Patents Examined by Carol S. W. Tsai
  • Patent number: 7302352
    Abstract: A method for providing dying gasp support for a network component is disclosed. The method includes detecting an imminent loss of power to the network component and disabling all sub-systems of the network component except a designated sub-system of the network component upon the detection of the loss of power. The imminent failure of power to the network component is reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsu-Yau Chuang
  • Patent number: 7302359
    Abstract: Improved systems and methods for mapping are provided. In one embodiment, a system for mapping is provided. The system comprises a rangefinder adapted to output range measurements; an inertial sensor adapted to capture inertial measurements including inertial forces acting on the rangefinder and the attitude of the rangefinder; and a processor coupled the rangefinder and the inertial sensor and adapted to receive a set of range measurements from the rangefinder and inertial measurements from the inertial sensor. The processor is adapted to produce a virtual room reconstruction based on the set of range measurements from the rangefinder and inertial measurements from inertial sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: John B. McKitterick
  • Patent number: 7299153
    Abstract: Systems and methods configured to guide and manage laboratory analytical process control operations. A Biometric quality control (QC) process application is configured to monitor bias and imprecision for each test, characterize patient population data distributions and compare, contrast, and correlate changes in patient data distributions to any change in QC data populations. The Biometric QC process monitors the analytical process using data collected from repetitive testing of quality control materials and patient data (test results). The QC process identifies the optimal combination of, for example, frequency of QC testing, number of QCs tested, and QC rules applied in order to minimize the expected number of unacceptable patient results produced due to any out-of-control error condition that might occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Parvin, George S. Cembrowski, William G. Cooper
  • Patent number: 7299145
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for the simultaneous calibration and qualification of a non-contact probe on a localizer using a single artifact, in which non-contact probe readings and localizer readings are synchronised using parameters determined simultaneously with calibration and qualification. The invention also relates to a non-contact probe and other devices, and a computer program for performing the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Metris N.V.
    Inventors: Lieven De Jonge, Bart Van Coppenolle, Denis Vanderstraeten
  • Patent number: 7299143
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for improving operational reliability during a loss of a phase voltage (LOV) in a multi-phase power system, wherein a voltage representative of the LOV phase is calculated. The representative voltage is used for computing a reference polarizing voltage suitable for a protection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Elmo Price
  • Patent number: 7295936
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery determines a condition of the battery. The condition is a relative condition and is a function of a dynamic parameter of the battery and an empirical input variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, J. David Vonderhaar
  • Patent number: 7295938
    Abstract: In a voltage drop analysis step S101, the process calculates a temporal variation of a power source voltage supplied to each cell along a transmission path of a clock signal. In a delay variation rate ratio calculation step S102, the process calculates a delay time variation of each cell according to the power source voltage variation. In a clock delay variation amount calculation step S103, the process obtains the magnitude of jitter of the clock signal based on the delay time variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Nakashiba, Takahiro Ochi, Mitsuko Takada
  • Patent number: 7295945
    Abstract: A method and system for testing assembled mobile devices is provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for arranging test stages in a production line for the assembling and testing of wireless communications devices. The method comprises the steps of: determining a plurality of tests for testing an assembled wireless communication device, each test in the plurality of tests being one of an interactive test requiring physical actuation or mechanical dynamics to be performed on one or more interactive test components of the assembled wireless communication device, and a non-interactive test requiring no physical actuation or mechanical dynamics to be performed on the assembled wireless communication device; allocating each interactive test to an interactive test stage in the production line; and allocating each non-interactive test between the interactive test stage and a non-interactive test stage in the production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Winston Mok
  • Patent number: 7292951
    Abstract: A method of compensating for hysteresis in a load cell, by: (a) pre-calibrating a load cell by: measuring load cell deflection under progressively increasing loads; determining a first set of coefficients correlating the deflection of the load cell to the measured load under the progressively increasing loads; measuring load cell deflection under progressively decreasing loads; determining a second set of coefficients correlating the deflection of the load cell to the measured load under the progressively decreasing loads; and then (b) compensating for hysteresis in the load cell, by: selecting the first set of coefficients if the load on the load cell has been progressively increasing, or selecting the second set of coefficients if the load on the load cell has been progressively decreasing; and applying a formula using the selected first or second set of coefficients to the measured load cell deflection at the particular load, thereby determining an accurate load cell deflection, and thus compensating for h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Michael M. Aust
  • Patent number: 7289928
    Abstract: The present device relates to a method of improving a indirect measurement tire pressure detection system. Such systems include a system that detects pressure loss based on wheel speed data. The present method determines reference values dependent upon driving parameters and produces a two-dimensional or multi-dimensional closed range of driving parameters. The closed range of driving parameters uses reference values that are determined to be currently valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves A.G. & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Martin Griesser, Andreas Köbe, Frank Edling, Michael Holtz, Karl Perras
  • Patent number: 7289938
    Abstract: A method and a device for detecting discontinuities in a medium by detecting maxima, e.g. in an echo signal of an ultrasound excitation of the media, with maxima corresponding to a given discontinuity being grouped together as a function of coherence criteria applied to the maxima.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Socomate International
    Inventor: Philippe Coperet
  • Patent number: 7286947
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining jitter and pulse width from clock signal comparisons provides a low cost and production-integrable mechanism for measuring a clock signal with a reference clock, both of unknown frequency. The measured clock signal is sampled at transitions of a reference clock and the sampled values are collected in a histogram according to a folding of the samples around a timebase which is either swept to detect a minimum jitter for the folded data or is obtained from direct frequency analysis for the sample set. The histogram for the correct estimated period is statistically analyzed to yield the pulse width, which is the difference between the peaks of the probability density function and jitter, which corresponds to width of the density function peaks. Frequency drift is corrected by adjusting the timebase used to fold the data across the sample set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden C. Cranford, Jr., Fadi H. Gebara, Jeremy D. Schaub
  • Patent number: 7286960
    Abstract: A system for isolating effects of one or more process parameters on performance of a heat transfer device is provided. The system includes an efficiency correction unit that is adapted to receive data from the heat transfer device. The data is representative of one or more measurable process parameters or a change in the one or more measurable process parameters of the heat transfer device. The efficiency correction unit is also configured to compute a normalized efficiency of the heat transfer device. The normalized efficiency represents a corrected efficiency that isolates effects of one or more process parameters on performance of the heat transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vinay Bhaskar Jammu, Nishith Pramod Vora, Ravi Yoganatha Babu, Rama Venkata Mahajanam
  • Patent number: 7286955
    Abstract: This invention allows personnel located on two different structures, such as two ships, to continually monitor the separation distance between the two structures, with all of the necessary equipment being located on only one of the structures. This is accomplished using a laser range finder, or other range sensor, to continually measure separation distance and send it electronically to various displays. The displays are positioned and sized such that all involved personnel can view the continually updating separation distances. The invention incorporates displays large enough to be viewed ship-to-ship in direct sunlight, in addition to smaller displays. The displays are dimmable or backlit for night viewing and include a safety feature that turns them off when communication is lost with any range sensor. A strobe on the display helps personnel find where the display has been positioned, such as on a ships gunwale or hand railing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Laser Atlanta, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Joel Landry, James Francis Kelly
  • Patent number: 7286948
    Abstract: Methods for determining characteristics of a plasma are provided. In one embodiment, a method for determining characteristics of a plasma includes obtaining metrics of current and voltage information for first and second waveforms coupled to a plasma at different frequencies, determining at least one characteristic of the plasma using the metrics obtained from each different frequency waveform. In another embodiment, the method includes providing a plasma impedance model of a plasma as a function of frequency, and determining at least one characteristic of a plasma using model. In yet another embodiment, the method includes providing a plasma impedance model of a plasma as a function of frequency, measuring current and voltage for waveforms coupled to the plasma and having at least two different frequencies, and determining ion mass of a plasma from model and the measured current and voltage of the waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Shannon, Daniel J. Hoffman, Jeremiah T. P. Pender, Tarreg Mawari
  • Patent number: 7286963
    Abstract: A method for locating a fault in three terminal power line, having sections located in front of or behind of the tap point and which assumes occurrence of the fault in at least one of those sections. Three phase currents and voltages are measured at one end of the power lines system. The amplitudes of load currents in the remaining sections of the power lines system are measured before a fault occurs. The measurements of the amplitudes of load currents are stored in the remaining sections of the power lines system. Impedance data of the network are determined. The symmetrical components approach is used when calculating the location of the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Murari Mohan Saha, Eugeniusz Rosolowski, Jan Izykowski, Rafal Molag
  • Patent number: 7283915
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for location of a fault utilizing unsynchronized measurements of three phase voltages and currents acquired at the line terminals without synchronization. Phasors for symmetrical components of the measured quantities are determined and used in the fault location algorithm. According to one embodiment, positive sequence phasors of post-fault quantities are used for estimation of the distance to fault and it is distinctive that such an estimation of a distance to fault is performed without essentially involving iterative techniques. In this embodiment, the fault location algorithm step is performed regardless of the fault type. In later steps, the type of fault may be obtained. According to another embodiment of the invention, at the occurrence of a fault, the type of fault is determined. If it is determined that it is not a three-phase balanced fault, negative sequence phasors are used for the estimation of the distance to fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Murair Saha, Eugeniusz Rosolowski, Jan Izykowski
  • Patent number: 7283913
    Abstract: The invention relates to a leak control system (1) in two-stringed pipe installations and a method of executing a leak control system comprising one stop valve (2) with an associated flow meter (3) arranged in the supply pipe (4) of the pipe installation, and one stop valve (5) with an associated flow meter (6) arranged in the return pipe (7) of the pipe installation, said stop valves (2,5) as well as associated flow meters (3, 6) being connected to a control box (8), said box (8) comprising one valve monitor (9) connected to each stop valve (2, 5) to control/record the possible state of the individual stop valve (2, 5): open or closed, as well as an executer which, in combination with the control logics of the control box and the operating conditions of the pipe installation, controls/monitors the valve monitors (9) during a given sequence of actions, said leak control system (1) being capable of performing a number of measurements and data collections to evaluate the functionality of the stop valves (2, 5)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Dantaet Electronics A/S
    Inventor: Svend Eskil Garnaes
  • Patent number: 7283924
    Abstract: The present device relates to a method for automatically determining the installation positions of wheels in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a direct measure tire pressure monitoring system includes individual wheel tire pressure measuring devices and transmitting devices for the transfer of TPMS data containing tire air pressure values and identification numbers of the individual wheels to a receiving and evaluating device installed in or on the vehicle. The motor vehicle also includes an indirect measuring tire pressure monitoring system determining DDS data containing air pressure changes and installation positions from the rotational behavior of the individual wheels. The method includes determining correlation coefficients from the TPMS data and the DDS data by using a correlation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Peter Lauer, Stefan Stölzl, Martin Griesser, Andreas Köbe, Frank Edling, Peter Säger, Vladimir Koukes
  • Patent number: 7283928
    Abstract: The computerized method for data analysis is a computerized method for identifying a causal relationship between at least one independent variable and a dependent variable in a set of data representing historical operating parameters of an industrial process. Data representing historical operating parameters of an industrial process is input into a computer system. A dependent variable and at least one independent variable are identified. A plurality of data sampling periods, such as days of operation, are identified for organization of the data. Dependent and independent variable data are collected from the historical data for each of the data sampling periods. Data sampling periods are ordered, according to the independent variable data, into distribution sets. Once the distribution sets have been arranged, average values are calculated for the dependent and independent variable data, and then graphed to relate the dependent variable data to the independent variable data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Inventor: John Antanies