Patents Examined by John R. Cottingham
  • Patent number: 8301307
    Abstract: A pneumatic actuator system (200) is provided according to the invention. The system (200) comprises a pneumatic actuator (100) including an actuator component (108), with the pneumatic actuator (100) being configured to include a first actuation phase and a second actuation phase. The system (200) further comprises one or more feedback sensors configured to provide one or more actuation feedback values, an actuator valve (213) coupled to and providing a first pneumatic pressure and a second pneumatic pressure to the pneumatic actuator (100), and a controller (240) coupled to the one or more feedback sensors and the actuator valve (213). The controller (240) is configured to receive the one or more actuation feedback values from the one or more feedback sensors and control the actuator valve (213) in order to actuate the actuator component (108) according to an actuation profile and according to the one or more actuation feedback values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Norgren GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Theo Paulus, Florain Braun, Frank Schnur, Norbert Giesen
  • Patent number: 8295971
    Abstract: A computer program, system and method receives a customer's CAD file of a custom part to be formed. Depending upon customer responses to several basic queries, the CAD file is analyzed to identify acceptable holes for tapping. For each identified hole, an appropriate and available thread size is automatically selected, even if the cylindrical recess differs in size from the characteristic size of the threaded hole. The customer is then automatically advised 10 of the results of the tapping analysis, preferably as part of a quotation for part manufacture that identifies the number of threaded holes in the part and preferably identifies the changes to the tapped holes and the specific thread form being quoted for the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Proto Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Krantz
  • Patent number: 8295956
    Abstract: A production machine can be controlled by a control device in accordance with a control program which is stored in the control device. The production machine has at least two elements having interfaces, which are connected to one another at the interfaces. The control device stores element descriptions of possible elements, which respectively comprise at least one list of the existing interfaces, such that the control device can determine which elements can be connected to one another. The control device also stores a desired expansion description which at least comprises which elements the production machine has and which interfaces are said to connect the elements to one another. The control device has an operator interface which an operator of the production machine can use to request the desired expansion description which can be output to the operator on the basis of the request and can be changed by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Hertinger, Martin Kiesel
  • Patent number: 8295964
    Abstract: A method for selecting equipment resources in a manufacturing process creates an execution equipment list by retrieving out of a database execution equipment required for starting a process segment. A list of available sub-equipments of the execution equipment is retrieved out of the database. Within the list of sub-equipments a check is performed on the availability of a totality of required equipments for each of a totality of work segments of the process segment respectively. The execution equipment is selected for the starting of the process segment. Each of the required equipments for execution of each of the work segments is selected respectively, in the case where the required equipment for the work segment is available. An output list is created and contains information about assignments of each of the required equipments to each of the work segments respectively in the case where all of the required equipments are available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Elena Reggio, Alessandro Raviola
  • Patent number: 8295987
    Abstract: A method for indicating a performance of a wind turbine is provided. Target performance data are created based at least in part on performance data for one or more wind turbines of interest. Baseline performance data are calculated based at least in part on performance data for a plurality of other wind turbines. The target performance data are compared to the baseline performance data to create a relative performance profile. In addition, a graphical representation of the relative performance profile may be created, and an available upgrade for the wind turbines of interest may be evaluated based at least in part on performance data for one or more wind turbines including the available upgrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aniruddha Gadre, Abraham Morales, Nizar Yaghi, Valika Wan, Venkata Subramaniyan
  • Patent number: 8295984
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for detecting the position of a closure element of a movement reversal device in a dishwasher. The device determines the position of a closure element via a comparison of a value corresponding to a predefined reference position of the closure element with a signal value of a circulation pump of the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Heisele, Anton Oblinger, Andreas Reiter, Michael Rosenbauer, David Semerad, Christian Wolf
  • Patent number: 8295973
    Abstract: A control arrangement for an electric drive with a control which processes desired values and actual values of the electric drive in relation to a desired-actual control is provided. A determination device determines a derived variable in an iterative manner in accordance with the actual values and the derived variable is fed to an evaluation device. The evaluation device associates the derived variables with position values of the drive and determines, after accumulating several derived variables, characteristic values of a systematic error in the desired values and/or the actual values. In accordance with the determined characteristic values, the evaluation device determines correction values and switches the correction values to the desired values, the actual values or the difference of desired and actual values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Finkler, Hans-Georg Köpken
  • Patent number: 8295952
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program are provided for automated closed-loop identification of an industrial process in a process control system. Multiple models (such as multiple model structure-model order combinations) can be identified, where the models are associated with a process to be controlled. One or more metrics (such as a prediction metric or rank) can be determined for each of the models. At least one of the models can be selected based on the one or more metrics. A final model for controlling the process can be provided (such as to a controller), where the final model is based on the at least one selected model. A band pass filter could be designed using some of the identified models. The band pass filter could be used to identify at least one other of the models or to determine at least one of the one or more metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: J. Ward MacArthur, Charles Q. Zhan
  • Patent number: 8290602
    Abstract: An electronic system with component redundancy includes a first processing unit, connected to a first board, and a second processing unit redundant with respect to the first unit, and connected to a second board redundant with respect to the first board. Each processing unit and each board include a first communication port, the first communication ports of the first unit and of the first board, and, respectively, of the second unit and of the second board, being interconnected by a wired communication link. Each processing unit and each board include a second communication port, the second port of the first board being connected to the second port of the second unit by a wired communication link, and the second port of the second board being connected to the second port of the first unit by a wired communication link, each communication port able to be activated or deactivated by a corresponding software command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Converteam Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Michel Begey, Jean-Luc Misson
  • Patent number: 8285408
    Abstract: A method for designing an ear insert device using anatomical information relating to the ear. A user record is that includes anatomical information relating to an ear of a user is received. The anatomical information comprises at least one sub-dermal feature of an ear canal. The user record is processed to obtain an ear insert device design record. The ear insert device design record comprises a three dimensional representation of a bounding surface shape having surface boundaries that substantially conform to surface boundaries of the ear canal and the at least one sub-dermal feature of the ear canal. An ear insert device may be produced using the ear insert design record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ean H. Schiller, William R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 8285412
    Abstract: A semiconductor device production control method includes monitoring, after a production process of a semiconductor device, a process result at a predetermined position of a pattern to which the process is applied, to obtain a deviation with respect to a predetermined target result, quantitatively obtaining a degree of influence on an operation of a semiconductor device from the deviation of the process result, and comparing the degree of influence that is quantitatively obtained with a predetermined allowable margin for operation specifications of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Suigen Kyoh
  • Patent number: 8280537
    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: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    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: 8275484
    Abstract: A controller for a variable heating system is operable to control a stepper motor operated gas valve to adjust gas flow to vary the heating level. The controller includes a first terminal for receiving a thermostat signal requesting heating, an electronic memory, and a microprocessor in communication with the electronic memory and first terminal. The microprocessor detects a thermostat signal requesting heating, and generates a control signal for the stepper motor to operate the gas valve. The microprocessor includes a programmable read-only-memory encoded with an instruction to store a time duration during which the microprocessor detects a thermostat signal requesting heating, and further encoded with an instruction operable to determine a predetermined heating level based on the stored time duration. The microprocessor responds to a thermostat signal requesting heating by determining the number of steps the motor must move to vary the gas flow corresponding to the predetermined heating level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Lorenz, David L. Perry
  • Patent number: 8265783
    Abstract: Lift data in which a lift amount is set based on a lift data rotation angle is read to identify the shape of a non-circular workpiece, and a profile point group that is formed of a plurality of profile points, each of which indicates a tool reciprocation position that corresponds to a spindle rotation angle, is calculated based on the read lift data. Then, the calculated profile point group is divided into a plurality of groups each of which is formed of the profile points that satisfy a group division condition, the two groups that satisfy a group comparison condition are selected, and the profile point that satisfies a specific point deletion condition that is set in advance for the combination of the selected two groups is deleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Saito
  • Patent number: 8249736
    Abstract: Printed circuit boards are manufactured by forming a composite layer using a control system which models a production process to generate data using non-linear compensation techniques to compensate for non-linear distortion occurring in a circuit layout applied to a constituent layer. Measurement data of actual circuit layouts is used to update stored values of parameters used in the modelling process. In one form of the model, the desired layout in the composite layer is represented by an array of cells and cell sizes corresponding to an initial stage of the production process are calculated, the model working backwards from the final state of the production process to the initial state, and a finite element model used to determine corresponding positions of cells, taking account of interaction between cells, from which the compensation data is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: XACT-PCB Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Gavin Kelley
  • Patent number: 8249740
    Abstract: Various embodiments may include determining a material utilization for one or more assemblies having a plurality of parts. Offal data for one or more parts comprising one or more part assemblies and a blank material utilization status for each of the one or more part assemblies may be received. The blank material utilization status for the one or more part assemblies may be based on a blank material utilization status for each of the one or more parts. The offal data may be standardized to obtain standardized offal data. One or more offal utilization assignments for the part assemblies having a plurality of parts may be determined based on the standardized offal data and the blank material utilization status for the part assemblies. The offal utilization assignments may then be transmitted for assignment to the one or more part assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Raja Shekar Sohmshetty, Shawn Michael Morgans, Zhiyong Cedric Xia, Lawrence J. Dupuis, Amir T. Chator
  • Patent number: 8244745
    Abstract: In an information management system, activity data is collected and analyzed for patterns. The information management system may be policy based. Activity data may be organized as entries including information on user, application, machine, action, object or document, time, and location. When checking for patterns in the activity or historical data, techniques may include inferencing, frequency checking, location and distance checking, and relationship checking, and any combination of these. Analyzing the activity data may include comparing like types or categories of information for two or more entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: NextLabs, Inc.
    Inventor: Keng Lim
  • Patent number: 8244382
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a schedule for testing a fuel cell in a station. Because of the apparatus, the station can test a low-temperature fuel cell or a high-temperature fuel cell. The apparatus enables a user to test the fuel cell through the station manually or enables the station to test the fuel cell automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Atomic Energy Council—Institute of Nuclear Research
    Inventors: Hung-Yu Wang, Wen-Tang Hong, Yu-Ching Tsai, Tzu-Hsiang Yen, Wei-Ping Huang, Cheng-Nan Huang
  • Patent number: 8244391
    Abstract: Tools and/or resources which newly become available to a re-entrant flow manufacturing line, data processing pipeline or the like are allocated in substantially real time to processing operations independent of and consistent with a scheduling segment previously generated by dispatching items such as workpieces or data to tools and/or resources of a manufacturing line until the newly available tool or resource can be conveniently included in a subsequently generated schedule segment in order to avoid productivity loss due to schedule latency. Items can be dispatched in a priority order to accelerate completion of processing. A schedule segment including the newly available tool or resource can be facilitated by merging allocations of a real time dispatch list with allocations of a dispatch list corresponding to a previously generated schedule segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. Burda, Heath C. Kent
  • Patent number: 8244396
    Abstract: The turning machine according to the present invention includes a displacement sensor (200) which measures a distance between an immobile reference point and a position of variable point which reflects the positional displacement of the tool, the immobile reference point being able to determine a relative positional correlation relating to a variable position of tools with the progress of machining of the workpiece (W) by the tool (421). In drawings the reference point is set up in the guide bush (90). And based on the measured result by the displacement sensor, the tool is moved so that the center height of the tool and the center line of the workpiece satisfy relatively the predetermined positional correlation. Accordingly, the center height deviation amount due to heat deformation and the like is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tsugami Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Terai, Takao Tatemi, Hidenori Sato, Hiroaki Kazama