Optimization Or Adaptive Control Patents (Class 700/28)
  • Patent number: 9523969
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems and methods for tracking the quality and efficiency of the machine instructions to operate an associated controller. The method may include: receiving, by at least one processor, a plurality of rules associated with an optimization procedure for a plurality of machine instructions for operating an associated controller; determining an evaluation, by the at least one processor, for the plurality of machine instructions based at least in part on the plurality of rules; and outputting the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pavan Kumar Singh Thakur, Nagesh Laxminarayana Kurella, Chandrakanth Alahari, Maruthi Manohar Jupudi
  • Patent number: 9501208
    Abstract: Flexible configuration of process control systems or plants allows draft changes or modifications to be made to parent process objects, e.g., in a configuration environment, without automatically triggering corresponding instantiations and/or downloads of the parent process objects and/or their derived children objects into a run-time system. Parent objects to which draft changes are allowed may include class objects, instance objects, and/or library objects. One or more modifications to a process object may be saved as a draft, and multiple drafts for a same process object may be saved as different versions. Children objects may indicate the particular version of a parent object draft from which they are derived. A user may indicate that a particular draft or version is to be published or approved. Unpublished or unapproved drafts are prevented from being instantiated in the run-time system, whereas published or approved drafts are allowed to be instantiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Larry O. Jundt, J. Michael Lucas, Marty James Lewis
  • Patent number: 9493931
    Abstract: Water is supplied from a mains water supply station to a main supply conduit which feeds a plurality of regional supply networks, via respective pressure reducing valves, at respective regional pressures. Each regional supply network has a boundary value for a parameter related to a property of the water, which may be water pressure or concentration of a water treatment agent. Each network has a critical point at which the value of the parameter is deemed least acceptable. Water supply characteristics in respect of each regional supply network are monitored and the water supplied into the main supply conduit is processed to ensure acceptable values of the parameter are maintained at each critical point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: i20 Water Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Burrows
  • Patent number: 9489027
    Abstract: A method for establishing a power profile for a computing device and then using that profile for future power calculations and cost savings estimates after the implementation of a selected power scheme in the computing device is disclosed. This is accomplished by establishing a power profile on a model computing device and then matching that profile to other machines that are similar in configuration. Each tested machine has a power profile that is recorded and saved in cloud based memory storage. A striated matching methodology is utilized to provide the best profile match for each target machine in the enterprise which allows for accurate power calculations for each machine based upon similar original target machine profiles. Once power calculations are done for target machines based on the established profiles, power schemes can then be deployed across an enterprise computing landscape and power calculations taken again to determine potential power savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Wave Resource Strategies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James Ogletree, Robert Eric Bernstein, Joseph James Franks, Jr., Kenneth Richard McKibben, James Martin Murphy
  • Patent number: 9482169
    Abstract: System, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for a computing a first set of parameters based on operational states of an internal combustion engine and an air handling system, a second set of parameters based on a linear time varying model, and one or more control commands based upon a minimization or maximization of a cost function over a prediction horizon, the second set of parameters, and at least one physical constraint of the internal combustion engine, and controlling one or more operations based at least in part upon the one or more control commands. The acts of determining the first and second set of parameters and computing the one or more control commands are repeated over a plurality of time periods over which the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters are time variant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund P. Hodzen, Nassim Khaled, Phanindra Garamella, Hoseinali Borhan
  • Patent number: 9471118
    Abstract: A method is described that involves controlling the traffic levels through an uncore to provide thermal management for the uncore. The method including determining if an uncore's temperature in a first uncore state is above a first threshold value and changing the first uncore state to a second uncore state if the uncore temperature is above the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Deep Buch, Vivek Garg, Subramaniam Maiyuran
  • Patent number: 9442771
    Abstract: Implementations relate to accessing a set of usage history data associated with a user account operating a workload on a set of virtual machines in a default deployment, generating, by a hardware processor, a predictive workload associated with the user account in view of the set of usage history data associated with the user account, responsive to generating the predictive workload, identifying a set of available resources in a set of host clouds of virtual machines provided by a cloud provider over the first period of time, accessing a set of deployment criteria received from the cloud provider, and generating a set of subscription parameters in view of the predictive workload, the set of available resources, and the set of deployment criteria to migrate the predictive workload to the set of host clouds of virtual machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Edwin Morgan
  • Patent number: 9436200
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation, thereby decreasing system line losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Patent number: 9423781
    Abstract: A method to control an power generation plant including: applying control settings to operate the plant; collecting plant data indicative of the performance of the plant; applying the control settings to a model of the plant; collecting prediction data from the model; comparing the plant data to the predicted data and adjusting the control settings applied to the plant and model; perturbing the control settings and applying the perturbed control settings to operate the plant and the model; collecting perturbed plant data and perturbed prediction data, and modifying the model if the perturbed plant data represents an improvement as compared to the perturbed prediction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor John Morgan, Tomas A. Velez
  • Patent number: 9424260
    Abstract: Techniques for data assignment from an external distributed file system (DFS) to a database management system (DBMS) are provided. Data blocks from the DFS are represented as first nodes and access module processors of the DBMS are represented as second nodes. A graph is produced with the first and second nodes. Assignments are made for the first nodes to the second nodes based on evaluation of the graph to integrate the DFS with the DBMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Teradata US, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Qi, Yu Xu, Olli Pekka Kostamaa, Jian Wen
  • Patent number: 9417290
    Abstract: The present invention provides impulse-response-based algorithms for high-speed characterization of electrochemical systems (e.g., batteries) with good accuracy. In some variations, a method for dynamic characterization of an electrochemical system comprises selecting an electrochemical system to be characterized; sensing the measured current to or from said electrochemical system; sensing the measured voltage across said electrochemical system; sensing or calculating the time derivatives of the measured current and voltage; and calculating an impulse response using a recursive or matrix-based algorithm (as disclosed herein), wherein said impulse response characterizes said electrochemical system within a selected sampling window. The algorithms are robust, incorporating noise-reduction techniques, and are suitable for real applications under various operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Shuoqin Wang, Ping Liu, John Wang
  • Patent number: 9411329
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy-management system for managing energy within a predominantly closed power system. The system includes an upper-level energy-management module, at least one lower-level energy-management module coupled to the upper-level energy-management module, and at least one component coupled to the lower-level energy-management module. The component is configured to provide a performance model associated with the component to the lower-level energy-management module. The lower-level energy-management module is configured to provide an aggregated model to the upper-level energy-management module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel H. Greene, Haitham A. S. Hindi, Robert R. Price, Bryan T. Preas, John Hanley
  • Patent number: 9411326
    Abstract: Systems and methods provided herein output an operational advisory based upon a plurality of models derived from a plurality of data, in which the plurality of models comprise at least one of a plant transfer function, a degradation contributor model, or a plant level cost model, and in which the plurality of data is derived from at least one of current plant data, historical plant data, business data, environmental data, component data, degradation contribution data, an optimization goal, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Awadesh Kumar Tiwari, Christopher Eugene Long, Mahesh Kumar Asati, Scott Mordin Hoyte, Achalesh Kumar Pandey, Vikas Handa
  • Patent number: 9397354
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a flow of air within a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack may include an air supply path to conduct a flow of air through the fuel cell. Sensors may be configured to determine parameters associated with the air supply path, such as pressure, flow rate, etc. A modeling system may further be configured to determine a modeled parameter associated with the air supply path. A control system may receive input from the one or more sensors and the modeling system to generate a baseline based on the measured parameter and the modeled parameter, determine a difference between the measured parameter and the modeled parameter, determine a change of the difference with respect to the baseline, determine that the change satisfies a criterion, and selectively implement a corrective action based upon satisfaction of the criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Donald H. Keskula, Joseph Mussro, Yanyan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9389627
    Abstract: By adding a suppression amount for suppressing an overshoot or undershoot that attenuates with time during an overshoot or undershoot period, the overshoot or undershoot can be suppressed within a short time and the output can be made close to a normal value. When an output has overshot, an overshoot suppression amount including a time-dependent attenuation suppression amount is added to an output feedback control amount, the time-dependent attenuation suppression amount being defined in a period during which the output overshoots. Alternatively, when the output has undershot, an undershoot suppression amount including a time-dependent attenuation suppression amount is added to the output feedback control amount, the time-dependent attenuation suppression amount being defined in a period during which the output undershoots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fujio Kurokawa, Hiroyuki Osuga
  • Patent number: 9383736
    Abstract: An air-conditioning controlling device includes an indicator calculating portion that calculates one or more indicators for evaluating, for each individual Pareto solution, similarity of the detail of air-conditioning control based on the operating volumes and/or the state distributions for the Pareto solution, a similarity calculating portion that calculates, for each Pareto solution, similarity of the Pareto solution to a reference Pareto solution, based on the indicators for the Pareto solution and the indicators for the reference Pareto solution, which is selected as a reference from the Pareto solutions, and an air-conditioning instructing portion that sends, to the air-conditioning system, the operating volumes of the Pareto solution with the least similarity to the reference Pareto solution from among the Pareto solutions belonging to the new air-conditioning controlling mode when there is a change, to a new air-conditioning controlling mode, of the air-conditioning controlling mode that is applied to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Honda, Yukako Saisu
  • Patent number: 9378313
    Abstract: Methods for systematically providing enhanced energy efficiency of mega industrial sites and synergy with the adjacent community through advanced hybrid inter-systems energy integration targeting and solutions generation to achieve desired best levels of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin, Mana M. Al-Owaidh, Abdulaziz M. Alnutaifi
  • Patent number: 9350568
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for power management in hybrid networks. In one embodiment, a network power manager is configured to manage power consumption in a hybrid network by controlling an operational state of a plurality of ports in a plurality of nodes of the hybrid network. The hybrid network comprises a plurality of interconnected networks, where each interconnected network employs a corresponding one of a plurality of communication mediums, and each of the communication mediums is unique with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philippe Klein, Avi Kliger
  • Patent number: 9329584
    Abstract: A system, program and related computer implemented method for selecting a controller and constructing it to automate one or more processes is provided. The method comprises the steps of: constructing a controller from a plant described by an LPV model to which a scheduling parameter is given by: a) calculating one or more ? gaps and a mean value of each candidate of a plant parameter vector of said LPV model based on a requirement of preselected constraints; b) choosing a candidate via information gathered by proof based on the magnitude of differences between the ? gaps; c) converting the LPV model into LMI and finding controllers, according to an H? criterion, at all combination end points of a maximum value and a minimum value of the plant parameter vector thus chosen; and d) choosing and constructing said chosen controller for said plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Junya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9323823
    Abstract: A method for operating an automation system having at least two subsystems which are each provided with a control program, wherein relevant data from one subsystem is transmitted to the other subsystem within the scope of an updating phase of the automation system to transfer process control from a solo mode of one of the subsystems to a redundant control mode with another of the subsystems so as to facilitate updating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Grosch, Jürgen Laforsch, Albert Renschler
  • Patent number: 9310865
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for optimizing a composite load disaggregation. The system comprises an input module, a factor graph module, a contextual information database, a rule engine, a priori database and a rule database. The factor-graph module is configured to perform factor-graph analysis on one or more input variables received from the input module to generate confidence measures wherein the confidence measures indicate the composite load disaggregation. The method and system is enabled to retrieve contextual information from the contextual information database. The method and system is further enabled to optimize the composite load disaggregation by means of the rule engine. The rule engine is adapted to retrieve one or more rules from the rule database and further adapted to apply retrieved rules to the confidence measures and to the contextual information for identifying at least one appliance from one or more appliances in an electrical environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Goutam Y G, Swanand Kadhe, Mariswamy Girish Chandra, Balamuralidhar Purushothaman
  • Patent number: 9300141
    Abstract: Methods and systems provided for creating a scalable building block for a virtual power plant, where individual buildings can incorporate on-site renewable energy assets and energy storage and optimize the acquisition, storage and consumption of energy in accordance with a value hierarchy. Each building block can be aggregated into a virtual power plant, in which centralized control of load shifting in selected buildings, based on predictive factors or price signals, can provide bulk power for ancillary services or peak demand situations. Aggregation can occur at multiple levels, including developments consisting of both individual and common renewable energy and storage assets. The methods used to optimize the system can also be applied to “right size” the amount of renewable energy and storage capacity at each site to maximize return on the capital investment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: John J. Marhoefer
  • Patent number: 9280146
    Abstract: A device receives a control system model that includes a fixed portion that models elements of a control system to be controlled and a tunable portion that models elements of the control system used to control the elements modeled by the fixed portion. The device receives information that identifies a tunable parameter of the tunable portion of the control system model, a hard constraint associated with the control system model, and a soft constraint associated with the control system model. The hard constraint identifies a first constraint that is to be satisfied, and the soft constraint identifies a second constraint that is to be reduced. The device calculates a parameter value for the tunable parameter by applying an optimization algorithm to the control system model, based on the control system model, the tunable parameter, the hard constraint, and the soft constraint. The device provides the parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal Gahinet, Pierre Apkarian
  • Patent number: 9246721
    Abstract: A digital up-converter (DUC) circuit for performing digital channel filtering of an incoming baseband digital signal. The proposed circuit reduces the complexity of the channel module filter of the DUC. This is achieved by taking advantage of the structure of the underlying symbol waveforms carried by the incoming baseband digital signal which have one or more known discontinuities comprising random amplitude and/or phase. Namely, the channel filter module is activated only for the digital samples located around the known discontinuities and is deactivated for the remaining digital samples. Further, the switching of the channel filter module from one state to another can be performed according to a smooth function so that further discontinuities are not introduced in the incoming baseband digital signal. A method and a computer program are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Vincent Pierre Martinez
  • Patent number: 9201752
    Abstract: A method includes receiving at a computing system empirical data related to one or more information technology entities. The method further includes receiving at the computing system one or more user experience indicators, the user experience indicators indicative of a user's experience using a computer application. The method further includes correlating by the computing system the empirical data with the one or more user experience indicators to determine a quality of service delivered to a user for a plurality of time periods. The method further includes determining by the computing system, based on the correlation, whether one or more issues with one of the one or more information technology entities are related to the quality of service delivered to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CA, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson T. MacDonald, Joel D. Kaufman, Daniel L. Holmes, Kathleen A. Hickey
  • Patent number: 9190047
    Abstract: An acoustic signal processing device includes a frequency domain transform unit configured to transform an acoustic signal to a frequency domain signal for each channel, a filter coefficient calculation unit configured to calculate at least two sets of filter coefficients of a filter for each section having a predefined number of frames with respect to a sampled signal obtained by sampling the frequency domain signal transformed by the frequency domain transform unit for each frame such that the magnitude of a residual calculated based on a filter compensating for the difference in transfer characteristics between the channels of the acoustic signal is minimized, and an output signal calculation unit configured to calculate an output signal of a frequency domain based on the frequency domain signal transformed by the frequency domain transform unit and at least two sets of filter coefficients calculated by the filter coefficient calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., KUMAMOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakadai, Makoto Kumon, Yasuaki Oda
  • Patent number: 9152134
    Abstract: A closed-loop control device for a process, in which a dead band element is connected upstream of a linear dynamic controller to reduce actuating interventions in the steady control state. If a control deviation (e) of the control loop exceeds a first threshold value (s1), then the dead band element is automatically deactivated, where a control deviation (e1) passed via the dead band element is uninfluenced by a set dead band in the inactive state. If the control deviation (e) then undershoots a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value, then the dead band element is automatically re-activated. This reduces the energy consumption and wear of an actuator and improves the control behavior with regard to steady-state accuracy and the control behavior of the control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Grieb, Lena Lohner, Bernd-Markus Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9141445
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a method of managing asynchronous system calls. The method includes instantiating an asynchronous data structure in a user space and passing the asynchronous data structure to the kernel for execution as an asynchronous system call. The method also includes executing the asynchronous system call in the kernel and returning the kernel to the space in response to the asynchronous system call being blocked on a thread. The method further includes returning a result of the asynchronous system call on the thread in the user space in response to the asynchronous system call being completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: Ingo Molnar
  • Patent number: 9135217
    Abstract: At least one weighting value is determined in a manner that is influenced by a vehicle user. A maximum released power, which a predefined electrical consumer of the motor vehicle may consume, is determined as a function of the weighting value. The power consumption of the electrical consumer is controlled as a function of the maximum power that is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellscahft
    Inventors: Thomas Stauner, Roman Nagy, Joachim Froeschl, Martin Hattenkofer, Christoph Wanke
  • Patent number: 9104792
    Abstract: A modular refrigeration unit (MRU) health monitor includes a log data input configured to receive log data from an MRU, the log data comprising a plurality of datapoints, each of the plurality of datapoints comprising a position of a control valve of the MRU and a corresponding time; and MRU health monitoring logic configured to determine a plurality of MRU parameters from log data received on the log data input; determine a plurality of MRU health flags based on the MRU parameters; add the plurality of MRU health flags to determine an MRU health score; determine whether the MRU health score is higher than a replacement threshold; and indicate replacement of the MRU in the event the MRU health score is higher than the replacement threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Hadderman, Timothy R. Marchini, K. Paul Muller, Katie L. Pizzolato, Andrew H. Vogel
  • Patent number: 9104823
    Abstract: A method of optimizing production of wells using choke control includes generating, for each well, an intermediate solution to optimize the production of each well. The generating includes using an offline model that includes a mixed-integer nonlinear program solver and includes using production curves based on a choke state and a given wellhead pressure. The method further includes calculating, using a network model and the intermediate solution of each well, a current online wellhead pressure for each well. The method further includes setting the intermediate solution as a final solution based on determining that a difference between the current online wellhead pressure of each well and a prior online wellhead pressure of each well is less than a tolerance amount. The method further includes adjusting, using the final solution of each well, at least one operating parameter of the wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kashif Rashid, Sulyman Demirel, Benoit Couet
  • Patent number: 9065301
    Abstract: A power control system controls electric devices so as to consume a power generated by a self-generated power facility using a natural energy, which is provided with a surplus power detection unit that detects the surplus portion of power generated by the self-generated power facility, and a device control unit that controls the operation of a plurality of electric devices. When the surplus power detection unit detects the surplus power, the device control unit controls one or more of a plurality of electric devices to perform predetermined operations so as to consume the surplus power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Takayama, Izumi Usuki, Kiyotaka Takehara, Akiko Takamiya
  • Patent number: 9053223
    Abstract: A method for modular refrigeration unit (MRU) health monitoring includes receiving log data on a log data input from the MRU by a MRU health monitor, the log data comprising a plurality of datapoints, each of the plurality of datapoints comprising a position of a control valve of the MRU and a corresponding time; determining by the MRU health monitor a plurality of MRU parameters from the log data; determining a plurality of MRU health flags based on the MRU parameters; adding the plurality of MRU health flags to determine an MRU health score; determining whether the MRU health score is higher than a replacement threshold; and indicating replacement of the MRU in the event the MRU health score is higher than the replacement threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Hadderman, Timothy R. Marchini, K. Paul Muller, Katie L. Pizzolato, Andrew H. Vogel
  • Patent number: 9052705
    Abstract: Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also applies to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection controllers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventor: Zhiqiang Gao
  • Patent number: 9049755
    Abstract: A user-programmable, motion-activated fixture application having floodlights, a nightlight or wall wash light, and a user-interface having dedicated pushbuttons for time, sensitivity, and timer functionality selection by the user. Two proximity sensors detect the presence of infrared-emitting bodies both in front of and below the sensor housing. An ambient light sensor is employed to determine whether it is presently daytime or nighttime, and to identify transitions between the two. A linear array of display LEDs is shared among the time, sensitivity, and timer switches, showing the current setting selected by the user with as each switch is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Coleman Cable, LLC
    Inventors: Shiao-Tsun Ku, Chu-Ching Wang
  • Patent number: 9043008
    Abstract: A method models a defect management routine. Both the modeling and a handling are executed within a manufacturing execution system. During an engineering phase: modeling the production process and creating a library of possible defect types which may occur; assigning the defect types to at least one defect group; creating a library of defect specifications; creating a library of defect type specification details; creating at least one runtime defect criteria that is used to link the defect type to a certain production volume; and creating a runtime defect measurement routine that monitors a corrective measure. During a runtime production phase evaluating the product produced; identifying the respective defect type out of the library of defect types; and using the identified defect type to determine a corrective measure, a runtime defect criteria identifying the resource causing the defect type, a production volume, and to run the respective runtime defect management routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andrea Boero, Ignazio Selvaggio
  • Patent number: 9037272
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a housing that includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first work port and a second work port. The housing defines a spool bore and a pilot spool bore. A main stage spool is disposed in the spool bore. A pilot stage spool is disposed in the pilot spool bore. The pilot stage spool is in selective fluid communication with the main stage spool. A microprocessor includes a controller having a restricted structured controller and a compensation controller. Outputs of the restricted structured controller and the compensation controller are summed to form an electrical signal that is communicated to the pilot stage spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: QingHui Yuan, Christy Schottler, Wade Gehlhoff, Hong Singhania
  • Patent number: 9031674
    Abstract: A method of optimizing production of wells using choke control includes generating, for each well, an intermediate solution to optimize the production of each well. The generating includes using an offline model that includes a mixed-integer nonlinear program solver and includes using production curves based on a choke state and a given wellhead pressure. The method further includes calculating, using a network model and the intermediate solution of each well, a current online wellhead pressure for each well. The method further includes setting the intermediate solution as a final solution based on determining that a difference between the current online wellhead pressure of each well and a prior online wellhead pressure of each well is less than a tolerance amount. The method further includes adjusting, using the final solution of each well, at least one operating parameter of the wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kashif Rashid, Suleyman Demirel, Benoit Couet
  • Patent number: 9020846
    Abstract: The disclosed systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer programs embodied on computer-readable media may enable a shipping carrier to determine the utilization of a trailer in a delivery network by receiving and aggregating disparate types and sources of shipping information, including, for example, package billing data from a customer order, scan data from the loading and unloading of packages transported by the trailer, dimensional data received from dimensional scans of packages at carrier shipping hubs, and/or trailer data including the volume of the trailer. Utilization may be determined for each trailer in a carrier delivery network or for a subset of trailers in the network. The determined utilizations may be used to determine the parameters for an optimized delivery network, which may include the addition, elimination, and/or modification of the delivery schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Marc Siris
  • Publication number: 20150112455
    Abstract: A control device with automatic adjustment includes: a GPS module, for receiving a GPS satellite information; and a microcontroller unit, coupled to the GPS module. The microcontroller unit updates a control setting value based on the GPS satellite information from the GPS module, and the microcontroller unit controls a controlled device based on the control setting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ching-Hsien LIN, Ming-Hung HUANG, Chia-Ming Hung
  • Patent number: 9005261
    Abstract: A therapeutic laser with a source of pulsed electromagnetic radiation, a control device for controlling the intensity and/or the duration of the therapeutic laser applied to the tissue, and a detection device for detecting optoacoustic signals triggered by irradiating the living tissue with the pulsed electromagnetic radiation. The therapeutic laser is characterized by an evaluation device that acts on the control device and is used for calculating a degree of quality B(t) from the optoacoustic signals detected by the detection device for individual laser pulses applied to a predetermined laser spot and determining a fit function f(t) at a predetermined point in time ?t1, the fit function f(t) approximating the mean curve of B(t) for 0?t??t1. The intensity and/or the irradiation time of the therapeutic laser is defined by the parameters for the predetermined laser spot, the parameters being determined for the fit function f(t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Medizinisches Laserzentrum Luebech GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 9008807
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method of Advanced Process Control for optimal operation of multi-unit plants in large scale processing and power generation industries. The invention framework includes the following components: continuous real time dynamic process simulation, automatic coefficient adjustment of dynamic and static process models, automatic construction of transfer functions, determination of globally optimal operating point specific to current conditions, provision of additional optimal operating scenarios through a variety of unit combinations, and calculation of operational forecasts in accordance with planned production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Statistics & Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Shapiro, Ilya Markevich, Dmitriy Khots
  • Patent number: 9002532
    Abstract: A computerized method for controlling a chiller plant for cooling a building is provided. The chiller plant has a chiller plant load. The method includes estimating an optimal combination of chiller plant equipment for meeting the chiller plant load. Estimating the optimal combination of chiller plant equipment includes using binary optimization to determine at least two potential combinations of chiller plant equipment. Estimating the optimal combination of chiller plant equipment also includes using nonlinear optimization to determine a potential power consumption minimum for each of the at least two potential combinations. The method also includes controlling the chiller plant according to the estimated optimal combination of chiller plant equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Matthew J. Asmus
  • Publication number: 20150094827
    Abstract: External programming of at least one processor (30) of a LED driver (10). In a normal operation mode a first control input (22B/22C) of the LED driver (10) may be provided to a first processor input of the processor and a second control input (22B/22C) of the LED driver may be provided to a second processor input of the processor (30). In a programming mode the first and second control inputs (22B, 22C) may be provided to programming inputs of the processor (30) to thereby enable programming of the processor (30) via the first and second control inputs (22B, 22C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Raman Nair Harish Gopala Pillai, Kaustuva Acharya
  • Publication number: 20150094826
    Abstract: A process variable transmitter for use in an industrial control or monitoring process is provided and includes a housing with a cavity formed therein which extends between first and second housing openings. The transmitter further includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable of the industrial process. An electronics carrier assembly is mounted in the cavity and is configured to define a first compartment and a second compartment in the cavity and provide a seal therebetween. Measurement circuitry is carried by the electronics carrier assembly in the first compartment and configured to receive a process variable signal and provide an output. An electrical connection is carried on the electronics carrier assembly in the second compartment and is electrically coupled to the output of the measurement circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Jinjie Jia, Dirk Bauschke, Kirsten Norman, Todd Larson
  • Patent number: 8996185
    Abstract: A unit commitment problem is solved for a set of generators with a set of configurations having a set of 2N.T schedules, wherein N is a number of generators i and T is a number of decision time steps. A reduced set of configurations is determined, and then a functional metric to measure a similarity of all possible pairs of the configurations is defined. Dynamic programming is applied to the reduced set of configurations using the similarity metric to determine an optimal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel N. Nikovski, Weihong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150088277
    Abstract: A process variable transmitter for use in an industrial control or monitoring process is provided and includes a housing with a cavity formed therein. The housing includes an integrated terminal block which defines first and second compartments in the cavity. The transmitter further includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable of the industrial process. Measurement circuitry is carried in the first compartment and configured to receive a process variable signal from the process variable sensor and provide an output. An electrical connection is carried on the integrated terminal block in the second compartment and is electrically coupled to the output of the measurement circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Andrew Perrault, Dirk Willy Bauschke, Loren Michael Engelstad
  • Publication number: 20150081044
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for implementing an operational parameter change within the data processing system based on an identified degradation. One or more degradations existing in the data processing system are identified based on a set of degradation values obtained from a set of degradation sensors. A determination is made as to whether one or more operational parameters need to be modified based on the one or more identified degradations. Responsive to determining that the one or more operational parameters need to be modified based on the one or more identified degradations, an input change is implemented to a one or more control devices in order that the one or more operational parameters are modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware, Alan J. Drake, Michael S. Floyd, Tilman Gloekler, Charles R. Lefurgy, Karthick Rajamani
  • Patent number: 8976515
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for an optimizable rack solution is presented. The system and method is directed to an optimizable rack that includes a frame. The frame has both a primary portion and a detachable portion. The primary portion may contain a primary enclosure and the detachable portion may container a secondary enclosure. Each of the primary enclosure and secondary enclosure are sized to hold a plurality of computing systems. Detaching the detachable portion of the frame both reduces the size and computing systems capacity of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Ty Schmitt, Mark M. Bailey, Anthony Middleton, Edmond Bailey, Laurent Regimbal, Tyler Duncan
  • Publication number: 20150066162
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for configuring a plurality of field devices is provided. The method includes defining a configuration template and mapping the configuration template to a plurality of field devices. The defined configuration template is automatically applied to the plurality of field devices. A method of verifying field device configuration information is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Scott N. Hokeness, Marcos A. Peluso, Charles H. Pille, Paul J. Hurt, Nghy A. Hong, Qian (Jane) Xiao