Patents Examined by M. N. Von Buhr
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Patent number: 7930044Abstract: The present invention relates to a steady state optimization method incorporating dynamic variance correction for dynamic variations of both independent variables and dependent variables of a dynamic system. The dynamic variance correction is based on measured variance of the variables and a weighing factor for each of the variables. The dynamic variance correction offers an effective method of dynamic violations avoidance of controlled variables for a model predictive controller without having to constantly adjust the tuning weights in response to changing dynamical conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Inventor: Fakhruddin T Attarwala
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Patent number: 7925390Abstract: An outer dust collecting filter covers a casing an intake port and an outer fan flows air from an external environment into the casing via the outer dust collecting filter. A clean chamber has an intake port within the casing, an inner dust collecting filter for covering the intake port, and an inner fan for flowing the air within the casing. A control unit controls fan rotating speeds so that a measured pressure within the casing becomes higher at a set value than a measured pressure in the external environment, and a measured pressure within the clean chamber becomes higher at a set value than the measured pressure within the casing.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Takahiro Jingu, Yusuke Miyazaki, Kazuhiro Zama
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Patent number: 7912572Abstract: A method of calibrating an inspection system is provided. The method includes contacting a test part with a run-out measurement device and rotating the test part and measuring a first run-out using the run-out measurement device. The method also includes moving the run-out measurement device to a new position and repeating the steps of contacting and rotating the test part to measure a second run-out at the new position. The method further includes using the first and second run-outs to adjust measurements of the inspection system.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Xiaoming Du, Kevin George Harding, Steven Robert Hayashi, Jianming Zheng, Tian Chen, Howard Paul Weaver, Yong Yang, Guofei Hu, James Allen Baird, Jr.
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Patent number: 7904194Abstract: A motion control system comprising a machine platform, at least one event destination, and an event handler. The machine platform carries out automated tasks and generates events. The event handler is configurable to receive at least one event from the machine platform and send the at least one event to the at least one event destination.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Roy-G-Biv CorporationInventors: David W. Brown, Skylar Stein
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Patent number: 7877170Abstract: In a power generating system the remanent voltage of an induction machine is measured. The frequency of the remanent voltage is compared to a predetermined threshold. When the frequency of the remanent voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold the induction machine is connected to the power grid. Induction machine is disconnected from power grid once generated power drops below a predetermined threshold. Once the induction machine is disconnected, it is prevented from being reconnected to the power grid until a predetermined time period elapses.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2007Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Verdant PowerInventors: Dean Corren, Jamey Gerlaugh, Douglas Lessig, Christopher Gray
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Patent number: 7873429Abstract: Methods of production planning, including a novel method of optimized production planning for a plurality of production plants producing a product for delivery to a plurality of customers using a common distribution network, wherein the product consumption by customers can vary, and the variable cost of producing the product can vary between production plants, over time, and production quantity. The method maximizes profitability by characterizing raw material costs over varying production rates and minimizing variable cost across the network for any given production demand. The method considers the variable cost of producing product in varying production quantities, the variable cost structure of raw material supplies, and how these variable costs vary between production plants. The method also considers the variable cost impact of purchasing product from outside sources.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClauseInventors: Florence Boutemy, Boris Pachany, Tom Van de Weghe, Sonia Garcia Del Cerro
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Patent number: 7873442Abstract: A system and method to optimize the use of utility power. The system and method obtains real-time and scheduled data. The data is saved into a database. An application is run to optimize the use of the utility power based on forecasted load requirements and available resources. A schedule is produced after optimizing the desired use for the utility power for a given user.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: The Energy Authority, Inc.Inventor: Jonah Tsui
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Patent number: 7869888Abstract: A information processing apparatus 100 for processing an acquired value, which is a value acquired in regard to a state during a treatment, performed by a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 200 for performing a treatment on a treatment target containing a semiconductor according to a set value, which is a value for setting a condition of a treatment, includes: a set value receiving portion 101 for receiving the set value; a state value receiving portion 102 for receiving the acquired value; a correction amount calculating portion 103 for calculating a correction amount of the acquired value, using a correction function indicating a relationship between the set value and the acquired value; a correcting portion 104 for correcting the acquired value received by the state value receiving portion 102, using the correction amount calculated by the correction amount calculating portion 103; and an output portion 105 for outputting a result of correction performed by the correcting portion 104.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Noriaki Koyama, Minoru Obata, Wenling Wang
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Patent number: 7844368Abstract: The present invention provides numerous methods, systems and apparatus that use a novel form of water budgeting technology for water conservation without the use of complex ET (Evapotranspiration) data or methods. Embodiments include incorporating the technology directly into irrigation controllers, into modules added on to existing controllers, or into central units that broadcast a water budget that can alter the schedules of one, many, or selected groups of remotely located controllers or modules. The various methods of the present invention offer the choice of adjusting the station run times, accumulating the water budgets, altering the watering intervals, and/or combining the present water budgeting technology with local watering communities' restricted watering schedules. The result offers residential, commercial, and municipal users a wide range of practical choices for effective water conservation in landscape irrigation with temperature based water budgeting.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2007Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Inventor: George Alexanian
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Patent number: 7840312Abstract: A wind farm includes a plurality of wind energy installations which generate electrical energy to be output to a power supply system and a wind farm master for controlling the wind energy installations. Each wind energy installation includes a generator which is driven by a rotor, and the wind farm master includes a power control device having a plurality of loops. This plurality of loops includes a fast loop that includes a controller which acts on a first group of the wind energy installations and a slow loop that includes a controller which acts on a second group of the wind energy installations, the fast controller having a substantially higher dynamic than the slow controller.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventors: Jens Altemark, Holger Becker, Sebastian Friederich
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Patent number: 7835810Abstract: The disclosed technology enables manufacturers to efficiently design and manufacture structural wall panels, floor panels and roof panels from cold-formed steel for use in residential and commercial construction. The panels are individual components that can be installed at a building site to form a structure that includes walls, floor and a roof. Structures may be manufactured in a manufacturing facility and delivered to a construction site for installation.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Genesistp, Inc.Inventors: Vincent D. Mifsud, Giuseppe Corrado Aprile, Michael J. Churchill, Michele Tancredi
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Patent number: 7822500Abstract: A polishing apparatus has a polishing table (18) having a polishing surface (40) and a top ring (20) for pressing a substrate against the polishing surface (40) while independently controlling pressing forces applied to a plurality of areas (C1-C4) on the substrate. The polishing apparatus has a sensor (52) for monitoring substrate conditions of a plurality of measurement points on the substrate, a monitor unit (53) for performing a predetermined arithmetic process on a signal from the sensor (52) to generate a monitor signal, and a controller (54) for comparing the monitor signal of the measurement points with the reference signal and controlling the pressing forces of the top ring (20) so that the monitor signal of the measurement point converges on the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Yoichi Kobayashi, Yasumasa Hiroo, Tsuyoshi Ohashi
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Patent number: 7822490Abstract: An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system of the present invention comprises a master control circuit for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of window control circuits coupled to each of the master control circuits. Because the window control circuits can sense abnormal load conditions in the variable transmission windows, the system further includes an interface to a security system to inform of a potential intrusion. Each window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Jon H. Bechtel, David L. Poll
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Patent number: 7818084Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that include accepting one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions based on blood vessel data from an individual; and making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: The Invention Science Fund, I, LLCInventors: Edward S. Boyden, Ralph G. Dacey, Jr., Colin P. Derdeyn, Joshua L. Dowling, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood, Gregory J. Zipfel
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Patent number: 7813827Abstract: The jurisdiction online manager manages required jurisdictional inspections mandated by a plurality of different jurisdictions performed by non-governmental entities. A central computer system receives object data for an object and most other information via a global computer network, typically the Internet. Based upon the provided object data, the jurisdiction online manage can determine the controlling jurisdiction for the object. The controlling jurisdiction is the jurisdiction in which the object is located. After determining the controlling jurisdiction, the jurisdiction's inspection form or a similar inspection template can be provided to the inspectors, who will perform the actual physical inspections of the objects. After receiving inspection result data from the non-governmental inspection, the inspection result data is stored the system database. The inspection result data is then provided to the controlling jurisdiction.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Praeses CorporationInventor: Jeffery Manuel Key
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Patent number: 7809450Abstract: A method and apparatus for process monitoring are provided. Process monitoring includes (i) generating a multivariate analysis reference model of a process environment from data corresponding to monitored parameters of the process environment; (ii) designating at least one of the monitored parameters as being correlated to maturation of the process environment; (iii) collecting current process data corresponding to the monitored parameters, including the at least one designated parameter; and (iv) scaling the multivariate reference model based on the current process data of the at least one designated parameter to account for maturation of the process environment. The method further includes generating one or more current multivariate analysis process metrics that represent a current state of the process environment from the current process data; and comparing the current process metrics to the scaled reference model to determine whether the current state of the process environment is acceptable.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Uzi Josef Lev-Ami, Lawrence Hendler
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Patent number: 7805204Abstract: An electrical power distribution system includes a data bus, separate from the main aircraft data bus, internal to the aircraft electrical power distribution system and an electric power control unit (EPCU) in communication with the internal data bus. Primary and emergency power distribution subsystems include line replaceable modules (LRM) connected in the aircraft electrical power distribution system as electrical load control units (ELCU), each having a common supervisory control interface in communication with the internal data bus, while a secondary power distribution subsystem includes LRMs connected in the aircraft electrical power distribution system as solid state power control (SSPC) units, each having the common supervisory control interface in communication with the internal data bus. The common supervisory control interfaces all execute a common supervisory control logic for receiving commutation commands from the EPCU and providing status back to the EPCU.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Milind Ghanekar, Randy J. Fuller, Zhenning Z. Liu, Ted J. Gayowsky
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Patent number: 7798799Abstract: An ending target position Xes corresponding to the measurement ending position Xe, a rotation rate pattern Ar to rotate a screw 2, and a hypothetical retraction rate pattern Ab for the screw 2 to retract are set in advance, the remaining rotation rate pattern Ar to stop the screw 2 rotation at the ending target position Xes is predicated by calculation based on the screw position X detected at every specified time interval Ts at the time of measurement, based on which the screw 2 is controlled to rotate to the measurement ending position Xe, the remaining retraction rate pattern Ab to stop the screw 2 retraction at the ending target position Xe based on the screw 2 retraction rate Vd detected at every specified time interval Ts, based on which the screw 2 is controlled to retract to the measurement ending position Xe, the rotation and retraction of the screw 2 are stopped, and subsequently the screw 2 is controlled to reverse rotate by a pre-set constant amount of rotation Rc while position controlling its poType: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fumio Shiozawa, Tetsuo Ikeda, Kazuki Miyairi, Takashi Hakoda, Seiichi Sakurada
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Patent number: 7783371Abstract: Device for producing a three-dimensional object by solidification of a material solidifiable under the action of electromagnetic radiation by means of energy input via an imaging unit comprising a predetermined number of discrete imaging elements (pixels), said device comprising a computer unit, an IC and/or a software implementation respectively with the ability of adjusting and/or controlling the energy input via a specific gray value and/or color value in a voxel matrix.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Envisiontec GmbHInventors: Hendrik John, Volker Schillen, Ali El-Siblani
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Patent number: 7778717Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for workflow editing. Such methods and apparatus permit, for example, user-defined and/or other tasks to be combined in any combination or combinations to specify a workflow. The tasks can be linked for direct, serial processing and/or for conditional processing that includes branching and/or looping. The invention also improved methods and apparatus of workflow definition and processing with extensible actions. The invention provides, further, improved methods and apparatus for workflow definition and processing which utilize workflow variables for communication of data and control information among tasks within a workflow. The invention provides, still further, improved methods and apparatus of workflow definition and processing with enhanced messaging.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.Inventors: George E. Bachman, Robert A. DeRemer, Paul W. LeMert, James C. Long, Steven M. Weinrich, Julia Wright