Patents Examined by Carlos Ortiz Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9964943
    Abstract: When a command for outputting a movement amount at a specific reference value is included in a command block, a numerical controller which controls a position of a control axis in synchronization with a reference value by using tabular data registers the reference value and the movement amount of the command in a shift table while associating the reference value with the movement amount. Then, when the current reference value reaches the reference value registered in the shift table, the numerical controller superposes the movement amount of the control axis that is associated with the reference value in the shift table on a distributed movement amount to the control axis, and outputs the superposed movement amount as a movement amount of the control axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kanemaru, Yasushi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9958858
    Abstract: Methods and systems allow for creating a variable spatial framework for use in designing and manufacturing an architectural component. The spatial framework can define a three-dimensional space having a plurality of boundaries. The system can receive an input to divide the three-dimensional space into multiple independent cells. Each independent cell can comprise an independently executable software object. A plurality of boundaries of the spatial framework can automatically adjust upon receiving an input defining a manufacturing constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ICE Edge Business Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Barrie A. Loberg
  • Patent number: 9957697
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to maintaining water quality in a water distribution by controlling a flushing apparatus. In one example implementation, a flushing apparatus performs steps comprising flushing the water distribution system in accordance with a residual flush program, flushing the water distribution system in accordance with a turbidity flush program, flushing the water distribution system in accordance with a pH flush program, and flushing the water distribution system in accordance with a time-based flushing program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Moriz Taylor, Harold Thomas Mosley
  • Patent number: 9958180
    Abstract: In some embodiments, security and/or automation systems, collectively referred to as automation systems, may offer a user the comforts of automatically controlling HVAC settings based at least in part on an alarm. The automation system may provide automatically meet desired HVAC conditions at select times and provide a more comfortable living situation. In some embodiments, the increased comfort level may enable or ease household activities. For example, if a person sleeps with a cooler temperature, it may be harder for the person to get out of bed. But an automated HVAC system may adjust the temperature such that when a person desires to wake up, the temperature is comfortable and may ease a transition from day to night.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Mahar, Matthew J. Eyring, Clint H. Gordon-Carroll, Jeremy B. Warren, James E. Nye, Jefferson H. Lyman
  • Patent number: 9958849
    Abstract: A method can include acquiring data via a receiver mounted in a drill string during tripping of the drill string downward into a wellbore (e.g., including a casing and a cement annulus about the casing) where the acquired data can be for evaluation of at least one characteristic of cement; buffering at least a portion of the acquired data to a memory device mounted in the drill string; and while pumping drilling fluid through a passage in the drill string, as disposed in the wellbore, transmitting at least a portion of the buffered data via mud-pulse telemetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jean-Marie Degrange
  • Patent number: 9952572
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an object (2) comprising providing a digital model (14) of the object (2) that is to be produced; using the digital model, identifying one or more parts (8) of the object (2) that satisfy certain criteria; for each identified part (8), adjusting, in the digital model (14), the thickness of that part (8) to satisfy further criteria, thereby producing an updated model; performing a first production process to produce the part or parts (4, 6) of the object (2) that do not satisfy the criteria, thereby producing an initial object (17); performing an Additive Manufacturing process to add, to the initial object (17), the one or more identified parts (8), thereby producing the object (2). The initial object (17) and identified parts (8) are made of the same material. The first production process is different to the Additive Manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventor: Mark Alfred Potter
  • Patent number: 9952601
    Abstract: A method of delivery of fluid through a computer controlled fluid network, the network including; regulators to control the flow of fluid to deliver a predetermined amount thereof to at least one customer; a first control system for opening and closing the regulators, which collects data based on timed measurements of fluid levels upstream and downstream of respective regulators and the opening positions of respective regulators, using data analysis to provide models for prediction of fluid levels between regulators; a second control system that is a supervisory layer interacting with the first control system to provide adjustments to the controlling of the regulators based on constraint and future flow load; and a third control system interacting with the first and second control systems, which processes fluid delivery requests from the at least one customer to provide a flow load delivery schedule based on the hydraulic capacity of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: RUBICON RESEARCH PTY LTD, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
    Inventors: Sumith Choy, Michael William Cantoni, Peter Maxwell Dower, Michael Peter Kearney
  • Patent number: 9943047
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates systems and methods for providing remote irrigation system operation. In any embodiment, the method for a home automation system may include coupling an irrigation control bypass module with a legacy irrigation control panel associated with a legacy irrigation automation system. The method may also include setting the legacy irrigation control panel to an inactive state, and operating the legacy irrigation automation system based at least in part on a first set of one or more instructions received from the irrigation control bypass module. In any embodiment, the irrigation control bypass module may be initiated based at least in part on a second set of one or more instructions received from the home automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Scott Carlson, Thomas Colby Winegar, Brian Brower, Jeremy Bruce Warren, Harrison Taylor Jenkins, Alexander J. Dunn, Michael Scott Moulton
  • Patent number: 9937077
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical console may include a pneumatic valve to drive a pneumatic tool coupled to the surgical console. The console may further include a controller operable to control and adjust the valve open/close cycle times according to a valve duty cycle. The valve may switch between ports (valve open time for a first port and valve close time for a second port) such that a total valve time may approximately equal the valve open time plus the valve close time. The valve duty cycle may indicate a percentage of the total valve time for the controller to signal the valve to open and may include an adjustment that corresponds to a signal timing of the open and/or closed valve positions that will result in open and closed operating pressures above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiansheng Zhou, Kurt D. Leukanech, Dan Teodorescu
  • Patent number: 9939167
    Abstract: A user interface for an HVAC controller includes an electronic display and a proximity sensor for sensing a position of a user relative to the electronic display. A display controller is operably coupled to the electronic display and the proximity sensor and is configured to display one or more display elements on the electronic display. In some embodiments, a location of one or more of the display elements on the electronic display may be based, at least in part, on the position of the user sensed by the proximity sensor. In some embodiments, a size of one or more of the display elements on the electronic display may be based, at least in part, on the position of the user sensed by the proximity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hoppe, Daniel Murr, Patrick Hudson
  • Patent number: 9939794
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate correct execution of a machine jog operation where a plurality of interfaces can generate a machine jog command, which is received by an industrial controller. One or more machine jog commands can be received and state data is maintained regarding whether a machine jog command has been received. An OR gate logic operation is performed on the state data to determine whether a machine jog operation has been received from any of the plurality of interfaces, and in the event of receiving a machine jog operation, a control command is generated to effect a machine jog operation. The plurality of interfaces enable interaction with the controller, to facilitate control of a machine from a plurality of locations. The system can be expanded to include further interfaces. Also, information regarding a machine jog command can be published to the plurality of interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul G. Kucharski, Joseph P. Izzo, Ronald E. Bliss
  • Patent number: 9941696
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for sharing power or energy across various power supply and control modules. More specifically, disclosed herein are systems and methods for distributing energy. As explained herein, the method discloses receiving, at a microgrid, data from a plurality of data sources. The data is then analyzed to forecast power needs associated with the microgrid. Using the data, the microgrid may determine whether and when to share power with the requesting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventors: Arturo N. Villanueva, Jr., Jennifer M. Worrall
  • Patent number: 9927471
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling an energy storage device to reduce peak power demand at a site are provided. In one embodiment, instantaneous power usage at the site can be monitored, where the instantaneous power usage corresponds to power that is instantaneously imported or exported at a point of common coupling (PCC) between the site and a utility-managed energy grid. A historical power usage value for the site can then be calculated based on the monitored instantaneous power usage, and the historical power usage value can be compared with a target peak value plus a buffer value. If the historical power usage value exceeds the target peak value plus the buffer value, the target peak value can be set to the historical power usage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Carlson, Karthikeyan Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 9927674
    Abstract: “Smart” controllers for windows having controllable optical transitions are described. Controllers with multiple features can sense and adapt to local environmental conditions. Controllers described herein can be integrated with a building management system (BMS) to greatly enhance the BMS's effectiveness at managing local environments in a building. The controllers may have one, two, three or more functions such as powering a smart window, determining the percent transmittance, size, and/or temperature of a smart window, providing wireless communication between the controller and a separate communication node, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Brown, Dhairya Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 9919477
    Abstract: A method and system for embedding a database in a 3D object uses a 3D dimensional printing device and a computer-readable memory that stores a build sequence comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, will cause the 3D printing device to form a three-dimensional object with an embedded data structure by depositing layers of build material and by including, in one or more of the layers, physical representations that represent a data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Levine, Donald M. Pangrazio, III, David R. Vandervort, Reiner Eschbach, Robert Eero Nuuja
  • Patent number: 9897991
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a movable structure 3, a numerical control unit 22, an external input unit 39 having a dedicated operation key for inputting an operation signal associated with at least a movement end point to which the movable structure 3 is moved, a display unit 39 displaying an image, a display control unit 25 controlling the display on the display unit 39, an input control unit 24 processing a signal input from the external input unit 39, and a movement path setting unit 32 receiving the operation signal input from the external input unit 39 and setting a movement path for moving the movable structure 3 corresponding to the operation signal to the movement end point according to a predetermined setting condition. The display control unit 25 displays an image relating to the movement path set by the movement path setting unit 32 on the display unit 39.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: DMG MORI SEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yahaba, Takaaki Soga
  • Patent number: 9892212
    Abstract: A package design system creates a package design file. The file includes comprises a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional structure having a plurality of facets having alternative design scenarios that can be selected based on conditions of the cutting and/or folding device that is used to create the package. An example of such a condition is a thickness of a substrate that is being processed by the device. The system creates the file by creating a set of cut and/or fold line definitions. At least one of the cut and/or fold line definitions will be a variable cut/fold line definition. For each identified variable cut/fold line definition, the system identifies one or more alternate parameters for the variable cut/fold line definition, a first cutting/folding scenario that will not use the alternate parameters, and a second cutting/folding scenario that will use the alternate parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Reiner Eschbach, Stephen C. Morgana
  • Patent number: 9891275
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for performing reliability qualification of manufactured integrated circuit (IC) chips. In the method, IC chips are manufactured according to a design and sorted into groups, which correspond to different process windows within a process distribution for the design. Group fail rates are determined for the groups. Reliability qualification of the manufactured IC chips is performed. Specifically, a sample of the IC chips is stress tested and the manufactured IC chips are qualified if the actual fail rate of the sample is no greater than an expected fail rate. The expected fail rate used is not, however, the expected overall fail rate for all the manufactured IC chips. Instead it is a unique expected fail rate for the specific sample itself and it is determined considering fail rate contributions from only those specific groups of IC chips from which the IC chips in the sample were selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeanne P. Bickford, Nazmul Habib, Baozhen Li, Tad J. Wilder
  • Patent number: 9893526
    Abstract: Systems of networking power management systems are disclosed, wherein the systems receive control parameters from a control terminal and bring about demand response, curtailment, and other load management actions. One control terminal may be used to control many zones in different ways, and the load management actions may be automated to improve efficiency and predictability of the results of demand response actions. Some of the systems may be mobile and connectable to different sites in the network to respond to changing needs in the utility distribution grid. Large demand response requirements may be distributed among multiple sites or systems in order to encourage and enable participation in demand response programs by customers that would not traditionally be able to do so because of not being able to produce sufficient demand response results individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Green Charge Networks LLC
    Inventors: Ronald D Prosser, Victor Shao
  • Patent number: 9886027
    Abstract: A lens processing management system includes a lens processing section that processes a lens based on design data, an authentication section that is substantially attached to a lens material or a semi-finished lens product, and an authentication processing section that performs an authentication process for the processing of the lens using the authentication section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: NIKON-ESSILOR CO., LTD., NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yoshida, Yukio Honma, Hideya Inoue, Koji Yamagaki