Patents Examined by Brent A Fairbanks
  • Patent number: 10466187
    Abstract: Example systems and methods to optimize and integrate of thermal and structural analyses are described herein. An example method includes performing a thermal analysis of a component using a first mesh representing the component to produce a thermal distribution across the component. The first mesh has first nodes based on a first element size. The example method includes using a first mapping file to assign temperature values to second nodes of a second mesh representing the component based on the thermal distribution. The second nodes are based on a second element size different than the first element size. The example method also includes performing a structural analysis of the component using the second mesh and the assigned temperature values to produce gauge sizes for the component and using a second mapping file to assign gauge values to the first nodes of the first mesh based on the gauge sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Omid B. Nakhjavani, Mohammad Ali Heidari, Milan Stefanovic, Bradley A. Olmstead, Eric John Zimney, Naveena Mallikarjunaiah
  • Patent number: 10461519
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and identifying arcing are disclosed. A method of detecting arcing includes obtaining data indicative of voltage and data indicative of current, determining a waveform of a cycle of a primary load current according to the data indicative of current, determining at least one noise signal according to the determined waveform of a cycle of the primary load current and the data indicative of current, determining a probability density of the noise signal according to a time window, and comparing the probability density of the noise signal with at least one model probability density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary Michael Miller
  • Patent number: 10444406
    Abstract: A method for predicting short-term cloud coverage includes a computer calculating an estimated cloud velocity field at a current time value based on sky images. The computer determines a segmented cloud model based on the sky images, a future sun location corresponding to a future time value, and sun pixel locations at the future time value based on the future sun location. Next, the computer applies a back-propagation algorithm to the sun pixel locations using the estimated cloud velocity field to yield propagated sun pixel locations corresponding to a previous time value. Then, the computer predicts cloud coverage for the future sun location based on the propagated sun pixel locations and the segmented cloud model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Shanhui Sun, Jan Ernst, Archana Sapkota, Eberhard Ritzhaupt-Kleissl, Jeremy Ralph Wiles, Terrence Chen
  • Patent number: 10429182
    Abstract: Provided is a data processing method for determining rotation by a marker device of a medical tracking system about its mount. The data processing method includes acquiring a first marker device position dataset which represents a position of the marker device before a movement of the marker device. A second marker device position dataset is acquired which represents the position of the marker device after a movement of the marker device. A marker device displacement dataset is calculated, which represents the displacement of the marker device, from the first and second marker device position datasets. At least one axis of rotation of the marker device displacement dataset is calculated. A determination is made whether or not the marker device is rotated about its mount from the position of the at least one axis of rotation relative to the marker device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Jorg Uhde, Robert Essenreiter
  • Patent number: 10392922
    Abstract: A measure of inter-reservoir cross flow rate between adjacent reservoir layers which are productive of hydrocarbons is determined. With passage of time, pressure differentials between reservoir layers can grow due to continuous production from an active layer. In addition, the flow area between an active layer and adjacent layers can grow with time for a given reservoir system. These changing pressure and flow conditions with time can contribute to substantial amounts of cross flow rates, which need to be accounted for when characterizing the commercial producibility of the active layer. The inter-reservoir cross flow rate is based on a measure of specific permeability and of cross flow rate within a reservoir layer which is obtained from pressure transient tests of the reservoir formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Noor M. Anisur Rahman, Hasan A. Nooruddin
  • Patent number: 10385379
    Abstract: An apparatus that identifies the type of a test cell based on a result obtained by performing mass spectrometry on the test cell includes a higher-level database, which contains mass lists that each list ion mass values of constituent components of a known cell, and a lower-level database, which contains partial mass lists that each list only strain-specific ion mass values out of the ion mass values. The higher-level database is first searched for a test mass list which is created from the result of the mass spectrometry performed on the test cell, and based on a result of the search, an organism species to be searched in the following search operation is determined. Mass values common to the organism species are subsequently deleted from the mass list for the test cell, and the mass list having undergone the deletion operation is used to search the lower-level database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki Ojima, Koretsugu Ogata, Keisuke Shima, Hiroto Tamura, Akifumi Hosoda, Yudai Hotta
  • Patent number: 10378892
    Abstract: A system includes one or more memory devices operable to store surface profile data and a processor operable to execute logic. The processor accesses the surface profile data for a first surface of a first component and a second surface of a second component, and determines, based at least in part on the surface profile data for the first and second surfaces, a best-fit between the first and second surfaces. The processor determines a first distance from a first edge-of-part point on the first surface to the best-fit, and a second distance from a second edge-of-part point on the second surface to the best-fit. The processor determines a flushness between the first surface and the second surface based at least in part on the first and second distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Delaune, William B. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 10371600
    Abstract: An on-board diagnostic for a particle filter of a vehicle exhaust system records repeating data about flow and pressure around the particle filter. Data is recorded in virtual data bins having successive thresholds or filters within a numerical scale. Each data point is typically recorded in several bins to permit a rapid calculation of averaged data for use in the diagnostic. Sensitivity of less frequently recorded data is preserved, while giving quickly delivery of a result from the diagnostic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: Brian Varney
  • Patent number: 10371745
    Abstract: To include in a device a controller to control operation of the device in a normal-operation mode and in a test mode for performing one or more tests including an accelerated aging test, a temperature sensor to measure operating temperature of the device, and an overheat protection circuit to prevent overheating of the memory device during the test mode. With this overheat protection circuit, a device may undergo an efficient and reliable accelerated aging test with reduced or non-existent, possibility of suffering an overheat damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronny Schneider, Martin Brox, Juan-Antonio Ocon-Garrido
  • Patent number: 10345157
    Abstract: An on-chip temperature sensing device is disclosed. The disclosed on-chip temperature sensing device is capable of sensing an environmental temperature of the chip. The device comprises a reference generating circuit, a first oscillator, a second oscillator, and an arithmetic logic unit. The reference generating circuit is configured to generate a first control voltage to control the first oscillator and the second oscillator. The bias current of the first oscillator and the bias current of the second oscillator are both controlled by the first control voltage so that the bias current of the first oscillator is directly proportional the bias current of the second oscillator regardless the environmental temperature. The first oscillator generates a first oscillation signal, while the second oscillator generates a second oscillation signal. The arithmetic logic unit may calculate the environmental temperature according to the first oscillation signal and the second oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SILICON INTEGRATED SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Song-Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 10338111
    Abstract: In a method, operation of an electric power system which has a power utility automation system (1981-1984, 1991-1994) is monitored. The power utility automation system (1981-1984, 1991-1994) comprises a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) (1981-1984, 1991-1994) communicating via a communication network. During operation of the electric power system, properties of the electric power system are monitored, the monitored properties comprising monitored data messages which are transmitted by the plurality of IEDs (1981-1984, 1991-1994) over the communication network. The monitored data messages are evaluated based on configuration information for the power utility automation system (1981-1984, 1991-1994) to detect a critical event. An alert signal is generated in response to detection of the critical event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Omicron Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Klien, Cristian Marinescu
  • Patent number: 10317569
    Abstract: A new gridding method is disclosed for forward stratigraphic modeling that allows for syndepositional and/or postdepositional fault movement. The new gridding algorithm may represent both the lateral move of structure block, and provide efficiency that is comparable to the structured grid for forward stratigraphy model accessing previous deposited sediments stored in the grid. Embodiments of the disclosed methods allow for structural moves by performing a set of simple operations on the grid. The operations are generally simple, and do not change the overall topology of the grid. Therefore the operation can be easily repeated and the overall topological structure of the grid remains largely unchanged for simple access by the forward stratigraphic model. Further details and advantages of various embodiments of the method are described in more herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Sun, Martin Perlmutter, Michael James Pyrcz, Morgan Sullivan, Ashley Harris
  • Patent number: 10312067
    Abstract: If spatial measurement point intervals in imaging mass analysis data of two samples to be compared are different and the degrees of spatial distribution spreading of substances are compared, one of the data is defined as a reference, the measurement point intervals in the other of the data are redefined so as to be equalized to the reference, and a mass spectrum at each virtual measurement point set as a result of the redefinition is obtained through interpolation or extrapolation based on a mass spectrum at an actual measurement points. If the arrays of the m/z values of mass spectra are different for each sample, the m/z value positions of the mass spectrum in one of the data are defined as a reference, and the intensity values corresponding to the reference m/z values are obtained through interpolation or extrapolation for the mass spectrum of the other of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Ikegami, Shigeki Kajihara
  • Patent number: 10310025
    Abstract: A residual capacity calculation apparatus for a battery includes a current detection device to detect a charge/discharge current of the battery and a voltage detection device to detect an open circuit voltage of the battery, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate a first residual capacity based on an integrated value of the charge/discharge current of the battery, calculate a second residual capacity based on the open circuit voltage of the battery, determine a blend rate of the second residual capacity based on a deviation between the first residual capacity and the second residual capacity, calculate a post-combination residual capacity by subjecting the first residual capacity and the second residual capacity to weighted combination with use of the blend rate, and increase the blend rate as the deviation between the first residual capacity and the second residual capacity increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Soga, Atsushi Takano
  • Patent number: 10295329
    Abstract: A method and system are presented for monitoring measurement of parameters of patterned structures based on a predetermined fitting model. The method comprises: (a) providing data indicative of measurements in at least one patterned structure; and (b) applying at least one selected verification mode to said data indicative of measurements, said at least one verification mode comprising: I) analyzing the data based on at least one predetermined factor and classifying the corresponding measurement result as acceptable or unacceptable, II) analyzing the data corresponding to the unacceptable measurement results and determining whether one or more of the measurements providing said unacceptable result are to be disregarded, or whether one or more parameters of the predetermined fitting model are to be modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
    Inventors: Boaz Brill, Boris Sherman, Igor Turovets
  • Patent number: 10288651
    Abstract: An observed space having energy consuming devices with conservation mechanisms, algorithms, techniques, or applications. The devices having their conservation applications engaged may be a normal mode. When the conservation applications are disengaged, the devices may be in a reference mode. An amount of energy consumption by the devices in the normal mode may be compared with an amount of energy consumption by the devices in the reference mode to determine an energy conservation effectiveness of the devices in the observed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Philipp A. Roosli, Michael Asmussen, Michael D. Sobanko
  • Patent number: 10288693
    Abstract: A number of variations include a method, which may include using at least a segment of voltage-based Battery State Estimation data, and using real-time linear regression, which may be a method of estimating future behavior of a system based on current and previous data points, to provide a robust and fast-adapting impedance response approximator. Linear regression may be performed by forming an RC circuit which is “equivalent” to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data and processing the runtime values of that RC circuit using any number of known real-time linear regression algorithms including, but not limited, to a weighted recursive least squares (WRLS), Kalman filter or other means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Baker, Mark W. Verbrugge, Patrick Frost, Brian J. Koch, Charles W. Wampler, II, Patricia M. Laskowsky
  • Patent number: 10267649
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for calculating azimuth, and a method and an apparatus for determining an offset from geomagnetic field are provided. An apparatus for calculating azimuth includes a magnetic sensor configured to sense magnetic field, a data selecting unit configured to select offset data items, an offset calculating unit configured to calculate an offset by a geometrical method that uses the selected offset data items, and an azimuth calculating unit configured to calculate an azimuth by using the calculated offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: MagnaChip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Ho Kim, Ki Seok Cho
  • Patent number: 10001436
    Abstract: A method for in-situ measuring the corrosion rate of a corroding site on an underground metal structure buried in soil, the structure being under cathodic protection. The structure-to-soil potential at varying depths above the pipeline is measured to a depth above, but not reaching the structure. These measurements are extrapolated to obtain data representing the structure-to-soil potential at the surface of the structure under the probe. The gradient of the electrical potential at this surface is used to calculate the corrosion rate of the defect. A special probe may be used to obtain the potential measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pavan K. Shukla, Biswajit Dasgupta
  • Patent number: 9933492
    Abstract: A method for determining a safe and economic voltage operating range dependent on current density and/or a specific energy consumption operating range of a cell element of an electrolyser. A method for improving voltage results and/or specific energy consumption results, in which the voltage operating range and/or specific energy consumption operating range is determined depending on an operating parameter associated with the cell element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP ELECTROLYSIS GmbH
    Inventors: Randolf Kiefer, Ulf-Steffen Baeumer, Dietmar Wagner, Michael Streitboerger