Plural Variables Patents (Class 700/67)
  • Patent number: 11349901
    Abstract: Controller devices may be configured to execute a network discovery service to identify other devices on a network, including other controller devices, user computing devices, and/or human machine interface devices. The controller devices may communicate with the devices on the network. An individual controller device may, upon connection to a human machine interface device, provide to the human machine interface device via a web server, a graphical user interface from which a user may configure the controller device or connect to another controller device on the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Samsara Inc.
    Inventors: James Duffield, Paul Ugolini, Ethan Wen-Yen Chiou, Nguyen Trong Dinh, James Robert Saunders
  • Patent number: 11184422
    Abstract: Controller devices may be configured to automatically connect to a remote management server (e.g., a “cloud”-based management server), and may offload received data and analyses to the remote management server via wired or wireless communications. The controller devices may further communicate with the management server, user computing devices, and/or human machine interface devices, e.g., to provide remote access to the controller device, provide real-time information from the controller device, receive configurations/updates, provide interactive graphical user interfaces, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Samsara Inc.
    Inventors: John Bicket, Anubhav Jain, James Duffield, James Robert Saunders
  • Patent number: 10747895
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for defining security measures of a secure data corridor that enables data feeds to transmit from an ingress point to an egress point, while maintaining a desired security protection. This disclosure further describes techniques to quantify the desired security protection by determining and further associating a data sensitivity rating with individual data feeds in transmit through the secure data corridor. In some examples, the data sensitivity rating of the secure data corridor may be locked at a default rating that is commensurate with access permissions of a subject or a data sensitivity rating of an adjoining secure data container. Alternatively, the data sensitivity rating may be dynamically set based on data feeds transmitting through the secure data corridor or set based on the data sensitivity rating of data feeds at an ingress point or egress point of the secure data corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett C. Peppe, Gregory R. Reith
  • Patent number: 10484476
    Abstract: A system for managing data in an industrial production environment includes a distributed database system stored on a plurality of embedded controller devices. Each respective embedded controller device comprises: a distributed database instance and a database management application. The distributed database instance is configured to store data collected from the industrial production environment by the respective embedded controller device. The database management application is configured to facilitate distributed queries and transactions on the plurality of embedded controller devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bogdan Rosca, Bernardo Hermont, Sindhu Suresh
  • Patent number: 9971333
    Abstract: A PLC programming auxiliary system and a method thereof are provided. The system comprises: a web server providing a complex algorithm for programming PLC, correctness checking of the programming and user logic compilation functions; a plurality of client computers connecting with a web server and the programmed PLC devices via a network link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Haifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 9843599
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamic threat protection are disclosed. An example method for dynamic threat protection may commence with receiving real-time contextual data from at least one data source associated with a client. The method may further include analyzing the real-time contextual data to determine a security threat score associated with the client. The method may continue with assigning, based on the analysis, the security threat score to the client. The method may further include automatically applying a security policy to the client. The security policy may be applied based on the security threat score assigned to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: A10 NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Rajkumar Jalan, Vernon Richard Groves
  • Patent number: 9557939
    Abstract: A print job processing system comprising at least one printer, a user interface, a job file receiving section for receiving a print job having print job properties, a conflict checking section for checking for a conflict in the print job, and an auto resolve section for automatically resolving the conflict according to an auto resolve strategy, wherein the print job processing system comprises a system setting section adapted to set according to user input by means of the user interface per print job property a user interaction strategy out of a plurality of user interaction strategies, each user interaction strategy of the plurality of user interaction strategies comprising a different user interaction and each user interaction strategy being configured to be executed if the corresponding print job property has been changed due to the auto resolve strategy for the conflict.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: OCÉ-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Verduin
  • Patent number: 9489176
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for optimizing matrix and vector calculations in instruction limited algorithms that perform EOS calculations. The method includes dividing each matrix associated with an EOS stability equation and an EOS phase split equation into a number of tiles, wherein the tile size is heterogeneous or homogenous. Each vector associated with the EOS stability equation and the EOS phase split equation may be divided into a number of strips. The tiles and strips may be stored in main memory, cache, or registers, and the matrix and vector operations associated with successive substitutions and Newton iterations may be performed in parallel using the tiles and strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Kjetil B. Haugen
  • Patent number: 9404135
    Abstract: To include a hydrothermal decomposition unit that transports a fed biomass material from one side (a lower side) to the other side (an upper side) by a screw 14 in an apparatus body, feeds pressurized hot water, hydrothermally decomposes the biomass material, transfers hot-water soluble fractions into a hot-water effluent and separates a lignin component and a hemicellulose component from the biomass material, and also to include a biomass discharging unit. Further, a scraping unit is provided at an end of a flight of the screw positioned within an installation area of the solid-liquid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MECHATRONICS SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Genta, Seiichi Terakura, Yasushi Kageyama, Ryosuke Uehara, Seiji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9264323
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a computer node that communicates a report message containing information to a social media server to cause publishing of the information to other computer nodes tracking publishing on the social media server by the computer node. The computer node receives a response message from one of the other computer nodes through the social media server, and operates based on the response message. Related embodiments are directed to another computer node that communicates with a social media server to track information published by report messages from other computer nodes, generates a response message based on the information published by one of the other computer nodes, and communicates the response message to the social media server to cause publishing of content of the response message to the other computer nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: CA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Lewis Bodine, Don Kleinschnitz, Josef Bodine, James D. Kleinschnitz
  • Patent number: 9182256
    Abstract: A two-wire process variable transmitter for use in an industrial process, including a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable of a fluid of the industrial process. Output circuitry is configured to provide an output on a two-wire process control loop which is related to the sensed process variable. Loop current measurement circuitry measures a loop current flowing through the two-wire process control loop and terminal voltage measurement circuitry measures a voltage related to a terminal voltage of the process variable transmitter. The terminal voltage can be a voltage measured across an electrical connection of the two-wire process variable transmitter to the two-wire process control loop. Input circuitry is configured to receive a diagnostic command from the two-wire process control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Wehrs, Gregory J. LeCuyer, Jessica Lo, Steven J. McCoy, Brian L. Westfield
  • Patent number: 9063882
    Abstract: In a system for simulations of fields related to physical objects by iteratively solving a system matrix equation, the system matrix is preconditioned using a modified Gauss-Seidel preconditioner so as to eliminate or reduce a sequential nature of the iterations, thus facilitating parallel solution of the conditioned system matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SAS IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Kezhong Zhao
  • Publication number: 20150120007
    Abstract: A safety device assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a brain signal sensor adapted to receive a first electrical signal and to transmit a first electronic signal based on the first electrical signal, a muscular signal sensor adapted to receive a second electrical signal and to transmit a second electronic signal based on the second electrical signal, and a movement sensor adapted to sense movement and to transmit a third electronic signal based on the movement. A processor is electronically coupled to the brain signal sensor, the muscular signal sensor, and the movement sensor. The processor is configured to process the first electronic signal, the second electronic signal, and the third electronic signal and generate a result. A safety device is electronically coupled to the processor such that, when the result meets a predetermined threshold, the safety device is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Allon Guez, Helen Guez
  • Patent number: 8996144
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a remote disconnect switch assembly. In one embodiment, the remote disconnect switch assembly comprises: an actuator; a shuttle that is operably moved by the actuator; one or more disconnect switches that are opened or closed by movement of the shuttle; one or more sensors; a communication interface; and a processor, wherein the processor is operably connected with the actuator, the one or more sensors and the communication interface, and wherein the processor is configured to: communicate with one or more other computing devices over a network using the communication interface; receive signals from the one or more sensors; and cause the actuator to operate in accordance with the signals received from the one or more sensors or the communications with the one or more other computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Marc LaFrance, Scott Michael Shill, Steven Lee Bietz, Subramanyam Satyasurya Chamarti
  • Publication number: 20150073569
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, data to be written is divided into a plurality of pieces of divided data of a maximum size or less to calculate an offset of each piece of divided data, a frame issuing an instruction to a PLC to write a predetermined terminal code in a head address of a data area is transmitted, a frame issuing an instruction to the PLC to write the divided data at a position of the corresponding offset from the head address of the data area with respect to the divided data except a head divided data is transmitted, and a frame issuing an instruction to the PLC to write the head divided data in the head address of the data area is transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuta Nagata
  • Patent number: 8868248
    Abstract: A smart control device is disclosed. The smart control device can be equipped in an electrical appliance, so as to be capable of controlling the electrical appliance by using diverse information that is provided from both the inside and the outside of the electrical appliance. In a smart control device monitoring and scheduling operations of an electrical appliance, the smart control device includes an interface unit configured to receive energy information, a smart controller configured to control energy saving functions of the electrical appliance based upon the energy information received from the interface unit, and an input unit configured to receive an inputted control command respective to the electrical appliance. Herein, the smart controller may be provided in the electrical appliance, and the smart controller may control the electrical appliance so that the electrical appliance can be operated in an energy saving operation mode based upon the received energy information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Soo Park
  • Patent number: 8805557
    Abstract: A control system includes a control device for controlling a plurality of actuators by executing a plurality of functions based sensor values from a plurality of external sensors and a function providing device for providing the control device with the functions to be executed by the control device. The function providing device accepts a program including a plurality of functions from a user device, finds a new function among the functions which has not been received yet and pass the same function to the control device. The control device executes functions passed from the function providing device based on values of the external sensors and controls the actuators by transmitting values of output arguments of the functions to the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yusuke Doi, Yu Kaneko, Tomonori Maegawa, Masahiro Ishiyama
  • Publication number: 20140163702
    Abstract: A method for synthesis of an advanced hysteresis function of a plurality of inputs providing cross-feedback-controlled hysteron synthesized hysteresis networks for signal processing, controllers, music, and computer simulations in physics, engineering, and economics is described. The method includes receiving and processing of a plurality of input signals with at least two parameterized multivariable nonlinearities, each parameterized multivariable nonlinearity serving as a parameterized hysteron, to produce at least one associated output signal. The output signals are processed by controller functions, each controller function comprising memory and producing at least one control signal responsive to at least one of the output signals and for controlling an associated parameterized hysteron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140074259
    Abstract: A method for operating an automation device having a CPU module for processing a control program and a source module that is connected via a bus and is intended to supply sink modules of the automation device with electrical energy, wherein variables that are available to the automation device and which influence the operation of the automation device are recorded so as to make it possible to relieve the load on the CPU module when preprocessing the influencing variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Norbert ROTTMANN
  • Patent number: 8649936
    Abstract: There is described a method for determining a value of a zero point offset of a yaw rate sensor. The method comprises measuring over time the output of the yaw rate sensor, determining whether the measured output has remained within a set of limits for a pre-determined period and if it is determined that the measured output has remained within the limits for the pre-determined period, using at least one measured value of the output to determine the value of the zero point offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Penny & Giles Controls Limited
    Inventor: Jason Lewis
  • Patent number: 8600523
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an operation of a coordinate measuring device, at least one operational parameter is determined. One value of the operational parameter is allocated to a plurality of components. A sequence for determining the operational parameter is provided for the majority of the components. The method for determining the operational parameter in the predetermined sequence for each component is now described. It starts with the component that is first in the sequence: i) if the value of the operational parameter is allocated to the component, the value is adopted as a value of the operational parameter that is available for the operation, ii) if no value of the operational parameter is allocated to the components, one available value of the operational parameter that was available until then still remains available, iii) if another component is provided in the sequence, the method is carried out with the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Otto Ruck
  • Patent number: 8577747
    Abstract: Methods and systems for use in acquiring parts from suppliers using auction information including a requested part and decision criteria from an ordering manager agent and from supplier agents associated with part suppliers. A criteria comparison matrix representing a relative importance of each decision criterion is created. A criteria importance vector is created based on the criteria comparison matrix, and a supplier comparison matrix corresponding to each decision criterion is also created. The supplier comparison matrix represents a relative ranking of each supplier with respect to the corresponding decision criterion. A supplier criteria ranking vector corresponding to each decision criterion is created based on the supplier comparison matrix that corresponds to the decision criterion. The supplier criteria ranking vectors and the criteria importance vector are combined to create a supplier score matrix associated with the ordering manager agent and indicating a score associated with each supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William E. Krechel, Kenneth G. Owens, Alexandra Brintrup, Tomas Sanchez-Lopez, Duncan McFarlane, Mark G. Harrison
  • Patent number: 8565904
    Abstract: A convenient, easy-to-use, water-saving, and labor-saving FROG irrigation controller and system are provided, which determine the appropriate water budget and schedule for the property's landscaping based on evapotranspiration data for the geographic area, regulation data (mandated and voluntary watering restrictions), and property-specific data (such as type of plant, zone number, emitter type, and plant environment), with consideration given to reduction in watering days, increase in soil watering depth, and day of year. Once set, the FROG provides incremental adjustments over the course of the year; the homeowner no longer needs to re-set the watering program seasonally to comply with local mandated and voluntary watering restrictions. Compliance is automatic and obligatory, meeting the water saving goals of the local water authority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Bragg, Philip Andrew Kantor, Connie Ruby Masters
  • Publication number: 20130173027
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a controller configured to detect a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detect a location of a mobile device associated with a site and alter the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location. Correspondingly, a method includes detecting a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site and altering the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 8418705
    Abstract: A robotic cane may include a grip handle, a cane body extending from the grip handle at a first end, a motorized omni-directional wheel coupled to a second end of the cane body, a balance control sensor, and a controller module. The balance control sensor provides a balance signal corresponding to an orientation of the robotic cane. The controller module may receive the balance signal from the balance control sensor and calculate a balancing velocity of the motorized omni-directional wheel based at least in part on the balance signal and an inverted pendulum control algorithm. The controller module may further provide a drive signal to the motorized omni-directional wheel in accordance with the calculated balancing velocity. The calculated balancing velocity is a speed and direction of the motorized omni-directional wheel to retain the robotic cane in an substantially upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Illinois Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ota, Masaru Ryumae, Keiichi Sato, Shin Sano
  • Publication number: 20130090748
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a remote disconnect switch assembly. In one embodiment, the remote disconnect switch assembly comprises: an actuator; a shuttle that is operably moved by the actuator; one or more disconnect switches that are opened or closed by movement of the shuttle; one or more sensors; a communication interface; and a processor, wherein the processor is operably connected with the actuator, the one or more sensors and the communication interface, and wherein the processor is configured to: communicate with one or more other computing devices over a network using the communication interface; receive signals from the one or more sensors; and cause the actuator to operate in accordance with the signals received from the one or more sensors or the communications with the one or more other computing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Ryan Marc LaFrance, Scott Michael Shill, Steven Lee Bietz, Subramanyam Satyasurya Chamarti
  • Patent number: 8291121
    Abstract: A control system includes an Internet web interface to a network of at least one programmable logic control system running an application program for controlling output devices in response to status of input devices. The Web interface runs Web pages from an Ethernet board coupled directly to the PLC back plane and includes an HTTP protocol interpreter, a PLC back plane driver, a TCP/IP stack, and an Ethernet board kernel. The Web interface provides access to the PLC back plane by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The interface translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the PLC. Using this interface, the user can retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the programmable logic controller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: A. Dean Papadopoulos, Allan Tanzman, Rodolfo G. Belliardi, Richard A. Baker, Jr., Dennis J. W. Dube
  • Patent number: 8289150
    Abstract: A wireless sensor network and data sensing method thereof are provided. A prediction model is established according to sensed data. When statistical value of the sensed data is within a user allowable range, the average value of the sensed data is returned to a user based on the prediction model. Alternatively, when the statistical value of the sensed data is beyond the user allowable range, actually sensed data is returned to the user based on the prediction model. In addition, the prediction model may further be dynamically updated according to subsequently received sensed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Guan-Rong Lin, Lun-Chia Kuo, Arbee L. P. Chen, Yao-Chung Fan, En-Tzu Wang
  • Patent number: 8126575
    Abstract: A method for building robust model predictive controller universally applicable is presented based on the innate process characteristics independent of the method of control actuation. The method of universal MPC design permits proper configuration of requisite regulatory control loops for measured and unmeasured disturbance rejections consistent with the underlying innate process characteristics and their embedding within the overall process unit model predictive controller. The method of universal MPC design requires that manipulated variables process value based model (PV-based models) be used in control and optimization in place of the customary set point based models (SP-based models) or control output based models (OP-based models). The PV-based models are devoid of the manipulated variables regulatory controllers response and tuning. Based on the PV-based models, an alternate method of MPC called PV-based MPC is presented that is most robust and adaptable of possible three types of MPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fakhruddin T Attarwala
    Inventor: Fakhruddin T Attarwala
  • Patent number: 8086325
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process control system comprising a calculating unit enabling a charge value (W) to be determined from operations occurring in the process control system. Preferably, said process control system comprises a process control computer with a web server and a computer which is used to access the processes control computer via Internet. The charging value (W) is especially a service fee which is to be paid to an application service provider by a user of the process control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Detlef Fischer, Martin Glaser, Oliver Kaiser, Hans-Jürgen Sauer, Thomas Schoch, Rainer Speh, Michael Unkelbach, Steffen Wagner, Horst Walz
  • Patent number: 8005554
    Abstract: This device for controlling at least one operating variable of a regulated system comprising: a filter module for filtering at least one setpoint input to the control device, the module using a first order integrator; and a correction module for correcting the variable by servo-control, the module taking account of a measurement of the variable and of the setpoint as filtered by the filter module in order to generate at least one command for the system; a control module suitable for generating a gain control factor ? on the basis of at least one parameter of the system and of an operating limit value associated with the parameter; and weighting means for weighting the gain of the filter module as a function of the factor and of the residue between the setpoint and its filtered value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Serge Le Gonidec
  • Patent number: 7991486
    Abstract: A process control apparatus for controlling a control target includes, but is not limited to, first and second control units. The first control unit is designed in a design environment unspecifying any period of disturbance. The first control unit performs a feedback control to the control target by using a setting value of the control target and a measured value of the control target. The first control unit is included in a feedback loop. The second control unit is also included in the feedback loop. The second control unit is designed by using an internal model principle. The second control unit rejects the disturbance, which is applied to the feedback loop, by using the measured value of the control target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7930140
    Abstract: A system for monitoring variable parameters out of working parameters of a processing machine includes a selecting module, a frequency updating module, a first communicating module, a central processing unit (CPU), and a value processing module. The selecting module selects a number of variable parameters out of working parameters of the processing machine. The frequency updating module sets an updating frequency of the selected variable parameters according to the number of the selected variable parameters. The first communicating module converts the selected variable parameters into appointed formats. The CPU receives the converted variable parameters at the updating frequency, and gather the values of the received variable parameters. The value processing module receives the values of the selected variable parameters, and transforms the values of the selected variable parameters to display formats for presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shen-An Chen
  • Patent number: 7916140
    Abstract: Controlling a multi-variable process involves multi-dimensional representation of the values (Qa-Qh) of the process-variables (a-h) according to individual coordinate axes (Xa-Xh), and response based on historical values for the process-variables accumulated from multiple, earlier processes. An envelope (UL-LL) showing the best operating zone (‘BOZ’) for each process variable based on current values of the other variables is calculated from the accumulated historical values, and alarm conditions in which the current value of a variable lies outside the BOZ is rectified by changing the values (Qa-Qc) of manipulatable variables (a-c). Variable targets are achieved, alarms rectified and value optimisation realised using an inner envelope (UI-LI) derived from a subset of the BOZ-defining set of historical values. Where the alarm rate is low, operation is improved by narrowing the BOZ set to tighten the BOZ envelope (UL-LL) reducing an inner envelope where alarm rate remains acceptable, as a new BOZ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Process Plant Computing Limited
    Inventors: Robin William Brooks, John Gavin Wilson
  • Patent number: 7904280
    Abstract: A modular representation of a physical system is generated using modules and variables, each module representing a portion of the physical system, each variable representing a parameter of the physical system. Code is generated according to the modular representation such that the code is suitable to be compiled into a machine code that can be executed on hardware to simulate the physical system. The code contains instructions to cause the hardware to solve a system of differential algebraic equations that represent relationships among the variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventor: Giles D. Wood
  • Patent number: 7787582
    Abstract: A control unit in which at least one inertial sensor and a processor are accommodated in a housing. The data transmission between the inertial sensor and the control unit is performed digitally. The transmission may be provided with error bits or status bits. The data transmission is configured to be bidirectional in particular. Four lines are provided between the control unit and the sensor, one of the lines being used for selecting the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eckard Steiger, Christian Ohl, Hartmut Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20100198364
    Abstract: A method for controlling an industrial process, such as a paper machine, is devised to handle multiple manipulated and controlled variables of the process. The method includes making available for selection a plurality of different multivariable sub-control systems for controlling the process. A user interface table is generated and displayed showing configuration information about the plurality of multivariable sub-control systems. A selection of one of the multivariable sub-control systems is received through the user interface and used by the computer system for configuring the multivariable control system and performing control calculation for the multivariable control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Shih-Chin Chen, Jonas Berggren, Andreas Zehnpfund
  • Publication number: 20100100201
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a processing machine includes selecting a number of variable parameters from all of the parameters of the processing machine by a selecting module; setting an updating frequency of the selected variable parameters by an updating module according to the number of the selected variable parameters; converting the selected variable parameters into desired formats by a communicating module; gathering values of the selected variable parameters according to the updating frequency by a central processing unit; and determining whether all of the values of the selected variable parameters are gathered; if the gathers of all of the selected variable parameters values has completed, processing the gathered values by a value processing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: FOXNUM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHEN-AN CHEN
  • Patent number: 7680549
    Abstract: A device for diagnosing operation of an industrial process control or monitoring system includes an input configured to receive an input related to a process signal. A first statistical parameter module provides a first statistical parameter output related to a statistical parameter of the process signal. A filter provides a filter output related to a filtered value of the process signal. A second statistical parameter module provides a second statistical parameter output related to a statistical parameter of the filter output. A diagnostic module diagnoses operation of the industrial process based upon the first and second statistical parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kadir Kavaklioglu, David L. Wehrs, Donald Robert Lattimer, Evren Eryurek
  • Patent number: 7672749
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for hierarchical process control. The method includes accessing at least one first metric indicative of processing performed on a wafer by a plurality of tool groups. The method also includes providing at least one tool group parameter to each of the plurality of tool groups based on the at least one first metric and accessing a plurality of second metrics. Each second metric is associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of tool groups and is indicative of processing performed on the wafer by the plurality of tools in the corresponding tool group. The method further includes providing at least one tool parameter to at least one tool in each of the plurality of tool groups based on the second metric associated with the tool group and the at least one tool group parameter provided to the tool group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest D. Adams
  • Patent number: 7640154
    Abstract: A discrete event system (DES) modeling environment models the occurrence of events independent of continuous model time. In a DES modeling environment, state transitions depend not on time, but rather asynchronous discrete incidents known as events. A discrete event modeling environment can be used to model a control system using one or more discrete event-driven components. The event-driven components can be used to model certain portions of a control system that cannot be accurately modeled using a time-based model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: The Math Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael I. Clune, Andrew Grace, Murali Yeddanapudi, Ramamurthy Mani, Pieter J. Mosterman, Atul Suri
  • Publication number: 20090287322
    Abstract: Disclosed is an instrumentation control system, including: a first field device; and a second field device coupled to the first field device via a fieldbus. The first field device includes: a transmitting buffer to store data to be transmitted; a transmitter; and an inquiry processing section to cause the transmitter to retransmit the data stored in the transmitting buffer to the second field device in response to a request from the second field device. The second field device includes: a receiving buffer to store the data transmitted from the first field device; a checking section to determine whether the data stored in the receiving buffer is normal or not, and to make a data retransmission request to the first field device if the data stored in the receiving buffer is not normal; and a processing unit to perform predetermined processing based on the data which is determined to be normal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahito ENDO, Hiroshi Miyata, Yukiyo Akisada, Hiroki Endo, Kensuke Hosoya
  • Publication number: 20090234468
    Abstract: A control system includes a control device for controlling a plurality of actuators by executing a plurality of functions based sensor values from a plurality of external sensors and a function providing device for providing the control device with the functions to be executed by the control device. The function providing device accepts a program including a plurality of functions from a user device, finds a new function among the functions which has not been received yet and pass the same function to the control device. The control device executes functions passed from the function providing device based on values of the external sensors and controls the actuators by transmitting values of output arguments of the functions to the actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yusuke Doi, Yu Kaneko, Tomonori Maegawa, Masahiro Ishiyama
  • Publication number: 20090194618
    Abstract: The present invention provides an in-line system for milling sorbent material to be used in a pneumatic conveying system. The system provides for optimal particle size in a duct injection system, regardless of the original sorbent particle size, and is designed to prevent clogging of the milled material through the system. Methods of operation for milling, as well as cleaning the mills while providing various sorbent material by-pass configurations to minimize system down-time while enhancing material throughput and that support the unique aspects of the system, are also described in detail below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: O'BRIEN & GERE ENGINEERS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Palin, Jonathan Norman, Eric Fleckten
  • Patent number: 7558646
    Abstract: The present invention has a communication connection means (21) which mutually connects communicatably control units (Ca, Cb) for individually controlling operations of robots (Ra, Rb) to constitute a network, input means (37a, 37b) which are respectively installed in the control units and input operation instructions of the robots, and timing signal generation means (69a, 69b). The control units are selectively set to any one of an independent function execution mode, a master function execution mode, and a slave function execution mode, and among the control units, the control unit (Ca) to perform a master operation is set to the master function execution mode, and the residual control unit (Cb) is set to the slave function execution mode, and by correcting a minimum interruption period (Ts(b)) of the slave side control unit (Cb), a control time (ta11, ta12, ta13) to the master robot (Ra) of the master side control unit (Ca) is delayed by a predetermined time (T) to perform the cooperative operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyuki Matsumoto, Masatoshi Sano, Tsuyoshi Maehara, Nobuyasu Shimomura, Takahiro Ueno
  • Publication number: 20090118841
    Abstract: A method is used for providing sensing data to a control system of a machine. The method may include providing a plurality of virtual sensors, each of which may have a model type, at least one input parameter, and at least one output parameter. The method may also include integrating the plurality of virtual sensors into a virtual sensor network; determining interdependencies among the plurality of virtual sensors; and obtaining operational information of the plurality of virtual sensors. Further, the method may include determining a first condition under which the virtual sensor network is unfit to provide one or more virtual sensor output parameter to the control system based on the determined interdependencies and the operational information; and presenting the determined first condition to the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, James Mason, Tim Felty
  • Publication number: 20090024231
    Abstract: A method and system may operate to receive a first data from a sensor of a controlled device via a wireless network at a first time, transmit the first data to a controller system, receive a second data from the sensor of the controlled device via the wireless network at a second time, transmit the second data to the controller system, determine that a third data has not been received prior to a predetermined time period, or that the third data has been received prior to the predetermined time period and the third data is outside of a determined range of values, calculate a fourth data based on the first data and the second data, and transmit the fourth data to the controller system at a third time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Kun Ji, Ayman Fawaz
  • Publication number: 20080314878
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a machining system is provided. The apparatus include an optical unit configured to capture an image of an object based upon radiation generated from the object and an image processing unit configured to process the image and to obtain real-time estimation of parameters associated with manufacture or repair of the object. The apparatus also includes a process model configured to establish target values for the parameters associated with the manufacture or repair of the object based upon process parameters for the machining system and a controller configured to control the process parameters for the machining system based upon the estimated and target values of the parameters associated with the manufacture or repair of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Guoshuang Cai, Yanmin Li, Huan Qi, Xiaoping Huang, Zhixue Peng, Kevin George Harding, Magdi Naim Azer, Robert William Tait, Prashant Madhukar Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 7447552
    Abstract: An automation device is disclosed, in which a multiplicity of physically distributed functional units communicate with each other by means of a common transmission protocol. The device has a microcontroller (110), which has a group of associated input/output connections which are connected to a resistor network. The resistances of the resistors follow a sequence, the resistance respectively being doubled from the less significant to the next most significant bit. Each input/output connection is actively switched to the associated logic level in order to output a first logic state and is connected as a high-impedance input in order to output the inverse, second logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Kresse, Andreas Stelter, Ralf Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20080266842
    Abstract: A LED ladder system (650) includes strip units (674) with spaced apart LED elements. Network connection configurations (810, 850, 856, 868) receive AC power and selectively apply DC power to the strip units (674) based on control signals. A concertina visual shield configuration (902) is positioned adjacent the ladder system (650) to affect visual lighting properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Marsha Skidmore, Sheila Kennedy, Robert W. Insalaco, James B. Long, W. Daniel Hillis, Russel Howe