Patents Examined by John Le
  • System and method for improving TFT-array manufacturing yields
    Patent number: 7024338
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting defects in TFT-array panels is provided that improves defect detection accuracy by adjusting the thresholding parameters used to classify defective pixels when the number of defects reported by a TFT-array testing system exceeds a predetermined critical number. In a preferred embodiment, the thresholding parameters are adjusted until the number of reported defects is less than or equal to the predetermined critical number. The predetermined critical number represents a threshold number for determining if the number of reported defects is abnormally high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Yieldboost Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyo Young Chung
  • Centralized console API testing architecture
    Patent number: 7016800
    Abstract: A method for API testing is provided that includes attaching a top level header to an API request from a console where the top level header facilitates processing of the API request by a host driver. The method also includes forwarding the API request with the top level header to the host driver and receiving an API response from the host driver where the API response includes the top level header. The method also includes removing the top level header from the API response so the console can process the API response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Adaptec, Inc.
    Inventor: HongLien Nguyen
  • Apparatus and method for monitoring a running process
    Patent number: 7013237
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a process consists of repeatedly acquiring at least two different pieces of information of the process, performing a component transformation using the acquired information to calculate a main component measurement vector in a main component space, calculating a process indicator quantity by using the calculated main component measurement vector with one or several main component measurement vectors of a previous acquisition, and detecting a process end by using the process indicator quantity. Apparatus for monitoring a process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Hanns-Erik Endres
  • Method for measuring tension state of a material and uses thereof
    Patent number: 7010435
    Abstract: A method for determining the state of tension of a material at a given time, including the step of calculating the value of at least one parameter extracted from the ultrasonic signal received after propagation of an ultrasonic wave emitted in the material between an ultrasound source and at least an ultrasound emitter located at a fixed distance from the source, the value of the at least one parameter varying with the state of tension of the material, the variation of the at least one parameter being proportional or inversely proportional to the variation of the state of tension of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)
    Inventors: Philippe Pourcelot, Nathalie Crevier-Denoix, Berangere Ravary
  • Methods and devices for the relevancy testing of an identifier
    Patent number: 7006941
    Abstract: A test method for relevancy testing of an identifier able to be transmitted to a communication device by way of a communication network in a message, a test module therefor and a generating module for building a relevancy table provided for the testy method. In the test method a first position in the relevancy table is sought for the identifier on the basis of a calculating rule applied to the identifier or a on the basis of a second position alternative to the latter using a move-on rule applied to the identifier in a case of conflict, in which the first position is not available until an available position is found. The identifier is designated as being relevant, when at the first or the second position the identifier or a value associated with it is entered or as being irrelevant, when at the first or the second position a non-use marker is entered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Vector Informatik GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Wettstein, Jochen Rein, Tobias Pongs
  • Multiple calibration ranges stored in a process transmitter
    Patent number: 7003417
    Abstract: Process variable transmitters, and method for calibrating such device, are disclosed that support calibrating, within a single transmitter device, multiple operating ranges such that a transmitter can switch from a first calibration correction definition associated with a first calibrated range, to a second calibration correction definition associated with a second calibrated range without having to perform a calibration procedure. Thus, rather than supporting only a single calibration definition, a calibration memory for the process variable transmitter comprises multiple calibration correction definition entries. Each calibration correction definition entry potentially expresses a correction relationship for one of multiple calibrated ranges represented in the calibration memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Koukol, Jr., Peter E. Allstrom
  • Method and system for detecting precursors to compressor stall and surge
    Patent number: 7003426
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting precursors to compressor stall and surge in which at least one compressor parameter is monitored to obtain raw data representative of said at least one compressor parameter. The raw data is pre-processed using a frequency demodulator to produce pre-processed data, and the pre-processed raw data is post-processed using a Kalman filter to obtain stall precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pierino Bonanni, Narayanan Venkateswaran, Sanjay Bharadwaj
  • Predictive failure analysis and failure isolation using current sensing
    Patent number: 7003409
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for predicting the failure of an electronic circuit. One embodiment of the invention monitors the current utilization, environment conditions, and operating conditions of the electronic circuit. A system manager is altered if the current utilization of the electronic circuit is outside a pass range at the measured environmental conditions and the measured operating conditions of the electronic circuit. The invention may also be configured such that if the electronic circuit fails, the electronic circuit is isolated from among a plurality of potentially failed electronic circuits using the measured current utilization, environment conditions, and operating conditions of the electronic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Hepner, Andrew D. Walls
  • Independent deskew lane
    Patent number: 6999891
    Abstract: There is disclosed an independent deskew lane. An independent deskew lane may be implemented in a testing system to test whether a device under test conforms to a physical layer communications standard. The testing system may have lane cards to transmit data on data lanes to the device under test and receive data from the device under test. A deskew card is also included in the testing system. The deskew card may prepare deskew information independent of the lane cards. The deskew card may have a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit included therein which implements the independent deskew lane. A computer may be coupled to the testing system. Test patterns may be provided to the lane cards and the deskew card from the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: IXIA
    Inventor: Gerald Pepper
  • Method and apparatus for detecting and locating noise sources whether correlated or not
    Patent number: 6999881
    Abstract: A method of detecting and locating noise sources each emitting respective signals Sj with j=1 to M, detection being provided by a sound wave or vibration sensors each delivering a respective time-varying electrical signal si with i in the range 1 to N, wherein the method steps include: (a) taking the time-varying electrical signals delivered by the sensors, each signal si(t) delivered by a sensor being the sum of the signals Sj emitted by the noise sources; (b) amplifying and filtering the time-varying electrical signals as taken; (c) digitizing the electrical signals; (d) calculating a functional; and (e) minimizing the functional relative to the vectors nj for j=1 to M so as to determine the directions of vector nj of the noise sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Metravib R.D.S.
    Inventors: Alfred Permuy, Joël Millet
  • Reconfiguration method for a sensor system comprising at least one set of observers for failure compensation and guaranteeing measured value quality
    Patent number: 6999906
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reconfiguration method designed to be implemented in a computer system, for compensating failures of a sensor system (1). The sensor system includes at least one sensor (2, 50) for measuring (12, 22) system states of an application system (11, 21) and at least one system model (4) for describing the application system, which together form at least one first observer (6) for estimating system states in order to provide system states for an allocated data processing device (14, 24). According to the method, failure states for a first observer are determined from deviations, which occur as a result of the comparison between a number of states measured by the sensor or sensors and a state estimated by the system model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Koehler, Winfried Lohmiller
  • System and method for remote inbound vehicle inspection
    Patent number: 6996498
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the shop time of a vehicle, e.g., a locomotive, at a maintenance facility by obtaining onboard systems parameter data during a period when the vehicle is inbound to the maintenance facility for required periodic scheduled maintenance, and by determining, at the maintenance facility and prior to arrival of the vehicle at the maintenance facility, from the data received from the inbound vehicle, whether any of the data is out of a predetermined range or is trending to be out of range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Pierro, Richard Gerald Bliley, William Roy Schneider
  • Tire pressure loss detection
    Patent number: 6993449
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to monitoring the loss of pressure in one or more tires by detecting the angular speed variations of one or more wheels of the vehicle over a specified wheel revolution period and analyzing the vibration of the speed various. Changes in the frequency are related to pressure loss, which is indicated to the driver, for example, by displaying the tire pressure loss information on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Continental Teves, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Koebe, Yongle Lou, Peter Olejnik, Ines Runge
  • Mechanical-electrical template based method and apparatus
    Patent number: 6993456
    Abstract: A method for identifying at least a section of a first schematic associated with at least a section of a second schematic wherein each of the first and second schematics includes a set of components for configuring a system to perform a process and wherein the components of the first and second schematics are first and second different types, respectively, the method comprising the steps of identifying the components of the first type included in the first section of the first schematic, examining the second schematic to identify at least one instance of components of the second type that are associated with the identified components of the first type and when at least one instance of components of the second type is identified, rendering the at least one instance accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruven E. Brooks, David W. Grooms
  • Device for measuring force on a seat belt
    Patent number: 6993436
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a pulling force acting on a belt webbing of a seat belt of a motor vehicle is located between an anchoring point of the seat belt on the vehicle and a connection device which is to be connected to the seat belt. The connection device, in relation to the anchoring point, can be moved against a spring bias. The measuring device is a magnetic field sensor that is arranged between two analogous poles of two permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Stefan Schwald, Thomas Heckmayr
  • Combined off-board device and starter/charging/battery system tester
    Patent number: 6988053
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a hand-held “off-board” device, such as a scan tool or code reader, having a test circuit in the same housing that tests the condition of a starter charging system. Such a tester of the present invention allows a user to purchase and maintain a single device that can perform the desired diagnostic tests that are currently being performed by the separate devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Hamid Namaky
  • Apparatus for calculating an effective voltage
    Patent number: 6985821
    Abstract: An apparatus for calculating an effective voltage is provided, which includes a voltage reducer, an analogue to digital converter, a first detector, a second detector and a calculator. The voltage reducer steps down instantaneous output voltages of a generator. The analogue to digital converter converts each analogue signal of the instantaneous output voltages into a digital signal. The first detector detects a first signal of digitized instantaneous output voltage. The second detector detects a second signal, which differs in terms of phase by 120 deg. from the first signal. The calculator calculates an effective voltage according to the first and second signals, by executing a calculation with an expression: E={2(Va2+VaVb+Vb2)/3}1/2, where E represents the effective voltage, Va the first signal of instantaneous output voltage and Vb the second signal, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Denyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Kawabata
  • Methods for operating mass spectrometry (MS) instrument systems
    Patent number: 6983213
    Abstract: There is provided a method for obtaining at least one calibration filter for a Mass Spectrometry (MS) instrument system. Measured isotope peak cluster data in a mass spectral range is obtained for a given calibration standard. Relative isotope abundances and actual mass locations of isotopes corresponding thereto are calculated for the given calibration standard. Mass spectral target peak shape functions centered within respective mass spectral ranges are specified. Convolution operations are performed between the calculated relative isotope abundances and the mass spectral target peak shape functions to form calculated isotope peak cluster data. A deconvolution operation is performed between the measured isotope peak cluster data and the calculated isotope peak cluster data after the convolution operations to obtain the at least one calibration filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Cerno Bioscience LLC
    Inventor: Yongdong Wang
  • System and method for remotely monitoring, diagnosing, intervening with and reporting problems with cinematic equipment
    Patent number: 6983225
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for communicating with, and receiving data representative of equipment state and status from, movie theatre equipment in theatres. The system includes a central computer storage unit for receiving and storing data representative of equipment state and status, and a plurality of remote computer storage units coupled to the central computer storage unit for transmitting data representative of equipment state and status. Each of the plurality of remote computer storage units includes a first remote computer storage unit coupled to at least one theatre automation unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of automation equipment state and status. The first remote computer storage unit is also coupled to at least one theatre projection unit for detecting and transmitting data representative of projection equipment state and status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: CineCast LLC
    Inventors: David H. Sprogis, Dan U. Zehme
  • Well data collection system and method
    Patent number: 6980929
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for directing data representing well operations (drilling and producing) through the Internet or similar wide area network. The instant invention comprises a system and method of installing sensors at the well to provide technical information to remotely-located Internet users who provide services to the well owner. The service providers may be observers, who may then advise the well owners and operators as to actions to take to increase or optimize well performance. Service providers may also be data storage companies, who clean and store the data from the well. Service providers may then be paid from a portion of the well revenues or a portion of the incrementally-increased revenues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter S. Aronstam, David E. Emerson, Strode Pennebaker, III