Patents Examined by Bethew B. Jennings
  • Patent number: 6178362
    Abstract: An energy and facilities management system and method is provided for energy users with large physical plants which provides these energy users with a comprehensive understanding of the energy consumption of their physical plant and with the ability to manage it in a way that makes sense for their business. The system may include three dimensional facilities navigation tools, powerfill energy consumption analysis processes, TCP/IP communication capabilities and a World Wide Web (WWW)-based interface. The system also includes a real-time data retrieval and dissemination process and system which permits real-time energy data to be communicated within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Silicon Energy Corp.
    Inventors: John W. Woolard, Dale M. Fong, Patrick L. Dell'Era, Keith E. Gipson
  • Patent number: 6134481
    Abstract: A method of effecting communication in a computer system between off-chip circuitry and on-chip circuitry is disclosed, according to a message protocol in which four messages can be formulated: a data write request; a data read request; a response message; and a diagnostic message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics Limited
    Inventor: Robert Warren
  • Patent number: 6101422
    Abstract: A process controller has a processor with an activation controller, an transaction controller and a batch processor. The transaction controller operates in communication with a machine interface for controlling operations of a plant device for overall job sequencing and individual job control. There is automatic communication of various polling and return signals to ensure correct sequencing of mixing operations. The activation controller helps to ensure that the processor controller is configured at all times for correct operation at a particular materials distribution location. The activation controller 2(b) creates a control file and carries out verification operations automatically to ensure that the initially sorted data is correct. The batch processor operates with parallel control and transaction transmission files which are automatically transmitted to a host computer for consolidation. Control data in both the control and transaction transmission files ensure data integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Dawnlawn Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Furlong
  • Patent number: 6097990
    Abstract: An input device by which a character or symbol is retrieved and determined using an irreducible minimum number of numeric keys 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 in an address reference table of an information exchange code main memory. Ten bits of data corresponding to a column index and ten bits of data corresponding to a row index are alternately inputted through an input keyboard. When a first arbitrary numeral is inputted, a column of characters corresponding to the input numeral is held in an ON state, and is simultaneously displayed on a selected character confirmation display. When a second arbitrary numeral is inputted, a row of characters corresponding to the input numeral is selected, and a single character corresponding to the selected column and row is placed in an ON state, and all other characters are placed in an OFF state. This input device is mounted on a camera, and a bitmap display of a line of characters is provided on a press plate of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Hitoshi Takekasa
  • Patent number: 6088622
    Abstract: Monitoring apparatus is provided for monitoring an on-going input to detect and report events of a predetermined type as defined by a set of criteria stored by the apparatus. Detected events are reported in a report stream the data rate of which increases with the number of such events. The data rate of the report stream is regulated to lie within upper and lower bounds by changing the selectivity of the set of event-selection criteria. This changing of the selectivity of the critera is effected in such a manner that the events detected with more selective criteria constitute a subset of the events that would have been detected with a less selective criteria. In a preferred embodiment, changing the criteria selectivity is done by changing the length of a bit mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Christopher James Dollin, Patrick Goldsack
  • Patent number: 6035247
    Abstract: A communication module of a controller for outputting a command relating to an operation and a monitor for auxiliaries to be operated and a communication module of a switch gear for generating information relating to a protection and an interlock for the auxiliaries to be operated are connected through a serial transmission cable wires. Each of the switch gears is connected each other through a serial transmission cable wires. By controlling a CPU in the switch gear, an activation of the auxiliaries to be protected which are connected to a power circuit is commanded and then the protection operation and the interlock operation for the auxiliaries to be operated are carried out. A small scale of the apparatus can be attained and the wiring cables can be lessened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Sugihara, Masayuki Fukai, Akio Ito, Katsuhito Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6029096
    Abstract: This invention relates to the stepwise layer-by-layer formation of a three-dimensional object through application of the principles of stereolithography and to the automatic detection of surface features of each layer of a three-dimensional object to manufacture parts more reliably, more accurately and more quickly. Automatic detection of trapped volume regions and size of solidified cross-sectional regions are disclosed. Automatic selection of recoating styles is made based on(1) the detected regions, (2) empirically or otherwise determined optimum recoating styles for different types of regions, and (3) a look-up table, other correlation system, or processor for associating recoating style information with laminae containing particular identified regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris R. Manners, Dennis R. Smalley