Patents Assigned to Automation, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20090177328
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method comprising a plurality of activities comprising, for a shalt of an electric motor, the shaft comprising a runout sensing area: determining an electrical runout value for the runout sensing area; rotating the shaft; and/or heating the runout sensing area of the shaft sufficient to reduce the electrical runout value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: William Finley, Mark Hodowanec
  • Publication number: 20090174516
    Abstract: A signal isolating transformer may be arranged such that a first coil of the signal isolating transformer is located in a medium voltage compartment and a second coil of the signal isolating transformer is located external to the medium voltage compartment. The transformer spans an opening defined by a grounded wall to isolate faults in the medium voltage compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS ENERGY & AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Albert Roc, Peter Willard Hammond
  • Publication number: 20090174508
    Abstract: A circuit breaker and method includes a mechanical pole moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position to open an electrical connection between a pair of electrical contacts. An electronic tripping device is configured to respond to a sensor signal. The sensor signal is output from a condition sensor wherein upon receiving the sensor signal the electronic tripping device trips the mechanical pole into the unlatched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell T. Watford, Kevin Miller
  • Patent number: 7555825
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a rotating machine assembly comprising a rotor machine assembly including a shaft, a plurality of laminations shrink fit around the circumference of the shaft, and weights affixed therebetween the laminations for balancing the rotating machine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Hodowanec, Rajendra V. Mistry
  • Patent number: 7555974
    Abstract: A spindle liner including an axial sleeve having an axial length and an inner bore for receiving a stock piece is provided. The spindle liner further includes fins extending radially outward from the axial sleeve for supporting the axial sleeve within a spindle. Each fin extends along the axial length of the spindle liner. The spindle liner may be extruded from a high density material such as high density polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or nylon and molybdenum disulfide. The spindle liner may further include an retaining flange attached to a distal end of the spindle liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Haas Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Nunes, Curt Gelderman, William Tandrow, Nicholas M. Rocksvold
  • Patent number: 7558651
    Abstract: A dynamically configurable electrical distribution system is provided for selectively connecting an electrical power source to load devices. The system comprises an electrical distribution panel and a plurality of switching devices mounted in the panel each electrically connected between an electrical power source and an associated load device for selectively delivering electrical power to the associated load device. A control system is mounted to the panel for controlling operation of the switching devices. The control system comprises a programmed controller for commanding operation of the switching devices. A memory stores configuration information relating to operation of the switching devices. The control system further comprises a user interface device. The program controller is programmed to implement a configuration routine enabling a user to define operation of the switching devices using the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: John DeBoer, Seshagiri R Marellapudi, Ravikumar Balasubramaniam, Scott Knarich
  • Publication number: 20090168806
    Abstract: Each device in an industrial automation system network or other network may have its own associated one or more performance characteristics, such as response time and/or reset time of the network device. Data may be stored representing a plurality of performance characteristics each associated with a different one of a plurality of devices in the network including a first device and a second device. The stored data may be retrieved, representing the performance characteristic of the second device. The first device may communicate over the network with the second device in accordance with the performance characteristic of the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Van de Steeg, Richard A. Blair, Kenneth S. Lee
  • Publication number: 20090168643
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides a system and method for fault isolation and auto-recovery in chained loop or ring networking systems (103). According to aspects of the method and the associated path-selection algorithms described, fault isolation and auto-recovery operations can be handled locally on each node on a loop and the overall fault recovery time under a link failure condition can be minimized. In addition, the method allows for auto-recovery operations that are transparent to the rest of network and to remote hosts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Shaozheng Steven Jin, William LeRette
  • Publication number: 20090172193
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, systems, and methods for supporting cable redundancy in a network connecting a network controller (101) and an I/O device (109) (an adapter). An adapter includes a first port (407) and a second port (409) for receiving the same messages from a scanner (301) over a first and second transmission media (353, 355), respectively. A connection manager module (423) instructs a switching module (419) to direct the output data contained in the first message to a data structure (421) when the first transmission medium is operational and to direct the output data contained in the second message to the data structure when the first transmission medium is non-operational. Also, the adapter formats a message from input data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER AUTOMATION INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Lee
  • Publication number: 20090172223
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides a system and method for distributing and applying a configuration file from a master device (102) to a slave device (104) in a distributed control system (100). According to aspects of the invention, a configuration file is saved at a master device (102) and distributed to the slave device (104) via the data payload of a fieldbus protocol, such as the CANopen protocol. Aspects of the present invention may be used to further configure an I/O island or sub-network (108) that is attached to the slave device (104). Further aspects of the present invention may be used to repair or replace failed devices in a distributed control system (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Schneider Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Lee, Richard A. Blair, Nitin Dhayagude, Kerry Van de Steeg, Heinz Schaffner
  • Patent number: 7555737
    Abstract: For accomplishing a circuit design, a first physical design is implemented according to a first netlist to obtain a first physical layout of a circuit. The first physical layout of the circuit is processed to obtain a first timing data. The first timing data is then inputted for timing verification of the first netlist. If the first netlist does not pass the verification, the first netlist is modified into a second netlist, while defining a modified portion of the netlist. Then, the modified portion of netlist is processed to obtain a second timing data, and the second timing data is used to overwrite a part of the first timing data. The first physical design is modified into a second physical design according to the second netlist only when the second netlist with the first timing data overwritten by the second timing data passes the timing verification, thereby improving time efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Dorado Design Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsien Ming Liu, Chien Jung Hsin, Jun Jyeh Hsiao, Sheng Chun Lee, Chun Wei Lo
  • Patent number: 7554072
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for amplifying the signal of a photodiode are provided. The exemplary system may have a photodiode with an amplifier. The amplifier may have an amplifier inverting input, an amplifier non-inverting input, and an amplifier output. A photodiode of the system may have a photodiode anode electrically connected with the amplifier inverting input and a photodiode cathode electrically connected with the amplifier non-inverting input. A gain resistor of the system may couple the amplifier inverting input with the amplifier output. The system may also have a fixed voltage reference electrically connected with the photodiode cathode and the amplifier non-inverting output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7554804
    Abstract: An electronic module. The electronic module includes a chassis, a plurality of capacitors, a plurality of bus bars, and a heat sink. The chassis includes a first end and a second end. The first end is opposite the second end. The capacitors are positioned within the chassis, and at least one of the capacitors is proximate the first end. The bus bars are positioned within the chassis proximate the second end. The heat sink is positioned between the capacitors and the bus bars. The capacitors, the heat sink and the bus bars are positioned such that when an airflow enters the chassis at the first end, a portion of the airflow sequentially comes in contact with the capacitors, the heat sink, and the bus bars before exiting at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Kunkle
  • Patent number: 7547174
    Abstract: A method for sorting mail to a case having a plurality of slots is described, wherein each slot corresponds to a destination. The method includes steps of loading a mail piece to be sorted into a delivery robot, determining for the mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to, moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with an open end of the destination slot, inserting the mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot, and returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby the cycle may be repeated. Such a method, when using a large number of robots moving along a common rail system, can sort a large volume of mail in carrier delivery order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Pippin, Floyd W. Worth, II, Dale E. Redford, Ottmar K. Kechel, George R. Mondie, Gerald A. Isaacs
  • Publication number: 20090146665
    Abstract: Shields for feedthrough pin insulators of a hot cathode ionization gauge are provided to increase the operational lifetime of the ionization gauge in harmful process environments. Various shield materials, designs, and configurations may be employed depending on the gauge design and other factors. In one embodiment, the shields may include apertures through which to insert feedthrough pins and spacers to provide an optimal distance between the shields and the feedthrough pin insulators before the shields are attached to the gauge. The shields may further include tabs used to attach the shields to components of the gauge, such as the gauge's feedthrough pins. Through use of example embodiments of the insulator shields, the life of the ionization gauge is extended by preventing gaseous products from a process in a vacuum chamber or material sputtered from the ionization gauge from depositing on the feedthrough pin insulators and causing electrical leakage from the gauge's electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Knott
  • Patent number: 7546225
    Abstract: Methods and systems for electronics assembly system consultation and sales build upon an approach to modeling and simulation of such systems in which the system is modeled at a preselected level of abstraction, which in the preferred embodiment of the invention is the material flow level of abstraction. Models capable of producing accurate results, but that avoid predicting system events at too low a level of detail, in turn permit the generation of configuration options for a customer, along with substantiated performance predictions, within a comparatively short period of time, one that permits various assembly system configurations to be proposed and evaluated within the course of a particular customer visit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuan Nguyen, Anthony Peter Duck, Ian Rawles, Thomas Mair, Robert Gray
  • Publication number: 20090140871
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a fault detection system, which can comprise a circuit breaker that is adapted to protect an electrical circuit. The circuit breaker can comprise a screen adapted to render a user interface. The user interface can comprise an arc fault detection circuit status indicator indicative of an automatic detection of an electrical circuit arc fault by the circuit breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Solomon R. Titus
  • Publication number: 20090139913
    Abstract: A postal cart according to the invention includes a base on wheels and a support frame mounted on the base. An upper shelf and a lower shelf are mounted at the top and bottom of the frame and accessible from a front side of the cart. A series of rectangular compartments are accessible from the front side of the cart, each compartment configured for storage of one postal tray filled with mail, but insufficiently wide to store more than one such postal tray side by side in the same compartment. A number of pull out sliding shelves are mounted along the bottom of no more than about half of the compartments, the remaining compartments being free of the sliding shelves. The compartments are configured to fit one tray in each. The vertical density of the compartments is greater than would be possible if a sliding shelf were disposed in all of the compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS ENERGY & AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Pippin, Floyd W. Worth
  • Publication number: 20090134741
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: AVTRON INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20090133436
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are found in a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a fluid inlet manifold, a fluid outlet manifold, a plurality of heat transfer channels configured to communicate with the fluid inlet manifold and the fluid outlet manifold, and packing located within the fluid inlet manifold. Further aspects of the invention are found in a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor and at least one heat exchanger coupled to the compressor. The at least one heat exchanger includes a header, packing located in the header, and a heat transfer channel. The heat transfer channel is configured to receive fluid passing through the header and the packing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Boiarski, Oleg Podtcherniaev, Kevin P. Flynn