Patents Examined by Carol Tsai
  • Patent number: 8442800
    Abstract: The system according to the invention interprets sensor observations by tracking objects and by collecting information about the objects by means of the tracking and by using this information for affirming events linked to the objects and in producing information describing the events. The system detects events according the conditions defined for them, on the basis of sensor observations. The conditions can relate to the essence of the objects, e.g. to the strength of the observations linked to the object, to the size and/or shape of the object, to a temporal change of essence and to movement. The event conditions used by the system can comprise conditions applying to the location of the object. The system according to the invention can be used e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Marimils Oy
    Inventors: Juha Lindström, Otso Auterinen
  • Patent number: 8442769
    Abstract: Various methods are disclosed, comprising obtaining a plurality of raw depth measurements for a wellbore; obtaining survey data about a bottom hole assembly; obtaining depth compensation information; calculating a plurality of compensated depth measurements from the raw depth measurements and the depth compensation information and one or more additional corrections for residual pipe compliance, tide, and rig heave; calculating sag angle and correcting the survey data with the sag angle; determining a high fidelity wellbore trajectory from the compensated depth measurements and the survey data; and then employing the high fidelity wellbore trajectory in various drilling, formation evaluation, and production and reservoir analysis applications. Depth compensation information may comprise at least one of weight on bit, a friction factor, temperature profile, borehole profile, drill string mechanical properties, hookload, and drilling fluid property. The surveys may include both static and continuous surveys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne J. Phillips, Georgiy Bordakov, Alexander Kostin, Shyam Mehta, Denis Heliot, John C. Rasmus
  • Patent number: 8442797
    Abstract: A directional tap detection algorithm and a single tri-axis accelerometer are employed to extend the number of unique button less input commands available for a small mobile electronic device. The algorithm analyzes acceleration data from the tri-axis accelerometer to detect the direction and number of taps imparted to any of the six sides of a housing of the device, yielding 12 unique inputs. The algorithm employs a parameter referred to as the performance index (PI) to identify tap induced movements. The PI is determined by calculating the time derivative of each acceleration signal for each axis and then calculating the sum of the absolute values of the calculated acceleration derivatives. A tap is determined to have occurred if the sum exceeds a threshold value for a predetermined amount of time. If a second tap is detected within a predetermined time after the first tap, then a double tap is determined to have occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kionix, Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Yoon Kim, Scott A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8433526
    Abstract: A method of determining a steam quality of a wet steam located in an interior of a steam turbine includes emitting from an optical probe a plurality of wavelengths through the wet steam, measuring with the optical probe a wet steam intensity corresponding to each of the plurality of wavelengths emitted through the wet steam, determining an intensity ratio vector by dividing the wet steam intensity by a corresponding dry steam intensity for each of the plurality of wavelengths, successively applying scaling factors to the intensity ratio vector to obtain a scaled intensity ratio vector, calculating a suitable value for each of the scaling factors to obtain a plurality of residuals, determining a minimum residual of the plurality of residuals, determining a droplet size distribution by calculating the droplet number density corresponding to the minimum residual, and determining the steam quality based on the droplet size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Binayak Roy, Tao Guo
  • Patent number: 8433528
    Abstract: A ground fault detection system is provided. The ground fault detection system includes a magnetic core having first and second primary legs and a secondary leg disposed between the first and second primary legs. The ground fault detection system also includes first and second primary windings disposed around the first and second primary legs respectively and configured to introduce current in the first and second primary legs. Further, the ground fault detection system includes first and second secondary windings disposed around the first and second primary legs respectively and configured to detect a ground fault based upon a magnetic flux generated in response to the introduced current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Winterhalter, Lixiang Wei, Zoran V. Vrankovic
  • Patent number: 8433520
    Abstract: Job monitoring methods and apparatus for logging-while-drilling equipment are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes obtaining a fluid associated with an underground geological formation, analyzing the fluid with one or more sensors to form respective ones of sensor outputs, identifying a downhole scenario associated with the fluid based on the sensor outputs, the identifying being performed while the sensors are within the underground geological formation, and selecting a telemetry frame type based on the identified downhole scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Sylvain Ramshaw, Julian J. Pop, Peter Swinburne, Kai Hsu, Steven G. Villareal
  • Patent number: 8428901
    Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a communication unit for communicating with other communication devices, a processor unit connected to the communication unit, and a sensor unit connected to the processor unit. The sensor unit includes at least one of a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor. The humidity sensor senses ambient moisture and generates an electronic signal corresponding to the ambient moisture, and the temperature sensor measures ambient temperature and generates an electric signal corresponding to the ambient temperature. The processor unit calculates at least one of the ambient humidity and ambient temperature according to the electric signals and transmits associated data of the sensor unit to the communication unit. The communication unit sends the data to other communication devices capable of communicating with the mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Hsing-Yuan Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8428878
    Abstract: A lightning strike simulation apparatus includes a storage device for storing lightning strike data, a setting unit for setting a simulation target in a simulation space, a downward leader advancing unit for advancing a downward leader from a lightning strike start position set by the setting unit, an upward leader advancing unit for advancing upward leaders from lightning strike-receiving candidate points set in the simulation space when a distance between a leading edge of the downward leader and a reference point is within a first threshold value, and a lightning strike point determination unit for, when a distance between a leading edge of the downward leader and a leading edge of any one of the upward leaders is within a second threshold value, determining that the lightning strike-receiving candidate point corresponding to the any one of the upward leaders is a lightning strike point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Naka, Tsuyoshi Wakasa, Shinji Arinaga
  • Patent number: 8423310
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for facility integrity testing. According to embodiments, a method for populating a watch list with circuits of a communications network to be monitored for repeat failures is provided. According to the method, a trouble ticket associated with one of the circuits and a trouble code and analysis code (TC/AC) combination associated with the trouble ticket is retrieved. Whether the trouble ticket meets a watch list criterion is determined. In response to determining that the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion, the trouble ticket and the TC/AC combination are added to the watch list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony Scott Dobbins, Murray E. Nuckols, Linda A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 8423297
    Abstract: Mental influence detectors and corresponding methods are useful for detecting an influence of mind and hidden or classically non-inferable information. An anomalous effect detector includes a source of non-deterministic random numbers, a converter to convert a property of numbers, a processor to accept converter output and to produce an output signal representative of an influence of mind. The processor output signal contains fewer numbers than the input. A quantum computer includes a physical source of entropy to generate output numbers; a source of test numbers; a measurement processor to accept output numbers and to measure a relationship between process numbers and at least one test number to produce an output representative of an influence of mind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Psigenics Corporation
    Inventor: Scott A. Wilber
  • Patent number: 8412486
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to monitoring and/or estimating remaining life for a power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Man Hay Pong, Hon Man Pang
  • Patent number: 8412479
    Abstract: Memory power estimation by means of calibrated weights and activity counters are generally presented. In this regard, in one embodiment, a memory power is introduced to read a value from a memory activity counter, to determine a memory power estimation based at least in part on the value and a calibration, and to store the memory power estimation to a register. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Howard S. David, Eugene Gorbatov, Ulf R. Hanebutte, Minh Le, Rahul Khanna
  • Patent number: 8407027
    Abstract: An online diagnostic system for a geothermal generation facility is discloses that includes an automatic steam measurement device for measuring a characteristic of steam to be supplied to a steam turbine from a steam-water separator at the geothermal generation facility that outputs analysis data. A monitor-control device controls an operation of the geothermal generation facility while monitoring the geothermal generation facility. A diagnostic device performs at least one of an evaluation of a steam characteristic at the geothermal generation facility, an evaluation of the steam-water separator, and an evaluation of pulsation and confluence of a production well based on the analysis data from the automatic steam measurement device and performance data of the geothermal generation facility from the monitor-control device. An operating status of the geothermal generation facility is diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd., Geothermal Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Myougan, Toshikazu Kato, Isamu Osawa, Yasuyuki Hishi, Daisuke Fukuda, Yasuto Futagoishi, Toshiaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 8392135
    Abstract: A method for analyzing performance of a sorting system is provided. The method includes recording downtime experienced by the sorting system, recording runtime experienced by the sorting system, and recording an optimal characterization of a product stream to be sorted by the sorting system. The optimal characterization includes at least an optimal weight of a first commodity of the product stream. An actual characterization of the product stream as sorted by the sorting system is recorded. The actual characterization includes at least an actual weight of the first commodity sorted from the product stream. The method further includes determining the performance of the sorting system based on at least two of the downtime, the runtime, the optimal characterization, and the actual characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. McClain, James J. Schuster, Ricky G. Byers, Gerald L. Adams
  • Patent number: 8386203
    Abstract: An evaluation method of a progressive-addition lens is provided. First, powers of the progressive-addition lens at a plurality of measurement points are measured to obtain an actually measured power distribution. Next, a comparison power distribution created based on the actually measured power distribution and a defective power distribution prepared in advance are compared with each other to perform similarity search between the both. Thereafter, whether or not the comparison power distribution and the defective power distribution are similar to each other is determined based on the result of the similarity search step, and if it is determined that the comparison power distribution and the defective power distribution are similar to each other, then the progressive-addition lens is evaluated as defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuma Kozu
  • Patent number: 8386180
    Abstract: We describe a method of processing geophysical data including at least measured potential field data from a potential field survey of a surveyed region of the earth to provide a three-dimensional representation of the underlying geology of said surveyed region, the method comprising: inputting terrain-corrected potential field data for said surveyed region, said potential field data comprising data for a range of spatial wavelengths, geological features at different depths in said surveyed region being associated with different wavelengths in said range of wavelengths; filtering said potential field data by spatial wavelength to generate a first plurality of filtered sets of potential field data, each relating to a respective wavelength or range of wavelengths, each targeting geological features at a different respective said depth; processing each said filtered set of potential field data, to identify a set of spatial features comprising one or both of line spatial features and point spatial features in each
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: ARKeX Limited
    Inventor: Mark Davies
  • Patent number: 8386187
    Abstract: Methods, reports and systems for generating insulin resistance indexes for assessing decreased insulin sensitivity and/or levels of insulin resistance using a plurality of different measured lipoprotein particle parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: LipoScience, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Otvos
  • Patent number: 8374820
    Abstract: A first output pin of a microcontroller is connected to a control pin of a high speed switch chip. A second output pin of the microcontroller is connected to two control pins of first and second switch chips. Two output pins of the high speed switch chip are connected to two input pins of the first switch chip. Two input pins of a third switch chip are connected to two output pins of the second switch chip. Two control pins of the third switch chip are connected to a third output pin of the microcontroller. Three input pins of a bus switch chip are connected to fourth to sixth output pins of the microcontroller. A load board is connected to six output pins of the bus switch chip and four switch pins of the first and second switch chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zuo-Lin Hou
  • Patent number: RE44097
    Abstract: In the field of direct mind-machine interactions, prior art devices and methods do not provide sufficiently fast and reliable results. Mental influence detectors (100, 140, 400, 430) and corresponding methods provide fast and reliable results useful for detecting an influence of mind and hidden or classically non-inferable information. An anomalous effect detector (100) includes a source (104) of non-deterministic random numbers (110), a converter (114) to convert a property of numbers, a processor to accept converter output (118) and to produce an output signal (124) representative of an influence of mind. The processor output signal (124) contains fewer numbers than the input (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Psigenics Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Wilber, Patrick A. Wilber, Christopher B. Jensen
  • Patent number: RE44126
    Abstract: Estimates of spectral magnitude and phase are obtained by an estimation process using spectral information from analysis filter banks such as the Modified Discrete Cosine Transform. The estimation process may be implemented by convolution-like operations with impulse responses. Portions of the impulse responses may be selected for use in the convolution-like operations to trade off between computational complexity and estimation accuracy. Mathematical derivations of analytical expressions for filter structures and impulse responses are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Corey I. Cheng, Michael J. Smithers, David N. Lathrop