Patents Examined by Christopher E Everett
  • User interfaces for remote management and control of network-connected thermostats
    Patent number: 9489062
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide user interface methods for interacting with and managing network-connected thermostats through a thermostat management system. The user interface method identifies a primary enclosure associated with a thermostat management account with the remaining enclosures deemed secondary enclosures. The user interface displays the primary enclosure using a primary enclosure selection appearing in a foreground area of the user interface as a house and adjacent to thermostat selections representing each of the network-connected thermostats installed in the primary enclosure. In a background area of the user interface, a primary weather visual incorporates images of various weather patterns reflecting both a weather pattern in the vicinity of the primary enclosure and an approximate time of day at the geographic location of the primary enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick B. Corcoran, Anthony Michael Fadell, David Sloo, Matthew Lee Rogers, Thomas Crabtree, Michael James Matas
  • Load display device for machine tool
    Patent number: 9483042
    Abstract: A load display device for a machine tool acquires machine coordinate values and load values for axes of the machine tool for each predetermined time from an axis drive control unit for drivingly controlling the machine tool. Three-dimensional coordinate values of a tool center point is calculated to obtain a tool trajectory, based on the machine coordinate values for the axes acquired for each predetermined time and information on a configuration of the machine tool. As the tool trajectory is displayed by a display device, vectors of the load values for the axes stored for each predetermined time are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Sato, Yamato Iwamura
  • Program and device which automatically generate operation program
    Patent number: 9483040
    Abstract: An automatically generating program and device are provided which can easily and accurately create an operation program with no need of providing an image data input device. The program, causes a work head to move relative to a work object and to carry out desired work, includes the steps of displaying a reference data input window which allows input of shape data of the work object or a work region (STEP 201), taking in image data of the work object or the work region (STEP 202), compensating for distortion in the taken-in image data (STEP 203), displaying a movement path input window which allows designation of a movement path with the compensated image data displayed as a background (STEP 204), and automatically generating the operation program based on the movement path that is designated on the movement path input window (STEP 205).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: MUSASHI ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ikushima
  • Cogeneration system
    Patent number: 9476620
    Abstract: In a cogeneration system 1 configured to supply electricity and heat with a gas engine 5 as an engine and including a thermally driven heat pump 3 and a thermally-driven-heat-pump assisted electric heat pump 4 as an electrically driven heat pump, a controller 44 as an operation controller configured to perform a power control in such a manner that generated electricity e of the gas engine 5 becomes equal to balance electricity eb as the sum of required electricity De2 for driving a thermally-driven-heat-pump assisted electrically driven heat pump 4 configured to compensate heat demand Dh of the cogeneration system 1 and electricity demand De1 of the cogeneration system 1, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Takemoto, Ryoichi Hagiwara, Takahiro Kyakuno, Megumi Suzuki
  • Base load estimation for a combined cycle power plant with steam turbine clutch
    Patent number: 9464957
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a base load in a combined cycle power plant with a steam turbine clutch are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a system may include a controller and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The processor may be configured to receive operating parameters associated with a combined cycle power plant. The combined cycle power plant may comprise a gas turbine permanently coupled to a generator and a steam turbine selectively coupled to the generator via a clutch. The processor may be further configured to receive an engagement status associated with the clutch and receive first data and second data. Based on the engagement status, the processor may select the first data or the second data and use that to estimate a base load. The base load estimation may be calibrated based on the operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Yuhui Chen
  • System, method, and apparatus for electric power grid and network management of grid elements
    Patent number: 9465397
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments for electric power grid and network registration and management of active grid elements. Grid elements are transformed into active grid elements following initial registration of each grid element with the system, preferably through network-based communication between the grid elements and a coordinator, either in coordination with or outside of an IP-based communications network router. A multiplicity of active grid elements function in the grid for supply capacity, supply and/or load curtailment as supply or capacity. Also preferably, messaging is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Smart-grid adaptive power management method and system with power factor optimization and total harmonic distortion reduction
    Patent number: 9448577
    Abstract: A method and system of power factor optimization and total harmonic distortion are provided under the premise of efficient power management and distribution on an electrical grid. The method and system include a novel optimization technique based on a novel current profiling methodology enabling real-time power management with power factor correction as a function of the optimization. The optimization can be performed under dynamic current constraints. When deployed on an electrical grid, the method and system can provide a new technique for power management targeting an efficiency of the electrical grid. The method and system can thus provide for reduced costs of energy production and reduced carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Networked Power Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Kouroussis, Emre Kulali
  • System and method for automated object measurement
    Patent number: 9441936
    Abstract: A method for automated part probing using a physical machine defining a physical working volume, the method including: generating a virtual model based on a virtual part design received from a user account, the virtual model comprising a virtual part model, based on the virtual part design, virtually fixed to a virtual fixture plate arranged within a virtual working volume representative of the physical working volume; generating a probing routine based on the virtual model; sending the probing routine to the machine; receiving probe outputs from the machine; and validating the virtual model based on the probe outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Plethora Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Pinkston, Jonathan Stults
  • System and method for energy distribution
    Patent number: 9438041
    Abstract: A Dispatch Planner (DP) is a component in an Energy System Controller that controls the operation of energy resources interconnected into one energy system to provide optimal energy management for a customer. In one embodiment, the energy storage system includes an electric load, dispatchable sources of energy such as an electrical grid, diesel generators, combined heat and power generators; renewable sources of energy such as photo-voltaic cells and wind turbines; and stored energy resources such as electrochemical batteries or pumped hydro reserves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: Bosch Energy Storage Solutions LLC, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Binayak Roy, Maksim Subbotin, Ashish S. Krupadanam, Jasim Ahmed
  • Auto-configuring time-of day for building control unit
    Patent number: 9429962
    Abstract: Provided according to some embodiments is a thermostat is capable of discerning the time-of-day without external input. Should the user fail to set the time, the thermostat uses one or more sensors to determine the time-of-day through a variety of techniques. In one example, a light sensor can monitor natural light to understand the cycle of sun with respect to the installation location. From the cycle of natural light a latitude, time-of-year, time-of-day, etc. can be estimated through processing sensor information over time. Should the thermostat have its time manually set or gathered from the network, it would override the estimated time-of-day. Techniques can be used to filter input from the one or more sensors to avoid confusion from other inputs, for example, man-made lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Yoky Matsuoka
  • Method and apparatus for actively managing electric power supply for an electric power grid
    Patent number: 9429974
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing power supplied over an electric power grid by an electric utility and/or other market participants to multiplicity of grid elements and devices for supply and/or load curtailment as supply, each of which having a Power Supply Value (PSV) associated with its energy consumption and/or reduction in consumption and/or supply, and wherein messaging is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements and devices, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Intelligent actuator and method of monitoring actuator health and integrity
    Patent number: 9423050
    Abstract: An intelligent actuator for a control valve includes an actuator body, an actuator rod, a biasing device, a controller, and at least one sensor. The actuator body includes an actuator casing defining a cavity. The actuator rod is adapted to be coupled to a control element of a control valve. The biasing device is disposed in the cavity of the actuator housing and operably coupled to the actuator rod for biasing the actuator rod into a predetermined position. The controller is carried by the actuator body and includes a memory, a processor, and logic stored on the memory. The at least one sensor is operably coupled to the controller for measuring various parameters of the actuator and transmitting those parameters to the controller. The at least one sensor can include one or more vibration sensors, one or more acoustic sensors, one or more temperature sensors, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Shawn W. Anderson
  • Intelligent thermostatic control method and device for an air conditioner blowing cold and hot air
    Patent number: 9417638
    Abstract: An intelligent thermostatic method for an air conditioner blowing cold and hot air has steps of calculating an estimated thermal load according to an indoor temperature, an outdoor temperature, a configured temperature, a sunlight intensity, and a cooling/heating capacity corresponding to the estimated thermal load; adjusting the air conditioner according to the estimated thermal load and providing an estimated cooling/heating capacity; and determining a difference value between an actual cooling/heating capacity and the estimated cooling/heating capacity and adjusting the air conditioner according to the difference value for thermostatic control. Accordingly, the air conditioner of the present invention has enhanced power utilization efficiency of the air conditioner without having to repeatedly turn on and off the electric compressor of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH & TESTING CENTER
    Inventors: Yen-Ting Cheng, Po-Hsu Lin
  • Hot strip mill controller
    Patent number: 9411324
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling the height of a looper in an inter-stand section of a hot strip mill that overcomes the problem of looper instability due to looper inertia without the need for the controller of upstream rollers to have a reduced gain. The inter-stand section of the hot strip mill comprises a pair of upstream rollers driven by a main motor and a looper driven by a looper motor. The method comprises the steps of: calculating a desired speed trim to be applied by the main motor; estimating the inertia of the looper; calculating a torque necessary to overcome the inertia of the looper from the speed trim, the estimated inertia of the looper and a sensitivity calculated from the geometry of the looper; and controlling the main motor to apply the speed trim to the upstream rollers and controlling the looper motor to apply the calculated torque to the looper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventor: Aleksandar Mechev
  • Representing geological objects specified through time in a spatial geology modeling framework
    Patent number: 9395886
    Abstract: A method can include providing a geological time data structure configured to link objects of a reservoir model to geological times; linking one of the objects of the reservoir model to one of the geological times; generating simulation results for the reservoir model; and, based at least in part on the geological time data structure, outputting at least some of the simulation results along a geological time axis. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ben Kurtenbach, Martin Neumaier, Stefan Steden, Nicola Tessen
  • Electrical load management system and method
    Patent number: 9397515
    Abstract: A load management system provides an interface between a power input and several switched power outputs and un-switched power outputs. A controller groups the switched power outputs into one or more load groups based on a switched current limit determined for the system and the measured currents of the electrical loads. The load groups are defined so that the sum of electrical load currents in each load group does not exceed the switched current limit. The controller also activates one or more switches to apply electrical power to the load groups according to a power sequence. A method for distributing electrical power to electrical loads using load groups is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ergotron, Inc.
    Inventor: William Dale Tischer
  • System and method for coordination of building automation system demand and shade control
    Patent number: 9367053
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for coordinating and controlling a building automation system (such as building HVAC system) and a building shading system so as to provide efficient energy management and other benefits are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Christian Kuhlmann, Vitus Blumenthal, Rene Rauchenstein
  • Smart device for industrial automation
    Patent number: 9363336
    Abstract: A cloud-aware smart device that facilitates automated configuration and integration of the device within an automation system is provided. Upon installation within the automation system, the smart device determines its geographical location, identifies other devices on the system, and determines its role within the system. The smart device then establishes communication with a cloud platform running one or more cloud-based applications or services and sends a device profile containing the gathered information to the cloud platform. The device profile can be used to automatically configure the device for operation within the system or to add the smart device to an existing cloud-based application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Energy management system and method
    Patent number: 9360874
    Abstract: A method of managing at least one network device at a site includes providing a web-based control selector to manage a detection module to control the at least one network device at the site. The method includes enabling the detection module in response to an enabled setting of the web-based control selector, and initiating a change in an operating condition of the at least one network device at the site in response to the enabled detection module and based on a detected presence of a user at the site. The method proceeds by disabling the detection module in response to the disabled web-based control selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John F. Cottrell
  • Predictive phase balancing for demand response
    Patent number: 9356447
    Abstract: Predictive phase balancing is implemented by a host system computer and logic executable by the host system computer. The logic is configured to receive customer demand profiles from each customer serviced by a poly-phase grid network and create a demand forecast from anticipated power demands collected from the customer demand profiles. Creating the customer demand profiles includes breaking down loads for each customer by corresponding phases in the poly-phase power grid network. The loads correspond to the anticipated power demands. The logic is also configured to balance the loads among each of the phases based on any load imbalances determined from the demand forecast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Maharaj Mukherjee