Patents Assigned to Automation, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130205805Abstract: A refrigerator system or cryopump includes a first refrigerator having at least first and second stages, and a second refrigerator. A thermal coupling between the first stage of the first refrigerator and a cold end of the second refrigerator is restricted to maintain a temperature difference between the cold end of the second refrigerator and the first stage of the first refrigerator. The refrigerator system or cryopump also includes a radiation shield in thermal contact with the cold end of the second refrigerator, and a condensing surface, spaced from and surrounded by the radiation shield, and in thermal contact with a second stage, e.g., coldest stage, of the first refrigerator. The restricted thermal coupling can be configured to balance the cooling load on the two refrigerators.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2013Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.Inventor: Brooks Automation, Inc.
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Patent number: 8510476Abstract: A system for accessing data remotely from a network. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first network interface card permitting data transfer between a local network and an intermediate network; a second network interface card permitting data transfer between intermediate network and a remote network; and a module located within the intermediate network, through which all data transferring between the first network and the third network must pass. Information transmitted by the remote network may or may not be received and acted upon by the local network depending on a set of predetermined criteria applied by the intermediate network.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2002Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventor: Roger Eastvold
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Patent number: 8509938Abstract: A method for positioning substrates in a substrate processing apparatus having a substrate alignment device, a first substrate transport apparatus and a second substrate transport apparatus, includes calibrating the substrate alignment device with a motion of the first substrate transport apparatus, and calibrating a coordinate system of the second substrate transport apparatus with the substrate alignment device.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventor: Alexander G. Krupyshev
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Patent number: 8510402Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for supporting redundant network management. When the primary device (101, 103) fails, its Ethernet IP address is transferred or controlled by a backup Ethernet device. System information is provided to a network adapter so that programmable logic controllers are in agreement about the mode of operation. A central processing unit (201, 203) determines a calculated mode of operation from the operational statuses of the programmable logic controller and the mated programmable logic controller. The central processing unit provides an address indication (503) based on the calculated mode of operation and a selection indication (501) that is indicative of a selected address criterion. The corresponding network adapter determines the assigned network address from the selection indication and the address indication.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2008Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Schneider Automation Inc.Inventors: Steve Webster, Julien Duquesnay, Vibha Shahi
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Patent number: 8500132Abstract: A manual robotic tool changer provides a compact, lightweight means to manually selectively couple a robotic tool, such as a surgical tool, to a robot arm. The tool changer includes numerous safety features to prevent inadvertent decoupling of the robotic tool. These include a dual-button handle locking mechanism operative to lock the tool changer closed in the fully coupled position, and requiring simultaneous actuation of both of two latch buttons to unlock; a one-way clutch mechanism that prevents rotation of the coupling mechanism towards the decoupled position, unless the handle is actuated to unlock the tool changer; and a spring biasing the tool changer to an at least partially coupled state when no force is applied to the handle, thus requiring a positive force against the spring, moving the handle to a fully open position, to insert or remove a robotic tool.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: ATI Industrial Automation, Inc.Inventor: Daniel Allen Norton
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Patent number: 8500388Abstract: Modular wafer transport and handling facilities are combined in a variety of ways deliver greater levels of flexibility, utility, efficiency, and functionality in a vacuum semiconductor processing system. Various processing and other modules may be interconnected with tunnel-and-cart transportation systems to extend the distance and versatility of the vacuum environment. Other improvements such as bypass thermal adjusters, buffering aligners, batch processing, multifunction modules, low particle vents, cluster processing cells, and the like are incorporated to expand functionality and improve processing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2008Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Peter van der Meulen, Christopher C Kiley, Patrick D. Pannese, Raymond S. Ritter, Thomas A. Schaefer
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Patent number: 8494670Abstract: For application to analog, mixed-signal, and custom digital circuits, a system and method to extract circuit-specific process/environmental corners that is yield-aware and/or specification-aware. Simulation data from previous Monte Carlo-based verification actions can be re-used.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Solido Design Automation Inc.Inventors: Trent Lorne McConaghy, Jeffrey Dyck, Jiandong Ge
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Publication number: 20130181544Abstract: An emergency stop system for an autonomous mobile robot includes a base unit connected to the robot and an element engageable by a user extending from the base unit. The element is movably held by the base unit in an operation mode position. The base unit includes a mechanism for detecting the presence of the element in the operation mode position and triggering an emergency stop of the robot when the element is moved out of the operation mode position by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: HARVEST AUTOMATION, INC.Inventors: Todd Comins, Larry Gray, Joseph L. Jones, Clara Vu, Charles M. Grinnell
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Patent number: 8489221Abstract: A method and apparatus are set forth for controlling and actuator in a moving web manufacturing process. The method includes: (1) measuring a plurality of actuator profiles and in response generating nominal response models thereof; (2) generating a multivariable profile prediction based on the nominal response models; (3) generating a multivariable control target based at least one of the actuator profile; and (4) adjusting control of the actuator by minimizing error between the multivariable control target and the multivariable profile prediction.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2008Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Metso Automation Inc.Inventors: Seyhan Nuyan, Calvin Fu, Antti Heikkinen, Heikki Olavi Kettunen, Lari Markus Lahdensuu
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Patent number: 8474691Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a processor configured to at least perform or cause the apparatus to at least perform a number of functions. The functions include storing an order log for a fill order specifying a medication in a receptacle including an affixed label having a printed pattern of machine-readable dots or markings. The functions also include receiving a digitized signature, initials or marking handwritten on the label and captured by a digital pen based on the pattern printed on the label. The digital pen is registered to a user, and the signature/initials/marking reflects verification by the user that the medication in the receptacle is correct. Recording the events or activities also includes authenticating the user as having authority to verify the fill order based on the registration of the digital pen to the user, and when authenticated, recording the digitized signature/initials/marking in the order log.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: McKesson Automation Inc.Inventor: Joseph C. Schuck
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Patent number: 8478604Abstract: A closed loop medication use system and method includes selecting a medication to prescribe to a patient based on patient information, such as laboratory results, radiology results, and patient allergies, healthcare industry practices, patient-care site specific guidelines, and medication information. The selected medication is prescribed on an unverified prescription order that is then transcribed. Transcribing includes performing multiple crosschecks of the prescription order to real-time patient information, healthcare industry practices, and medication information to generate a verified prescription order. After transcribing, the appropriate dispensing method is determined for the prescription order and dispensed. The dispensed medication is administered after confirmation by the administering clinician of the right patient, right medication, right dosage, right route, and right time. The whole process of medication use described above is monitored continuously in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2003Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignees: McKesson Technologies Inc., McKesson Automation Inc.Inventors: Dwight Henderson, Richard Lunak, Eugene Markiewicz, Caren C Tobin
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Patent number: 8473533Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium, and method directly solves non-linear systems that have the HB Jacobian as the coefficient matrix. The direct solve method can be used to efficiently simulate non-linear circuits in RF or microwave applications. Additionally, the direct solve method can be applied to Fourier envelope applications. Furthermore, the direct solve method can be used together with preconditioners to provide a more efficient iterative solve technique.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Berkeley Design Automation, Inc.Inventors: Amit Mehrotra, Abhishek Somani
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Patent number: 8468676Abstract: A rotor assembly for mounting a rotor to a motor shaft having a rotor with a centrally positioned central bore, the diameter of which is slightly larger than a diameter of the motor shaft, a first stepped bore intersecting the central bore and being aligned along a first axis of the rotor, and a second stepped bore also intersecting the central bore and being aligned along a second axis of the rotor. A first cam fastener is disposed within the first stepped bore, and a second cam fastener is disposed within the second stepped bore. Upon rotating the first and second cam fasteners, they engage the motor shaft thereby securely clamping the rotor to the motor shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Avtron Industrial Automation, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth M. Kramer
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Patent number: 8473270Abstract: Software for controlling processes in a heterogeneous semiconductor manufacturing environment may include a wafer-centric database, a real-time scheduler using a neural network, and a graphical user interface displaying simulated operation of the system. These features may be employed alone or in combination to offer improved usability and computational efficiency for real time control and monitoring of a semiconductor manufacturing process. More generally, these techniques may be usefully employed in a variety of real time control systems, particularly systems requiring complex scheduling decisions or heterogeneous systems constructed of hardware from numerous independent vendors.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Patrick D. Pannese, Vinaya Kavathekar, Peter van der Meulen
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Patent number: 8459922Abstract: A substrate processing system including a housing for housing at least part of a processing device, at least one target affixed to the processing device, the processing device having a first processing device reference point in a known relationship with the at least one target, at least one transmitter located within the housing and configured to transmit an identification signal identifying the at least one transmitter to the at least one target and a controller operably connected to the at least one target and the at least one transmitter, the controller being configured to receive data signals, based on the identification signal, from one of the at least one target and the at least one transmitter and control an operational characteristic of the processing device, based on the data signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventor: Martin Hosek
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Publication number: 20130139662Abstract: A method, system and corresponding apparatus are provided for determining a perforation location on a blister card comprising at least one unit dose blister of medication. In particular, a data extraction operation with respect to a surface of the blister card may be performed and perforation location information defining a location of at least one perforation adjoining two unit dose blisters on the blister card may be determined based on the data extracted.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2012Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: MCKESSON AUTOMATION, INC.Inventor: McKesson Automation, Inc.
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Patent number: 8458621Abstract: An executable circuit design is used to generate waveforms, from which behaviors of the circuit are captured. The behaviors and various combinations thereof can then be saved in a database, along with descriptions and other metadata about them, thereby generating a behavioral index of the circuit design code. Behavioral indexing of circuit designs allows a user to maintain an indexed behavior database, track changes in behaviors as the circuit design's executable description evolves, and figure out how the executable description can be reused in different projects. When applied to digital design development, it facilities the current design and verification effort, as well as design reuse down the line.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Jasper Design Automation, Inc.Inventors: Kathryn Drews Kranen, Chung-Wah Norris Ip, Rajeev Kumar Ranjan, Georgia Penido Safe, Claudionor José Nunes Coelho, Yann Alain Antonioli
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Patent number: 8456304Abstract: A security system for detecting physical intrusion in a monitored area including a plurality of radio units arranged in a network around the monitored area to determine received signal strength and pass variations thereof through the radio units to a base station.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Intelligent Automation, Inc.Inventors: Eric van Doorn, Sendil Rangaswamy
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Patent number: 8453548Abstract: An apparatus for cutting unit dose blisters from a blister card is provided. The apparatus may include a blade, a guillotine head and a card holder. The guillotine head may be operatively coupled to the blade. The guillotine head may be configured to move the blade through a range of motion that intersects a plane of a platform on which the blister card is positionable for cutting. The card holder may be operatively coupled to the guillotine head to hold the blister card against the platform in advance of the blade being moved through the plane of the platform. The blade may be biased to maintain a surface of the blade in contact with a cutting base at least until the blade intersects the plane of the platform.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: McKesson Automation Inc.Inventor: Robert Jaynes
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Patent number: 8454293Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus having a station for loading and unloading substrates from the apparatus, includes an aperture closure for sealing a loading and unloading aperture of the station, a fluidic magazine door drive for removing a door of a substrate magazine and thus opening the substrate magazine and for operating the aperture closure to open the aperture, and sensor for mapping vertical locations of substrates mounted to the magazine door of the drive. The fluidic magazine door drive may include an encoder different from the sensor, the encoder being configured for determining the vertical location of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Ulysses Gilchrist, David R. Beaulieu, Peter F. Van der Meulen