Of Mechanical System Patents (Class 702/113)
  • Patent number: 11966994
    Abstract: The present invention provides a blockchain-based method and system for processing a traffic violation event. The method includes: obtaining traffic violation reporting information provided by a first vehicle node stored in a blockchain; obtaining an associated evidence data identifier in the traffic violation reporting information; obtaining, according to the evidence data identifier, evidence data provided by a second vehicle node stored in the blockchain; and determining, according to the traffic violation reporting information and the associated evidence data, whether the traffic violation reporting information is valid. In the present invention, each vehicle node in the blockchain automatically collects data of a traffic violation event, so that credible traffic violation determining is completed based on an intelligent contract, and credibility and tamper resistance of traffic violation determining is improved based on recording information of a plurality of associated blockchain nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: INVENTEC APPLIANCES (PUDONG) CORPORATION, INVENTEC APPLIANCES (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., INVENTEC APPLIANCES CORP.
    Inventors: Yong-Ping Zheng, Shih-Kuang Tsai
  • Patent number: 11885262
    Abstract: A method of repair for a metallic part of an aircraft engine includes detecting a defect inside a bore of the metallic part wherein the defect represents a departure from an intended geometry of the bore, the bore having a diameter and defining a longitudinal axis, and wherein the defect is located within the bore at a depth of at least greater than one diameter along the longitudinal axis. The method also includes measuring a geometry of the defect, preparing a patch with a complementary geometry to fill the geometry of the defect, placing the patch in the bore with the complementary geometry of the patch seated against the geometry of the defect, directing a welding beam from outside the bore, through the bore and onto the patch to weld the patch to the bore, and removing a portion of the patch to provide the intended geometry for the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Samuel Panero, Guy Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 11860018
    Abstract: A rate-of-change flow measurement device is provided including first pressure sensor, a position control valve with a valve position sensor, a second sensor position and a chamber comprising a part of the flow path of the device, and an isolation valve, arranged in this order along the flow path of the device. The device receives valve position data from the valve position sensor and pressure data from the pressure sensors, and calculates a volume of the chamber at least in part using the valve position data when a calibration of a device-under-test is performed by decreasing a pressure of the chamber or increasing the pressure of the chamber while opening the position control valve to maintain the pressure reading of the first pressure sensor constant to stay at a pressure set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Hoke, Tyson Stephenson, Patrick Lowery
  • Patent number: 11802813
    Abstract: A device for testing a needle roller bearing of a planet gear set consists of two identical helical planet gear sets, a piston, an end cover, a spindle, and can simulate the actual operating condition of a needle roller bearing of the planet gear set; the rotating speed difference between an inner raceway and an outer raceway of the needle roller bearing is determined by adjusting the rotating speed of a sun gear and a planet carrier; the load on the needle roller bearing includes a centrifugal load and a radial load, and the centrifugal acceleration and the centrifugal load are determined by adjusting the rotating speed of the planet carrier; a method of determining the radial load by adjusting the hydraulic pressure difference of hydraulic chambers at both ends of the piston, generating a tangential force to load the planet gear, and balancing the radial load of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: Peng Dong, Shumiao Zuo, Jiadong Sheng, Xiangyang Xu, Peter Tenberge, Yanfang Liu, Shuhan Wang, Wei Guo, Yan Cheng
  • Patent number: 11635448
    Abstract: The present document relates to a heterodyne scanning probe microscopy (SPM) method for subsurface imaging, and includes: applying an acoustic input signal to a sample and sensing an acoustic output signal using a probe. The acoustic input signal comprises a plurality of signal components at unique frequencies, including a carrier frequency and at least two excitation frequencies. The carrier frequency and the excitation frequencies form a group of frequencies, which are distributed with an equal difference frequency between each two subsequent frequencies of the group. The difference frequency is below a sensitivity threshold frequency of the cantilever for enabling sensing of the acoustic output signal. The document also describes an SPM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Sri Ram Shankar Rajadurai, Daniele Piras, Kodai Hatakeyama, Paul Louis Maria Joseph Van Neer, Maarten Hubertus Van Es, Hamed Sadeghian Marnani, Marcus Johannes Van Der Lans
  • Patent number: 11631285
    Abstract: A method and apparatus in a vehicular telemetry system for determining accelerometer thresholds based upon decoding a vehicle identification number (VIN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Charles Cawse
  • Patent number: 11619565
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling, more particularly in a closed-loop manner, a test bench for a powertrain with a real transmission, the method including calculating a desired value of a control parameter, more particularly a desired rotational speed, at the transmission output of the real transmission by means of a model that represents the transmission and at least one further component, more particularly a shaft, of the output side of the powertrain as virtual components, on the basis of at least one measurement parameter, more particularly a rotational speed and/or a torque, measured on the powertrain; and controlling the test bench, more particularly a load machine, on the basis of the desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: AVL LIST GMBH
    Inventors: Felix Pfister, Andreas Fleck
  • Patent number: 11429091
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes defining a sampling plan in a process control system. Measurement values are obtained at the first number N of the sample points. The first number of measurement values are modelled using a wafer model to generate a first set of coefficients according to a reference model. A second number M of the first number N of sample points is randomly selected. The second number M of measurement values obtained at the second number M of sample points is modelled using the wafer model to generate a second set of coefficients according to a phase_1 model. One of the M sample points is randomly replaced by one of the N?M sample points to obtain a subsample. The measurement values of the subsample are modelled using the wafer model to generate a third set of coefficients according to a phase_2 model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KLA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Philip Gröger
  • Patent number: 11365984
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absolute encoder suitable for reduction in thickness. An absolute encoder, for determining a rotation amount of a main spindle that rotates a plurality of revolutions, includes a first drive gear configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the main spindle; a first driven gear that engages with the first drive gear; a second drive gear configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the first driven gear; a second driven gear that engages with the second drive gear; and an angular sensor configured to detect a rotation angle at which a second rotating body is rotated in accordance with rotation of the second driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Osada
  • Patent number: 11353863
    Abstract: A method includes monitoring work done by a piece of equipment to generate backward-looking usage data. The method includes making a prediction of future work to be done by the piece of equipment, generating forward-looking usage data based on the prediction of future work, and making a prediction of when the piece of equipment is expected to fail based on the backward-looking usage data and on the forward-looking usage data. The method includes operating the piece of equipment after performing the prediction, and removing the piece of equipment from service prior to when the piece of equipment is expected to fail based on the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley V. Stephenson, Thomas M. Logan, Sumit Bhat
  • Patent number: 11319973
    Abstract: An abnormality detecting system and an abnormality detecting method acquires a stroke of a piston as input from outside, calculates a travel time of the piston based on the results of sensing obtained by a first sensor and a second sensor, calculates a total travel distance of the piston using the number of operations and the stroke of the piston, and detects an abnormality of the actuator based on the travel time and the number of operations or the total travel distance of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Aki, Norimasa Ozaki
  • Patent number: 11282143
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining risk associated with operation of fully autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, including types and version of sensors, control systems, and software. This information may be used to determine a risk profile reflecting risk levels for a plurality of features, which may be based upon test data regarding the features or actual loss data. Expected use levels may further be determined and used with the risk profile to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle by the autonomous operation features. The expected use levels may indicate expected vehicle use, as well as traffic, weather, or other conditions in which the vehicle is likely to operate. The total risk level may be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 11173924
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to collect control data indicating behavior of a vehicle controlled by a control program, collect virtual control data indicating behaviour of a virtual vehicle controlled by a virtual control program, and determine a difference between the control data and the virtual control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Evangelos Bitsanis, Turgay Isik Aslandere, Michael Marbaix, Alain Marie Roger Chevalier
  • Patent number: 11146192
    Abstract: A fault handling method and apparatus for a wind power generator set, and a computer readable storage medium. The fault handling method comprises: dividing faults of a wind power generator set into groups according to a target protection object, each group of faults including a plurality of process faults associated with the target protection object and a target fault of the target protection object (101); if any one of the plurality of process faults in the same group as the target fault satisfies a corresponding process fault trigger condition and the target fault does not satisfy the corresponding target fault trigger condition, performing a fault-tolerant operation on the wind power generator set (102); if the target fault satisfies the corresponding target fault trigger condition, selecting, from the triggered process faults in the same group as the target fault, the process fault having the highest degree of association as a real fault that has caused shut-down of the wind power generator set (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Chen
  • Patent number: 11138570
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium for detecting a risk of fraud in a vehicle insurance claim by comparing the cost of repair from a treatment facility to a cost estimate for the repair. If the cost of repair from the treatment facility exceeds the cost estimate by a substantial amount, the cost of repair may be flagged as a risk of fraud and a suspicious loss indicator may be generated and transmitted to an insurance agent, a claims center, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: William J. Leise
  • Patent number: 11023629
    Abstract: Methods and systems for testing the operation of autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features in a virtual test environment are provided. Computer-executable instructions for implementing the features may be received and executed on a test device. Test input signals may be presented to software routines associated with the features, which may generate output signals including control commands. The output signals may be used to predict the response of a vehicle in the virtual test environment, which may include a simulation of vehicle responses to the output signals. Measures of the effectiveness of the features may be determined based upon the predicted responses of the vehicle, which may then be used to determine risk levels associated with the features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 11009424
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for a powder coating material pump. The diagnostic apparatus includes a detector that uses pressure or flow to detect a fault in the pump, the diagnostic apparatus being external the pump, internal the pump or a combination of external and internal the pump. Another diagnostic device is provided for a powder coating material pump, and includes a light source in close proximity to the pump, the light source having an on condition and an off condition wherein one or both of the on condition and off condition provides information about the pump performance. An exemplary pump is a dense phase powder coating material pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin Jeroen Beuk, Terrence M. Fulkerson, Jeffrey A. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10982612
    Abstract: A pump life prediction system and methods for predicting pump life of a pump are disclosed. A method may include monitoring pump operating conditions. A value indicative of cavitation damage is determined based on the pump operating conditions. A pump life remaining is determined based on the value. The method may also include outputting an indication of the pump life remaining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Carlson, Zachary T. Kroehler, Ryan Hinrichsen
  • Patent number: 10977741
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use and determining risk associated with operation of autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, and operating data regarding vehicle operation may be obtained. The operating data may include information regarding use levels or settings associated with use of the autonomous operation features. Risk levels associated with the features may be determined from test data or actual loss data. The risk levels and operating data may be used to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle with expected use levels of the autonomous operation features. The total risk level may further be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 10970726
    Abstract: Measuring a networked audience is described. Initially, a first set of network usage data based on access of a resource by a first set of client systems is received. Next, a second set of network usage data based on access of the resource by a second set of client systems using a monitoring application installed on the second set of client systems is determined. Usage of the resource based on the first set of network usage data during a time period and one or more adjustment factors based on the second set of network usage data are determined. The determined usage is adjusted using the one or more adjustment factors. Finally, one or more audience reports for the resource using the adjusted usage are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Comscore, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Pugh, Frank Eugene Pecjak
  • Patent number: 10907616
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a status of at least one component of a mechanical plant, in particular of a wind turbine, that comprises the following steps: (i) receiving an evaluation signal that is formed based on values of a measurement quantity recorded in the plant, (ii) determining at least one parameter data set on the basis of the evaluation signal as a function of a signal that is representative for a stress of the plant and/or based on a spectral analysis of the evaluation signal, (iii) evaluation of an indicator signal as a function of at least one parameter data set and determining the status of the component of the plant as a function of the indicator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jannes Kreutzfeldt, Matthias Schulz
  • Patent number: 10890907
    Abstract: The disclosure describes embodiments for modifying a vehicle control system of a connected vehicle based on a Vehicular Accident Reconstruction (VAR) analysis. In some embodiments, a method includes detecting an occurrence of a collision associated with a remote vehicle; generating report data associated with the collision, where the report data includes one or more of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) data describing V2X wireless messages received prior to detecting the occurrence of the collision and event data describing one or more driving events observed by an ego vehicle; transmitting the report data to a server; receiving modification data that describes a modification for a vehicle control system of the ego vehicle from the server, where the modification data is generated based on the report data through a VAR analysis; and modifying an operation of the vehicle control system based on the modification data to improve safety of the ego vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Hongsheng Lu
  • Patent number: 10816907
    Abstract: A method, and associated system, for determining an optimized set of measurement locations for measurement of a parameter related to a structure applied to a substrate by a semiconductor manufacturing process. The method includes determining a first set of parameter values from a first set of measurements of first structures across a first plurality of locations, for example from target measurements and determining a second set of parameter values from a second set of measurements of second structures across a second plurality of locations, for example using an SEM or e-beam tool on product structures. A correlation is determined between the first set of parameter values and the second set of parameter values and used to determine the optimized set of measurement locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Ten Berge, Christiaan Theodoor De Ruiter
  • Patent number: 10719885
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use and determining risk associated with operation of autonomous vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, autonomous operation features associated with a vehicle may be determined, and operating data regarding vehicle operation may be obtained. The operating data may include information regarding use levels or settings associated with use of the autonomous operation features. Risk levels associated with the features may be determined from test data or actual loss data. The risk levels and operating data may be used to determine a total risk level associated with operation of the vehicle with expected use levels of the autonomous operation features. The total risk level may further be used to determine or adjust aspects of an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 10677687
    Abstract: To subject a test object during a test run on a test bench to real environmental and/or surrounding conditions, particularly thermal conditions, it is provided that at least one temperature is measured at a measurement point as a measured variable during the test run on the test bench. At least one test object component of the test object is subdivided in a number of segments. The thermal interaction of at least one segment with the environment of the vehicle is simulated during the test run by a thermal simulation model of the simulation model. The thermal simulation model calculates the segment heat flow that is supplied to or dissipated from the at least one segment. This segment heat flow is adjusted as a function of the measured temperature at the test bench on at least one segment by means of a number of heat flow actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: AVL LIST GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Pfister, Stefan Geneder, Stefan Jakubek
  • Patent number: 10587729
    Abstract: In some implementations, a system enables an administrator to customize a set of rules to dynamically adjust the configuration and output of an application provided to users. A configuration interface for setting rules that dynamically adjust output of an application is provided. Data indicating one or more rules are received through the configuration interface. Activity data indicating user interaction with the application or sensor data for at least some of a plurality of users of the application are then received from multiple client devices. A determination relating to the activity data satisfying at least one condition or trigger is then made. Instructions to adjust output of the application according to one or more system actions of the one or more rules are then communicated to client devices associated with the users in the first subset of the plurality of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Vignet Incorporated
    Inventors: Praduman Jain, Dave Klein, Yue Cao, Neeta Jain
  • Patent number: 10578329
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a performance forecasting method applied to an air conditioning equipment and a central server. The air conditioning equipment has a plurality of detecting elements so as to detect a plurality kinds of physical parameters and a performance parameter. The central server stores those parameters as a set of first parameters and a first performance value. When the central server receives other physical parameters and another performance parameter, it calculates the similarity between the other physical parameters and each set of the first parameters according to the law of cosines. The central server selects the set of the first parameters which have the similarity being greater than a selecting threshold, so as to calculating an expected performance value. Accordingly, the central server can forecast a performance decline degree by comparing the another performance parameter and the expected performance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tse-Wen Chang, Wen-Yen Cheng
  • Patent number: 10564032
    Abstract: A vibration mode determining apparatus that determines vibration mode of a machine structure of a machine including motors and that includes a vibration command generating unit that generates a vibration command for the motor; a control unit that generates a current command for the motor according to the vibration command and outputs a conversion value for a motor excitation force to a vibration mode calculating unit; a motor drive unit that receives the motor current command and drives the motor; a vibration sensor that detects vibration of the machine structure; a measurement-point information input unit that sets information about the attachment point of the vibration sensor; a vibration mode calculating unit that calculates the vibration mode using the conversion value for the motor excitation force and the output of the vibration sensor; and a vibration mode output unit that outputs the vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Fujita, Kotaro Nagaoka, Takeshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10393617
    Abstract: Provided are methods for measuring forces exerted on rails or such like as a cause of the transit of vehicles on said rails, for determining the values of different parameters, and for calculating coefficients or other variables. Also provided are systems of devices that allow for the taking of values and for the recording, processing, and sampling of the resulting information based on measurement methods that allow directly measuring the lateral force, in a more simplified manner of installation resulting in lower cost in sensors and with greater precision based on the configuration of said sensors and their individual valuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ANÁLISIS Y SIMULACIÓN, S.L.
    Inventor: Iker Unai Arostegui Camacho
  • Patent number: 10393623
    Abstract: There is provided an abnormality diagnosis device, a bearing, a rotation device, an industrial machine, and a vehicle, which are able to discover abnormality early and also set a diagnosis threshold relatively easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10389617
    Abstract: This document describes techniques for performance testing computing resources in a service provider network. In an example embodiment, a performance manager periodically tests the performance of computing devices in the service provider network using selected computing assets of each computing device, and updates, based on the performance, a ranking value that establishes precedence for allocation of resource instances of the computing device. A placement manager assigns resource instances from the computing devices based on the ranking values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihir Sadruddin Surani, Eric Paul Wei, Diwakar Gupta
  • Patent number: 10319036
    Abstract: A computer system generates interactive user interfaces. The system is configured to receive first data input via a user interface, access stored data including guideline data based on the received first data, and generate a modified user interface based on the accessed stored data. The first data, and second data received via the modified user interface, are processed and employed for adjusting workflows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company
    Inventors: John C. Haywood, Maureen A. Morrison, Joseph E. Musgrove, Jr., Jeffrey D. Panitzke, Sheila M. Peine, Andres Pelaez, Ryan L. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10266371
    Abstract: An elevator control apparatus that can estimate an error of a governor encoder caused by expansion and contraction of a governor rope without need to add new governor speed detectors. The elevator control apparatus includes: a governor rope expansion/contraction amount estimating device that estimates an error of a governor encoder caused by expansion and contraction of a governor rope on the basis of a governor encoder counter signal according to a rotation of a governor around which the governor rope connected to a car of an elevator provided in a building is wound, when a landing plate detector of the car is switched from a state in which a landing plate provided at a position corresponding to a floor of the building is detected to a state in which the landing plate is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazufumi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 10197977
    Abstract: A setpoint alarming system includes a feedback controller that monitors a process variable provided as a feedback signal from a plant and uses an error signal representing a difference between the process variable and a setpoint to generate a control signal for the plant. The plant uses the control signal to affect the process variable. The system includes a normalized index generator that uses the error signal to generate a normalized performance index for the plant. The system includes an expected value estimator that estimates a value of the normalized performance index expected to occur when a setpoint error of a predetermined magnitude has persisted for a predetermined duration. The system includes an alarm manager that compares the normalized performance index to the expected value and generates an alarm in response to the normalized performance index dropping below the expected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, Michael J. Ajax
  • Patent number: 10096177
    Abstract: An electronic control unit improves a serviceability for a user of a vehicle by performing an abnormality diagnosis of the vehicle based on (i) storing a readiness information indicating that readiness is complete in a readiness storage, (ii) storing a history of normal diagnosis results from an abnormality diagnosis in a history storage, and (iii) relaxing a readiness complete condition for storing the readiness information in the readiness storage under control of a microcomputer, when the history stored in the history storage includes information of existence of the normal history. By using the relaxed condition for the abnormality diagnosis, readiness information is more quickly stored when performing the abnormality diagnosis. Also, diagnostic process is completed more quickly, facilitating the repair process and enabling the user to more quickly receive a desired service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eisuke Nishino
  • Patent number: 10054481
    Abstract: A rotating machine abnormality diagnosing apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a rotating machine includes: an analyzing part which performs a time-frequency analysis to a signal S representing intensity and time relationship of an elastic wave generating in the rotating machine; an extracting part which extracts second data representing intensity and time relationship of a predetermined frequency component from first data obtained by the time-frequency analysis; and a determining part which determines that a first rotor and a second rotor are in contact with each other when the second data contains intensity variation having a cycle represented by T1×b=T2×a, in which a rotational cycle of the first rotor is denoted by T1, a rotational cycle of the second rotor is denoted by T2, and a ratio of a number of protrusions to a number of recesses is denoted by a:b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Araki, Eiji Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Ashida, Shugo Takaki, Yasuharu Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10047726
    Abstract: A condition monitoring system for a wind turbine comprises: a sensor which senses a condition of a yaw bearing; a monitor device which generates a diagnosis parameter based on a detection result of the sensor; a sensor which senses a rotating angular velocity of a nacelle and that of a main shaft; and a data server which diagnoses a failure of the yaw bearing based on the diagnosis parameter. The data server diagnoses whether the yaw bearing has a failure, based on a variation of the diagnosis parameter from an initial value thereof when the nacelle has a rotating angular velocity within a non-zero, first prescribed range and the main shaft has a rotating angular velocity within a second prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoya Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9921588
    Abstract: A method for determining a fluid composition parameter, e.g., a fluid identifier, a mixing ratio or a parameter describing heat transfer properties, of an unknown fluid in a mass flow controller is disclosed. A control valve of the mass flow controller is set so as to establish a constant flow, preferably zero flow, through the mass flow controller. A heating element of the flow sensor is heated, and at least one temperature value is measured with temperature sensors arranged on both sides of the heater while the fluid contacts the flow sensor. First calibration data (LUT1) are retrieved. The first calibration data have, as input values, temperature values measured with the flow sensor at the previously established constant flow and have, as output values, values of the fluid composition parameter. The first calibration data are used to determine the fluid composition parameter from the measured temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Mark Hornung, Remo Fürst, Thomas Huber
  • Patent number: 9901405
    Abstract: A system for tracking a femoral frame of reference in computer-assisted surgery comprises a sensor unit. The sensor unit is adapted to be secured to the femur. The sensor unit comprises accelerometer and gyroscope sensors that produce orientation data. A processing unit receives gyroscope and accelerometer data. The processing unit comprises a gyroscope-data calculator to provide calculated acceleration data resulting from movements of the femur, an accelerometer-data calculator to calculate measured acceleration data resulting from movements of the femur, and an acceleration comparator to relate an orientation of the sensor unit to the femur to define a femoral frame of reference. The femoral frame of reference is defined from the comparison between the calculated and the measured acceleration data. A sensor orientation interface provides orientation data for the femur from a tracking of the femoral frame of reference. A method for tracking a femoral frame of reference is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ORTHOSOFT INC.
    Inventors: Myriam Valin, Catherine Proulx, Louis-Philippe Amiot, Bruno Falardeau, Julie Deslongchamps
  • Patent number: 9846093
    Abstract: In an example, a system includes a Monte Carlo simulation module to calculate a collision force on a first vehicle based at least in part on first information, calculate a crush depth for a second vehicle (having unknown damage) based at least in part on the calculated collision force on the first vehicle and second information, calculate first total energy absorbed by the first vehicle based on the first information, calculate second total energy absorbed by the second vehicle based on the calculated crush depth and the second information; and calculate a first estimated impact severity for the first vehicle using the first total energy and a second estimated impact severity for the second vehicle using the second total energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: CCC Information Services Inc.
    Inventors: Darrin A. Smith, Kenna Henn
  • Patent number: 9770816
    Abstract: An angle wrench has a simple structure and is capable of accurately measuring rotation angle. The angle wrench is used for tightening an object to be tightened by means of the rotation angle method, and includes a handle having a grip; a head section having a tightening head for tightening the object to be tightened, and a tail section that extends from the tightening head pivotally supported with respect to the handle via a head pin; torque-detecting mechanisms for detecting when the torque for tightening the object being tightened reaches the specified torque; and a rotation angle-measuring section for measuring the rotation angle of the angle wrench in a tightening action, on the basis of the angular velocity of the angle wrench around the axis of the object being tightened, after the torque-detecting mechanism has detected that the specified torque has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOHNICHI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yokoyama, Shinji Murayama, Nobuyoshi Kobayashi, Yoshiro Kanda
  • Patent number: 9754012
    Abstract: Data series are stored at multiple resolutions in a computer-readable data storage medium. In particular, time series data values of the data series are received with associated timestamps. Corresponding storage elements in the computer-readable data storage medium are identified based on the time stamps. Aggregate values are determined by summing the time series data values. The time series data values stored in the corresponding storage elements are replaced by the aggregate values. Combined data values of the aggregate values are stored in storage elements in the computer-readable storage medium at a first resolution and second resolution, where the second resolution is half of the first resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: TRANE U.S. INC.
    Inventors: Darrell Anderson, David Brock
  • Patent number: 9753935
    Abstract: A database system is described that includes components for storing time-series data and executing custom, user-defined computational expressions in substantially real-time such that the results can be provided to a user device for display in an interactive user interface. For example, the database system may process stored time-series data in response to requests from a user device. The request may include a start time, an end time, a period, and/or a computational expression. The database system may retrieve the time-series data identified by the computational expression and, for each period, perform the arithmetic operation(s) identified by the computational expression on data values corresponding to times within the start time and the end time. Once all new data values have been generated, the database system may transmit the new data values to the user device for display in the interactive user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Palantir Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David Tobin, Pawel Adamowicz, Steven Fackler, Sri Krishna Vempati, Wilson Wong, Orcun Simsek
  • Patent number: 9709995
    Abstract: A chemical injection system includes a pump in fluid communication with a chemical reservoir and a pipeline; a motor coupled to the pump and adapted to drive the pump to transfer a chemical fluid from the reservoir to the pipeline; a motor controller electrically coupled to a power module and the motor and adapted to adjust a rotational speed of the motor; and a central controller communicably coupled to the motor controller and a remote computing device. The controller includes a translator adapted to receive a signal from the remote computing device in a first communication protocol and translate the signal from the remote computing device to a command in a second communication protocol distinct from the first communication protocol, where the command is operable to adjust the motor controller to adjust the rotational speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco M. Gutierrez, Richard D. Atton
  • Patent number: 9702703
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to data processing, and more particularly to a system and method for monitoring driving behavior of a driver. In one embodiment, a system (102) for monitoring driving behavior of a driver is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Arijit Chowdhury, Tapas Chakravarty, Tanushree Banerjee, Balamuralidhar Purushothaman
  • Patent number: 9665995
    Abstract: A method and system for crash analysis of one or more vehicles involved in a crash is disclosed. The method may comprise capturing data samples such as a plurality of GPS samples and a plurality of acceleration samples. The method may further comprise generating a trajectory. Moreover, the method may comprise segmenting the trajectory into a macro level segment and further into a micro level segment. The method may further comprise computing at least one macro level score based on the plurality of acceleration samples and the GPS samples. Based on the at least one macro level score, the method may be configured to compute a crash responsibility score for ascertaining crash responsibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Arijit Chowdhury, Tapas Chakravarty, Balamuralidhar Purushothaman
  • Patent number: 9588014
    Abstract: An error measuring method of gear includes: performing the single gear flank testing to the gear pair in order to produce a testing signal graph; the operation unit decomposing the testing signal graph by Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) to generate a plurality of intrinsic-mode-function graphs (IMFs), the intrinsic-mode-function graph (IMF) having a first function graph with a first range and a second function graph with a second range, the first range is greater than the second range; the operation unit selecting a plurality of third function graph from the intrinsic-mode-function graphs (IMFs), wherein the third range is greater than the second range but not greater than the first range; the operation unit combining the third function graphs to produce a graph of superposing function; the operation unit computing out a plurality of single pitch error, a plurality of adjacent pitch error and an accumulated pitch error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yi-Cheng Chen, Ming-Hung Chang
  • Patent number: 9558088
    Abstract: Method and system are provided for using environmental signatures for test scheduling. The method includes: generating an environmental signature for a test including the usage of power and temperature of one or more hardware components being tested; determining an outcome score of the test; and scheduling one or more tests on hardware components based on the environmental signature and outcome score of candidate tests. Generating an environmental signature for a test may include: monitoring the usage of power by hardware components during the course of the test; monitoring the temperature of hardware components during the course of the test; generating a signature representing the power usage and temperature during the test. Determining an outcome score of the test may include determining the number of defects exposed by a test and basing the outcome score on the number of defects exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Djihed Afifi, Matthew J. Jarvis
  • Patent number: 9527110
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a body unit that houses an electronic circuit; a vibration unit that is provided in the body unit, is configured to vibrate in a predetermined direction, and has a variable frequency of vibration; a plurality of resonators that are each provided in a different portion of the body unit and are each configured to resonate with vibration having a different frequency; and a transmission unit that is configured to transmit vibration of the vibration unit to the plurality of resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Akasaka
  • Patent number: 9471128
    Abstract: User interfaces are provided that display application energy usage information to a user. Application energy usage information may be displayed as an energy meter user interface that provides derived information (e.g., power and time used to determine energy usage) that is not available through a traditional activity monitor. For example, energy usage information is provided for an application running in isolation, taking into account energy usage based on what the application is doing and not what the rest of the system is doing (e.g., shows CPU wakes in isolation of any other processes). Each of a series of energy bars is presented as an energy utilization metric that includes at least one of a utilization portion and a wake tax portion, combined to represent to represent total energy utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Chad B. Woolf