Patents Examined by Crystal J Barnes Bullock
  • Patent number: 11070081
    Abstract: A smart circuit breaker is configured for installation within a panel assembly. The smart circuit breaker includes a breaker device positioned between a power source and a subcircuit, the breaker device having a moveable contactor configured to change from an open state to a closed state, wherein in the closed state power flows from the power source to the subcircuit via a power line, and wherein in the open state power does not flow from the power source to the subcircuit. The smart circuit breaker further includes a power meter configured to measure a power characteristic of the subcircuit. The smart circuit breaker further includes a processing circuit configured to receive a power characteristic measurement from the power meter, the processing circuit having a communications interface configured to communicate power consumption data to an external device, the power consumption data based on the power characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gerald A. Asp, Justin J. Ploegert, Paul K. Schemenauer, Robert A. Fox, Daniel A. Mellenthin
  • Patent number: 11069548
    Abstract: A substrate processing method is provided. The substrate processing method includes placing a substrate storage container storing a substrate on a load port; automatically determining a type of the substrate stored in the placed substrate storage container; by referring to a storage unit that stores a parameter data set related to a transport condition for each substrate type, controlling transport of the substrate stored in the substrate storage container based on the parameter data set corresponding to the automatically determined type of the substrate to process the substrate, and, after automatically determining the type of the substrate, and before transporting the substrate stored in the substrate storage container, performing mapping based on conditions set in the parameter data set to detect an abnormality of the substrate stored in the substrate storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Toru Nishino, Kiyohito Iijima, Shigeru Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 11063630
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting from power sourcing equipment, low voltage pulse power to a powered device in a communications network, performing a safety test, enabling high voltage pulse power operation at the power sourcing equipment upon passing the safety test, and transmitting high voltage pulse power from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device. The powered device synchronizes with a waveform of the low voltage pulse power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Paul Arduini, Sung Kee Baek, Richard Anthony O'Brien, Joel Richard Goergen, Chad M. Jones, Jason DeWayne Potterf, Ruqi Li
  • Patent number: 11056882
    Abstract: A power management device has power consumption information in a building of a power customer, and stores history information in which the acquired power consumption information and time information indicating a time frame in which power has been consumed in the building are associated with each other. When having received a request based on power supply and demand, the power management device determines ease or difficulty in management of power consumption according to the request, on the basis of the stored history information, and power-management-required time frame information indicating a time frame for which power management according to the request is required, and notifies the power customer of a determination result. Then the power management device receives acceptance or rejection of the request, and transmits response information corresponding to a received content, to a request source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11036196
    Abstract: It is disclosed a weather-predictive apparatus for controlling a climatization plant, comprising a weather-climate data sensor associated with a building, a processing unit and a signal transceiver. The signal transceiver is configured to transmit a current measured value of the weather-climate data associated with the building to a weather forecast device and it is configured to receive from the weather forecast device a plurality of weather forecast data associated with the building in a forecast time interval. The processing unit is configured to: calculate a change in a nominal activation instant of the climatization plant of the building, calculate a modified activation instant; check whether the current instant is equal to the modified activation instant. In case wherein the current instant is equal to the modified activation instant, the processing unit is configured to generate a command signal having a value representative of the activation of the climatization plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Raffaele Salerno, Roberto Salimbeni, Sergio Sandro Andrea Alabiso, Alberto Lodi
  • Patent number: 11009263
    Abstract: A solar rotational manufacturing system having a monitoring device, a controller, a heliostat having a heliostat controller, a rotational apparatus having a rotational controller, and a mold, wherein the monitoring device is configured to collect actual data regarding a characteristic of the solar rotational heating system and transmit actual data to the controller, the controller is configured to receive a reference parameter, an affecting parameter, and linking instructions, receive actual data from the monitoring device, compare actual data with a reference parameter, determine an affecting parameter to alter, and transmit alteration instructions to the heliostat controller and/or the rotational controller, the heliostat controller is configured to receive the alteration instructions from the controller and execute the alteration instructions, and the rotational controller is configured to receive the alteration instructions from the controller and execute the alteration instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Karl von Kries, Nicholas Peter Deick
  • Patent number: 11005942
    Abstract: A method and system are provided that synchronize one or more appliances to one or more users' schedules. Sensor data may be obtained from a sensor. The sensor data may indicate a state of a first appliance. A user location may be determined. A first characteristic of the first appliance may be obtained. Based upon the user location and the sensor data, a schedule indicating when the user will desire a state change of the first appliance may be determined. A feature of the first appliance may be dynamically modified to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule. A notice may be sent to the user that contains information about the first appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: John Henry Grossman, IV, Scott Bartlett
  • Patent number: 10983493
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Opteon Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 10983542
    Abstract: Disclosed is a load-predicting and control system for a subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. In one aspect, a load-predicting and control system for a subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is provided. The system includes a basic database, a sensing system, a load predicting unit, and a controller; the basic database stores historical data; the sensing system provides measured data; the load predicting unit calculates a predicted load value of the subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning based on the historical data and the measured data, and transmits the predicted load value to the controller; the controller issues a control command based on the predicted load value. Also provided is a load-predicting and control method for the subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The present disclosure solves problems such as poor accuracy of conventional load prediction and inadequate control of the air conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
    Inventors: Dongjun Sun, Sheng Wang, Juan Wang, Guolin Liu, Yusong Liu
  • Patent number: 10970128
    Abstract: A server is provided. The server includes a communication device configured to receive operation information from an air conditioner, a memory configured to store information of a plurality of groups and a cooling capacity prediction model for predicting a cooling capacity that corresponds to each of the plurality of groups, and a processor to map the air conditioner to one group among the plurality of groups based on the received operation information, and control the communication device to enable the air conditioner to use the cooling capacity prediction model corresponding to the mapped group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyungseon Song, Soonhyung Gwon, Minkyong Kim, Tan Kim, Chandra Ashok Maloo, Dongjun Shin, Hyunwoo Ock, Hyeongjoon Seo, Youngju Joo
  • Patent number: 10948211
    Abstract: A water circulation system for air conditioning system and a control method thereof, wherein the water circulation loop comprises: a main loop provided with air-conditioning indoor units, air-conditioning outdoor units and an actuator, and a bypass branch connected between upstream and downstream of the air-conditioning outdoor units and provided with a bypass valve; the control method comprises: S100, starting the water circulation system after receiving a start command; S200, executing a PID control step after initialization and a first preset time period of the water circulation system; S300, executing a feed forward control step when the operating states of the air-conditioning indoor units and/or the air-conditioning outdoor units are changed, and going back to execute the PID control step after a second preset time period; and S400, executing a shutdown step of the water circulation system after receiving a shutdown command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Liang Chang, Jingwei Sun, Pei Sun, Lishan Wang, Jian Ni, Qing Lu
  • Patent number: 10935967
    Abstract: Provided is a machining equipment system including machining equipment that performs machining of a workpiece; a control device that controls the machining equipment on the basis of a machining condition; a state obtaining device that obtains a state of the machining equipment during the machining; an inspection device that inspects the workpiece after the machining; and a machine learning device that performs machine learning on the basis of a result of inspection by the inspection device and the state of the machining equipment, obtained by the state obtaining device, wherein the machine learning device modifies the machining condition on the basis of a result of the machine learning so as to improve the machining accuracy of the workpiece or so as to minimize the defect rate of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyuki Kuwabara, Norio Takei
  • Patent number: 10931107
    Abstract: Systems and methods of managing an electricity distribution grid, including receiving a layout of at least one electricity distribution grid coupled to at least one power distributor facility, each grid having at least two electrical power nodes, collecting data for at least one consumer of the electricity distribution grid, assigning a dynamic consumer value to each of the at least one consumer according to predefined attributes, determining aggregated power consumption values for each electrical power node, wherein for each electrical power node the aggregated power consumption values are received for all consumers assigned thereto, and allocating resources of the at least one power distributor facility, from the first electrical power node to the second electrical power node, if the difference between the compared consumer values exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORESIGHT ENERGY LTD.
    Inventors: Evgeny Finkel, Emek Sadot, Sergei Edelstein, Nir Badt
  • Patent number: 10932222
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a power storage management system includes a user terminal, a power storage apparatus and an information processing apparatus. In one example embodiment, the information processing apparatus is configured to, using a mobile communication network (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications or the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), communicate with the power storage apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Noma, Tomoyuki Ono, Hiroshi Kawashima, Kayoko Tanaka, Ryoki Honjo, Shigeru Tajima, Daisuke Yamazaki, Kazumi Sato, Yoshihito Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 10921770
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a machine component includes determining a track of a cutting edge and feeding the cutting edge along the track. The determining a track includes calculating a coordinate (X(t), Y(t), Z(t)) of a first end portion of the cutting edge in accordance with X(t)=(Rsh(t)cos ?(t)?Xchip(t)), Y(t)=(Rsh(t)sin ?(t)?Ychip(t)), and Z(t)=(Zsh(t)?Zchip(t)), where a variable t assumes (N+1) values not smaller than 0 and not greater than 1. ?(t) represents an angle formed by a straight line connecting a point of cutting projected on an XY plane and an origin of the XY plane to each other with respect to an X axis, and ?(t) satisfies a condition tan ? ? ? ? ( t ) = tan ? ? ? · tan ? ? ? s - tan ? ? ? · tan 2 ? ? + tan 2 ? ? - tan 2 ? ? s tan ? ? ? · tan ? ? ? s + tan ? ? ? · tan 2 ? ? + tan 2 ? ? - tan 2 ? ? s .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal Corp., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Tool Net, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kanada, Kunishige Tanaka, Shota Takemura, Soichiro Okumura, Jun Okamoto, Futoshi Takeshita
  • Patent number: 10908561
    Abstract: Method and environment controller for inferring via a neural network one or more commands for controlling an appliance. A predictive model generated by a neural network training engine is stored by the environment controller. The environment controller determines at least one room characteristic. The environment controller receives at least one environmental characteristic value and at least one set point. The environment controller executes a neural network inference engine, which uses the predictive model for inferring the one or more commands for controlling the appliance. The inference is based on the at least one environmental characteristic value, the at least one set point and the at least one room characteristic. The environment controller transmits the one or more commands to the controlled appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DISTECH CONTROLS INC.
    Inventor: Francois Gervais
  • Patent number: 10911807
    Abstract: The technology described herein solicits user feedback in order to improve the processing of contextual signal data to identify automation setting preferences. Users have limited availability or willingness to provide explicit feedback. The technology calculates an impact score that measures a possible improvement to the automation system that could result from receiving feedback. Feedback is solicited when the impact score exceeds a threshold. Other rules can be provided in conjunction with the impact score to determine when feedback is solicited, such as a daily cap on feedback solicitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shira Weinberg Harel, Uri Zevulun
  • Patent number: 10901376
    Abstract: A self-optimizing controller for equipment of a plant provides a manipulated variable as an input to the plant and receives an output variable as feedback. The controller generates a performance variable model defining the performance variable as a function of the manipulated variable and an output variable model defining the output variable as a function of the manipulated variable. The controller uses the performance variable model to determine a gradient of the performance variable, uses the output variable model to determine a gradient of the output variable, and generates a self-optimizing variable based on the gradient of the performance variable model and the gradient of the output variable model. The controller operates the equipment of the plant to affect a variable state or condition of the building based on the value of the self-optimizing variable from the self-optimizing variable model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, Timothy I. Salsbury, John M. House
  • Patent number: 10895853
    Abstract: Inference server and environment controller for inferring via a neural network one or more commands for controlling an appliance. The environment controller determines at least one room characteristic. The environment controller receives at least one environmental characteristic value and at least one set point. The environment controller transmits the at least one environmental characteristic, set point and room characteristic to the inference server. The inference server executes a neural network inference engine using a predictive model (generated by a neural network training engine) for inferring the one or more commands for controlling the appliance. The inference is based on the received at least one environmental characteristic value, at least one set point and at least one room characteristic. The inference server transmits the one or more commands to the environment controller, which forwards the one or more commands to the controlled appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: DISTECH CONTROLS INC.
    Inventor: Francois Gervais
  • Patent number: 10886745
    Abstract: An apparatus in one embodiment comprises at least one processing device. The processing device comprises a processor coupled to a memory, and is configured to obtain energy usage data generated by advanced metering infrastructure of a particular energy usage location of an electrical distribution system, to model a virtual localized energy storage device for the particular energy usage location, and to execute an algorithm to control charging and discharging of the virtual localized energy storage device based at least in part on the energy usage data and associated pricing data of the electrical distribution system. The processing device is further configured to provide an interface through which a user can adjust one or more parameters for controlling energy usage at the particular energy usage location based at least in part on a charge state of the virtual localized energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventor: Edwin A. Cowen, III