated into the FCI. The FCI may be an overhead FCI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence V. Feight, Mark L Zeller
  • Patent number: 8296105
    Abstract: A system for remotely diagnosing and repairing a computer controlled asset, includes an access point connected to a computer controlled asset thereby allowing electronic access to the computer system of the computer controlled asset. A service center remotely connected to the access point provides diagnostic review and repair of the computer controlled asset. An interface linking the access point to the service center allows the service center to communicate with the computer controlled asset via the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Joanna E. Gasperson
  • Publication number: 20120249286
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a utility network threat based on the quality of communications received at devices in the utility network. The quality of a communication signal received by a device in the utility network is determined and a threat to the utility network is determined based on the signal quality. Threat information is output to devices on the utility network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen Francis Bush, Michael Joseph Mahony