Patents Assigned to Siemens Industry, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10020132
    Abstract: A terminal barrier for covering an electrical terminal of an electrical switching apparatus having a housing is provided. The terminal barrier comprises a flexible portion that is configured to flexibly bend away from a rest position after the terminal barrier is installed. The terminal barrier further comprises a wall portion configured to surround the electrical terminal to block any access to the electrical terminal from one or more sides except an access for installation of a service line wire in the electrical terminal. The terminal barrier further comprises a snap portion for snapping in place around the electrical terminal to removably attach the terminal barrier to the housing of the electrical switching apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Gustavo Cortes Rico
  • Patent number: 10017197
    Abstract: A first crossing predictor uses signals from a pair to spaced apart receivers, which may be located on opposite sides of a transmitter, to determine on which side of a crossing an approaching train is located. If the first predictor upstream with respect to the approaching train, the first predictor transmits signals to instruct a downstream adjacent predictor to activate its warning device at a constant warning time (referred to as DAXing).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Randy M. O'Dell
  • Patent number: 10019898
    Abstract: A connected traffic monitoring system comprises at least one Roadside Unit (RSU) and a traffic signal controller. The roadside unit is configured to transmit wireless signals, receive corresponding responses from a first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle and a second OBU-equipped vehicle and send data from the first OBU-equipped vehicle and the second OBU-equipped vehicle to the traffic signal controller. The traffic signal controller to calculate a distance between the first Onboard Unit (OBU)-equipped vehicle and the second OBU-equipped vehicle in a vehicle queue associated with a traffic light signal on an intersection, determine the queue length of the vehicle queue, determine whether the distance between the first OBU-equipped vehicle and the second OBU-equipped vehicle is greater than a vehicle length and if the distance is determined greater than the vehicle length, detect at least one non-OBU-equipped vehicle stopped in the vehicle queue behind the first OBU-equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: David Dodd Miller
  • Patent number: 10021354
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station such as a smart Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) with an integrated camera is provided. A networked on-charging station camera unit disposed either internally to the smart EVSE or connected externally on the smart EVSE. The camera unit includes at least one of a video camera and a still image camera. A communication module is coupled to the camera unit to communicate acquired camera data over a camera connection to a server or to a mobile device of a user over one or more public networks, one or more private networks, or a combination of one or more public networks and one or more private networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Harry Price Haas
  • Patent number: 10016789
    Abstract: A sorting system and method. A method includes receiving a plurality of items to be sorted. The method includes assigning a sort criterion to each of a plurality of bins and measuring and storing at least a thickness of each of the items. The method includes assigning each of the items to a bin based on the sort criterion assigned to the respective bins. The method includes transporting each of the items to a respective bin based on the assignments. The method includes determining that the items being transported to a first bin will cause the first bin to reach a capacity threshold based on the stored thicknesses or volume of the items being transported to the first bin. The method includes, in response to determining that the items being transported to the first bin will cause the first bin to reach the capacity threshold, assigning the first criterion to a second bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Tamas Eger
  • Patent number: 10017196
    Abstract: A communication system may wirelessly receive. A crossing controller may check the message to determine whether the message is a valid vital communication. In response to determining the message is the valid vital communication, the crossing controller may deactivate at least one crossing traffic control element. While the at least one crossing traffic control element is deactivated, the crossing controller may activate the at least one crossing traffic control element in response to receiving a command to activate the at least one crossing traffic control element at the communication system. In response to determining the message is not the valid vital communication, the crossing controller may activate the at least one crossing traffic control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Brian Joseph Hogan
  • Patent number: 10007240
    Abstract: Management systems, methods, and mediums are provided. A method includes monitoring a value of a data point associated with a device in an automation system using a set of pairs of event enrollment objects and notification class objects configured to generate and communicate an alarm according to a first protocol. Each of the pairs of objects corresponds to one of a set of offsets defined according to a second protocol. The method also includes writing property values of the pairs of objects for different alarm monitoring modes using a set of command objects. Additionally, the method includes generating and communicating, in response to detecting the value for the data point meeting conditions in at least one of the event enrollment objects, an alarm according to a notification class object paired with the at least one event enrollment object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno P. Landou, Thomas Rule
  • Patent number: 9994243
    Abstract: An end of train device suitable of use on a railroad vehicle includes an enclosure, and a plurality of electronic components including one or more displays positioned inside the enclosure, the one or more displays displaying information provided by the end of train device, wherein the enclosure comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, and wherein the top portion comprises a transparent dome, the information displayed by the one or more displays being visible from an outside of the enclosure through the transparent dome of the top portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Worm, Frank G. Armsworthy
  • Patent number: 9997956
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, apparatus, and methods for power distribution during islanding conditions. Embodiments include power generating resources operating within a control area; power consuming loads; a power transmission network coupling the resources to the loads; and an energy management system in communication with the resources and configured to control operation of the resources within the control area. The energy management system is operative to divide the control area into a plurality of isolation areas in response to detecting that isolation areas have occurred within the control area, assign at least one of the resources to each of the isolation areas, disable operation of the control area, enable each of the isolation areas to operate as an island having automatic gain control, balance a generation level and load level for each isolation area, and use load frequency control to stabilize operation of each isolation area. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Dingguo Chen
  • Patent number: 9995594
    Abstract: A facility is connected to an electricity utility and includes a plurality of control computer controlled devices and a plurality of devices that is uncontrolled by control computers. An operational status of each of the control computer controlled devices is monitored by a server. The facility has a power meter that provides data representing actual power consumption to the server which is connected via a network to the control computer. The server is configured to determine power consumption of each device in the plurality of controlled devices from operational status data and power consumption data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Ayman Fawaz, Ned Cox
  • Patent number: 9995640
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, which can comprise a thermocouple input module. The thermocouple input module can be adapted to determine one or more calibration factors. The thermocouple input module can be adapted to store the calibration factors. The thermocouple input module can be adapted to apply the calibration factors to an incoming thermocouple voltage value to obtain an adjusted thermocouple voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Mowry, Robert Alan Weddle
  • Patent number: 9987665
    Abstract: A parcel processing system and method. A method includes inducting a plurality of parcels in a non-machinable parcel stream by a non-machinable parcel processing system. The method includes recording physical characteristics of each of the parcels. The method includes comparing the recorded physical characteristics of each parcel to machinable requirements. The method includes identifying machinable parcels based on the comparison. The method includes sorting the identified machinable parcels to an automation discharge. The method includes transporting all non-machinable parcels to workstations, by the non-machinable parcel processing system, for manual processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: John M. Zatopek, Abdul Hamid Salemizadeh
  • Patent number: 9991611
    Abstract: A device is provided for use with an electrical apparatus. The device comprises a wiring lug having a side and a base configured to receive a mounting screw. The wiring lug is configured to connect with a wire. The device further comprises a shaped spring configured to apply a force to a fuse for maintaining an electrical connection between the fuse and the wiring lug thus eliminating a separate electrical bus part that in a typical installation would pass a current from a conductive fuse clip to the wiring lug. The shaped spring provides a fuse clip with one side defined by the shaped spring and other side defined by the side of the wiring lug to contact a ferrule on the fuse or contact a blade extending from the ferrule on the fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jameson, Dan A. Fisher, Michael J. Holland
  • Publication number: 20180146369
    Abstract: Credentialing systems, methods, and mediums. A method includes sending, by a mobile device and over a network to an installed device, a request for access to the installed device. The method includes receiving, in response to the request, an encrypted token from the installed device. The method includes performing an authentication process with a credentialing server using the token, wherein the credentialing server decrypts the token. The method includes receiving, from the credentialing server, a validation key corresponding to the installed device. The method includes communicating, by the mobile device, with the installed device using the validation key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Allen Kennedy, JR.
  • Patent number: 9969410
    Abstract: A railway safety critical application system substitutes commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and/or software for railway-domain specific product components, yet is validated to conform to railway safety critical system failure-free standards. The safety critical system uses a pair of tasks executed on a controller of a COTS personal computer or within a virtual environment with asymmetric communications capability. Both tasks receive and verify safety critical systems input message data and security code integrity and separately generate output data responsive to the input message. The first task has sole capability to send complete safety critical system output messages, but only the second task has the capability of generating the output security code. A failure of any of systems hardware, software or processing capability results failure to transmit a safety critical system output message or an output message that cannot be verified by other safety critical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Claus Weber, Zoltan Egel
  • Publication number: 20180129232
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving energy efficiency in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system using a control device and a controllable component are provided. A climate control system for a facility includes a heating/venting/air-conditioning (HVAC) system, at least one controllable component configured to adjust environmental conditions automatically to minimize energy usage, a control panel, and a control device, wherein the control device displays data from the climate control system and includes a user interface through which a user can control the climate control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hriljac, Shaun Finnerty
  • Patent number: 9964932
    Abstract: Automation systems, methods, and mediums. A method includes identifying a first amount of energy consumed by a plurality of devices in a building during a first period of time while a first device in the plurality of devices is in a first state to form a first baseline. The method includes identifying a second amount of energy consumed by the plurality of devices during a second period of time while the first device is in a second state. Additionally, the method includes generating an estimated energy consumption of the first device based on a difference between the first baseline and the second amount of energy consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyrell Craig Vaughn, Colin Bester
  • Patent number: 9956972
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the dynamic train-to-rail shunting performance of a train as it is moving along the rails of a railroad track. The systems and methods use portable equipment temporarily installed at a site where it is desired to test the shunting of one or more trains or the electrical equipment installed at the track. The systems and method use sensor plates and a high speed recording system to simultaneously capture measured train-to-rail shunting characteristics and the positioning of a train's axles and any rail conditions impacting the measurements. The captured information can be used to fine tune the train, the electrical equipment installed at the track and/or to design new devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Brian Harp
  • Patent number: 9941699
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatus for controlling an energy delivery system including providing an energy management system (EMS) having an automatic generation control (AGC) system including a load frequency control (LFC) module; executing two or more performance standard functions implemented within the LFC module using input data regarding the energy delivery system, wherein at least one of the performance standard functions is defined to be dependent upon another of the performance standard functions; and implementing corrections to the operation of the energy delivery system based upon solution results of executing the performance standard functions. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Dingguo Chen, Michael E. York
  • Patent number: 9934658
    Abstract: Building safety systems, methods, and mediums are provided. A method includes receiving a voice input by the building safety system. The method includes receiving voice data produced by a speech recognition process performed on the voice input. The method includes determining a response to the voice input based on the voice data. The method includes producing the response by the building safety system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Leslie A. Field