Patents Examined by Janet L Suglo
  • Patent number: 7698092
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus includes an acceleration detection unit, an evaluation-signal generation unit, and a control unit. The acceleration detection unit is configured to detect an acceleration generated in the portable electronic apparatus. The evaluation-signal generation unit is configured to carry out a predetermined process based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit in order to generate an evaluation signal representing the amplitude and positive or negative polarity of the acceleration. The control unit is configured to produce a result of determination as to whether or not the portable electronic apparatus has been driven to make a predetermined movement on the basis of the evaluation signal and carrying out a predetermined operation on the basis of the result of determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akane Sano, Kenichi Makino, Motoyuki Takai, Hiroshi Ito, Makoto Inoue, Katsuya Shirai, Hirofumi Tamori
  • Patent number: 7698107
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus and an information storage server are connected with each other through a network. A storage part of the substrate processing apparatus stores set information and a control program, for controlling operation of the substrate processing apparatus according to the set information and the control program. The substrate processing apparatus is provided with a schedule function, for transmitting a backup instructional command according to the schedule. In response to this instructional command, the substrate processing apparatus generates a duplicate of specified information stored in the aforementioned storage part and transfers the duplicate information to the information storage server through the network. The information storage server stores the received duplicate information in a hard disk as backup data. The information storage server can also store only differential data of the duplicate information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kitamoto, Kenji Kamei, Hidekazu Inoue, Tetsuya Hamada
  • Patent number: 7693670
    Abstract: An electric power meter includes an embedded decomposition module that is configured to decompose a power meter signal into constituent loads to segregate and identify energy consumption associated with each individual energy consumption device within a plurality of energy consumption devices coupled to the power meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Richard Durling, Zhiyuan Ren, Nikita Visnevski, Lauren Elizabeth Ray
  • Patent number: 7680612
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply device performs highly accurate determination of degradation of the capacitor unit as follows. Internal resistance and capacitance are corrected according to the temperature of capacitor unit during charge or discharge, thereby obtaining a corrected calculated value if capacitance. The corrected calculated value of capacitance is substituted into a degradation determination formula, which is pre-calculated according to the temperature, thereby calculating the standard value corresponding to the temperature detected by temperature sensor. When the standard value is equal to or less than the corrected calculated value of internal resistance, capacitor unit is determined to be degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tosihiko Oohasi, Yohsuke Mitani
  • Patent number: 7672797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for measurement of flow velocity using the transmission of a sequence of coherent pulsed ultrasonic signals into the flow, and sampling the received response signal at a predetermined delay time relative to the pulse transmission that does not correspond to the signal transmission time. The sampling may be coherent with a frequency offset from the coherency frequency of the pulses. The received signal samples are then spectrally processed, typically by a Fourier process, to generate a frequency domain data set. A threshold technique is used on the frequency domain data set to determine a peak Doppler shift. Average velocity is then obtained by multiplying the peak Doppler shift by a factor, for example, 0.90. In one embodiment, the transmit pulse and receive samples are interleaved by alternating between transmitting a pulse and, after a delay, sampling the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ADS LLC
    Inventor: Alan M. Petroff
  • Patent number: 7664602
    Abstract: A method for the quantitative characterization of a seabed sediment composition and a seabed's layered subbottom structure from at least one normal-incidence, single-channel reflection acoustic amplitude time series seismogram is disclosed. The method detects a plurality of reflections from subbottom interfaces in said seismograms, determines the traveltime, the polarity and the reflectivity of each detected reflection, determines the intrinsic attenuation of the sediment layer between pairs of adjacent reflections, and determines the acoustic properties, layer thicknesses and material properties of the seabed's layered subbottom structure as a function of said traveltimes, polarities and reflectivities of the detected reflections and said intrinsic attenuation of the sediment layer between pairs of adjacent reflections. A forward model describing the physical relationship between the material properties and the acoustic properties of seabed sediments is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: National University of Ireland, Galway
    Inventors: Klaus Christian Leurer, Colin Brown
  • Patent number: 7664609
    Abstract: A device for impact sensing having at least two pressure sensors is described, where pressure values are communicated from the pressure sensors to a processor, and the processor performs impact sensing on the basis of the pressure value. The processor communicates the pressure values to additional vehicle systems, which use them to fulfill their own functions, or at least to carry out a plausibility check of their own pressure values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Adam, Christian Ohl
  • Patent number: 7660701
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring a control loop in a process plant, process gain data associated with a control loop may be collected. The collected process gain data may be used to determine an expected process gain behavior. For example, expected values of a process variable for given values of a load variable may be determined. As another example, expected changes in a process variable for given changes in a load variable may be determined. Then, during operation of the control loop, the process gain may be monitored. If the monitored process gain substantially deviates from the expected behavior, this may indicate an abnormal situation associated with the control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph H. Sharpe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7650248
    Abstract: In-system signal monitoring using an integrated circuit such as a programmable logic device is described. An analog-to-digital converter is disposed in the programmable logic device. A sampling bridge is coupled to provide an analog input to the analog-to-digital converter and to receive first signaling of a first frequency. A signal generator is configured to provide second signaling at a second frequency which is a fraction of the first frequency. Sample window circuitry is coupled to receive the second signaling and configured to provide third signaling to the sampling bridge at least partially responsive to the second signaling and at least partially responsive to an adjustable impedance setting of the sample window circuitry. The sample window circuitry is configured to provide an adjustable sample window within a pulse-width range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Baxter
  • Patent number: 7643960
    Abstract: A method for measuring and storing values of sensor bias in acceleration values for a vehicle, obtained over a plurality of time periods from a sensor having a specified range of expected variability of sensor bias values, includes measuring a first value of sensor bias obtained during operation of the vehicle in a first time period, storing the measured first value of sensor bias for use in one or more subsequent time periods, measuring a second value of sensor bias obtained during operation of the vehicle in a second time period, subtracting the measured second value of sensor bias from the stored first value of sensor bias, thereby generating a sensor bias difference, and storing the measured second value of sensor bias, for reference in one or more subsequent time periods, if the sensor bias difference is within the specified range of expected variability of sensor bias values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Hualin Tan, Christopher A. Kinser, Edmund F. Gaffney
  • Patent number: 7640139
    Abstract: Provided are an envelope processor 103, for obtaining an envelope for a detected signal; a FFT unit 104, for converting the envelope into a frequency spectrum; a peak detector 105, for smoothing the frequency spectrum by calculating a moving average, for further performing smoothing and differentiation for the spectrum, and detecting, as peaks, frequency points at which a sign of a differential coefficient is changed from positive to negative, for extracting peaks having a predetermined threshold value or greater, and for sorting the extracted peaks and detecting upper peaks; and a diagnosis processor T, for diagnosing an abnormality based on the detected peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Juntaro Sahara, Yasushi Mutoh, Takanori Miyasaka, Masanobu Yamazoe
  • Patent number: 7634384
    Abstract: A process control system uses an asset optimization reporter to collect status information pertaining to the assets of a process plant from various data sources of the plant including, for example, data tools, data collectors, and data generators. This status information is used to generate reports that may be displayed to various users, including maintenance persons, process control persons and business persons. The status information may be used as the basis for further types of status information and/or be categorized in ways that are useful to the user. The reports are generally displayed via a user interface routine that enables users to view the status information and manipulate the display of the report to correspond to the user's preferences, as contained in a user profile. The user interface routine further enables the user to view reports of various types of status information for various devices, loops, units, areas, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignees: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc., CSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Evren Eryurek, Stuart Harris, Scott N. Hokeness, Todd W. Reeves, Raymond E. Garvey, III
  • Patent number: 7630845
    Abstract: A method for calculating a tolerable value for simultaneous switching noise in an input/output circuit having a differential input supplied with a power supply voltage. The method includes providing an input/output circuit having a differential input unit with a pulse signal of a predetermined duty ratio, setting a tolerable range for the duty ratio of the output signal of the input/output circuit with respect to the pulse signal, changing the power supply voltage supplied to the differential input unit of the input/output circuit, measuring the duty ratio of the output signal corresponding to the voltage change, comparing the measured duty ratio with the tolerable range, and calculating a tolerable value for the simultaneous switching noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventors: Ryo Shibata, Tomohiko Koto
  • Patent number: 7623972
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining if one or more target molecules are present in a gas, by exposing a functionalized carbon nanostructure (CNS) to the gas and measuring an electrical parameter value EPV(n) associated with each of N CNS sub-arrays. In a first embodiment, a most-probable concentration value C(opt) is estimated, and an error value, depending upon differences between the measured values EPV(n) and corresponding values EPV(n;C(opt)) is computed. If the error value is less than a first error threshold value, the system interprets this as indicating that the target molecule is present in a concentration C?C(opt). A second embodiment uses extensive statistical and vector space analysis to estimate target molecule concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jing Li, Meyya Meyyappan, Yijiang Lu
  • Patent number: 7620522
    Abstract: A diagnostic device for at least one pneumatic valve actuator arrangement, comprises a pressure sensor, a volumetric flow sensor, a control means for producing control signals for the valve actuator arrangement and position sensors for detecting the position of at least one moving actuator member. The diagnostic device also includes a first diagnostic module for leak detection, a second diagnostic module for the detection of a choking effect in pneumatic supply and venting lines and at least one third diagnostic module for the detection of load and friction changes in the case of the moving actuator member and/or of valve switching faults, switching means being provided for deactivating the at least one third diagnostic module in the case of the detection of a fault by the first and/or second diagnostic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
    Inventors: Jan Bredau, Reinhard Keller
  • Patent number: 7613575
    Abstract: The output signal from a measuring transducer in a force-measuring device is processed by filtering a measuring signal (ms), representing a load that is acting on the transducer, to suppress interfering signal portions caused by extraneous influences including mechanical disturbances, or changes of the load. The measuring signal (msE) passes through a first delay element (141A) to a measurement value unit (145) which holds the value of the currently received measuring signal (msE), a mean value based on the most recent values of the measuring signal, or an expected value (msE) based on the most recent values of the measuring signal. The measuring signal (msE) is monitored for signal disturbances using a first detector module (151). After detection, a switching means (142) is actuated and the output signal (msX) of the measurement value unit is processed further, if applicable, and sent to the output end of the device, instead of the currently received measuring signal (msE).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Marc Nussbaumer, Daniel Reber
  • Patent number: 7596462
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising obtaining a first frequency and a second frequency. The method also comprises creating a table of values comprising a plurality of target frequencies intermediate to the first and second frequencies, the table of values also comprising a pulse width, a pulse count and a differential pulse width corresponding to each of the target frequencies from the plurality of target frequencies. The method further comprises outputting at least a portion of the values to a motion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan D. McNutt
  • Patent number: 7593828
    Abstract: A method for monitoring operation of a variable geometry turbocharger device includes monitoring exhaust gas pressure and vane position of the variable geometry turbocharger device. Exhaust pressure and vane position are estimated. Residual exhaust pressure and vane position are calculated based upon differences between the estimated and monitored exhaust gas pressures and vane positions. The turbocharger is determined operating properly based upon the exhaust pressure residual and the vane position residual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara
  • Patent number: 7587290
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the amount of water in a high water cut crude petroleum flow stream exiting from a hydrocarbon well. Electrical property measurements such as permittivity measurements are collected with a microwave analyzer system as high water cut oil exits from a well. Collection is continued until the span of the measurements of at least one property reaches at least a characteristic pre-determined value. A heuristic salinity of the water phase of the crude oil can then be determined based on the span statistics and reference equations and/or reference data. The flow-weighted average water content of the oil can then be determined using the heuristic salinity to correct for salinity variation as the output of the well changes over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Phase Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bentley N. Scott
  • Patent number: 7587297
    Abstract: A computerized system for targeted horticultural advertising. In some embodiments, the system comprises a computer. The computer receives environmental data collected at a horticultural site. The computer determines conformance of the environmental data to a plant species profile and directs a user to commercial information regarding a plant associated with the plant species profile based on the conformance. In some embodiments, the system is used in plant selection and purchasing. In some embodiments, the system is used in plant health diagnostics and troubleshooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Plant Sense, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew K. Glenn, David L. Wilkins