Specific Application Of Control Based On Elapsed Time Patents (Class 700/306)
  • Patent number: 11061721
    Abstract: A data storage device may be configured to use multiple task queues to schedule tasks. The multiple task queues may be configured based on an architecture of the data storage device. In some implementations, the multiple task queues may be used to organize tasks received from an access device. In other implementations, the multiple task queues may be used to identify tasks, and identification of the tasks may be associated with an order of execution of the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Yoram Rimoni
  • Patent number: 10379903
    Abstract: A data storage device may be configured to use multiple task queues to schedule tasks. The multiple task queues may be configured based on an architecture of the data storage device. In some implementations, the multiple task queues may be used to organize tasks received from an access device. In other implementations, the multiple task queues may be used to identify tasks, and identification of the tasks may be associated with an order of execution of the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Yoram Rimoni
  • Patent number: 10271486
    Abstract: A system and method for generating high-yield plant production is disclosed. The system includes a container, a growing station, and a monitoring system. The growing station includes vertical racks, a lighting system, an irrigation system, a climate control system, and a ventilation system. The monitoring system monitors all of the systems in the growing station, as well as the environment within the container, to provide real-time data and alerts to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Freight Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad McNamara, Jon Friedman
  • Patent number: 9678804
    Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for processing data. In some embodiments, this includes detecting a job event on an interface, adjusting a counter associated with the interface based on the detected job event, and redistributing a job based on the counter adjustment. In some embodiments, the job event may include a job start. In some embodiments, the job event may include a job completion. In some embodiments, adjusting the counter may include incrementing the counter. In some embodiments, adjusting the counter may include decrementing the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Saradhi S. Sreegiriraju, Ornat S. Freitas
  • Publication number: 20150019041
    Abstract: A method for controlling one or more scent delivery units includes maintaining one or more scheduled events, maintaining one or more scheduled anti-events, and generating, based on the one or more scheduled events and the one or more scheduled anti-events, command data to be communicated to the one or more scent delivery units to control their activation and deactivation. Generating the command data includes identifying a conflicting period of time during which control specified by the one or more scheduled events differs from control specified by the one or more scheduled anti-events and also includes generating command data that gives priority to control specified by the one or more scheduled anti-events. Control for the one or more scent delivery units during the conflicting period of time is in accordance with control logic of the one or more scheduled anti-events and not the one or more scheduled events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: John Thurston Chandler, Chad Alan Morton
  • Patent number: 8924013
    Abstract: A path planning system for bringing state of an object into a target state includes a search tree production unit for producing in advance, in a state space with said target state defined as a root, a search tree having a branch at each one of a plurality of sections of the state space, said state space being divided into the plurality of sections in advance. The system also includes a search tree memory unit for storing the search tree, and a path generation unit for determining, a route on the search tree from the branch corresponding to the current state to the root. The path planning/control system further includes a path control unit for controlling the path of the object to bring the state of the object into the target state in accordance with the route on the search tree determined by the path planning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chyon Hae Kim
  • Patent number: 8918227
    Abstract: In a method and a device for determining a vigilance state of a motor vehicle driver, a noise signal is generated and a supplementary torque as a function of the noise signal is applied to a steering assembly, a reaction signal of the vehicle driver is determined, and the vigilance state is determined from a time characteristic of the noise signal and a time characteristic of the reaction signal, at least one parameter of a parameterized transfer function from noise signal to reaction signal is determined, and the vigilance state is determined as a function of an absolute value of the at least one parameter and/or as a function of a relative change of the at least one parameter with regard to at least one earlier parameter, the at least one earlier parameter having been determined at an earlier instant in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Mirko Junge, Maria Staubach
  • Patent number: 8724320
    Abstract: A fan system includes a pulse signal generation portion and a plurality of fans. Each of the plurality of fans preferably includes a motor portion; an impeller arranged to be rotated by the motor portion; a drive circuit arranged to drive the motor portion; a rotation detection portion arranged to detect rotation of the motor portion; and a rotation rate control circuit arranged to, based on a reference pulse signal supplied from the pulse signal generation portion and an actual rotation pulse signal supplied from the rotation detection portion, exercise feedback control on a rotation rate of the motor portion in accordance with a period of the reference pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: George Harlan, Masayuki Kato, Hideyuki Takemoto, Masamune Hiraki
  • Patent number: 8712730
    Abstract: There is provided a control system of a substrate processing apparatus, comprising: a collecting unit for collecting data from each component that constitutes a substrate processing apparatus, the collecting unit further comprising at least: a buffer for temporarily storing collected data; and a sorting part for rearranging the collected data, based on time data attached to the collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Norihiko Kataoka, Shinichiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8700228
    Abstract: A beam scheduler adds the maximum allowable waiting time until a beam is allocated to an irradiation chamber corresponding to an irradiation request when the irradiation request is received from one irradiation chamber of a plurality of irradiation chambers A to D; adds the irradiation request to the end of the order of a waiting list; determines whether or not the predicted waiting time until the beam is allocated to the one irradiation chamber exceeds the maximum allowable waiting time; and advances the order of the irradiation request on the waiting list, thereby allocating the beam to the irradiation chamber corresponding to the top irradiation request in the order of the waiting list, if it is determined that the predicted waiting time exceeds the maximum allowable waiting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Tachibana, Yoshinori Yano
  • Patent number: 8688924
    Abstract: A method for improving accuracy of a time estimate from a memory device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory device receives a time stamp and measures active time with respect to the received time stamp. The memory device determines accuracy of previously-measured active time and generates a time estimate using the measured active time, the accuracy of previously-measured active time, and the received time stamp. In another embodiment, measured active time is adjusted, with or without generating a time estimate. Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Holtzman, Rotem Sela, Ron Barzilai, Fabrice E. Jogand-Coulomb
  • Publication number: 20130297073
    Abstract: One or more switches in an occupancy sensor are enabled. When a switch is enabled, a reduction timer measuring a reduction time delay is initiated when an occupancy condition is detected by an occupancy sensor. In addition, one or more outputs controlled by the reduction timer are activated so that a signal is sent to a control system to notify the control systems of the occupancy condition. When the reduction time delay expires, the outputs of the occupancy sensor that are controlled by the reduction timer are deactivated, and so the outputs cease sending the signal to the control system. As a result, the control systems initiate their own internal time delays sooner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Brian Eugene Elwell
  • Patent number: 8538709
    Abstract: A fuel battery system is comprised of a power source circuit, a rotating electrical machine that is a load, a memory device and a control unit. Here, a battery learning system corresponds to an arrangement including a fuel battery that is a structural component of the power source circuit, a high frequency signal source, an electric current detection means, a voltage detection means, the memory device and a battery learning part that is a structural element of the control unit. An impedance value can be obtained from alternating current components of respective detecting values of the electric current detection means and the voltage detection means. The battery learning unit has an I-V characteristic curve learning module that learns an I-V characteristic curve and a learning prohibition judgment module that judges whether or not an acquiring interval of the impedance value is over a predetermined threshold interval set in advance, and prohibits learning if the former is over the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayako Kawase
  • Patent number: 8490886
    Abstract: A modulating boiler system for heating a structure including a controller, a boiler operatively connected to the controller, and a thermostat operatively connected to the controller and boiler. The controller assesses a level of thermostat activity over a predetermined measuring period and adjusts the boiler in response to the level of activity to increase the boiler's efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Westcast, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Cohen
  • Patent number: 8437876
    Abstract: A person-support apparatus operates according to a set of default operating parameters, processes information corresponding to an occupant of the person-support apparatus from a receiver to determine if an optimal value for an operating parameter is different from the default value, modifies a default operating parameter to an optimal value based on the information corresponding to the occupant of the person-support apparatus to create a modified operating parameter, and operates the person-support apparatus utilizing the modified operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Receveur, Stephen C. Flint, Charles A. Lachenbruch
  • Publication number: 20130081329
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically closing a garage door can include one or more door open sensors, one or more motion sensors, one or more timers, and a door close activator. In certain embodiments, the one or more door open sensors are configured to detect whether a garage door is completely open. In various embodiments, the one or more motion sensors are configured to detect motion. In certain embodiments, the one or more timers are configured to delay for at least one predetermined time period after motion is no longer detected. In various embodiments, the door close activator is configured to close the garage door after the delay of the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: GBF CORP.
    Inventor: GBF Corp.
  • Patent number: 8387755
    Abstract: A lubrication system is provided that includes a pump operatively connected to one or more supply lines for delivery of a lubricant, the system including a first pressure sensor associated with the supply line at a first position, and a second pressure sensor associated with the supply line at a second position downstream of the first position and pump, a controller configured to receive pressure signals and control operation of the pump based upon the pressure differential between the pressures at the first position and second position. The pressure differential may be employed to determine when a pressure at a third position downstream of the second position has been achieved. At least one of the pressure sensors may be positioned adjacent to the pump, the controller further being operable to deactivate the pump in the event that a maximum pump pressure has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Marek
  • Patent number: 8369966
    Abstract: A network having a plurality of subscribers has at least one message transmitter and at least one message receiver. The at least one message transmitter sends messages at predefined time intervals. The message receiver receives the messages at the predefined time intervals. A delay time of the messages is monitored on the basis of time outs. In addition, at least one of the subscribers repeatedly estimates a current delay time using a time measurement between sending out a request message and receiving a response message. The estimated delay time is compared with a predefined threshold value. If the estimated delay time exceeds the defined threshold value, an error signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Holzaepfel, Reinhard Sperrer, Stefan Woehrle, Klaus Wohnhaas
  • Patent number: 8358097
    Abstract: A system for controlling a motorized track light system constrained to travel along a track has a control unit coupled to a motor that causes the track light system to move along the track, a plurality of stop sensors strategically disposed along the track, a sensor activation device located on the track light system, the sensor activation device positioned to interface with the stop sensors, and a light sensor for detecting ambient light of a preset level. The system detects a preset level of ambient light, initiating power to the motor of the track light system, moving the lights along the track until the activation device interfaces with a first of the plurality of stop sensors, stopping movement of the track light system along the track for a preset period of time, and at the end of the preset time period, the electrical power is restored to the motor moving the track light assembly along the track to the next of the plurality of stop sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Brent A. Cartwright
  • Patent number: 8352047
    Abstract: An approach for making shifted schedules from a regular or master schedule of a building automation system. Shifted schedules may be obtained by applying shifts to the scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods of the days in the master schedule. One set of shifts may apply uniformly to all days of the week or several sets of different shifts may apply to various days of the week. Special events with certain scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods and assigned to particular days may override the regular scheduled-on and scheduled-off periods of those days. The shifted schedules may also contain special events with their periods shifted. The master schedule may govern the regular operating hours of a building and the shifted schedules may control, for example, HVAC equipment in particular zones, certain employee areas, parking lot lights, and so on. Changes to the master schedule may be applied as updates to the shifted schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Walter
  • Patent number: 8326574
    Abstract: A method for issuing alert signals as a reminder to perform a recurring act. The method comprises providing a device with a programmable electronic circuit, an electrical power source, a control switch, and an alert body controlled by the electronic circuit, programming the device with a signaling pattern, determining a first alert time based at least in part on the signaling pattern, issuing a first signal from the alert body, issuing a second signal from the alert body at the first alert time, the second signal being different from the first signal, and determining a next alert time upon activation of the control switch, wherein the next alert time is based at least in part on the signaling pattern and the time elapsed between the first alert time and activation of the control switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: IniVention B.V.
    Inventor: Bart Theodoor Hogebrink
  • Publication number: 20120253545
    Abstract: A beam scheduler adds the maximum allowable waiting time until a beam is allocated to an irradiation chamber corresponding to an irradiation request when the irradiation request is received from one irradiation chamber of a plurality of irradiation chambers A to D; adds the irradiation request to the end of the order of a waiting list; determines whether or not the predicted waiting time until the beam is allocated to the one irradiation chamber exceeds the maximum allowable waiting time; and advances the order of the irradiation request on the waiting list, thereby allocating the beam to the irradiation chamber corresponding to the top irradiation request in the order of the waiting list, if it is determined that the predicted waiting time exceeds the maximum allowable waiting time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori TACHIBANA, Yoshinori YANO
  • Publication number: 20120197523
    Abstract: A mobile device communicates with an in-vehicle system to provide a network-based calendar and related features for viewing and/or editing within a vehicle. The mobile device executes a specialized application that retrieves calendar data from one or more calendar sources in a native calendar format, and converts the calendar data to a customized vehicle format designed specifically for convenient transfer and viewing within the vehicle. The user may record spoken voice notes that can be processed to automatically create new calendar entries. An alert feature schedules visual and/or audio alerts to notify the user in advance of scheduled calendar events. When a scheduled calendar event time is reached, the in-vehicle system may automatically place a call to an event invitee or generating a route to an event destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: David M. Kirsch
  • Patent number: 8194311
    Abstract: A scanning laser microscope obtains images by performing scanning with laser light. The scanning laser microscope includes scanner and controller. The scanner is applied for performing scanning with the laser light line by line. The controller is applied for calculating a required line scanning time that is required as time used for scanning one line, based on the time required for scanning one frame that is determined from a frame rate being set. The controller is also applied for adjusting at least one of a number of data in one line of drive waveform data for driving the scanner and a read cycle of the drive waveform data, so as to substantially match the time for the scanner to scan one line with the required line scanning time calculated by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kishimoto
  • Publication number: 20120116604
    Abstract: A GPS enabled relay controller that interfaces with an electronic device, such as a street light, barricade light, refrigerator, and other similar applications for turning off power to an electronic device for energy savings. The relay controller invokes quantification of refractive photon diffusion to switch between on and off an electronic device based upon refracted photons diffused at the surface of the earth at a particular location and based upon sampling at the Earth's surface from before civil twilight start until after sunrise and from before sunset until after civil twilight end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Michael A. Gookin
  • Publication number: 20120095616
    Abstract: A heating-energy saving system and a heating-energy saving method, which realize self-learning energy preservation (SLEP) system or method. By means of this system or method, the energy consumption of a beverage machine, which is mainly due to heating of the liquid required to provide hot beverages, can be reduced. At the same time, by adaptively learning and anticipating when a user is likely to use the beverage machine, the waiting time for the user, which is typically caused by the reheating process of the liquid in the beverage machine, can be significantly reduced. The system adapts the heating to what it learns from the user behavior. The described system and method are adapted to be installed in all kinds of beverage machines, either used in private or in public.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventor: Martin Karlsson
  • Patent number: 8116903
    Abstract: A control system for controlling the display of an injection molding machine (IMM) includes a human machine interface (HMI), a driver, a controller, a timer, and a time display module. The controller controls the driver to drive the IMM to do a plurality of operations. The time display module controls the HMI to display working times of operations that have been done, and the working time of an operation that is in process in the current work cycle. The timer records working time of each operation by starting to time at the beginning of each operation, and stopping timing at the end of each operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsuan-Hung Hsu, Hsing-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 8108082
    Abstract: A cooling system and method for an outdoor electronics enclosure includes an air conditioner controlled to operate during off-peak hours, so as to pre-cool batteries. The cooled batteries keep the enclosure cool during peak hours so that it is not necessary to run the air conditioner when electricity prices are at their peak. A clock or light sensor determines the time of day. A controller has stored data indicating the peak hours when electricity costs more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Joseph Yeh, Walter Hendrix
  • Patent number: 8041979
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing respective state transitions in a group of devices including at least one responding device is disclosed. The group of devices is communicatively coupled to an initiating device via a communication network. The method includes the at least one responding device receiving a trigger message from the initiating device. The trigger message includes a state transition time or a time from which a state transition time is obtainable. The method further includes the at least one responding device jointly making a respective state transition at the state transition time. A responding device, and a system including the initiating device and the responding device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Adam Cataldo, Bruce Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7937189
    Abstract: A method for controlling semiconductor manufacturing equipment in a waiting mode, comprising: retrieving information about a waiting time for a product to be provided to the semiconductor manufacturing equipment on a production line, the product being to be subjected to predetermined processing by the semiconductor manufacturing equipment; comparing the waiting time with a period of time required for energy saving control, the period of time required for energy saving control including: lowering electric power and other energy used by the semiconductor manufacturing equipment in the waiting mode to a low-energy level at which the processing is not ready, and then raising the electric power and the other energy to a level at which the processing is ready; and providing the energy saving control during the waiting time if the waiting time is longer than the required period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Tomine
  • Patent number: 7890219
    Abstract: A controller controls fan speed as a function of temperature indications. The controller maintains a constant fan speed despite indications of decreasing temperature at least until a preset wait period has expired since the last fan-speed change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: George Tuma
  • Patent number: 7885728
    Abstract: A method for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in a wait mode, including: obtaining information regarding a waiting time required for a product to arrive at the apparatus on a production line, the product being subjected to a predetermined process by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; obtaining information regarding a time required to control energy saving between lowering electric power and other energy used by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in the wait mode to a level at which the processing is not ready and raising the electric power and the other energy to a processable level at which the product processing is ready; and judging whether or not to execute the energy saving control of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus based on results of comparison of the required time with the waiting time and of estimation on an effect of energy saving obtained by executing the energy saving control during the waiting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Tomine
  • Patent number: 7836265
    Abstract: In order to provide a storage system for enabling an administrator to manage information for each apparatus in a straightforward manner, the present invention comprises an acquiring section for acquiring a connection relationship of host apparatus, host management apparatus, storage apparatus, and storage management apparatus, a storage relationship for programs of every host apparatus, and a saving time period for saving data of every program, based on external operation, and a display control section for displaying the connection relationship and storage relationship acquired by the acquiring section on a display screen, and displaying the saved time period of every program on the same screen as the connection relationship and the storage relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Fukuguchi
  • Publication number: 20100230364
    Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing water purification profile, has a front processing unit, a booster pump having a water inlet, a rear processing unit, a waterflow control unit, an emission control unit, a control circuit, and a temperature sensing probe. The front processing unit is connected to the water inlet via a pipe. The control circuit corresponds to the emission control unit. The temperature sensing probe senses water temperature. The control circuit is connected to the temperature sensing probe whereby automatically adjusting time of producing purified water in a periodic cycle. The apparatus implements a constant water utilization rate as water temperature changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Dingshan JIANG, Kai ZHAO
  • Publication number: 20100229217
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein allow a requesting party to control use of another user's mobile station. In some aspects, a server is configured to communicate with a plurality of remote computer systems and target mobile stations. The server includes a memory device and a processor configured to access data and logic instructions embedded on the memory device. The server authenticates a requesting party accessing the computer server from one of the remote communication systems. The requesting party is not a user of a selected one of the target mobile stations. The server receives selective availability attributes for the selected one of the target mobile stations from the requesting party. The selective availability attributes indicate conditions under which the target mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the target mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Ashok Bhatia
  • Patent number: 7780796
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner including: a battery installed in the robot cleaner; and a means for selectively cutting off power supply of the battery to at least one or more units operated for performing a cleaning operation when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped. When the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, the robot cleaner is changed to the power saving mode or to the standby mode, and accordingly, power consumption of the battery of the robot cleaner can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In-Bo Shim, Young-Gie Kim, Hee-Suk Roh
  • Publication number: 20100198425
    Abstract: A programmable thermostat is disclosed having a continuously movable indexing mechanism, such as a rotatable wheel, that allows a user to scroll or cycle through sequential time intervals ranging over a complete week to view currently programmed time intervals and to select periods of time during the week that the user wishes to program or reprogram. Such a design allows a user to easily program different temperature settings during different time intervals during the week and allows the user to easily view the programmed settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Paul Donovan
  • Publication number: 20100138076
    Abstract: A method for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in a wait mode, including: obtaining information regarding a waiting time required for a product to arrive at the apparatus on a production line, the product being subjected to a predetermined process by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; obtaining information regarding a time required to control energy saving between lowering electric power and other energy used by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in the wait mode to a level at which the processing is not ready and raising the electric power and the other energy to a processable level at which the product processing is ready; and judging whether or not to execute the energy saving control of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus based on results of comparison of the required time with the waiting time and of estimation on an effect of energy saving obtained by executing the energy saving control during the waiting time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Tomine
  • Patent number: 7693628
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronous communication in a control system is disclosed. Within a first time interval, a first source task is executed to broadcast a first destination task, within a second sequential time interval, the first destination task is communicated over a channel to a first destination, and within a third sequential time interval, the first destination task is consumed. Within the first time interval, a second source task may be executed to broadcast a second destination task, within the second sequential time interval, the second destination task may be communicated over the channel to a second destination, and within the third sequential time interval, the second destination task may be consumed. The first source task is allowed to be scheduled ahead of the second source task, and the second source task is allowed to be scheduled ahead of the first source task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Fuhrman, Miroslawa A. Supal, Arnold W. Millsap
  • Publication number: 20100076620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a controlling device (10) for a greenhouse (15), with a computerized control element (20), a lighting element (30) and at least one detector element (40), wherein the lighting element (30) and the detector element (40) are connected with the computerized control element (20), wherein the lighting element (30) comprises at least one light emitting mean (31), emitting a light (32), wherein the light (32) illuminates a plant (70) growing in the greenhouse (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Loebl, Wolfgang O. Budde, Joseph Hendrik Anna Maria Jacobs
  • Patent number: 7684903
    Abstract: A method for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in a wait mode, including: obtaining information regarding a waiting time required for a product to arrive at the apparatus on a production line, the product being subjected to a predetermined process by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; obtaining information regarding a time required to control energy saving between lowering electric power and other energy used by the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in the wait mode to a level at which the processing is not ready and raising the electric power and the other energy to a processable level at which the product processing is ready; and judging whether or not to execute the energy saving control of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus based on results of comparison of the required time with the waiting time and of estimation on an effect of energy saving obtained by executing the energy saving control during the waiting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Tomine
  • Publication number: 20100070073
    Abstract: In a material handling system having a material feeder, a material container may be configured to discharge material to the material feeder and a process aid may be engaged with the material container, a method including determining a process indicator associated with a material flow characteristic of the feeder during operation of the feeder, determining a difference between the process indicator and an indicator threshold value, adjusting the operation of the process aid based on the value of the difference determined above between the process indicator and the indicator threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: James T. Foley, John B. Myhre, Jason K. Daniel, Manuel Sporri
  • Publication number: 20100063647
    Abstract: A cooling system and method for an outdoor electronics enclosure includes an air conditioner controlled to operate during off-peak hours, so as to pre-cool batteries. The cooled batteries keep the enclosure cool during peak hours so that it is not necessary to run the air conditioner when electricity prices are at their peak. A clock or light sensor determines the time of day. A controller has stored data indicating the peak hours when electricity costs more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph YEH, Walter HENDRIX
  • Patent number: 7660643
    Abstract: A solder material test apparatus includes a control unit and a storage unit which stores master data in advance in which a printing process time when a printing process is performed by using a test-sample solder material is associated with deterioration degree data of the test-sample solder material at the printing process time. The control unit includes a deterioration degree data acquiring unit which acquires deterioration degree data for indicating a deterioration degree of a test-sample solder material, a reading unit which reads a printing process time associated with deterioration degree data set as a limit value with reference to master data and reads a printing process time associated with the deterioration degree data acquired by the deterioration degree data acquiring unit, an operating unit which operates an available remaining time that indicates difference between the printing process times, and a display control unit which informs the available remaining time to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Onishi, Masanobu Horino, Katsumi Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20090314464
    Abstract: A heating system in which a warmed fluid is circulated through a delivery network space heaters to provide space heating, further comprising a thermal store and means arranged to circulate the warmed fluid through the thermal store during a heating shut down sequence to recover heat from the warmed fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Zenex Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Charles Farrell
  • Patent number: 7636616
    Abstract: There is disclosed a protection system for a power distribution system. The system has a processor, a breaker; a network coupled to the processor, a first module coupled to the network and the breaker, a second module coupled to the network, and an algorithm. The algorithm monitors for a permission to trip request. If a plurality of permission to trip requests are received during a given time period, the algorithm issues a permission granted command to the first module and a hold command to the second module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David G. Fletcher, Thomas F. Papallo, John J. Dougherty, Ertugrul Berkcan, Emad Andarawis Andarawis
  • Publication number: 20090265037
    Abstract: Disclosed are means for monitoring the levels of air pollution in urban areas for the purpose of optimizing the conditions of airflow ventilation of buildings according to air pollution levels in their area. The invention supplies data in real time regarding local air pollution levels or relative levels, i.e. current air pollution levels in relation to previous ones. The disclosed system and method makes use of the fluctuations in air pollution levels in order to achieve optimal reduction of air pollution levels inside buildings. The system defines optimal times for ventilation in order to achieve a significant and persisting improvement of indoor air quality, in a routine manner, by using measurements of nondeterministic, continuous and effective fluctuations in air pollution levels at the surroundings of each building, specifically in locations which don't include monitoring stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Nir Bassa
  • Publication number: 20090211940
    Abstract: A closed container in which a reticle etc. is stored and kept is provided with a pressure sensor, transmission means for transmitting data on the pressure, a controller that controls the operation of them, and a battery serving as a power source of the above elements. The controller has a sleep mode in which it causes the transmission means to transmit the data on the pressure at regular intervals and an active mode in which it causes the transmission means to transmit the data on the pressure when necessary in response to an externally supplied command. By the above described configuration, the pressure in the interior of the container can be checked appropriately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Emoto, Tomoshi Abe
  • Patent number: 7580810
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a measuring point in time (tM), at which a measured value is to be produced by a field device of process automation technology, wherein the field device communicates its measured values at certain communication points in time (tK) over a field bus following a query from a central control unit with regard to the measured values of the field device. The communication point in time (tf) is approximated from at least two communication points in time (tK, t?K) and the measuring point in time (tM) is determined on the basis of the approximated communication point in time (tf).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Kilian
  • Publication number: 20090192657
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for controlling a baking oven using a timer module, said timer module comprising a timer relay, a switch for operating mode selection, and a switch for setting a heating temperature or a heating power. The timer relay is serially connected into a power supply line to a heating device of the baking oven, whereby following the activation of a first safety lock function on the timer module by a special user function, a timer setting is locked against change. When the timer setting is locked thus, a baking oven operating cycle that has been pre-specified by a user by timer adjustment proceeds as specified and, thereafter, the heating device is switched off by opening the timer relay. Then, the timer relay can be reactivated only by an additional special user function on the timer module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Wilhelm Heicks