Patents Examined by Chad G Erdman
  • Patent number: 11160221
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a schedule on an irrigation controller is claimed. For each irrigation zone, out of a set of one or more irrigation zones, the process begins by receiving input for an irrigation controller for both i) an offset from an irrigation cycle start time according to a master clock in the irrigation controller and ii) a length of run time. Next the offset from the irrigation cycle start timer and the length of runtime is stored in a data structure such as an ordered array. An overall multiplier for the data structure is also stored. Continuing further the data structure with or without the overall multiplier is wirelessly transmitted to the irrigation controller. In one example the set of the one or more irrigation zones are in numerical order. In another example the set of one more irrigation zones is out of numerical order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hoover Pumping Systems Corporation
    Inventor: David Ross Melrose
  • Patent number: 11154019
    Abstract: A sprinkler system for lawns and landscaping is custom-fitted to each particular lot or area to be irrigated. Each in-ground, pop-up, rotating sprinkler head has a pattern defining plate fitted therein having a central opening made therein, as by laser cutting, solid particle deposition, or the like, the opening being congruent with the area to be watered, as adjusted for any sloped portions of the area. A pattern sampling aperture aligned with spray nozzles of the sprinkler rotates about the opening in the defining plate, feeding an amount of water to each radial line of the area about the sprinkler sufficient to reach from the sprinkler position out to the periphery. A speed control comprising a spring-biased cam and an opposing turbine wheel in the water flow slows spray head rotation at arc portions of longer water throw and speeds rotation where the throw is shorter, thus to obtain substantially uniform water coverage over all parts of the area served by each sprinkler head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventor: Robert E. DeWitt
  • Patent number: 11158355
    Abstract: A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library, the at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame, wherein the at least one library frame has at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system also includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame, a library controller, and at least one louver, where the louver may be selectively moveable to control a communication pathway for external air to enter the at least one library frame. In one embodiment, the at least one louver may be controlled by the library controller to automatically open when it is detected that the one or more access doors are opened, and to close the louver when the one or more access doors are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest S. Gale, Icko E. T. Iben, Leonard G. Jesionowski, James M. Karp, Michael P. McIntosh, Shawn M. Nave, Lee C. Randall
  • Patent number: 11150634
    Abstract: An exemplary additive manufacturing method includes receiving a build file comprising instructions for controlling the manufacturing hardware to generate an object, receiving a material identifier indicating a particular lot of manufacturing media, validating the build file and the material identifier via a distributed ledger to verify both an author of the build file and an origin of the particular lot of manufacturing media, causing manufacturing hardware to generate the object using the build file and the particular lot of manufacturing media, generating an object manufactured transaction to the distributed ledger indicating a result of the validation of the origin of the at least one of the build file or the material identifier, and certifying the object in response to verifying the author of the build file and the origin of the particular lot of manufacturing media, and wherein the object manufactured transaction indicates that the object is certified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Freer, Richard Paul Messmer, Arvind Rangarajan, David Robert Safford
  • Patent number: 11148341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for evaluating at least one industrial process for the film production of a film and/or for the further processing using the film, comprising at least one production device (20) which is operated for the production of the film, and at least one further processing device (30) which is operated for further processing using the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Windmöller & Hölscher KG
    Inventor: Torsten Schmitz
  • Patent number: 11137737
    Abstract: A numerical control device according to the present invention includes: an upper limit value acquisition unit which acquires an upper limit value for a cutting speed that is a relative speed of the cutting tool to the workpiece; a reference speed calculation unit which calculates a revolution number of the spindle, and a feedrate; an oscillation speed calculation unit which calculates an oscillation speed that is superimposed on the feedrate; a cutting speed calculation unit which calculates the cutting speed based on the revolution number of the spindle, the feedrate and the oscillation speed; and a speed adjustment unit which adjusts at least either one of the revolution number of the spindle and the feedrate, so that a maximum value of the cutting speed calculated by the cutting speed calculation unit does not exceed the upper limit value acquired by the upper limit value acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryou Morihashi, Naoto Sonoda, Kenta Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11131976
    Abstract: A system, method and gateway are provided. The method is executed by a primary gateway, and includes obtaining status information from smart devices, a first portion of which belong to and communicate with the primary gateway using a first standard, and a second portion of which belong to and communicate with a secondary gateway using a second standard. The status information from the smart devices belonging to the secondary gateway is received from the secondary gateway, and the status information from the smart devices belonging to the primary gateway is received directly from the smart devices belonging to the primary gateway. A control instruction for controlling a second smart device is generated in response to status information from a first smart device complying with an interworking rule, where the first and second smart devices communicate using different standards. The control instruction is transmitted to the second smart device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Yang, Xiao Qing Liang, Kai Qian, Hua Mao, Chao Hui Ding
  • Patent number: 11116154
    Abstract: A field controller and sensor is presented as an elongate body having a hollow interior and axially opposite first and second ends with a first arm extending outward from the elongate body adjacent to the first axial end and a second arm extending outward from the elongate body adjacent to the second, axially opposite end. Each of the arms has an imaging device. The first arm imaging device is positioned to obtain images in a direction toward the second axial end of the elongate body. The second arm imaging device is positioned to obtain images in a direction toward the first axial end. The first and second arms are spaced apart from one another along a length of the elongate body at a distance sufficient to image a canopy of crop growth in a field in which the field controller and sensor is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
    Inventors: Nadia Shakoor, Todd Mockler, William Francis Kezele
  • Patent number: 11116153
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory is disclosed. The at least one processor may be configured to render, on a user interface, a circular shape representing a center pivot irrigation system. The at least one processor may also be configured to receive a first input via the user interface indicating a first input point on the user interface. The at least one processor may also be configured to render, on the user interface, an alteration point marker on the circular shape at a first position aligned with the first input point and a center of the circular shape. The first position of the alteration point marker corresponding to a first radial position of the pivot. The at least one processor may be configured to control the center pivot irrigation system to alter operation of the pivot at the first radial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Orbit Irrigation Products, LLC
    Inventors: Jason R. Sims, James G. Stewart, II, Brad J. Wardle
  • Patent number: 11108616
    Abstract: A remote management mediating apparatus, a remote management system, and a remote management method. The remote management mediating apparatus receives request data issued from a remote device management apparatus to one or more management target devices remotely managed by the remote device management apparatus, identifies a device mediating apparatus capable of communicating by a communication method supported by the management target device, and transfers the received request data to the identified device mediating apparatus and when the device mediating apparatus is replaced with another device mediating apparatus, acquires settings information for remote management set in the device mediating apparatus, supplies the settings information to the another device mediating apparatus, and resets the settings information to the another device mediating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Matsushima
  • Patent number: 11092979
    Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) olfactory apparatus includes an odorant saturation chamber having an inlet and an outlet. At least a portion of the odorant saturation chamber includes a plurality of beads and a liquid. The liquid includes an odorant concentrate. The inlet extends into this portion of the odorant saturation chamber. The VR apparatus also includes a mass flow controller to generate an air flow to the inlet of the odorant saturation chamber such that the air flow passes through the portion of the odorant saturation chamber to form an odorant. The air flow passes the odorant through the outlet of the odorant saturation chamber. The VR apparatus further includes a nose chamber connected to the outlet and configured to receive the odorant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Daniel Andrew Dombeck, Brad Allen Radvansky
  • Patent number: 11092983
    Abstract: An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor and one optical sensor to monitor a thermal spray system controlled by a plurality of control parameters and performing a process associated with a plurality of process outputs. The system includes a computing device including a machine learning module and a control module. The machine learning module is configured to determine, based on at least the plurality of control parameters, an at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal, an at least one image data signal, and the plurality of process outputs, a relationship between the plurality of control parameters and the plurality of process outputs by machine learning. The control module is configured to control the thermal spray system to adjust the plurality of process outputs toward a plurality of respective operating ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Cybulsky, Taylor K. Blair, Benjamin Zimmerman, Marshall Louis Sweet, Andrea Marcon
  • Patent number: 11093012
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes delivering power, data, and cooling from a central network device to a plurality of remote communications devices over cables connecting the central network device to the remote communications devices, each of the cables carrying said power, data, and cooling, and receiving at the central network device, power and thermal data from the remote communications devices based on monitoring of power and cooling at the remote communications devices. The remote communications devices are powered by the power and cooled by the cooling delivered from the central network device. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joel Richard Goergen, Charles Calvin Byers, Robert Gregory Twiss, D. Brice Achkir
  • Patent number: 11085663
    Abstract: An environmental control system for a building including heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that operates to affect a temperature of a zone of the building. The system includes a temperature sensor to measure the temperature and a controller including a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to operate the HVAC equipment based on a temperature setpoint and gather training data indicating system dynamics. The processing circuit is configured to monitor a temperature tracking error of the zone and a heat transfer value of the HVAC equipment and determine if the HVAC equipment is in a saturation region based on the temperature tracking error and the heat transfer value. The processing circuit is configured to, in response to a determination that the HVAC equipment is in the saturation region, calculate an adjusted temperature setpoint and operate the HVAC equipment based on the adjusted temperature setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ellis, Anas W. I. Alanqar
  • Patent number: 11086285
    Abstract: A numerical control device according to the present invention includes: an upper limit value acquisition unit which acquires an upper limit value for a cutting speed that is a relative speed of the cutting tool to the workpiece; a reference speed calculation unit which calculates a revolution number of the spindle, and a feedrate; an oscillation speed calculation unit which calculates an oscillation speed that is superimposed on the feedrate; a cutting speed calculation unit which calculates the cutting speed based on the revolution number of the spindle, the feedrate and the oscillation speed; and a speed adjustment unit which adjusts at least either one of the revolution number of the spindle and the feedrate, so that a maximum value of the cutting speed calculated by the cutting speed calculation unit does not exceed the upper limit value acquired by the upper limit value acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryou Morihashi, Naoto Sonoda, Kenta Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11079820
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for operation of a removable storage device. In some aspects, the device can initialize the operation of a removable storage device, such as with a host device. The device can also identify an environment around the device as a thermally enhanced environment or a thermally non-enhanced environment in response to the initialization of operation of the device. Additionally, the device can select a thermal control loop algorithm of the removable storage device based on the identified environment. The device can also adjust a thermal control loop algorithm of the device based on the identified environment. Moreover, the device can control processing operations of a processor in response to the adjusted thermal control loop algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: George Easton Scott, III
  • Patent number: 11079831
    Abstract: A system for managing changes in current demand, including one or more processors, a memory coupled to at least one of the processors, a clock generation circuit coupled to the memory and configured to output a clock, one or more functional blocks, a power supply, configured to output a plurality of voltage levels, and a power management unit. The power management unit may be configured to set the power supply output to a first voltage level and then detect indications of an impending change in current demand within the SoC. If an indication of an impending change in current demand is detected, then the power management unit may be configured to adjust the power supply output to a second voltage level. After determining the impending change in current demand has occurred, the power management unit may be configured to adjust the power supply output back to the first voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Toshinari Takayanagi, Jung Wook Cho, Patrick D. McNamara
  • Patent number: 11078849
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a fluid-based system are disclosed. The systems and methods may include generating a model output using a model processor, processing a model input vector and setting a model operating mode, and setting dynamic states of the model processor, the dynamic states input to an open loop model based on the model operating mode. Synthesized parameters are generated as a function of the dynamic states and the model input vector based on a series of utilities, where at least one of the utilities is a configurable utility including one or more sub-utilities. An estimated state of the model is determined based on at least one of a prior state and the synthesized parameters. An actuator associated with the control device is directed as a function of a model output, where the model output includes an estimated thrust value for the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Richard P. Meisner, Matthew Donald, Thomas E. Case
  • Patent number: 11079739
    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: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Alexander Chen, Xiaohu Ping, John Erik Hershey
  • Patent number: 11071264
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved valve assembly and valve controller for controlling the movement of fluid for irrigation. In according with a preferred embodiment, the present invention teaches a system and method for monitoring the status of a valve assembly and for providing “proof of placement” for selected applicants. According to further preferred embodiments, the present invention includes a valve assembly including a valve controller for applying an electric current to a latch valve thereby switching the latch valve from a first flow state to a second flow state. According to a further preferred embodiment, the valve assembly of the present invention preferably further includes a state/current detector which preferably measures the active current being applied to the latch valve and outputs the measured waveform for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: VALMONT INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Moeller