Time Responsive (duration) Patents (Class 700/14)
  • Patent number: 11877170
    Abstract: A method for evaluating effect of a change in a communications network includes receiving a first set of performance indicator values. measured over a first period of time before the change in the communications network; receiving a second set of performance indicator values with performance indicator values measured over a second period of time after the change in the communications network; comparing the first set and the second set to evaluate the effect of the change; determining a performance threshold based on the performance indicator values of the first set; determining a first performance ratio value based on the performance indicator values of the first set and the performance threshold; determining a second performance ratio value based on the performance indicator values of the second set and the performance threshold and providing output based on the first performance ratio value and the second performance ratio value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Elisa Oyj
    Inventors: Simon Holmbacka, Jukka-Pekka Salmenkaita
  • Patent number: 11115295
    Abstract: A method for online monitoring of a physical environment using a variable data sampling rate is implemented by a computing device. The method includes sampling, at the computing device, at least one data set using at least one sampling rate. The method also includes processing the at least one data set with condition assessment rules. The method further includes determining whether the at least one data set indicates a change in state of the physical environment. The method additionally includes updating the at least one sampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Olga Malakhova, John Wesley Grant, Mel Gabriel Maalouf
  • Patent number: 11116064
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system. A first light control module of a plurality of light control modules determines a time of day. Each light control module in the plurality of light control modules configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the respective lighting control module. Occupancy at the first light control module is detected after a specific time of day. The flow of electricity from one or more light control modules in the plurality of light control modules is changed to change the flow of electricity to the respective lighting circuits connected to the one or more light control modules to turn off the respective light fixture based on the occupancy detection the time of day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Racepoint Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Allen Charlton, William Lark, Jr., Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung
  • Patent number: 11072323
    Abstract: A method for operating an onboard network of a hybrid motor vehicle. The onboard network is connected to an energy storage unit, especially a battery; an electric motor of a hybrid drive train, which also has an internal combustion engine; and actuators of an electromechanical chassis system that can be operated as generators. At least one reserve capacity of the energy storage unit is kept open for the supplying of electrical energy generated by at least one portion of the actuators to the onboard network. The reserve capacity being held open is dynamically adapted as a function of at least one item of driver style information describing the driving style of the driver of the hybrid motor vehicle and/or at least one item of situation information describing the current and/or future operation of the hybrid motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Stephan Lassenberger
  • Patent number: 11003194
    Abstract: A distance between an autonomously mobile information processing device and an apparatus is calculated based on positional information of the information processing device and positional information of the apparatus installed in a service provision site and necessary for a service to be provided by the information processing device, and the apparatus that is available is determined based on the distance between the information processing device and the apparatus in a case where the information processing device coordinates with the apparatus to provide the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuda, Hideya Yoshiuchi
  • Patent number: 10990147
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus may include a logic circuit and a power control circuit. The logic circuit operates by being supplied with power through a power line. The power control circuit includes a plurality of power switches, and supplies a first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage to the power line. When a mode of the semiconductor apparatus is changed, the power control circuit causes the plurality of power switches to sequentially stop supplying one of the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage to the power line, and then causes the plurality of power switches to sequentially supply the other of the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage to the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Woongrae Kim, Sang Sic Yoon
  • Patent number: 10973107
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system. A first light control module of a plurality of light control modules determines a time of day. Each light control module in the plurality of light control modules configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the respective lighting control module. Occupancy at the first light control module is detected after a specific time of day. The flow of electricity from one or more light control modules in the plurality of light control modules is changed to change the flow of electricity to the respective lighting circuits connected to the one or more light control modules to turn off the respective light fixture based on the occupancy detection the time of day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Racepoint Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Allen Charlton, William Lark, Jr., Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung
  • Patent number: 10943306
    Abstract: Systems and methods may analyze property telematics data, with homeowner permission or affirmative consent, to update risk-based coverage of a property, such as a house, during a short-term rental. The systems include a renter analytics computing device, a plurality of property telematics devices at the property, including at least one sensor, and a property telematics controller. The renter analytics computing device is configured to retrieve a pre-rental record including parameters of a short-term rental of the property, and retrieve property telematics data, from the property telematics devices, associated with the short-term rental. The renter analytics computing device may develop a risk level profile associated with the short-term rental and determine an adjusted coverage rate to cover the property during the short-term rental. As a result, a homeowner of the property may be protected against damages incurred to the property during the short-term rental.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Tracey Dunne
  • Patent number: 10898756
    Abstract: A shoe includes: a heel portion; a toe portion; a sole portion; and an electrical assembly. The electrical assembly includes at least: a magnetometer configured to determine a direction of movement of the shoe; and an accelerometer configured to determine acceleration of the shoe. Direction and acceleration data are used to generate a display of a map indicating traversal of a route by a wearer of the shoe at user interface of a user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: F. Grant Kovach, Jeffrey Allen
  • Patent number: 10809760
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a controller, a data packet including (1) a plurality of samples each corresponding to measurements from a motion sensor and (2) a timestamp corresponding to a measurement time of one of the samples as measured by a clock of the controller; determining, based on the timestamp, an estimated measurement time relative to a local clock for each of the plurality of samples that is not associated with the timestamp; and converting each of the timestamp and the estimated measurement times to a corresponding synchronization time using a learned relationship relating the clock of the controller and the local clock. The learned relationship is iteratively learned based on previously received data packets from the controller. The synchronization time associated with each of the plurality of samples represents an estimated time, relative to the local clock, at which the sample was measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Boyang Zhang, Adrian Brian Ratter, Chengyuan Yan, Jack Hood Profit, Jr., Paul Austin Buckley
  • Patent number: 10761954
    Abstract: In one example, a system for a sensor detection architecture includes a plurality of sensors coupled to a controller to simultaneously detect abnormalities of a physical system at more than one location of the physical system, wherein each of the plurality of sensors are coupled to at least three other sensors of the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventor: Han Wang
  • Patent number: 10746897
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining occupancy status of a space. The systems and methods can utilize one or more space sensors in combination with one or more boundary sensors. The space sensors can transmit passive signals corresponding to presence of movement in the space. The boundary sensors can transmit boundary signals corresponding to movement into or out of the space. In response to falling edges of a passive signal and a boundary signal occurring within a predetermined time period of one another, an indication that the space is not occupied can be provided. In some cases, the passive signals and the boundary signals can be communicated via a gateway utilizing a signal communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: STEELCASE INC.
    Inventors: Landon Gentry, Scott E. Wilson, Richard Thomas Raeke
  • Patent number: 10637751
    Abstract: A method for online monitoring of a physical environment using a variable data sampling rate is implemented by a computing device. The method includes sampling, at the computing device, at least one data set using at least one sampling rate. The method also includes processing the at least one data set with condition assessment rules. The method further includes determining whether the at least one data set indicates a change in state of the physical environment. The method additionally includes updating the at least one sampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Olga Malakhova, John Wesley Grant, Mel Maalouf
  • Patent number: 10606221
    Abstract: A method for creating at least one portable environment recipe associated with at least one user and associated with an underlying architecture, whereby the underlying architecture includes an underlying actuator architecture or an underlying sensor architecture is provided. The method may include collecting a plurality of behavior data associated with the underlying architecture and the at least one user, wherein the at least one user is located at a first location. The method may further include analyzing the collected plurality of behavior data. The method may also include identifying at least one behavior pattern based on the analyzed plurality of behavior data. The method may include creating the at least one portable environment recipe based on the identified at least one behavior pattern. The method may also include uploading the created environment recipe to a repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Ting Chou, Wan-Tseng Hsiao, Jeffrey C. H. Liu, Chih-Wen Su
  • Patent number: 10581357
    Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a rotating DC power supply are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment includes a first and second DC bus rail, a first and second leg, and a discharge resistor. The first leg includes a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device coupled in series at a first midpoint connection, the first semiconductor device being coupled to a first point on the first DC bus rail and the first midpoint connection being coupled to a field winding. The second leg includes a third semiconductor device and a fourth semiconductor device coupled in series at a second midpoint connection, the third semiconductor device being coupled to a second point on the first DC bus rail and the second midpoint connection being coupled to the field winding. The discharge resistor is operatively coupled to the first DC bus rail between the first point and the second point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Chenjie Lin, Ghanshyam Shrestha, Mehanathan Pathmanathan, Pedro Rodriguez, Pasi Paloheimo, Tuomas Janhunen, Susanna Bäckström-Andersson, Eino Silander
  • Patent number: 10559000
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automated management of campaigns using scripted rules, and managing the execution of the rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Varouj A. Chitilian, Ilya Netchitailo, Nikhil Bakshi, Jiaqi Yu, Chetan Patel
  • Patent number: 10515057
    Abstract: The MANAGEMENT OF DATA REPLICATION AND STORAGE APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“BDR”) transform machine datasets using BDR components into replications over a network distributing redundant ready-to-use backup files. In some implementations, the disclosure provides a processor-implemented method for managing the replication and storage of data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: DATTO, INC.
    Inventors: Spencer Mortensen, Justin Giacobbi
  • Patent number: 10504189
    Abstract: Systems and methods may analyze property telematics data, with homeowner permission or affirmative consent, to update risk-based coverage of a property, such as a house, during a short-term rental. The systems include a renter analytics computing device, a plurality of property telematics devices at the property, including at least one sensor, and a property telematics controller. The renter analytics computing device is configured to retrieve a pre-rental record including parameters of a short-term rental of the property, and retrieve property telematics data, from the property telematics devices, associated with the short-term rental. The renter analytics computing device may develop a risk level profile associated with the short-term rental and determine an adjusted coverage rate to cover the property during the short-term rental. As a result, a homeowner of the property may be protected against damages incurred to the property during the short-term rental.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Tracey Dunne
  • Patent number: 10488857
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for receiving user commands for a remote cleaning robot and sending the user commands to the remote cleaning robot, the remote cleaning robot including a drive motor and a cleaning motor, includes displaying a user interface including a control area, and within the control area: a user-manipulable launch control group including a plurality of control elements, the launch control group having a deferred launch control state and an immediate launch control state; at least one user-manipulable cleaning strategy control element having a primary cleaning strategy control state and an alternative cleaning strategy control state; and a physical recall control group including a plurality of control elements, the physical recall control group having an immediate recall control state and a remote audible locator control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Duffley, Jeffrey W. Mammen, Michael J. Halloran
  • Patent number: 10453149
    Abstract: Systems and methods may analyze property telematics data, with homeowner permission or affirmative consent, to update risk-based coverage of a property, such as a house, during a short-term rental. The systems include a renter analytics computing device, a plurality of property telematics devices at the property, including at least one sensor, and a property telematics controller. The renter analytics computing device is configured to retrieve a pre-rental record including parameters of a short-term rental of the property, and retrieve property telematics data, from the property telematics devices, associated with the short-term rental. The renter analytics computing device may develop a risk level profile associated with the short-term rental and determine an adjusted coverage rate to cover the property during the short-term rental. As a result, a homeowner of the property may be protected against damages incurred to the property during the short-term rental.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Tracey Dunne
  • Patent number: 10349502
    Abstract: A timer adapted to apply power to a device is described. The timer comprises a first user selectable button of a user interface, wherein the first user selectable button establishes an on time and an off time of a first timing pattern; and a second user selectable button of the user interface, wherein the second user selectable button establishes an on time and an off time of a second timing pattern that is different than the first timing pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Cantigny Lighting Control, LLC
    Inventor: John Joseph King
  • Patent number: 10143887
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for athletic performance and technique monitoring are disclosed. In one example, a sensor output is received associated with a movement of a user torso during a running motion. The sensor output is analyzed to identify an undesirable torso motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas C. Chuang
  • Patent number: 10121470
    Abstract: Computer-generated speech devices for site survey and maintenance, and methods of using the same are described herein. One computer-generated speech device includes a location engine to determine a location of the computer-generated speech device at a site, a solution engine to identify an action to perform associated with one of a plurality of nodes at the site using the location of the computer-generated speech device and input data associated with the plurality of nodes, and a speech engine to broadcast the identified action as computer-generated speech using a speaker component of the computer-generated speech device for a user to perform during a survey and/or maintenance of the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Arunkumar Kamalakannan, Shubhankar Sundriyal, Amit Kulkarni, Monica Ravi
  • Patent number: 10116465
    Abstract: A method for operating a network that has a network subscriber that is connected to a superordinate bus and to a subordinate bus comprises steps for the reception of a first superordinate data message by the network subscriber via the superordinate bus, the extraction of first data from the first superordinate data message by the network subscriber and for the transmission of a first subordinate data message by the network subscriber via the subordinate bus. In one case, the first subordinate data message comprises the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Buettner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 9991975
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for triggering a specified operation, and belongs to the field of smart home technologies. The method includes obtaining a wireless signal received by a receiving device and sent by a specified signal source, determining whether a disturbance occurs in the first wireless signal, obtaining a signal quality characteristic of the wireless signal if it is determined that a disturbance occurs in the wireless signal; determining whether the signal quality characteristic matches with predetermined characteristic sample; and triggering the intelligent device to perform the specified operation if the signal quality characteristic matches with the predetermined characteristic sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Xiaomi Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Chen, Ziguang Gao, Enxing Hou
  • Patent number: 9817439
    Abstract: A system, method and device employs sensor arrangements and an e-system in designing, manufacturing, and monitoring custom human-interfacing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: JumpStartCSR, Inc.
    Inventors: George John Gosieski, Jr., George Jeongsoo Gosieski, Aaron Zev Lichtner
  • Patent number: 9776689
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for static and dynamic positioning or motion control of a marine structure by using real-time monitoring of at least one of a mooring line, marine environments, 6-dof movement of a marine structure, a tank state, a ship topside, the seabed, or their combinations. The static and dynamic real-time monitoring data of the mooring line is obtained and processed for positioning the marine structure or controlling and managing a motion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: CYTRONIQ., LTD.
    Inventor: Michael Myungsub Lee
  • Patent number: 9618915
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for commissioning a set of devices of a structure are disclosed. One method includes communicating, by a mobile computing device, with one or more of the set of devices, communicating, by each of the one or more of the set of devices, a device identifier, and placing each of the one or more of the set of devices on a floor plan of the structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the device. One system includes a plurality of sensor units and a mobile device. The system further includes a processor operative to place each of the one or more of the plurality of sensor units on a floor plan of a structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: enLighted, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanuj Mohan, Bo E. Ericsson
  • Patent number: 9501394
    Abstract: Apparatus, method and systems for managing reference data, which can prevent duplicated data loading of reference data and eliminate redundancy of I/O operations for loading of the same reference data required by different virtual machines present in the same physical node to reduce use memory and I/O through sharing virtual machine leveled memories, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kwang-Won Koh, Kang-Ho Kim, Seung-Hyub Jeon, Seung-Jo Bae
  • Patent number: 9485289
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an HTTP streaming session may be initiated at a client device in a network. The client device may have a buffer and may be configured to request and receive one or more data segments over HTTP from an HTTP server. A first data segment at a first data source rate may be requested and subsequently received. The first data segment may be stored in the buffer. A second data source rate may then be calculated based on a storage level in the buffer, and a second data segment at the second data source rate may be requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zhu, Zhi Li, Rong Pan, Joshua B. Gahm, Hao Hu
  • Patent number: 9477621
    Abstract: The invention concerns a bandwidth control method in an on-chip system comprising at least one main master module, at least one secondary master module, at least one slave module and a bus connected to each module on a communication link, the bus comprising interconnection means to make at least one common slave module communicate with at least one main master module and with at least one secondary master module via at least one common path portion, the method comprising the following steps carried out for each common slave module: first detection of a first request to access the common slave module, issued by a main master module, definition of a blocking time Dj associated with the common slave module, blocking, during blocking time Dj, of any data transfer on the at least one common path portion between a secondary master module and the common slave module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE
    Inventors: Celine Liu, Nicolas Charrier, Nicolas Marti
  • Patent number: 9387502
    Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling the operation of a pump according to a pump operation schedule are described. In one constructions, a pump controller enters a programming mode and monitors a number of inputs received through a user interface while in the programming mode. The programming mode is then exited and a delay time is defined equal to one hour for each input received through the user interface while in the programming mode. A stored pump operation schedule is accessed and operation of the pump is initiated according to the pump operation schedule after a period of time equal to the delay time has elapsed since exiting the programming mode. Operation of the pump is again initiated according to the accessed pump operation schedule every twenty-four hours since the pump operation schedule was last initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc C. McKinzie
  • Patent number: 9372478
    Abstract: A control system for a power application is provided, including a control module and a configuration tool. The control module is in communication with the power application. The control module includes control logic for controlling the power application by a plurality of frame states. All of the frame states are executed within a period of time referred to as a frame rate. The control module includes control logic for allotting an adjustable amount of time for each of the frame states. The configuration tool is in communication with the control module. The configuration tool includes control logic for modifying the adjustable amount of time of each of the plurality of frame states without modifying the frame rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Harry Paul Ridenour, III, Sunil Keshava, Raghavendra Rao Perampalli Nekkar
  • Patent number: 9148935
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for dual-technology occupancy detection are disclosed. One dual-technology occupancy detection apparatus includes a motion sensor sensing motion, an ambient light sensor sensing variation in ambient light, and a controller for detecting occupancy and controlling a building environmental parameter based on the sensed motion and the sensed variations in ambient light. One method of detecting occupancy for controlling lighting includes sensing motion with a motion sensor, sensing variations in ambient light with an ambient light sensor, and detecting occupancy and controlling activation of a light based on the sensed motion and the sensed variations in ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: enLighted, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanuj Mohan, Joseph Basil Curasi, Zachary Gentry, Premal Ashar, Sanjeev Patel
  • Patent number: 9009987
    Abstract: A clothing dryer capable of effectively drying a small amount of substance, and a control method thereof by changing an algorithm of a sensor-dry course, which is configured to control an operation rate, a degree of drying or a temperature of drying, to be adapted to the small load of substance in a case where the substance to be dried has a small load when compared to the entire volume of the clothing dryer, so that the drying efficiency is enhanced regardless of the load of the substance, and a separate option button is provided for a sensor-dry course, so that a small load of substance is dried adaptively to the material characteristic of the substance for a respective dry course, thereby enhancing the drying efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Woo Lee, Hee Beom Park, Ja Young Kim, Sang Oh Yoo
  • Patent number: 9013116
    Abstract: An LED (Light Emitting Device) light source (100), a pulse controller or pulse control module (130) for an LED light source, and a method are provided, for controlling relative timing and phase of LED light pulse generation and operation of peripheral devices, relative to a common timing reference. A system is provided comprising a pulse controller (130) for controlling synchronization of multiple LEDs (144) and/or other devices and peripherals (164), relative to a common timing reference. The pulse controller (130) comprises a processor (131) that programmatically executes a time based sequence of digital control signals (141) from received inputs (121) indicative of a pulse generation sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Excelitas Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Blair Porter, Stewart Andrew Clark
  • Publication number: 20150081041
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an output apparatus including a signal control unit configured to set a signal from a second output element in an OFF state at a timing earlier than a predetermined timing by the response time of a second load, and set signals from a first output element and the second output element in an ON state, and signals from a first interruption element and a second interruption element in an OFF state at a timing earlier than the predetermined timing by the response time of a first load. The output apparatus includes a diagnosis unit configured to diagnose, at the predetermined timing, whether the first and second interruption elements are in a normal state or a failure state, based on a signal from the first and second digital output circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Fumitaka Mouri, Makoto Toko, Hiroshi Nakatani, Naoya Ohnishi, Akira Nojima
  • Patent number: 8972029
    Abstract: Software for controlling processes in a heterogeneous semiconductor manufacturing environment may include a wafer-centric database, a real-time scheduler using a neural network, and a graphical user interface displaying simulated operation of the system. These features may be employed alone or in combination to offer improved usability and computational efficiency for real time control and monitoring of a semiconductor manufacturing process. More generally, these techniques may be usefully employed in a variety of real time control systems, particularly systems requiring complex scheduling decisions or heterogeneous systems constructed of hardware from numerous independent vendors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick D. Pannese, Vinaya Kavathekar, Peter van der Meulen
  • Patent number: 8972032
    Abstract: A method for detecting a mechanical overload condition of an energized linear actuator to prevent commanding an activation signal to the linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator includes monitoring feedback variation of a movable element associated with the linear actuator including monitoring a present feedback signal of the movable element, monitoring a previous feedback signal of the movable element, comparing the present feedback signal and the previous feedback signal and determining the feedback variation based on the comparing. The feedback variation is compared to a feedback variation threshold. An input signal associated with the activation signal for controlling the linear actuator is monitored and the input signal compared to an input signal threshold. The electrical overload condition is detected when the feedback variation is less than the feedback variation threshold and the input signal is greater than the input signal threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Xiujie Gao, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Publication number: 20150057766
    Abstract: A communication device includes a determining unit and a sending unit. The determining unit determines, when setting information related to a predetermined item is received from a predetermined apparatus, whether another piece of setting information related to the predetermined item is newly received from the predetermined apparatus before a predetermined time period elapses after the setting information is received. The sending unit sends, when the determining unit determines that the another piece of setting information is not newly received from the predetermined apparatus before the predetermined time period elapses, the setting information to a server device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Yusuke Ejiri, Megumi Nakata, Takeshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8948583
    Abstract: This invention provides an information processing apparatus for allowing a user to perform operation without any confusion concerning a device which implements a plurality of functions for one operation member in accordance with operation methods for the operation member. A system controller performs control to execute a predetermined function in response to the start of operation on an operation member and terminate execution of the predetermined function in response to the end of the operation. A timer function unit measures the time from the start of operation on the operation member. When a given operation finishes before the time measured by the timer function unit exceeds a predetermined time after the start of the operation, a notification about the operation method for the operation member is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Furuyama
  • Patent number: 8937741
    Abstract: A multi-function printer main body has a copy function. A remote terminal conducts various kinds of copy settings or instructions to start copy. An execution button is provided in the multi-function printer main body. When the execution button is operated in normal time, copy is executed with the default settings. When copy is executed by inputting copy settings on the remote terminal side, copy can be executed again with the copy settings used for the last time by operating the execution button until a predetermined period of time passes. Therefore, in a case of executing copy with the default settings or repeatedly executing copy with the same settings as the settings used for the last time, a user's work burden can be reduced because it is sufficient for the user to operate the execution button 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8934993
    Abstract: A life management circuit for managing usage rates of a plurality of electronic components includes a storage unit for storing usage information corresponding to each electronic component, a receiving unit, a determining unit and a control unit. Upon receipt of an activation command passed on thereto via the receiving unit, the control unit selects for activation, with reference to the usage information of the electronic components stored in the storage unit, at least one electronic component, the usage information corresponding to which reveals a usage rate that is comparatively lower among the electronic components, controls the determining unit to keep track of the duration of time that the selected at least one electronic component remains activated in response to the activation command, and updates the usage information corresponding to each of the selected at least one electronic component with reference to the duration of time tracked therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Yao-Tsung Chang
  • Patent number: 8924013
    Abstract: A path planning system for bringing state of an object into a target state includes a search tree production unit for producing in advance, in a state space with said target state defined as a root, a search tree having a branch at each one of a plurality of sections of the state space, said state space being divided into the plurality of sections in advance. The system also includes a search tree memory unit for storing the search tree, and a path generation unit for determining, a route on the search tree from the branch corresponding to the current state to the root. The path planning/control system further includes a path control unit for controlling the path of the object to bring the state of the object into the target state in accordance with the route on the search tree determined by the path planning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chyon Hae Kim
  • Patent number: 8862276
    Abstract: A method for the automatic irrigation of plants, wherein the temporal progression of soil moisture is determined from measured soil moisture values, and said progression is used for the calculation of an optimized irrigation time duration, such that both water excess in the soil and soil drying are avoided as much as possible. Preferably, the time duration of irrigation is constantly evaluated and optimized using comparisons of measured values with prespecified moisture- and dryness threshold values (GWmoist, GWdry), and automatically adjusted to changing environmental conditions and/or plant requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Plantcare AG
    Inventors: Walter Schmidt, Yucel Toprak
  • Patent number: 8855793
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for learning equipment schedules based on user occupancy patterns and equipment usage patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Zuli, Inc.
    Inventors: Siddhant Bhargava, Taylor Keith Umphreys, Benjamin Jerming Chang
  • Patent number: 8843218
    Abstract: A method of controlling an actuator includes developing a sequence of actuation commands S(tx)=C(tx, tx), C(tx, tx+1), . . . , C(tx, tx+n) obtained from data sensed before time tx for controlling the actuator at different time intervals (tx, tx+1), (tx+1, tx+2), . . . , (tx+n?1, tx+n). The sequence of actuation commands is transmitted to and stored in memory of an actuation ECU, which then applies the actuation command for time interval (tx, tx+1). If a fault affects a sensor, a control ECU or data communication therebetween, the actuation ECU will not receive an updated sequence of actuation commands S(tx+1) at time tx+1. If the updated actuation command sequence, the actuation ECU applies the actuation command for the time intervals (tx+1, tx+2), . . . , (tx+n?1, tx+n) from the sequence of actuation commands S(tx) that is stored in the memory of the actuation ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Markus Jochim, Lawrence E. Peruski, Barbara J. Czerny, Joseph G. D'Ambrosio, Rami I. Debouk
  • Publication number: 20140195012
    Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 8768531
    Abstract: A centralized-monitoring apparatus, which centralized monitors a device including a storage, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature therein, and a temperature-variable device to cool or heat inside the storage such that the temperature reaches a set object-preservation temperature, comprises: an input device to be input with first information indicative of a time zone in which the temperature-variable device performing power-saving operation and second information indicative of a set temperature of the time zone; a storage device to store the first-and-second information from the input device; a timing device to measure a current time; and a control device to control the temperature-variable device, based on the first-and-second information and current time, so as to start operation of turning the temperature to the set temperature when the current time reaches a starting time of the time zone, and terminate the operation when the current time reaches an ending time thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Sonoda, Masanaga Tanaka, Ikue Nono, Shigeyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8751522
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for improving search results. A user query is analyzed to identify a set of characters in the user query and an encoding code point associated with each character. A determination is made as to whether any of the encoding code points exist within a historic code point table. Responsive to at least one encoding code point existing within the historic code point table, all code points associated with each identified encoding code point in the user query are retrieved from the historic code point table. A modified user query is then created that utilizes the encoding code points of the user query and the code points from the historic code point table. The modified user query is then executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Su Liu, Robert K. Sloan, Shunguo Yan