Patents Examined by M. N. Von Buhr
  • Patent number: 11771025
    Abstract: An irrigation system and method of controlling operations of the irrigation system are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: LINDSAY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kurtis Arlan Charling, Chengchou James Han
  • Patent number: 11735916
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing an electrical grid by controlling devices connected to the electrical grid. In one aspect, a method comprises: autonomously determining whether a control strategy update criterion is satisfied, and in response to determining that the control strategy update criterion is satisfied: identifying: (i) a plurality of devices connected to the electrical grid, and (ii) one or more objectives to be satisfied by the plurality of devices; generating, for the plurality of devices and for a plurality of controls, simulated data that simulates operation of the plurality of devices based on application of the plurality of controls; and identifying, by an optimization procedure and based on at least the simulated data, a respective control to be applied to each of the plurality of devices to satisfy the objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: EnergyHub, Inc.
    Inventors: Varun Mehra, Benjamin Hertz-Shargel, Andrew Kontaxis, William Cybriwsky
  • Patent number: 11735919
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for optimized load shaping for optimizing production and consumption of energy. Information signals indicative of a first load shape signal are obtained corresponding to a total load, a renewable energy load of one or more renewable energy sources and a non-renewable energy load of one or more non-renewable energy sources. The first load shape signal corresponding to renewable energy load is removed from a non-renewable energy load to obtain a resulting load shape signal. The resulting load shape is flattened signal by apportioning the resulting load shape signal across time intervals to obtain a flattened load shape signal. At least a portion of the first component corresponding to the renewable energy load is added to the flattened load shape signal to create an optimized load shape signal. The optimized load shape signal is provided to modulate electric loads of energy-consuming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Robert F. Cruickshank, III
  • Patent number: 11734776
    Abstract: A method performed in which a forecast, a generation information, and a regulation information are obtained. A control information is determined in the event that the regulation information is indicative of over- or underproduction. The control information is indicative of a control of the amount of electrical energy generated by power generating plants. The control information is determined based on the obtained regulation and generation information. Based on the time at which the regulation information is obtained, the remaining time of a predetermined interval is determined. Operating points for the plants are determined such that, for the remaining time, the amount of energy generated by the plants for the predetermined interval saves or generates at least one determined difference between the amount of energy generated according to the forecast and generation information. The operating points are based on the control information. The determined control information is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: innogy SE
    Inventor: Thomas Marx
  • Patent number: 11726462
    Abstract: A method for improving a cycle time of a process of a product is provided. The method includes: collecting process profile data from a plurality of tool groups running the process, and calculating values of a plurality of key-performance-indicators (KPIs) of each tool group including calculating a standard deviation of an output of a stage of a bottleneck tool group of the tool groups; feeding the values of the KPIs and a work-in-progress (WIP) of each tool group into a neural network model in order to output an impact on the WIP for each KPI of each tool group by the neural network model; selecting a set of major KPIs of each tool group from the KPIs according to the impact of each tool group; and controlling the tool groups according to the impact of the set of major KPIs of each tool group in order to reduce a total WIP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Yi Wang, Chao-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 11689018
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the transfer of electrical power between a first electrical network and a second electrical network is disclosed. The method includes receiving at the second electrical network pricing information from the first electrical network, the pricing information associated with the supply of electrical power between the first electrical network and the second electrical network and modifying a demand characteristic of the second electrical network based on the pricing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Hybrid Energy Pty Ltd
    Inventors: John Charles Ellice-Flint, Petar Branko Atanackovic
  • Patent number: 11682570
    Abstract: A controller is configured to perform at least a first characterization process prior to at least one discrete backside film deposition process on a semiconductor wafer; perform at least an additional characterization process following the at least one discrete backside film deposition process; determine at least one of a film force or one or more in-plane displacements for at least one discrete backside film deposited on the semiconductor wafer via the at least one discrete backside film deposition process based on the at least the first characterization process and the at least the additional characterization process; and provide at least one of the film force or the one or more in-plane displacements to at least one process tool via at least one of a feed forward loop or a feedback loop to improve performance of one or more fabrication processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Pradeep Vukkadala, Mark D. Smith, Ady Levy, Prasanna Dighe, Dieter Mueller
  • Patent number: 11650563
    Abstract: A machine tool includes: a spindle that causes a tool to rotate and move; a workpiece rotation mechanism that causes a workpiece W to rotate; a control unit that controls the spindle and the workpiece rotation mechanism in accordance with commands from a program; and a cutting load detection unit that detects a cutting load imparted on the workpiece by the tool, and the control unit controls a cutting route such that a cutting depth of the workpiece cut with the tool in a region with a small cutting load is greater than the cutting depth in a region with a large cutting load within such a range that the cutting load detected by the cutting load detection unit does not exceed a predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuanming Xu
  • Patent number: 11636558
    Abstract: Cooperation in supply and demand balance of renewable energy in a region is implemented by operation of infrastructures of an infrastructure service such as water supply. In an energy management system including: a processor; and a storage device, the processor predicts an electric power supply amount utilizing renewable energy in a predetermined region, predicts an electric power demand amount in the region, predicts a demand amount of an infrastructure service different from an electric power service in the region, predicts an electric power demand amount corresponding to the infrastructure service on the basis of the predicted demand amount of the infrastructure service in the region, and determines use time of electric power corresponding to the infrastructure service such that the electric power demand amount in the region approaches the electric power supply amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 11626733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an electricity feed to an electricity grid (12) from a load side of an electric circuit (5), comprising the steps of: a) Providing a electricity feed with an associated feed duration to a controller (13) of an electric power converter (7); b) The controller (13) commissioning the electric power converter (7) to provide the electricity feed, until the electricity feed and feed duration is provided anew or until the feed duration expires. The invention further relates to a system for controlling an electricity feed of an electric source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Marcus Vietzke
  • Patent number: 11592792
    Abstract: A method for controlling production of one or more refined resources by an energy provider includes predicting a demand for the refined resources by one or more consumers of the refined resources as a function of an incentive offered by the energy provider. The method further includes performing an optimization of an objective function subject to a constraint based on the predicted demand for the refined resources to determine an amount of the refined resources for the energy provider to produce and a value of the incentive at multiple times within a time period. The method also includes providing setpoints for equipment of the energy provider that cause the equipment to produce the amount of the refined resources determined by performing the optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Andrew J. Przybylski, Michael J. Wenzel, John H. Burroughs, Matthew J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 11581733
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for estimating network states using asynchronous measurements by leveraging network inertia. For example, a device configured in accordance with the techniques of the present disclosure may receive electrical parameter values corresponding to at least one first location within a power network and determine, based on the electrical parameter values and a previous estimated state of the power network, an estimated value of unknown electrical parameters that correspond to a second location within the power network. The device may further cause at least one device within the power network to modify operation based on the estimated value of the unknown electrical parameters. The leveraging of network inertia may obviate the need for probabilistic models or pseudo-measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Guido Cavraro, Andrey Bernstein, Emiliano Dall'Anese
  • Patent number: 11581731
    Abstract: A test and control apparatus, system and method for a wind farm, are provided. The test and control apparatus includes a first communication interface, a second communication interface, and a processor card. The processor card receives, via the first communication interface, a frequency regulation instruction issued by the grid scheduling server, receives operation information of the wind power generation unit via the second communication interface, and calculates, based on the operation information of the wind power generation unit, a first frequency regulation capability of the wind power generation unit performing a frequency regulation without using the first energy storage battery. The processor card sends the frequency regulation instruction to the wind power generation unit without using the first energy storage battery, in a case that the first frequency regulation capability of the wind power generation unit satisfies a requirement of the frequency regulation instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Goldwind Sciene & Creation Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nan Ye, Yi Zhang, Yuan Qiao
  • Patent number: 11554686
    Abstract: A system and method for managing vehicle charging stations such that when at least two of a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations (also known as electric vehicle service equipment, or EVSE) occupied with vehicles awaiting a charge, the present system manages the charging of individual vehicles in cases where the aggregated demand for charging exceeds the capacity of the circuits supplying the plurality of EVSE. By cycling so that only a few of the vehicles are charging at a time, the demand on the circuits is kept below a predetermined limit. In cases where a load shedding event is in progress, the limit can be further reduced. In cases where the cost of electricity is varying dynamically, the system considers a driver's explicit charging requirements (if any) and preferences for opportunistic charging when the price of electricity is not too high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Liberty Plugins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Outwater, William Gibbens Redmann
  • Patent number: 11513502
    Abstract: The machine tool apparatus comprises: multiple work machine modules configured to sequentially perform a series of manufacturing-related operations on a workpiece; a robot configured to convey the workpiece between the multiple work machine modules; an individual information-providing device configured to provide an individual information to the workpiece conveyed into the multiple work machine modules and subjected to manufacturing-related operations; a storage device; and a control device configured to link the manufacturing history of manufacturing-related operations performed on the workpiece by the multiple work machine modules and store the information in the storage section, the workpiece being a workpiece to which the individual information was provided by the individual information-providing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Furukawa, Kazuyoshi Nagato, Shigefumi Suzuyama
  • Patent number: 11467616
    Abstract: A method for controlling an energy generation and storage system using a multi-layer architecture is provided. The method includes determining, by one or more control devices, a power or energy generation for the energy generation and storage system at a first layer of the multi-layer architecture. The method includes determining, by the one or more control devices, a power or energy set point for the system at a second layer of the multi-layer architecture. The method includes controlling, by the one or more control devices, the energy generation and storage system based, at least in part, on the power or energy setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alina Fatima Moosvi, Vaidhya Nath Venkitanarayanan, Irene Michelle Berry, Patrick Hammel Hart, Hullas Sehgal, Fernando Javier D'Amato, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Deepak Raj Sagi, Rajni Kant Burra, Megan Ann DeWitt, Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 11461513
    Abstract: In disclosed techniques, simulations are performed to determine data center performance under certain conditions. The simulations are dynamic and allow for changes in power demand due to temporal data center activities. In order to accommodate predicted and unpredicted fluctuations in power demand of a data center, one or more power caches are configured to supply additional power during periods of peak demand. Power caches provide supplemental power during periods of peak demand. The simulations are used for a variety of purposes, including determining the effects of power caches going offline under various conditions. Disclosed techniques can simulate the cycling of a power cache and can determine if additional configuration changes to the data center are warranted to maintain optimal health of the power caches. Thus, power scenario simulation of a data center can provide information vital to efficient operation of the data center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Cato
    Inventors: Martin P Leslie, Karimulla Raja Shaikh, Nikhil Sharma, Ravi Subramaniam, Shankar Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 11457576
    Abstract: An irrigation system that controls the irrigation operations based upon soil irrigation decisions and weather forecasts generated by specific meteorological data, including soil temperature, soil moisture, air temperature, air humidity, air pressure, and rainfall collected by different sensors. The system comprises an irrigation decision module, a soil decision module, an air factor decision module, a rainfall information sensor, an irrigation controller, and a mobile APP. The irrigation system uses low-power radio frequency networking technology to communicate between different modules and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Homgar International Inc
    Inventors: Zhongdong Huang, Dun Zheng
  • Patent number: 11455021
    Abstract: In disclosed techniques, datacenter power management uses AC and DC power sources. An AC power distribution topology within a datacenter provides one or more AC power sources to computing devices. A DC power distribution topology within the datacenter provides one or more DC power sources to computing devices. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is provisioned to a rack of computing devices, wherein the UPS is capable of receiving the one or more AC power sources using the AC power distribution topology and the one or more DC power sources using the DC power distribution topology. The one or more DC power sources are evaluated for energizing the DC power distribution topology. The one or more DC power sources are connected to the UPS which is provisioned to the rack of computing devices, based on the evaluating and a datacenter power requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Cato
    Inventors: Craig Broadbent, Nikhil Sharma, Karimulla Raja Shaikh, Shankar Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 11451053
    Abstract: A method estimates a grid state of an electrical power distribution grid having a multiplicity of network sections, in which a central computer arrangement is used to receive measured values from measuring devices. A state estimation device is used to make a prediction of a future grid state, wherein a voltage and a phase angle are respectively ascertained for each network section, and in that a naive Bayes method is used for the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sylwia Henselmeyer