Optimization Or Adaptive Control Patents (Class 700/28)
  • Patent number: 8812165
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for optimizing energy use with one or more optimization engine objects. An optimization engine object may have a plurality of dependent objects including at least a dependent optimization engine object, or at least one of a supply-side or demand-side object. The optimization engine object may receive dependent object attribute data from each of the at least one dependent objects; determine an optimal configuration for the plurality of dependent objects over the first time period subject to at least one optimization constraint; and conditioned upon the optimization engine depending from a superior optimization engine, transmit a net energy usage associated with the optimal configuration to the superior optimization engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Melanie Miller, Pedram Mohseni, David Masters
  • Patent number: 8805555
    Abstract: A method and system for configuring a PID controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Junya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8805583
    Abstract: A robot, which performs natural walking similar to a human with high energy efficiency through optimization of actuated dynamic walking, and a control method thereof. The robot includes an input unit to which a walking command of the robot is input, and a control unit to control walking of the robot by calculating torque input values through control variables, obtaining a resultant motion of the robot through calculation of forward dynamics using the torque input values, and minimizing a value of an objective function set to consist of the sum total of a plurality of performance indices through adjustment of the control variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bok Man Lim, Kyung Shik Roh, Woong Kwon, Ju Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 8797178
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or techniques that facilitate and/or effectuate efficient stream sharing for multi-user sensor data collection. The system includes mechanisms that locate within a query a specification that includes spatial regions over which data is required, based on the spatial regions the mechanism determines which sensors are situated within the region or ascertains which of the sensors in the region is actively streaming data and/or has persisted data in order to fulfill the query, constructs or utilizes a directed acyclic graph to obviate redundancy in a functional requirement included in the specification and imposed by the query, and formulates a result in fulfillment of the query that is delivered to an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Aman Kansal, Arsalan Tavakoli-Shiraji, Suman Nath, Feng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140214182
    Abstract: A method of determining and verifying an acceptable torque value for a foundation fastener used to secure a pair of adjacently located rotating machines having their shafts coupled together. An alignment engineer enters characteristics respective to a proposed foundation fastener into a software directed processing device. The processor analyzes the fastener characteristics when applied to the specific application of the adjacently located rotating machines to determine a target torque value. The processing device utilizes the calculated torque to determine an anticipated elongation of the fastener. The anticipated elongation is compared to an acceptable elongation range to determine if the proposed target torque value is acceptable. Once the software determines the proposed fastener and target torque value are acceptable for the application, the software informs the alignment engineer accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Jan Willem Karel Vietsch
  • Patent number: 8793026
    Abstract: An electrical load life-cycle management and analysis system and method are presented. In the system and method, a database module stores electrical system configuration data and electrical system requirements, and an electrical system analysis module determines electrical system performance characteristics as a function of and based on the electrical system configuration data. In addition, an electrical system configuration management module manages at least one change to the electrical system configuration data, and compares the electrical system performance characteristics to the electrical system requirements to enable optimal performance and to provide compliance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ralph W. Boy, Neal Harold, Jay B. Biederman
  • Patent number: 8793002
    Abstract: A machine may include a torque producing system, and a torque consuming device including load controls operable to generate a request for torque. The machine may also include a control system coupled to the torque producing system and the load controls. The control system may be operable to receive the request for torque, determine a torque limit based on the requested torque, and communicate the torque limit to the load controls, the load controls being operable to adjust operation of the torque consuming device based on the torque limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Anderson, Corey L. Gorman
  • Patent number: 8793003
    Abstract: A method and a system control an operation of a vapor compression system using a set of control inputs. A control value is determined based on an output of the operation of the vapor compression system and a setpoint for the operation of the vapor compression system. The control value is used to select at least a subset of the set of control inputs from a computer-readable medium, wherein the subset of control inputs, along or in combination with a function of the control value, forms the set of control inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Laughman, Daniel Nikolaev Nikovski
  • Patent number: 8793004
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed. The control system may have a physical sensor configured to measure physical parameter values of a machine. The control system may also have a virtual sensor network system configured to receive the physical parameter values measured by the physical sensor as input parameter values, and generate output parameter values based on the input parameter values. Further, the control system may have an electronic control module configured to store an output parameter value default rate of change and an output parameter value threshold rate of change, compare a rate of change of the output parameter values generated by the virtual sensor network system to the output parameter value threshold rate of change, and control the machine based on the output parameter value default rate of change if the rate of change of the output parameter values exceeds the output parameter value threshold rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony James Grichnik, Timothy Joe Felty, James Robert Mason
  • Patent number: 8788446
    Abstract: A health monitoring system for complex networked apparatus includes a number of neuro-fuzzy inference apparatuses feeding inference results into a data fusion hierarchy. At each level in the hierarchy, fuzzy inference is applied to generate a desired output signal by processing selected input signals in accordance with a knowledge base defining fuzzy membership functions and fuzzy inference rules defined in advance. The knowledge base includes alternative definitions of membership functions and/or inference rules. The apparatus selects which definition to use according to environmental or other conditions, and predetermined selection criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: University of Liecester, BAE plc
    Inventors: Liqun Yao, Da-Wei Gu, Ian Postlethwaite
  • Patent number: 8788068
    Abstract: A modeling tool for determining the operation of a production facility. A variety of different activities can be modeled, including (a) feed material selection, including quantity and timing, (b) product sales, including quantity and timing, (c) process operations, including process conditions and timing, (d) blending operations, including process conditions and timing, and/or (e) inventory management. The modeling tool may represent time using continuous-time, discrete-time, asynchronous time periods, synchronous time periods, and combinations of these various approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gary R. Kocis, Philip H. Warrick, Victor P. DePaola
  • Patent number: 8774948
    Abstract: There is a method to model large electric power consuming facilities for power system studies. A general facility model, for example a template, is created for different types of industrial or commercial facilities. A template includes all necessary and general electric system information such as the common electric network configuration of a specific type of facilities. The template, stored in a database, is then scaled and adjusted based on the power demand level of the case-specific facility to be modeled based on facility specific parameters acquired for the facility. The result is a full, case-specific model of the facility to be modeled. The case-specific model is simplified into an equivalent model with varying details according to a user's specification. The results are the case-specific facility model of interest to the user. The model is normally included into the power system model of the utility network for power system simulation studies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Wilsun Xu
  • Patent number: 8775138
    Abstract: The invention relates to linear programming methods and systems. The linear programming model has at least one input streams, at least one intermediate stream, and at least one output stream. The linear programming model is utilized for simulating the effect of withdrawing at least a portion of an intermediate steam on one or more of the model's outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Carpency, Tom H. Arendt
  • 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: 8768642
    Abstract: The present invention systems and methods facilitate configuration of functional components included in a remotely located integrated circuit die. In one exemplary implementation, a die functional component reconfiguration request process is engaged in wherein a system requests a reconfiguration code from a remote centralized resource. A reconfiguration code production process is executed in which a request for a reconfiguration code and a permission indicator are received, validity of permission indicator is analyzed, and a reconfiguration code is provided if the permission indicator is valid. A die functional component configuration process is performed on the die when an appropriate reconfiguration code is received by the die. The functional component configuration process includes directing alteration of a functional component configuration. Workflow is diverted from disabled functional components to enabled functional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael B. Diamond, John S. Montrym, James M. Van Dyke, Michael B. Nagy, Sean J. Treichler
  • Patent number: 8768522
    Abstract: A set of semi-active actuators is arranged in an elevator system to compensate a vibration of an elevator car. The actuators are controlled in accordance with the control policy based on a measured signal including values of the parameter measured during the operation of the elevator system. The control policy is determined, based on a model of the elevator system, wherein the control policy includes a state function representing an operation of the elevator system and a function of displacement representing an operation of the set of semi-active actuators. The state function is approximated, using the model of the elevator system, as a first function of a parameter representing the vibration. The function of displacement is approximated, using the model of the elevator system, as a second function of the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Yebin Wang, Scott A. Bortoff
  • Publication number: 20140180442
    Abstract: A method and control system for industrial systems having a display of process variables permitting prompt action if an alarm occurs. The method includes receiving status-related data pertaining to a plurality of process variables, adjusting the status data to a value outside the predefined range of values if the system state deviates from the normal; and displaying the adjusted status data as a function of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Susanne Timsjo, Hongyu Pei-Breivold, Saad Azhar
  • Publication number: 20140180443
    Abstract: Provided is a control device that makes it possible to surely give an appropriate instruction to operate. An appliance control device that controls an electric appliance that performs one of a first operation and a second operation includes: a price obtaining unit that obtains information indicating a price of power; a detecting unit that detects a change in the price in a not shorter one of the first period and the second period, the price being indicated in the obtained information; a first calculating unit that calculates a first cost produced when the electric appliance performs the first operation, in the case where the change is detected; a second calculating unit that calculates a second cost produced when the electric appliance performs the second operation, in the case where the change is detected; a comparing unit; and an instructing unit that instructs performing of a determined operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Yuki Waki, Hisashi Takayama, Tosihisa Ikeda, Yasuo Yoshimura, Tetsuya Kouda
  • Patent number: 8761956
    Abstract: A computer and a control method for smart fan thereof are provided, wherein the computer includes a processor configured to control a smart fan under an UETFI bios mode. A sensed temperature value from a temperature sensor, and a current speed value of the smart fan are acquired. A real-time temperature curve and a real-time speed curve are traced in a dynamic updating zone of a graphical interface respectively according to the current temperature and the current speed value. A first control point and a second control point, which correspond to the smart fan, are obtained via a control zone of the graphical interface. A control curve is traced in the graphical interface according to the first and second control points. The speed of the smart fan is controlled according to the control curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: MSI Computer (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Wei Chen, Wei-Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 8757469
    Abstract: A system includes host and learning machines in electrical communication with sensors positioned with respect to an item of interest, e.g., a weld, and memory. The host executes instructions from memory to predict a binary quality status of the item. The learning machine receives signals from the sensor(s), identifies candidate features, and extracts features from the candidates that are more predictive of the binary quality status relative to other candidate features. The learning machine maps the extracted features to a dimensional space that includes most of the items from a passing binary class and excludes all or most of the items from a failing binary class. The host also compares the received signals for a subsequent item of interest to the dimensional space to thereby predict, in real time, the binary quality status of the subsequent item of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A Abell, John Patrick Spicer, Michael Anthony Wincek, Hui Wang, Debejyo Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 8755981
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission includes estimating an expected coefficient of friction of the clutch, estimating a value of an expected torque required to maintain a constant slip of the clutch for a current input torque applied to the transmission, and determining a value of an actual torque applied to the clutch to maintain the constant slip of the clutch at the current input torque. An actual coefficient of friction of the clutch is calculated by dividing the actual torque applied to the clutch by the expected torque applied to the clutch, and multiplying that quotient by the expected coefficient of friction of the clutch. A feed forward torque command is then adjusted based upon the actual coefficient of friction of the clutch to define a revised value of the feed forward torque command, which may then be used to control the clutch for various control operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Williams, Steven P. Moorman, Matthew D. Whitton
  • Patent number: 8755924
    Abstract: A charged particle beam writing method includes inputting layout information of a plurality of chips on which pattern formation is to be achieved, setting, using the layout information, a plurality of writing groups each being composed of at least one of the plurality of chips and each having writing conditions differing from each other, setting, for each of the plurality of writing groups, a frame which encloses a whole of all chip regions in the each of the plurality of writing groups, virtually dividing the frame into a plurality of stripe regions in a predetermined direction, with respect to the each of the plurality of writing groups, setting, using the plurality of stripe regions of all the plurality of writing groups, an order of each of the plurality of stripe regions such that a reference position of the each of the plurality of stripe regions is located in order in the predetermined direction regardless of the plurality of writing groups, and writing a pattern in the each of the plurality of stripe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihito Anpo
  • Patent number: 8752396
    Abstract: A component identification system and method, including an identifier associated with a replacement component, a memory to store one or more identifiers for each previously used component corresponding to the replacement component, and a processor to compare the identifier of the replacement component with the one or more stored identifiers of each previously used component. The replacement component is acceptable where the identifier of the replacement component differs from the one or more stored identifiers of each previously used component, and the replacement component is unacceptable where the identifier of the replacement component corresponds to one or more stored identifiers of each previously used component. Prior to accepting the replacement component, one or more predetermined validation operations can be performed on the identifier of the replacement component, with the identifier being formed in a serial number or code type scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Raheel Ashraf Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 8755941
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a temperature of an exhaust gas being introduced to a catalyst is provided. Using an adjustable flow controller, an adjustable amount of tempering fluid is provided to the exhaust gas prior to the exhaust gas proceeding to the catalyst. A sensor senses a parameter indicative of a temperature of the exhaust gas being introduced to the catalyst. A computer processor uses a relationship to relate the parameter to an adjustment of the adjustable flow controller that will adjust the amount of tempering fluid provided to the exhaust gas and change the temperature of the exhaust gas being introduced to the catalyst toward a target temperature. Adjustment of the adjustable flow controller is initiated by the computer processor to change the flow of the tempering fluid, and the relationship between the parameter and the adjustment of the adjustable flow controller is updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry William Swanson, Douglas Frank Beadie, Neil Colin Widmer, Hua Zhang, Gilbert Otto Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8738158
    Abstract: A lighting system controller is provided that is adapted to configure a plurality of lighting controllers using a set of common configuration information referred to as a template. According to one example, the lighting system controller is configured to maintain a set of templates and to track associations between templates and elements of a lighting control system that are managed by the lighting system controller. Examples of managed elements include lighting controllers and configurable objects resident within the lighting controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Sims, Jason Lien, Edwin Moore
  • Publication number: 20140142725
    Abstract: A chassis may be configured to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems and a plurality of modular information handling resources including one or more storage controllers, and have at least two internal switching fabrics for communicating data between the modular information handling systems and the information handling resources. The chassis management controller disposed in the chassis may be configured to retrieve information regarding at least one of relative priorities among modular information handling systems disposed in the chassis, associations between modular information handling systems disposed in the chassis and storage resources disposed in the chassis, and input/output metrics from storage resources disposed in the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventor: Patrick Oliver Boyd
  • Patent number: 8729442
    Abstract: Technology for predicting and correcting a trajectory is described. The technology can create a model to predict a position of the reusable launch vehicle at a time in the future; observe a wind condition during ascent of the reusable launch vehicle; store the observed wind condition in a wind map; predict during ascent a position and a terminal lateral velocity of the reusable launch vehicle at a terminal altitude; and correct a flight trajectory of the reusable launch vehicle based on the wind map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Blue Origin, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick W. Boelitz, Mark O. Hilstad
  • Patent number: 8718824
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for enhancing individualized and safe food production using an iterative co-evolutionary approach. A system is disclosed that includes a production system for generating a set of end products based on an inputted set of host chromosomes and a parasite chromosome (which may include machine/human contaminants); an evaluation system for evaluating each end product; an evolution system for generating a set of evolved host chromosomes and an updated parasite chromosome; and a mechanism for generating a further set of end products based on the evolved host chromosomes and the updated parasite chromosome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Keith Baughman, Peter K. Malkin, Arnold Greenland
  • Patent number: 8700369
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating error in a multi-axis controlled machine is applicable to any type of machine configuration in order to estimate and confirm in advance the final position and the posture of the machine, which are produced when geometric errors of the machine are synthesized. The method includes defining the structure of the multi-axis controlled machine subjected to error estimation; and defining parameters, which represent behaviors of drive axes having geometric error and relationships between the drive axes according to the defined structure of the multi-axis controlled machine, adding the defined parameters by applying the parameters to a generalized error synthesis model, and generating an error synthesis model of the multi-axis controlled machine by applying a result of parametric modeling in response to a result of the adding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kyungpook National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Seung-Han Yang, Dong-Mok Lee, Sung-Hwan Kweon
  • Patent number: 8694132
    Abstract: An extremum seeking control method optimizes a control process for a plant such as an air handling unit. The method improves the performance of an extremum seeking control strategy by limiting, removing or preventing the effects of an actuator saturation condition, particularly as the extremum seeking control strategy relates to HVAC applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Yaoyu Li, John E. Seem
  • Patent number: 8694131
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling an operation of a vapor compression system are disclosed, such that a performance of the system measured in accordance with a metric of the performance is optimized. A control signal is modified with a modification signal including a perturbation signal having a first frequency, wherein the control signal controls at least one component of the vapor compression system. A metric signal representing a perturbation in the performance of the system caused by the modification signal is determined, wherein the metric signal has a second frequency substantially equal to the first frequency. The control signal is adjusted based on a function of a phase between the perturbation signal and the metric signal, such that the performance is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan J. Burns, Scott A. Bortoff, Christopher Laughman
  • Patent number: 8688277
    Abstract: An apparatus that generates brewed beverages by performing one or more chemical and/or mechanical processes may receive requests to produce specified brewed beverages. The apparatus may include a master controller that initiates and controls performance of the chemical and/or mechanical processes to produce the specified beverages. The master controller may adaptively apply one or more process accelerators during the performance of one of the chemical or mechanical processes to accelerate the process or to achieve a desired qualitative or quantitative characteristic for a beverage or a component thereof. The adaptive application of one or more process accelerators may be dependent on a multiple-variable process profile developed for the process and/or a specified beverage. For example, the pressure in a steam wand and/or the depth of the wand may be varied during a process to froth milk in order to produce frothed milk having a desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Briggo, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Studor, J. Kevin Nater, Marwan M Hassoun
  • Patent number: 8688256
    Abstract: An advanced process control (APC) system, an APC method, and a computer program product, which, when executed, performs an APC method are provided for incorporating virtual metrology (VM) into APC. The present inventions uses a reliance index (RI) and a global similarity index (GSI) to adjust at least one controller gain of a run-to-run (R2R) controller when the VM value of a workpiece is adopted to replace the actual measurement value of the workpiece. The RI is used for gauging the reliability of the VM value, and the GSI is used for assessing the degree of similarity between the set of process data for generating the VM value and all the sets of historical process data used for building the conjecturing model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: National Cheng Kung University, Foresight Technology Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fan-Tien Cheng, Chi-An Kao, Wei-Ming Wu
  • Patent number: 8688314
    Abstract: A method for tuning a parameter of a Kalman filter in a wheel inspection for a vehicle. The method includes: associating wheel inspection data of the vehicle with locations of wheels in the vehicle; evaluating a wheel stable score of the vehicle based on the wheel inspection data and the association, wherein the wheel stable score indicates reliability of the wheel inspection; and tuning measurement error covariance of the Kalman filter according to the evaluated wheel stable score. By using the method, the parameter of the Kalman filter can be dynamically tuned to enable the Kalman filter to filter more accurately to ensure the correct result of the wheel inspection. In addition, an apparatus for tuning a parameter of a Kalman filter and a wheel inspection system for a vehicle are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Duan, Ke Hu, Zhong Bo Jiang, Wen Ting Mo, Wei Sun, Xin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8688412
    Abstract: A system includes a process controller and an equation evaluation apparatus. The equation evaluation apparatus includes an equation editor, a model factory, and an equation evaluation engine. The equation editor is adapted to receive equations describing a process to be controlled by the process controller. The equation editor is also adapted to generate model information representing the equations. The model factory is adapted to receive the model information and generate an equation stack representing the equations. The equation evaluation engine is adapted to receive evaluation information from the process controller, evaluate at least one of the equations using the evaluation information and the equation stack, and send a result of the evaluation to the process controller. The model information could include information representing algebraic equations, differential equations, algebraic states, differential states, inputs, parameters, constants, and/or expressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Sriram Hallihole, Madhukar Madhavamurthy Gundappa, Ranganathan Srinivasan, J. Ward MacArthur, Sanjay Venugopal, Venkata K. P. Reddy Vurubindi
  • Publication number: 20140088734
    Abstract: A controller support program causes an arithmetic unit to execute total execution time acquisition processing of acquiring a total execution time and output processing of outputting the total execution time. The total execution time is an elapsed time until execution of a control program is ended in an execution cycle since the execution cycle is started when a controller executes the control program according to an execution priority and the execution cycle, and the total execution time is also a time measured in the controller or a time estimated in a controller support device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiaki Narutani, Taku Oya, Yoshiya Shibata
  • Patent number: 8682466
    Abstract: A method to enable wafer result prediction includes collecting manufacturing data from various semiconductor manufacturing tools and metrology tools; choosing key parameters using an autokey method based on the manufacturing data; building a virtual metrology based on the key parameters; and predicting wafer results using the virtual metrology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Francis Ko, Chih-Wei Lai, Kewei Zuo, Henry Lo, Jean Wang, Ping-Hsu Chen, Chun-Hsien Lim, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 8675016
    Abstract: In a view, e.g. of scenery, of a shopping or museum display, or of a meeting or conference, automated processing can be used to annotate objects which are visible from a viewer position. Annotation can be of objects selected by the viewer, and can be displayed visually, for example, with or without an image of the view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Martin Vetterli, Serge Ayer
  • Patent number: 8676384
    Abstract: A building management system (100) comprises a measurement system for measuring a demand for resources inside the building and a collecting system for harvesting natural resources available outside the building. The building management system is further provided with a storage system for storing surplus resources and a sensor system (112,114,116,118,120) for measuring resource availability outside the building and/or resources stored in the storage system. Further, a controller (102) arranged to receive data from the measurement system, the sensor system and the storage system is provided. The controller controls the collecting system based on said data to tune the collection of resources by the collection system to a present and/or an expected demand for resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Clive Vanheerden, Kyriakos Mama, Thomas Duester, Christoph Dobrusskin
  • Patent number: 8670855
    Abstract: A method is used for controlling a paced production line for processing airplane structural components, wherein the production line comprises at least one workstation having at least one processing machine. It is provided that the processing sequence in the workstation is determined for a production step by determining the expected or actual occupation of the working area by structural component(s) or structural component section(s) for the production step, and, on the basis of the occupation, all of the operations to be performed in this workstation in this production step are determined, and the processing sequence of these operations is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Broetje Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Eickhorst
  • Patent number: 8670866
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Ziegler, Duane Gilbert, Christopher John Morse, Scott Pratt, Paul Sandin, Nancy Dussault, Andrew Jones
  • Patent number: 8666517
    Abstract: An extremum seeking control method optimizes a control process for a plant such as an air handling unit. The method compensates for abrupt changes in the operation of the plant by resetting the extremum seeking control strategy in response to a detection of the abrupt change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Yaoyu Li, John E. Seem
  • Patent number: 8666515
    Abstract: A computer-implemented initial run module processes manifest variable data using computer-defined model specification parameters stored in a database to provide initial estimates of weights that are associated with latent variables. The initial run module employs a unique value-based weighting partial least squares computer-implemented process. A final run module then operates upon the manifest variable data to determine the importance of the predictor values that are then used to control the industrial, manufacturing or commercial process. The final run module implements a unique patient partial least squares regression model utilizing a boosting learning technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: CFI Group USA, LLC
    Inventors: Claes Fornell, Jaesung Cha, Philip Debard Doriot
  • Patent number: 8666556
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of using feedforward to control a system component may include determining if a feedforward term exists in a feedforward table for a received operating set point. If a feedforward term does not exist, the system component may be incremented until the system is within a first acceptable tolerance of the desired set point. In some embodiments, a measure of steady state error may be determined and compared to a second acceptable tolerance. If within the acceptable tolerance, the corresponding feedforward term may be recorded in the feedforward table. In some embodiments, if the feedforward term exists for the operating set point, the system component may be controlled using controller output that corresponds to the feedforward term. When a change to the system is detected that is associated with possible changes to the feedforward values, new feedforward values may be generated for the feedforward table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daryush Agahi
  • Publication number: 20140058538
    Abstract: A control device is provided with a task execution unit, a collection unit which collects variables which have been referenced and updated in a user program and a management unit which manages the collected variables. The user program includes a collection instruction program which instructs the collection of the variables by the collection unit. The collection instruction program further includes distinguishing information for a user to distinguish the location of the collection instruction program in the user program. When the collection of the variables has been instructed by the collection instruction program, the management unit associates the variables collected by the collection unit with the distinguishing information of the collection instruction program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Yaoita, Masanori Ota, Yasunori Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 8660340
    Abstract: A defect classification method to classify defects by using a classifier having a binary tree structure based on features of defects extracted from detected signals acquired from a defect inspection apparatus includes a classifier construction process for constructing the classifier by setting a branch condition including defect classes respectively belonging to groups located on both sides of the branch point, a feature to be used for branching, and a discriminant reference, for each branch point in the structure based on instruction of defect classes and feature data respectively associated therewith beforehand. The process includes a priority order specification process for previously specifying target classification performance of purity and accuracy for each defect class, whole and in worst case, with priority order, and an evaluation process for evaluating whether the specified target classification performance under the branching condition is satisfied and displaying a result of evaluation, every item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hisae Shibuya, Shunji Maeda, Akira Hamamatsu
  • Patent number: 8655799
    Abstract: Anticipatory logistics is used to predict observable events and respond to the predictions of the observable events in the control of automated equipment that perform highly repetitive functions such as elevator cars. A set of table entries is obtained, and the table entries are metricized and stored as cell entries. All cell entries are normalized. Ten weighted values to the cell entries are initialized. An algorithmically defined subset of weighted values is normalized and an instruction is selected based on the computed dependency using an algorithm incorporating uniform chance selection for exploratory optimization, such as the Mersenne Twister algorithm. Here, the search space is delimited by careful selection of the salient variables as well as by the algorithm itself, which only relies on chance to find truly novel solutions as time (and space) permit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Stuart H. Rubin
  • Patent number: 8655477
    Abstract: Methods for cutting of raw glass slabs into a number of glass cuttings include determining the supply of uncut or partially cut raw glass slabs, continuously detecting incoming cutting orders and processing of the cutting orders, continuously determining an optimized processing order and optimized cutting patterns of raw glass slabs based on determined values, processing cutting orders according to the determined optimized processing order and optimized cutting patterns, and storing the glass cuttings in assigned compartments of an intermediate storage. An increased productivity with minimized waste of material can be achieved by the continuous optimizing method in regards to the temporal sequence and cutting patterns of the glass cuttings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Albat + Wirsam Software AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wirsam, Renate Albat
  • Publication number: 20140046458
    Abstract: A method of controlling an industrial system by a control system including a user interface having a main display arranged to provide a status view of at least a portion of the industrial system and a secondary display enabling user interaction with the industrial system and the main display. The method includes: receiving an alert concerning a status change in a part of the industrial system; displaying, on the secondary display, an alert object associated with the part of the industrial system generating the alert; detecting a selection of the alert object based on gesture-based user input; displaying the alert object on the main display; receiving an adjustment command of a parameter via gesture-based user input, the parameter being associated with the part of the industrial system generating the alert; adjusting the parameter based on the adjustment command; and controlling the part generating the alert based on the adjusted parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventor: Susanne Timsjo
  • Patent number: 8644961
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating and/or controlling mercury emissions in a steam generating unit. A model of the steam generating unit is used to predict mercury emissions. In one embodiment of the invention, the model is a neural network (NN) model. An optimizer may be used in connection with the model to determine optimal setpoint values for manipulated variables associated with operation of the steam generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: NeuCo Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Wroblewski, Stephen Piche