Patents Examined by Chad G Erdman
  • Patent number: 11644819
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Roy, Vance Willis, Benjamin Corn, James Murdock
  • Patent number: 11630429
    Abstract: A method of operating a power grid includes: generating, by a power management system of the power grid, an intermediate resource allocation schedule that provides a tentative schedule of resource allocation for power grid resources operating within the power grid; determining, by the power management system, whether the intermediate resource allocation schedule is feasible by checking whether the intermediate resource allocation schedule satisfies coupling constraints of a power grid resource allocation profile of the power grid indicative of an operation of the power grid constrained by power grid operational information; and in response to determining that the intermediate resource allocation schedule is infeasible, repairing, by the power management system, the intermediate resource allocation schedule to generate a feasible resource allocation schedule, where the repairing comprises determining whether a first dispatch solution obtained by solving a dispatch problem with fixed integer decisions from the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Xiaoming Feng
  • Patent number: 11619918
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a method. The method includes generating statistical models of circadian rhythms based on circadian rhythm data generated by mobile computing devices of occupants of a building having a building automation system. The method also includes identifying room occupants of a room disposed within the building. Additionally, the method includes determining ambient settings for an ambient system operated by the building automation system based on a subset of the statistical models, wherein the subset corresponds to the identified room occupants. The method further includes determining a trade-off ambient setting based on the ambient settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Luca Sbodio, Caroline A. O'Connor, Omar O'Sullivan, Seshu Tirupathi
  • Patent number: 11614722
    Abstract: A method of controlling a microgrid includes receiving, by a power management system, PMS, of the microgrid, operating point values for a plurality of controllable assets. The method includes determining, by the PMS, an asset headroom. The method includes determining, by the PMS, a modified operating point value that is dependent on the received operating point value of the controllable asset, the determined asset headroom of the controllable asset, and a total power offset of the microgrid. The method includes controlling, by the PMS, the controllable assets for which the modified operating point values have been determined in accordance with the modified operating point values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Andrew Tuckey, Francesco Baccino
  • Patent number: 11609549
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided comprising receiving, via a communication interface of a part parameter dictionary module comprising a processor, geometry data for a plurality of geometric structures forming a plurality of parts, wherein the parts are manufactured with an additive manufacturing machine; determining, using the processor of the part parameter dictionary module, a feature set for each geometric structure; generating, using the processor of the part parameter dictionary module, one of a coupon and a coupon set for the feature set; generating an optimized parameter set for each coupon, using the processor of the part parameter dictionary module, via execution of an iterative learning control process for each coupon; mapping, using the processor of the part parameter dictionary module, one or more parameters of the optimized parameter set to one or more features of the feature set; and generating a dictionary of optimized scan parameter sets to fabricate geometric str
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Alexander Chen, Xiaohu Ping, John Erik Hershey
  • Patent number: 11599076
    Abstract: A method for operating an industrial system, an apparatus, a computer program product, a computer-readable medium and method for synchronizing a system model with a real system, wherein a) a system model including at least one device model configured to calculate simulated output values and/or state values from simulated input values using mathematical functions and which is expanded with at least one mathematical function inverse to the at least one mathematical function is provided, b) at least one real output value and/or state value is provided, c) the at least one real output value and/or state value is supplied to the expanded device model, d) via the functions, at least one input value is back-calculated from the at least one real output value and/or state value, and e) the at least one back-calculated input value and/or a derived value is used to synchronize the system model with the real system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Matthias Merkel
  • Patent number: 11596963
    Abstract: Monitoring systems for center pivot irrigation systems and methods of irrigating an agricultural crop using the irrigation systems are provided. The irrigation systems may comprise a plurality of in-canopy sprinklers. The monitoring systems are configured to detect an operational condition of the plurality of in-canopy sprinklers, including whether individual sprinkler heads have become detached from the irrigation system main line, or whether an individual sprinkler head has become clogged, and alert an operator with a time and/or location of the occurrence of an event associated with one or more of the sprinklers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Aaron Akin, Danny H. Rogers, Jonathan Aguilar
  • Patent number: 11591936
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for proactively operating gas-oil separation plant (GOSP) type process facilities that include determining historical operational characteristics of a GOSP for a past time interval using historical operational data for the GOSP, determining expected operating characteristics of the GOSP for a subsequent time interval using the historical operational characteristics, determining an operating plan for the GOSP using the expected operating characteristics, and operating the GOSP in accordance with the operating plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mohammed Tawfeeq Alabdulmohsen, Kamarul Ariffin Amminudin
  • Patent number: 11586165
    Abstract: Disclosed is a field device electronics for a field device of automation engineering, comprising: first and second terminals for connecting the field device electronics to a cable for an electrical input current to the field device electronics; a series regulator to set the input current; a shunt regulator following the series regulator; a first capacitance connected in parallel with the shunt regulator for energy storage; a supply circuit connected in parallel with the shunt regulator and the first capacitance for providing an operating voltage; and connected after the supply circuit and supplied by the operating voltage, a control unit adapted to register a buffer voltage lying across the first capacitance, based on the registered buffer voltage, to make a decision concerning at least one part of the field device electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Strütt, Max Bauer, Andreas Fuz
  • Patent number: 11586166
    Abstract: A site monitoring system is provided including a base unit configured to be mounted to a structure of a monitored site; at least one sensor configured to monitor at least one monitored site condition; and a controller disposed within the base unit, the controller configured to receive sensor information regarding the at least one monitored site condition from the at least one sensor and to receive operation information from at least one monitored site management system. The controller is configured to process the sensor information and the operation information against predetermined monitored site parameters and to provide control instructions to the at least one monitored site management system to affect the at least one monitored site condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RECON PILLAR, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Joyal, Alexander Schwarzkopf, Sean Iacobone
  • Patent number: 11576313
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solar power system for use with a mechanized irrigation system. According to a first preferred embodiment, the solar power system of the present includes solar panels which produce DC current which is used to power the irrigation system and to store water in an elevated storage tank. The systems of the present invention selectively use the water stored in the elevated storage tank to provide water pressure to the irrigation system. According to a further preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention preferably converts the power from the solar panels to AC current and uses AC current to power the movement of the irrigation system and other sub-systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: VALMONT INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Stromp
  • Patent number: 11577463
    Abstract: In an example, a method includes operating, by a processor, on object model data and operating, on a processor, on pattern data. The object model data describes at least part of an object to be generated in additive manufacturing and the pattern data describes an object pattern intended to be formed on at least a portion of the part of the object to be generated in additive manufacturing. The method includes determining, by a processor, control data to control a print agent applicator to apply a pattern of fusing agent onto a part of a layer of build material. The pattern of fusing agent comprises a fusing agent area and a gap area that lacks fusing agent. The gap area corresponds to the object pattern such that no fusing agent is applied to a part of the layer of build material that corresponds to the object pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Wei Huang, Gary J. Dispoto, Craig Peter Sayers
  • Patent number: 11579637
    Abstract: A fluid distribution manifold may receive a first required flow rate for a first flow of fluid that flows to a fluid handling device or a reservoir. A first operation state may be determined for a first valve assembly that regulates the first flow, the manifold may operate the first valve assembly based on the first operation state, and a first position tracker may be incremented based on the first operation. Based on a value of a cycle tracker, the manifold may identify a second valve assembly in an operation cycle and access a second control input that includes a second required flow rate for a second flow of fluid regulated by the second valve assembly. The manifold may cause the second valve assembly to operate based on at least one of a second operation state and a change in the second actual flow rate resulting from the first operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Doyle, William Weiss
  • Patent number: 11580582
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are disclosed. The method, when implemented in a computer system, includes obtaining product information, selecting a production node from a plurality of production nodes, and communicating production information to the production node. The product information is configured to facilitate production of a product. The selecting performed by the computer system comprises determining a physical location of a destination of the product and identifying the production node. The identifying is based, at least in part, on the physical location and one or more production criteria. The production information comprises information identifying the product. The computer system is configured to communicate with each production node of the plurality of production nodes. The communicating is configured to result in production of the product by the production node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Gerald McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 11548228
    Abstract: A system for presenting a soft-proof of a three-dimensional (3D) printed part may include a processor, and a memory device communicatively coupled to the processor. The system may also include a communication link to support communication with a 3D printing device, and computer usable program code to, when executed by the processor, retrieve data from the 3D printing device defining at least one capability of the 3D printing device that affects an appearance of a part when printed. The system may also include an application programming interface (API) to provide data defining generation of a soft-proof of the part based on the at least one capability of the 3D printing device, the soft-proof of the part depicting characteristics of the part as the part appears as printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Ingeborg Tastl, Miguel Angel Lopez Alvarez, Morgan T. Schramm, Jordi Roca Vila, Matthew A. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11550274
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an n-th parameter adjuster and an (n+1)-th parameter adjuster. The n-th parameter adjuster adjusts an n-th parameter set so that an n-th evaluation value set based on the n-th parameter set approaches an n-th target value set. The (n+1)-th parameter adjuster adjusts an (n+1)-th parameter set so that an (n+1)-th evaluation value set based on the (n+1)-th parameter set approaches an (n+1)-th target value set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hideyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11531017
    Abstract: In the present application, a method for assessing water shortage risk, device, computer device and storage medium are provided, wherein the method for assessing water shortage risk comprises: acquiring a volume of blue water flowing into soil of a to-be-assessed-area within a target time period, and a volume of retention water flowing into and retained in the soil of the to-be-assessed-area within the target time period; and determining a water shortage risk indicator of the to-be-assessed-area indicating a degree of water shortage risk of the to-be-assessed-area, according to a ratio of the volume of blue water to the volume of retention water. A higher ratio of the volume of blue water to the volume of retention water indicates poor ability of the soil's water to meet the demand for use and greater degree of the water shortage risk of the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventors: Junguo Liu, Ganquan Mao
  • Patent number: 11531326
    Abstract: A plant management system includes: a control device; and a management device. The control device includes: a manipulation parameter setting unit that sets values of manipulation parameters; a state parameter acquisition unit that acquires values of state parameters indicating an operating condition of the plant; and a transmitter that transmits these values to the management device. The management device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires these values; a database that stores set values of manipulation parameters and actually measured values or predicted values of state parameters when the plant is operated based on the set values, corresponding to each other; and a determination unit that determines a set value of a manipulation parameter capable of improving a value of a predetermined state parameter of the plant by referring to these values and the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: CHIYODA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Furuichi, Shizuka Ikawa
  • Patent number: 11524461
    Abstract: In an example, a data unit includes a mounting to removably mount the data unit on a receiving portion of an additive manufacturing build material container, a data source to provide data comprising a plurality of additive manufacturing parameters and a communications interface to communicate with a reader of an additive manufacturing build material processing apparatus. The communications interface is to transmit data from the data source to the additive manufacturing build material processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Vicente Granados Asensio, Emilio Lopez Matos, Ismael Chanclon Fernandez, Jorge Castano Aspas, Salvador Sanchez Ribes, Luis Garcia Garcia, Carmen Blasco
  • Patent number: 11526152
    Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques are provided for verifying that a fabrication system can fabricate a proposed segmented design. A paintbrush pattern that represents capabilities of the fabrication system is determined. One or more forbidden patterns that the fabrication system is not capable of fabricating are determined based on the paintbrush pattern. The proposed segmented design is then searched for the forbidden patterns. If any forbidden patterns are found, the proposed segmented design is determined to not be fabricable by the fabrication system. If no forbidden patterns are found, then the proposed segmented design is determined to be fabricable by the fabrication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Albin Lee Jones