Patents Assigned to Automation, Inc.
-
Patent number: 8607426Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated valve spring assembly includes a head assembly with elongated passageways that movably support a pair of retainer keys. A pair of control members selectively close off the passageways. The head assembly further includes a moveable divider plate and a pair of jaws. A push member or rod closes off the passageways by shifting the control members upon movement of the pushrod. The pushrod also slides the retainer keys such that the retainer keys contact tapered inner surfaces of the jaws and rotate the jaws outwardly. The retainer keys are thereby axially positioned relative to the end of a valve stem. The retainer plate is then retracted, and the jaws shift inwardly and push or position the retainer keys on the valve stem.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Air Way Automation, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Paul Coggins, John Eric Ammond, Jack Patrick Moran, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8612908Abstract: A method for finding the process, voltage, temperature, parasitics, and power settings (PVTPP) corner at which an electrical circuit design has the worst-case optimum simulated output performance. The method uses a global optimization process in a series of iterations that aim to uncover the PVTPP corner at which the ECD has the worst-case output value. By using the present method, a designer does not have to simulate the ECD at each and every PVTPP corner, which can same considerable time or compute effort. Examples using Model-Building Optimization are provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Solido Design Automation Inc.Inventors: Joel Cooper, Trent Lorne McConaghy
-
Patent number: 8601667Abstract: In a robotic tool changer, a rotating cam surface ring having a plurality of surfaces formed therein urges a plurality of ball members in one tool coupling unit radially to contact a coupling surface in the other tool coupling unit. Mechanical energy captured and stored upon decoupling the units is used by an actuation mechanism, upon manual initiation, to at least partially automatically couple the two units by partially rotating the rotating cam surface ring. Further manual rotation of the cam member exerts a radial force through the ball members onto the coupling surface. A component of that force is directed by the coupling surface toward the opposite tool coupling unit, locking the two units together.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: ATI Industrial Automation, Inc.Inventor: Daniel Allen Norton
-
Patent number: 8602716Abstract: A method is provided where the method includes configuring a plurality of robots so that a wafer can be handed off between neighboring robots, and disposing a plurality of sensors so that a robotic arm-relative position of a wafer that is transported by a robot is determined from sensor outputs by moving the wafer through a retract, rotate, and extend path.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Peter van der Meulen, Christopher C Kiley, Patrick D. Pannese
-
Patent number: 8602706Abstract: A semiconductor workpiece processing apparatus having a first chamber, a transport vehicle, and another chamber. The first chamber is capable of being isolated from an outside atmosphere. The transport vehicle is located in the first chamber and is movably supported from the first chamber for moving linearly relative to the first chamber. The transport vehicle includes a base, and an integral semiconductor workpiece transfer arm movably mounted to the base and capable of multi-access movement relative to the base. The other chamber is communicably connected to the first chamber via a closable opening of the first chamber. The opening is sized to allow the transport vehicle to transit between the first chamber and the other chamber through the opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Hofmeister, Robert T. Caveney
-
Patent number: 8601776Abstract: Systems and methods of automatically dispensing tablets are disclosed. The systems and methods of the invention provide a highly secure, highly accurate and rapid means of dispensing tablets. The system includes an automatic dispensing tablet dispensing system as shown in the Figures and provides a means of lowering errors while preventing unauthorized tampering by non-authorized personnel. Moreover, the invention relates to systems and methods for packaging vials, packaging items from totes, and packaging items from totes with vials.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Knapp Logistics & Automation, Inc.Inventor: Claus Henkel
-
Patent number: 8593278Abstract: A usage status notification method and corresponding medication storage device (e.g., mobile medication dispensing cart, medication cabinet, nurse server, etc.) are provided. To generate the usage status notification, the status of one or more components of the medication storage device may be monitored. An in-use notification signal may be generated if it is determined that the medication storage device is in use at a certain point in time (e.g., when a user is logged into the medication storage device). An available notification signal may be generated if it is determined that the medication storage device is available for use at a certain point in time (e.g., when a user is logged out of the medication storage device). Other types of usage status signals may also be provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: McKesson Automation Inc.Inventors: Preeti Churbock, Emilie Ray
-
Patent number: 8590956Abstract: A system for sensing, orienting, and transporting wafers in an automated wafer handling process that reduces the generation of particles and contamination so that the wafer yield is increased. The system includes a robotic arm for moving a wafer from one station to a destination station, and an end-effector connected to an end of the robotic arm for receiving the wafer. The end-effector includes a mechanism for gripping the wafer, a direct drive motor for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism, and at least one sensor for sensing the location and orientation of the wafer. A control processor calculates the location of the center and the notch of the wafer based on measurements by the sensor(s) and generates an alignment signal for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism so that the wafer is oriented at a predetermined position on the end-effector while the robotic arm is moving to another station.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventor: Matthew W. Coady
-
Patent number: 8589138Abstract: A system and method to analyze analog, mixed-signal, and custom digital circuits. The system and method displays to a user characteristic values of a circuit and statistical uncertainty values of the characteristic values early in a sampling or characterization run of the circuit. The characteristic values and their statistical uncertainties are updated as the sampling or characterization run progresses. The user can halt the sampling or characterization run once a desired level of uncertainty is attained. The system can automatically halt the sampling or characterization run, once the statistical uncertainty lie within a pre-determined range.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2008Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Solido Design Automation Inc.Inventors: Trent Lorne McConaghy, Charles Cazabon, Kristopher Breen, Amit Gupta, Jeffrey Dyck, Jiandong Ge, David Callele, Shawn Rusaw, Joel Cooper, Anthony Arkles, Samer Sallam, Jason Coutu
-
Patent number: 8588964Abstract: Storage devices, systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for dispensing medication. The storage devices include a container dispensing device for providing users with containers that can be used to securely transport (i.e., in a closed, identifiable container) medications dispensed from the storage device for a single selected patient. In this way, a single user may be able to dispense medications for multiple patients during a single user interaction with a storage device, while keeping medications for different patients separate and easily identifiable so as to provide secure transport between the storage device and the different patients' bedsides. Thus, a printing device may be provided for printing a summary of details, such as in the form of a label and/or a receipt. A sensor may also be provided for detecting the receipt of medications into the container as a check that the correct medications were dispensed by the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: McKesson Automation Inc.Inventors: Laurie K. Garda, Wendy Armstrong, Amy Blew, Jyotsna Rao
-
Patent number: 8589107Abstract: A measurement instrument having a processor, a first sensor and a second sensor. The processor is adapted to output a measurement signal embodying a measurement of a physical quantity. The first sensor and second sensor are connected to the processor and are operable to generate respectively first and second measurements of the physical quantity. The processor defines a first measurement range within which the measurement signal is dependent on the first measurement and not the second measurement. The processor defines a second measurement range within which the measurement signal is dependent on the second measurement and not the first measurement. The first and second ranges meet at a predetermined transition. The first and second measurements are different at the transition and the measurement embodied in the measurement signal crosses the transition without an abrupt change.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventor: Michael Borenstein
-
Patent number: 8586918Abstract: An ion trap includes an electrode structure, including a first and a second opposed mirror electrodes and a central lens therebetween, that produces an electrostatic potential in which ions are confined to trajectories at natural oscillation frequencies, the confining potential being anharmonic. The ion trap also includes an AC excitation source having an excitation frequency f that excites confined ions at a frequency of about twice the natural oscillation frequency of the ions, the AC excitation frequency source preferably being connected to the central lens. In one embodiment, the ion trap includes a scan control that mass selectively reduces a frequency difference between the AC excitation frequency and about twice the natural oscillation frequency of the ions.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Gerardo A. Brucker, Kenneth D. Van Antwerp, G. Jeffery Rathbone, Scott C. Heinbuch, Michael N. Schott, Barbara Jane Hinch, Alexei V. Ermakov
-
Patent number: 8573919Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus having a frame, a drive section and an articulated arm. The drive section has at least one motor module that is selectable for placement in the drive section from a number of different interchangeable motor modules. Each having a different predetermined characteristic. The articulated arm has articulated joints. The arm is connected to the drive section for articulation. The arm has a selectable configuration selectable from a number of different arm configurations each having a predetermined configuration characteristic. The selection of the arm configuration is effected by selection of the at least one motor module for placement in the drive section.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Ulysses Gilchrist, Christopher Hofmeister
-
Patent number: 8572527Abstract: An analysis tool that generates properties for a circuit design. The debugging tool receives a circuit design encoded in a hardware description language. The tool identifies portions of the circuit design that correspond to features of interest (e.g., counters, finite state machines, one hot vectors, etc) in the circuit design. Each portion of the circuit design has a cone of influence, and the tool identifies control signals from within the cones of influence. By identifying control signals in this manner, the tool can then generate the properties based on values for the control signals and the identified portions of the circuit design that are obtained from data describing the operation of the circuit design over a number of clock cycles (e.g., simulation data). The result is one or more properties that are likely to represent a relevant behavior of the circuit design.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Jasper Design Automation, Inc.Inventors: Claudionor José Nunes Coelho, Jr., Fabiano Cruz Peixoto
-
Patent number: 8571701Abstract: A method of filling a restocking package is provided in which a queue of requests of items to be picked from a carousel is evaluated based on a set of user configurable priorities, a carousel is operated based on said evaluating, items are picked from the carousel in response to said operating, and a restocking package is filled with items held in said carousel in response to said operating. The method may additionally comprise filling the restocking package at a configurable time.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2006Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: McKesson Automation Inc.Inventors: Richard Lunak, Payal Lal, Gregory Hart, Manoj Wangu
-
Patent number: 8567752Abstract: Rotary valve actuators having partial stroke damping apparatus are described herein. An example rotary valve actuator described herein includes a housing containing a first piston and a second piston opposite the first piston, where the pistons move in opposite directions to rotate a shaft of the rotary valve actuator. A damper is operatively coupled to at least one of the first piston or the second piston to slow the movement of the piston for only a portion of a stroke of the rotary valve actuator.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Emerson Process Management, Valve Automation Inc.Inventors: Gerard ter Horst, Erwin van Dorp
-
Patent number: 8562271Abstract: A substrate processing system including a load port module configured to hold at least one substrate container for storing and transporting substrates, a substrate processing chamber, an isolatable transfer chamber capable of holding an isolated atmosphere therein configured to couple the substrate processing chamber and the load port module, and a substrate transport mounted at least partially within the transfer chamber having a drive section fixed to the transfer chamber and having a SCARA arm configured to support at least one substrate, the SCARA arm being configured to transport the at least one substrate between the at least one substrate container and the processing chamber with but one touch of the at least one substrate, wherein the SCARA arm comprises a first arm link, a second arm link, and at least one end effector serially pivotally coupled to each other, where the first and second arm links have unequal lengths.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2008Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Hofmeister, Alexander Krupyshev, Ulysses Gilchrist
-
Patent number: 8554365Abstract: A storage device, method, and computer program product is provided that includes a number of drawer-level display devices. Each drawer-level display device may be associated with and disposed on a particular drawer. Each drawer-level display device may be configured to present a user with medication information for a selected medication stored in the associated drawer. Thus, a user can have direct access to information required for completing a dispensing or restocking operation at the accessed drawer and does not need to refer back to the cabinet-level display device for information. The drawer-level display devices may be main drawer-level display devices, located near a leading end of each drawer, and/or secondary drawer-level display devices located at the pockets defined by the drawer. Thus, the information needed to complete a dispensing or restocking operation that is in progress can be found at the drawer-level, where the user's attention is already focused.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: McKesson Automation Inc.Inventors: Ryan Thomas, James Kolodziej, Pat Braun, Jyotsna Rao, Ben Tylenda, Shawn Greyshock
-
Publication number: 20130261791Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for dispensing items. In one embodiment, a magazine defining a channel adapted to store a plurality of items of substantially similar size in a uniform manner is provided. The magazine may also define (a) a rake element path adapted to allow one item of the plurality of items to be engaged and (b) a dispensing opening adapted to allow the engaged item to be urged out of the dispensing opening. In such an embodiment, a receptacle may also be provided. The receptacle may comprise a storage cavity and a rake element, wherein the rake element is adapted to (a) pass through the rake element path of the magazine to engage the item and (b) urge the item out of the dispensing opening of the magazine into the storage cavity of the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: MCKESSON AUTOMATION INC.Inventors: WILLIAM A. MEYER, PATRICK J. BRAUN
-
Publication number: 20130257592Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are provided for identifying which storage compartment of a plurality of storage compartments is moved from an inaccessible state to an accessible state. An apparatus according to example embodiments may include a plurality of storage compartments, each configured to transition from an inaccessible state to an accessible state. Each of the plurality of storage compartments may include a respective auditory generation device which may be configured to generate an audible tone in response to the associated storage compartment being transitioned from an inaccessible state to an accessible state. The apparatus of example embodiments may include a processing device configured to detect the audible tone and to identify the storage compartment transitioned from the inaccessible state to the accessible state in response to identifying the audible tone. The processing device may include a microphone configured to receive the audible tone.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: MCKESSON AUTOMATION INC.Inventors: Douglas Johnson, Darrin Roberts, Jim Fisher