Patents Represented by Attorney Michael J. Wallace, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8019788
    Abstract: The size of lightweight JT data files containing CAD data is reduced by employing lossy compression where acceptable for portions of the CAD data, such as 3D geometry data. Dictionary-based lossless compression for the remaining portions is augmented by exploiting common repeated structures for some portions, such as precise Brep data, and compressing separate but similar data, such as all metadata for a given part and all scene graph data, together as a single block. The compressed data is then written in separate, uniquely identified data segments indexed in a table of contents, allowing quick access to any data segment for streaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Carter, Brett Harper, Jeff Trom
  • Patent number: 8013851
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for storing a polygonal topology, comprising representing a primitive with a plurality of vertices, internal half-edges and external half-edges; and storing said plurality of vertices in a vertex array and said plurality of external half-edges in a half-edge array, wherein said arrays are indexed and parallel to one another; whereby said primitive is re-created from said parallel array with said internal half-edges that are implicit from a primitive structure and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Carter, Andreas Johannsen, Michael C. McCarty, Jeremy S. Bennett, Bo Xu
  • Patent number: 8000536
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining feature data that represents information about the shape of an object. A partitioning scheme (RP) is determined that defines a plurality of cells (p) in the space in which the object is located such that at least some of the cells (p) each contain a respective portion of the object, and the feature data is determined for the object on the basis of at least one property of the respective portions of the object that are contained in the plurality of cells (p). According to a first aspect of the invention, at least two of the plurality of cells (p) overlap each other at least in part, and according to a second aspect of the invention, at least some of the boundaries of the cells (p) delimit a plurality of regions (r) in the space in which the object is located such that the respective portions of the object that are contained in the plurality of regions (r) are approximately equal to each other with respect to a predetermined measurement metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventor: Marco Pƶtke
  • Patent number: 7970587
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for defining part interfaces. A method includes comprising selecting a part. The method includes accessing a rule view corresponding to said part and setting a rule to a reference use. The rule limits the part to the reference use for a plurality of other parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tabeling, Edward Jagodzinski
  • Patent number: 7970667
    Abstract: A method for searching a bill of materials (BOM) in a data processing system, a data processing system configured to perform a corresponding method, and a computer program product encoded with instructions for performing the method. The method includes retrieving BOM data in a data processing system, and forming a wavefront queue of a plurality of proto lines corresponding to the BOM data. The method also includes determining the cumulative geometric bounds of multiple ones of the plurality of proto lines and performing a geometric bounds test on the cumulative geometric bounds of multiple ones of the plurality of proto lines. The method also includes producing a BOM line to each proto line that passes the geometric bounds test, and adding the produced BOM lines to a candidate results list stored in the data processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Fitt
  • Patent number: 7948398
    Abstract: A traffic signal is provided for controlling vehicular traffic. The traffic signal includes a light source (10) having a light emitting diode (LED) array (D1, D2, D3, D4). A power regulator (14) is associated with the light source and is constructed and arranged to control input current to the light source. A traffic signal controller (16) is remote from the light source and the power regulator. The traffic signal controller is constructed and arranged to provide an input voltage signal to the power regulator, with the input current being based on the input voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: David D. Miller
  • Patent number: 7937251
    Abstract: An interactive design system includes a design application that creates and models a geometry of an object. A programming language application defines engineering rules that may be associated with the object. The programming language application associates the geometry of the object with the engineering rules such that any change made to the geometry is automatically reflected in the engineering rules and any change made to the engineering rules is reflected in the geometry. The programming language application may also generate one or more knowledge features that can be used to verify that associated parameter constraints have not been violated as a result of a geometry or engineering rule change before applying the desired changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon B. Turner, Victor R. Hambridge, Rami Reuveni
  • Patent number: 7893846
    Abstract: A distributed individual vehicle information capture method for capturing individual vehicle data at traffic intersections and transmitting the data to a central station for storage and processing is provided. The method includes capturing individual vehicle information at a plurality of intersections (122) and transmitting the individual vehicle information from the intersections to a central station (124). Consequently, the individual vehicle information is available to be stored and processed by a device at the central station (126). Traffic intersection equipment for capturing individual vehicle data at traffic intersections and transmitting the data to a central station for storage and processing is also disclosed. The equipment includes a traffic detection device (159) for capturing individual vehicle data at an intersection (158) and a network connection to a central station (174).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean W. Teffer, Alexander Sherwood
  • Patent number: 7877210
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for detecting collisions in a three-dimension environment, comprising the steps of establishing a projection path along a translational path of a first object toward a second object; projecting a first object outline from said first object with a second object outline from said second object to obtain an intersection; calculating a collision along said translational path from said intersection of said first object outline and said second object outline; and checking for a static collision between said first object and said second object at an end of said translational path and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: John Owen, Haralabos Gouzinis
  • Patent number: 7827841
    Abstract: A method of processing different sized long products delivered from a rolling mill, comprising forming products within a first range of sizes into helical formations of rings having a first diameter, and alternatively forming products within a second range of sizes larger than the largest product size within said first range into helical formations of rings having a second diameter larger than said first diameter. The helical formations of rings are deposited on a conveyor for transport to a reforming station where they are gathered into coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Michael Shore, Matthew Palfreman, William X. Shen
  • Patent number: 7823492
    Abstract: A dual ratio drive for a rotary sheer comprises a parallel pair of first shafts carrying freely rotatable first gears. A pair of second shafts are rotatable about axes parallel to the axes of the first shafts. Each second shaft carries a shear blade, and a second gear in meshed relationship with one of the first gears. A drive shaft is connectable to one of the second shafts by a first gear set having a high speed ratio, and is connectable to one of the first shafts by a second gear set having a low speed ratio. A clutch alternately engages one or the other of the first and second gear sets to drive the second shafts and their respective shear blades at the different speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Peiliang P. Zhang
  • Patent number: 7823431
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for temporarily interrupting the passage of a long product between upstream and downstream paths in a rolling mill. Product passing along the upstream path is delivered onto a cylindrical drum. The drum is rotated in one direction to accumulate the product thereon in a series of windings. The direction of drum rotation is then reversed to unwind and deliver the accumulated product to the downstream path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: T. Michael Shore, Melicher Puchovsky
  • Patent number: 7797177
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for integrated decision support is disclosed. The method includes receiving decision inputs. The method also includes converting the received decision inputs to graph representations and mathematical representations. The method further includes decomposing the converted decision inputs to sub-problems. The method further includes detecting strongly-connected components associated with the sub-problems. The strongly-connected components represent the sub-problems that are coupled. The method further includes solving the sub-problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Jack C. H. Chung, Jia-Yi Wang, Chien-Tai Wu
  • Patent number: 7774714
    Abstract: A digital design system 10 is described which includes a user interface 12 that is used to interact with a digital data set 14. The digital model data set 14 is augmented by smart model attributes and business process attributes stored in data sets 16 and 18, respectively. Business process attributes data set 18 may include information associated with quality information, safety information, revision information, and information links to other data sets. A knowledge base data set engine 20 inferentially applies attributes to various features, components, and processes defined in the digital model data set 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Linder
  • Patent number: 7735027
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for identifying a plurality of product representations; formulating a plurality of logical expressions from said plurality of product representations; and aligning each of said plurality of logical expressions with a variance completeness and a consistency and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Moeller, Eric M. Leeson
  • Patent number: 7716019
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a computerized method for designing a progressive die used in the manufacturing of a part formed from sheet metal includes receiving, at a computer, information regarding one or more features of the part, and determining, by the computer, a blank layout for the part based on the features of the part and the number of parts desired. The computer further determines one or more details of a strip for the blank layout, information regarding a die base based on the details of the strip, and information regarding one or more inserts for die plates of the die base based on operations of the processes needed to form the features in the part. The computerized method further includes generating, by the computer, one or more outputs associated with the progressive die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventor: Shengming Liu
  • Patent number: 7690314
    Abstract: A rail car collision system is disclosed that includes a front face and an underframe having a first anticlimber. The first anticlimber protrudes from and extends across at least a portion of the front face at a first position. At least one second anticlimber extends along at least a portion of the front face at a second position that is vertically different than the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Clark, Chad Hewitt
  • Patent number: 7689394
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise obtaining and analyzing data from at least one discrete machine, automatically determining relationships related to the data, taking corrective action to improve machine operation and/or maintenance, automatically and heuristically predicting a failure associated with the machine and/or recommending preventative maintenance in advance of the failure, and/or automating and analyzing mining shovels, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Furem, Daniel W. Robertson, Gopal Madhavarao
  • Patent number: 7689902
    Abstract: A system and method for context management which addresses the above problems while isolating the context management functions from the other functional code found on the server system. The context management system includes a context manager component which stores and retrieves name-value pairs describing the context in which the current request is being processed. In doing so, three types of context data are distinguished: static, dynamic, and transient. The context manager stores context data regarding each of a user's sessions and page flows, and returns context data in response to requests from the server system. Using this context data, the server system can then interact with the user in a manner appropriate to the user's context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Duane E. Olawsky, Steven L. Chesney, Paul D. Close, Paul A. Palmer, John D. Somsky, Janardhanam Vijayakumar
  • Patent number: 7683510
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system for managing air flow within an induction motor, such as in the rotor assembly of the motor. The system can comprise a gap blocker to substantially impede air flow through radial apertures defined by and/or near end regions of the rotor conductor bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Pellegrino