Patents Examined by Chad Rapp
  • Patent number: 7676281
    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
  • Patent number: 7672740
    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
  • Patent number: 7653459
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pouchak, Wacker Paul
  • Patent number: 7650202
    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
  • Patent number: 7636609
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Masanobu Higashide
  • Patent number: 7630786
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Hendler, Matthew Richter
  • Patent number: 7596432
    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
  • Patent number: 7596430
    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
  • Patent number: 7593784
    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
  • Patent number: 7565220
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Chung-Ho Huang, Shih-Jeun Fan
  • Patent number: 7561930
    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
  • Patent number: 7548789
    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
  • Patent number: 7542820
    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
  • Patent number: 7536231
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. McClanahan, James Soss
  • Patent number: 7532952
    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
  • Patent number: 7532953
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Innovative Therapies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Vogel
  • Patent number: 7526364
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Rule, Mark Maslov
  • Patent number: 7526355
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Kline, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7512451
    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
  • Patent number: 7509189
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: ICS Triplex Technology Limited
    Inventor: Ian Jones