Abstract: A distributed database system within an industrial automation environment comprises a plurality of associated programmable logic controllers, wherein each of the programmable logic controllers includes data relating to one of a process and a device. Furthermore, the data within the plurality of programmable logic controllers can conform to a hierarchically structured data model, which, for example, can be based upon ISA S95, ISA S88, OMAC, or any suitable combination thereof. A reception component receives and services a request for data that is located within at least one of the programmable logic controllers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2005
Date of Patent:
March 9, 2010
Assignee:
Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Gavan W. Hood, Ralph Kappelhoff, Kenwood H. Hall
Abstract: Systems and methods that provide for event driven downloading, via defining storage thresholds in an embedded historian (e.g. micro historian). Upon reaching predetermined thresholds (e.g., low/high water marks), stored data in the embedded historians can automatically down load to a central plant historian. An automatic download engine is provided that down loads historian data based on satisfaction of such conditions defined for the download. The download engine can further include a detector component, which detects whether a predetermined condition (e.g., associated with the storage capacity of the micro-historians have been met. Moreover, a notification component can notify the embedded historians that the data have been permanently persisted in the central historian.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 2, 2010
Assignee:
Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
John J. Baier, Robert J. McGreevy, Taryl J Jasper, Robert J. Herbst
Abstract: A variable velocity calibration and balancing system having a basis in a function block engine. It pertains to variable air volume systems and particularly to balancing systems as they relate to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Balancing may be addressed using functional blocks to represent actual control and connections in an HVAC application for a variable air volume application.
Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle part, wherein the motor vehicle or the motor vehicle part is assembled from components, wherein at least two components are each connected to at least one transponder in order to transmit an identification information item, wherein an identification information item transmitted by a transponder is received by means of a first antenna, wherein an identification information item transmitted by a transponder is received by means of a second antenna and wherein it is checked whether a component can be installed or is correctly installed, wherein the component is installed or is classified as correctly installed only if at least one identification information item received by means of the first antenna corresponds both to an identification information item received by means of the second antenna and to a predefined identification information item.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 4, 2005
Date of Patent:
January 19, 2010
Assignee:
Volkswagen AG
Inventors:
Sven Strohband, Manojkumar Debnath, Thomas Chan
Abstract: In a method for detecting abnormal characteristic values of a plurality of products sequentially manufactured in the same manufacturing line, it is determined whether or not a successive-decrease (or increase) tendency has occurred in a plurality of sequentially-obtained characteristic values of the products. Also, it is determined whether or not at least a last one of the characteristic values is located within a control region narrower than an allowable region and outside a normal region narrower than the control region. Further, when the successive-decrease or increase tendency has occurred and the last characteristic value is located within the control region outside the normal region, an alarm state is detected.
Abstract: A method for identifying a predetermined state of a manufacturing process by monitoring the process which involves, monitoring a plurality of variables that vary in value during the manufacturing process. The method also involves mapping as points in a hyperspace the values of each variable at a plurality of times, where the hyperspace has a number of dimensions equal to the number of variables and the number of points is equal to the plurality of times. The method also involves identifying that a manufacturing process has reached the predetermined state when one of the points reaches a closed volume in the hyperspace that is located within a predefined distance from a predefined location in the hyperspace.
Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, computer usable code, and apparatus are provided for optimizing the thermal performance of a computer system. A set of processor cores associated with the computer system are identified. A thermal index is requested for each of the set of processor cores and the processor cores are ranked based on the thermal index. Software is then mapped to execute on an optimal processor core form the set of processor cores based on the ranking.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 3, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2009
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Maximino Aguilar, Jr., Charles Ray Johns, Mark Richard Nutter, James Michael Stafford
Abstract: A method of controlling the temperature inside a cavity of a cooling appliance provided with a temperature sensor inside the cavity and with an actuator for adjusting the cooling capacity of the appliance, the food temperature is estimated on the basis of a value from the temperature sensor and on a predetermined function of a status of the actuator.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 7, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2009
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Alessandro Boer, Raffaele Paganini, Rocco Petrigliano, Paolo Sicher, Paolo Toniolo, Alessandra Suardi
Abstract: A machine condition assessment module may be integrated with standard industrial control and communications networks to receive dynamic operating data from signal processing engines and optionally process data from controlled machinery and to operate on that data according to standard and user customized rule sets to produce an assessment of the presence and severity of specific electrical and/or mechanical faults. The output of the assessment module will be, for each of the one or more machines monitored, and for each of the one or more faults assessed, a single parameter that indicates the presence and severity of the fault. This data, in turn, may be readily communicated to an industrial controller on the network for use in effecting the control process itself.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2009
Assignee:
Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Patrick F. Carle, Thomas Alford, David Bibelhausen
Abstract: A targeted data collection system configured to collect processing data in a plasma processing system is provided. The system includes a data collection host and a plurality of plasma processing components having a plurality of sensors such that each of the plurality of plasma processing components having at least one sensor. Each of the sensors implements at least one intelligent targeted data agent that governs sensor data collection behavior. The system further includes a communication network coupling data collection host and plurality of sensors for bi-directional communication such that a given sensor of plurality of sensors receive information from data collection host pertaining to plasma processing system conditions occurring elsewhere from given sensor.
Abstract: Dynamic modifier function blocks for use in a process control system are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect, an example function block is stored on a machine readable medium for use in a process control system. The example function block includes a base function block that causes a machine to perform an algorithm associated with the process control system and at least one attribute located within the base function block that causes the machine to delete or instantiate at least one dynamic modifier function block.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 2, 2006
Date of Patent:
July 14, 2009
Assignee:
Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Marina Sokolova, Marty James Lewis, Larry Oscar Jundt
Abstract: An editor in an industrial automation environment comprises an input component that receives modification data relating to at least one of lifecycle and deployment of an object, the object is associated with a programmable logic controller and configured in accordance with a hierarchically structured data model. An implementation component can implement the modification data with respect to the object. The editor can further comprise a security component that determines that an entity providing the data to the input component is authorized to implement the modification data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2005
Date of Patent:
June 16, 2009
Assignee:
Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Sujeet Chand, Stephen C. Briant, Kenwood H. Hall, Gavan W. Hood, John J. Baier, Michael D. Kalan
Abstract: A method for affecting a creation of a recipe for processing a substrate in a processing system. The method includes providing a best-known method driven recipe editor. The best-known method driven recipe editor incorporates best-known methods (BKMs), which are best practice specifications for the recipe. The method also includes creating a plurality of BKM modules based on the BKMs for the recipe. The method further includes defining rules for parameters in the plurality of BKM modules. The rules are propagated by the BKMs. The methods moreover includes creating a BKM driven recipe by employing the best-known method driven recipe editor to enter values for the parameters within the guidelines of BKM rules.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 2, 2009
Assignee:
Lam Research Corporation
Inventors:
Chung-Ho Huang, Shih-Jeun Fan, Chin Chuan Chang, Nicolas Bright
Abstract: A method for determining if a proposed color solution, such as paint, pigments, or dye formulations, is acceptable, is provided. The inputs to the system are the actual color values of an item, differential color values, a proposed color solution, and second color values associated with the proposed color solution. The system includes an artificial intelligence model to analyze the inputs and produce an output for communicating whether the proposed color solution is acceptable. The artificial intelligence model may be embodied in a neural network.
Abstract: An apparatus includes a fluid permeable dressing and a cover membrane configured to extend over the fluid permeable dressing. A tube is coupled to the fluid permeable dressing and is configured to apply suction through the fluid permeable dressing. A fluid reservoir is coupled to the cover membrane, the fluid vessel including an inlet port configured to receive a fluid and an outlet port fluidically coupled to the fluid permeable dressing.
Abstract: In one aspect, improved methods and apparatus for pressure control in an electronic device manufacturing system are provided. The method includes acquiring information related to a current state of the electronic device manufacturing system, determining a desired value of a first parameter of the electronic device manufacturing system based on the acquired information and adjusting at least one parameter of a pump to obtain the desired value of the first parameter of the electronic device manufacturing system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2007
Date of Patent:
May 12, 2009
Assignee:
Applied Materials, Inc.
Inventors:
Mark W. Curry, Sebastien Raoux, Peter Porshnev
Abstract: An arrangement includes a control station for use in a building control system, the building control system having a plurality of field panels operable to communicate with the control station. The control station has a memory and processing circuit that is configured to execute programming instructions in the memory. The memory is configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to: execute a first operating system; execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for at least one of the field panels, the at least one field panel employing a second operating system; and execute software performing at least one supervisory control operation for the plurality of field panels.
Abstract: The subject invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automated manufacturing processes in an industrial controller environment, wherein a system is provided for automated industrial processing in one aspect. The system includes a processor that determines a plurality of attributes of a class-based recipe in order to facilitate various automated industrial control operations. A rules component resolves how the attributes are applied by the processor to the automated industrial control operations. The rules component can include a binding component that may also include a binding requirements component and a binding preferences component that are utilized to process the attributes.
Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for supplying information relating to the hierarchical structure of a plurality of process models. A storage unit stores process controls for process models. A processor associates the process controls with corresponding ones of the process controls. A media file creator creates a media file which depicts, at the direction of a user, relational linkages of the process models based on the association of the process controls.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 20, 2005
Date of Patent:
March 31, 2009
Assignee:
American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Inventors:
Wayne E. Detzler, Mickey K. Tomlinson, Curtis B. Overall, Michael F. Murphy, Sandra Pearson, Robert D. Gilmore, Philip B. Vaughan
Abstract: This invention relates to a speed monitor apparatus for monitoring speed and acceleration of rotating turbine equipment (turbomachinery) and for operating an overspeed trip to shut down the equipment in the event that the speed or acceleration exceed predetermined thresholds. The invention provides a speed monitor module wherein the speed monitor module may be may be plugged in to the same chassis as a module which is controlling the speed of the turbine, and wherein the turbine speed monitor is arranged to receive configuration parameters relating to the overspeed threshold and the overacceleration threshold only when the turbine is operating at a speed lower than a predetermined threshold.