Patents Examined by Kidest Bahta
  • Patent number: 11269314
    Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires a quantity relating to an operating rate of a facility of a plant and a quantity relating to energy consumption of the facility. An index value specification unit specifies a higher index value as the energy consumption is lower, and a higher index value as the operating rate is higher, or a lower index value as the energy consumption is lower, and a lower index value as the operating rate is higher, based on the quantity acquired by the acquisition unit. An index value output unit outputs information relating to the index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishiki, Tomoyuki Enomoto, Hidenobu Otsu
  • Patent number: 11268714
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling building fluid distribution. The system may cause a variable air volume building ventilation system to operate at different combinations of different fan speeds for different damper opening configurations. For each different combination of fan speed and damper opening configuration, the system may: determine a static pressure measurement for each terminal unit based on a flow measurement determined by terminal box controllers using a pressure sensor; and determine a static pressure measurement for the supply fan from a pressure sensor mounted in a ventilation duct downstream of the at least one supply fan and upstream of each terminal unit. The system may also determine and store in each terminal box controller, a friction loss coefficient based on the static pressure measurements for the supply fan and the terminal units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark David Johnson
  • Patent number: 11269307
    Abstract: A method for operating an agricultural implement is provided, which in particular is configured as an implement pulled by a tractor or a self-propelled implement. One or more machine parameters relevant for the operation are administered via at least one job computer arranged on the implement, and are preferably imaged by means of an interface on one of the at least two universal terminals connected in particular in a wireless and/or cabled manner. After some initial configuration phase dining operation, the at least one machine parameter is imaged simultaneously on the second universal terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventors: Gustaaf Garrit Johan Van Zadelhoff, Torsten Napierala, Christoph Grothaus
  • Patent number: 11268725
    Abstract: A method for improving the effectiveness of a building air circulation system having motorized blower and a contamination filter. The method including predicting a cost of operation of the system over an operational duration based on at least electricity consumption of the motor (115), and an operational cost to operate the filter (148), predicting a cost of maintenance of the system over the operational duration based on at least one of, a condition of the filter (148), a cost of a filter (148), a cost of labor to clean or replace the filter (148), and an effectiveness of the filter (148) over the operational duration, and balancing the cost of operation of the circulation system versus the cost of maintenance of the circulation system over the duration to recommend at least one of a filter use/bypass schedule, a filter maintenance schedule, and a fresh air input schedule satisfying an operation objective and an operational constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lei Chen, Jianwei Zhao, Sanming Wen, Peter Johannes McKinney
  • Patent number: 11261761
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a method for optimizing real-time energy use, including balancing steam and condensate. Real-time equipment readings are received from plural pieces of equipment at a facility. A steam and condensate balancing model is executed using the real-time equipment readings. The steam and condensate balancing model uses specialized optimizer engine code to balance steam output and condensate output. A set-point optimization model is executed with selection optimization turned off to identify optimum values for boilers, STGs, letdowns, and deaerators. The set-point optimization model is executed with selection optimization turned on to identify optimized settings for drivers of turbines and motors. Setting updates are provided to the plural pieces of equipment based on the executing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Youngghee Jang
  • Patent number: 11263068
    Abstract: Methods and systems for printing accurate three-dimensional structures include printing an original three-dimensional structure according to an original three-dimensional model. The original three-dimensional model is adjusted to reduce measured differences between the printed three-dimensional structure and the original three-dimensional model, by adding material to the original three-dimensional model in proportion to an amount of thermal contraction in a region. An adjusted three-dimensional structure is printed according to the adjusted three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Leigh Anne H. Clevenger, Christopher J. Penny, Michael Rizzolo, Aldis G. Sipolins
  • Patent number: 11262733
    Abstract: A method and device for configuring an intelligent electronic device, IED, hosting a logical node instance are provided. Incoming signals of the IED are bound to inputs of a function, the function being performed by the logical node instance in operation of an industrial automation control system, IACS. To bind the incoming signals to the inputs of the function, a computing device determines, based on an input data template of the logical node instance, which data is required by the logical node instance to perform the function. The computing device determines, using process related information of the IACS, source IEDs of the IACS that provide the data required by the logical node instance to perform the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Stephan Gerspach, Wolfgang Wimmer
  • Patent number: 11258300
    Abstract: A management device includes at least one processor communicatively coupled to at least one energy resource controller controlling at least one energy resource and to at least one deferrable load controller controlling power to at least one deferrable load. The is configured to receive an indication, determined based on a frequency value of an electrical network and a nominal frequency value, that a frequency anomaly event has occurred. Responsive to receiving the indication that the frequency anomaly event has occurred, the processor is also configured to determine, for at least one of the energy resource and the deferrable load, based on the frequency value, the nominal frequency value, and a power value of the electrical network, a respective power command, and cause at least one of the at least one energy resource and the at least one deferrable load to modify operation based on the respective power command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Blake Richard Lundstrom, Sourav Kumar Patel, Murti Salapaka
  • Patent number: 11246258
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and vehicles for separately applying a solid fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer additive to a working area of a field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Wolfram Zerulla, Markus Schmid, Gregor Pasda
  • Patent number: 11228176
    Abstract: A power management method comprises: a step A of transmitting a first message from a power management server to a local control apparatus according to a first protocol, the power management server managing a facility connected to a power grid, the local control apparatus provided in the facility; a step B of transmitting a second message from the local control apparatus to the equipment according to a second protocol different from the first protocol; and a step C of transmitting a third message from the local control apparatus to the power management server according to the first protocol, the third message including specification information specifying a local control element which the equipment is capable of dealing with according to the second protocol. The specification information includes information specifying whether or not the equipment deals with a local control element indicating an operation state requesting setting for the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Kakuda, Kenta Okino, Naohisa Yoshitani
  • Patent number: 11221618
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations of an HMI control system for BOP rigs are disclosed. At least some versions of the disclosed systems enable a user to configure interface settings, perform actions on a BOP stack, view diagnostics, perform testing, and observe and rectify alarms. The disclosed systems may enable a user to more efficiently navigate between different interfaces and perform HMI functions due to a control zone configuration. Additionally, the control zone configuration may reduce operator error by assigning certain control zones to particular functions and requiring the user to take affirmative steps to perform destructive functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Transocean Innovation Labs Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt Thwaites, Steven Hand, Kevin Hoffmann, Nate Bishop, Bridget Monahan, Amy Ferchak, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 11215966
    Abstract: Methods and systems for installing and verifying installation of a fastener assembly using predictive verification. A method includes receiving, at a processor, at least one fastener assembly hole characteristic of a fastener assembly hole. The method further includes determining, via the processor, whether the at least one fastener assembly hole characteristic is within a predetermined range of fastener assembly hole variable and, upon determining the at least one fastener assembly hole characteristic is within the predetermined range of fastener assembly hole variables, transmitting instructions, via the processor, to a fastening device to initiate installation of a fastener assembly in the fastener assembly hole. The processor then receives at least one installation value of the fastener assembly and determines via the processor, whether the installation value is within a predetermined range of fastener installation variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Melanie J. Sutherland, Christopher Lance Newbolt, Sabyasachi Basu, Mark Woods, Victor X. Du
  • Patent number: 11215959
    Abstract: A system is provided to conduct communication in a facility with equipment in hazardous and safe areas. The system includes at least one field device in a hazardous area of the facility; one or more controllers, located in a safe area of the facility, for managing the at least one field device; and a field barrier, between the safe and hazardous areas, to limit at least electrical energy, which is supplied to the at least one device, at or below an electrical energy threshold in the hazardous area. The system also includes a bus system to supply electrical energy across the field barrier to the at least one field device using electrical wiring and to enable communication between the at least one field device and the one or more controllers across the field barrier using one or more fiber optic cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry K. Brown
  • Patent number: 11209467
    Abstract: A method for quantifying power quality events in an electrical system including a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) includes processing electrical measurement data from or derived from energy-related signals captured by at least one first IED of the plurality of IEDs to identify a power quality event at a first point of installation of the at least one first IED in the electrical system. An impact of the power quality event at a second point of installation in the electrical system is determined based on an evaluation of electrical measurement data from or derived from energy-related signals captured by at least one second IED of the plurality of IEDs at the second point of installation proximate to a determined time of occurrence of the power quality event at the first point of installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon A. Bickel, Aaron M. Dudley, Theresa K. Wall
  • Patent number: 11210747
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a distributed and anonymous approach to demand response of an electricity system. The approach conceptualizes energy consumption and production of distributed-energy resources (DERs) via discrete energy packets that are coordinated by a cyber computing entity that grants or denies energy packet requests from the DERs. The approach leverages a condition of a DER, which is particularly useful for (1) thermostatically-controlled loads, (2) non-thermostatic conditionally-controlled loads, and (3) bi-directional distributed energy storage systems. In a first aspect of the present approach, each DER independently requests the authority to switch on for a fixed amount of time (i.e., packet duration). The coordinator determines whether to grant or deny each request based electric grid and/or energy or power market conditions. In a second aspect, bi-directional DERs, such as distributed-energy storage systems (DESSs) are further able to request to supply energy to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: University of Vermont and State Agricultural College
    Inventors: Jeff Frolik, Paul Hines, Mads Almassalkhi
  • Patent number: 11212945
    Abstract: A method for configuring the airflow direction through a chassis having electronic components installed therein. The method may include: powering on at least a first power supply unit installed within the chassis; determining an airflow direction of the first power supply unit may include one or more unidirectional fans; configuring the airflow direction through the chassis to be the airflow direction of the first power supply unit to create a first configured airflow direction; determining an airflow direction of a first fan tray installed within the chassis, the first fan tray may include one or more unidirectional fans; and conducting a conflict check between the first configured airflow direction and the airflow direction of the first fan tray to determine if the airflow directions are substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Andrew Davidson, Bruce Falzarano
  • Patent number: 11199823
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automated management of buildings and rooms employ a common set of components that may be paired together to form a modular room control interface. The components may comprise a base plate and a front plate that are in data communication with each other when connected together. The base plate may include one set of room monitoring and control functions and the front plate may include a different set of room monitoring and control functions. Different combinations of base plates and front plates may then be paired together to achieve a desired functionality in the modular room control interface. Such an arrangement provides a room control interface that can be quickly and easily configured for any number of different room monitoring and control functions as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Morley, Babak Haghayeghi, Simon Lemaire
  • Patent number: 11194312
    Abstract: The example systems, methods, and/or computer-readable media described herein help with design of highly accurate models of un-erupted or partially erupted teeth and help fabricate of aligners for un-erupted or partially erupted teeth. Automated agents that use machine learning models to parametrically represent three-dimensional (3d) virtual representations of teeth as 3D descriptors in a 3D descriptor space are provided herein. In some implementations, the automated agents described herein provide instructions to fabricate aligners for at least partially un-erupted teeth using representative 3D descriptor(s) of a tooth type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Eric Cramer, Jeeyoung Choi
  • Patent number: 11190017
    Abstract: A smart local power distribution (SLPD) system is provided for improving the efficiency of local power generation and consumption. The SLPD system includes a local distribution grid connected to a regional power grid by a local power manager including a local power storage unit and further connected to a plurality of power meters. The local power storage unit is configured to store excess locally-generated power and to provide supplemental power to prosumers for minimized usage of regionally-supplied power and minimized peak-time usage of regionally-supplied power. The local power manager analyzes data provided by the power meters, generates power load and generation profiles, and makes various data-based power flow decisions corresponding to optimizing efficiency of the SLPD system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Alan Rothschild, Ron Lev, Steve Malenfant
  • Patent number: 11189509
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The control system includes an inspection unit capturing a set of images of the semiconductor manufacturing equipment, a sensor interface receiving the set of images and generating at least one input signal for a database server, and a control unit. The control unit includes a front end subsystem, a calculation subsystem, and a message and feedback subsystem. The calculation subsystem receives the data signal from the front end subsystem, wherein the calculation subsystem performs an artificial intelligence analytical process to determine, according to the data signal, whether a malfunction has occurred in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment and to generate an output signal. The message and feedback subsystem generates an alert signal and a feedback signal according to the output signal, and the alert signal is transmitted to a user of the semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shyue-Ru Doong, Feng-Ju Tsai