Patents Examined by Manuel L. Barbee
  • Systems and methods for enabling user selection of components for data collection in an industrial environment
    Patent number: 11415978
    Abstract: Systems and methods for data collection in an industrial environment are disclosed. An expert graphical user interface showing representations of components of an industrial machine to which sensors are attach is disclosed. The user interface may enable a user to select at least one of the components resulting in a search of a database of industrial machine failure modes for modes that correspond to the selected component. The corresponding failure mode may be presented to the user. The selection of the component may cause a controller to reference and implement a data collection template for configuring the system to automatically collect data from sensors associated with the selected component to detect at least one of the corresponding failure modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Strong Force IoT Portfolio 2016, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, Jr., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Maintenance control program
    Patent number: 11415977
    Abstract: A maintenance control program for use in maintaining mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment is provided. The maintenance control program includes a completed survey of the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment. The completed survey is configured to document the physical characteristics of the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment and an assessment of a plurality of metrics concerning the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment. An algorithm is configured to apply values to the assessment of the plurality of metrics. A schedule of code required maintenance tasks is developed for the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment, wherein an interval of the required maintenance tasks is determined by the algorithm based on the values applied to the assessment of the plurality of metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: eMCP, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Koshak, Daniel C. Swett, Kenneth J. Smith
  • Method and system for shipping container load estimation
    Patent number: 11415454
    Abstract: A method at a computing device, the method including obtaining sensor data for a vehicle providing one or both of displacement or acceleration information for the vehicle; calculating a vibration frequency for the vehicle; retrieving calibration data for the vehicle, the calibration data comprising at least a first known mass; a second known mass; a vibration frequency for the vehicle at the first known mass; and a vibration frequency of the vehicle at a second known mass; and using the calibration data and the vibration frequency for the vehicle, calculating a load estimation for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Peter Montemurro, Shouxing Qu
  • Weigh-in-motion system with channel data
    Patent number: 11402256
    Abstract: A weigh-in-motion system includes a base, a load cell assembly supporting a leading edge of a platform structure movable with respect to the base, and a load cell assembly supporting a trailing edge of the platform. A processor is configured to execute program instructions in a memory to obtain load profile data generated by the load cells and to determine a weight associated with a vehicle using the load profile data. The processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to generate an output based upon the determined weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: Darren J. Pearson
  • Device for detecting a defect of a rotating arrangement
    Patent number: 11397130
    Abstract: A device for detecting a defect of a rotating arrangement is provided. The rotating arrangement further provides one or more rotating elements. The device includes a measuring unit for measuring a parameter of the rotating arrangement for a predefined time period, a calculation unit for calculating a mean value and a standard deviation of the parameter of the predefined time period and for calculating a threshold based on a sum of the mean value and the standard deviation during the predefined time period, and a detection unit for detecting a defect by comparing a current value of the parameter with the calculated threshold. The calculation unit is configured to adjust the calculated threshold using a stability factor. The stability factor is a variable function of the standard deviation and the mean value. A method for detecting a defect of a rotating arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Per-Erik Larsson
  • Method for quantifying fugitive methane emissions rate using surface methane concentration
    Patent number: 11378563
    Abstract: A method was invented to convert methane concentration at the surfaces emitting fugitive methane into methane emission rate. This method requires surface scan of methane concentration using handled devices such as flame ionization detector (FID) to measure the fugitive methane near-surface concentration based on which, the methane emission rate can be calculated using a correlation expressed in a mathematical form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Ali Reza Abedini
  • Autonomous track assessment system
    Patent number: 11377130
    Abstract: An autonomous railway track assessment apparatus includes: a railway track assessment platform including a boxcar including an enclosed space formed therein; one or more power sources located on the boxcar; a controller; a first sensor assembly in electronic communication with the controller oriented to capture data from the railway track; an air handling system located on the rail car, the air handling system including an air blower and a heater/chiller; a set of air ducts in fluid communication with the air handling system and the first sensor assembly for supplying heated or cooled blown air from the air from the handling system to the first sensor assembly. Data from the railway track is autonomously collected by the first sensor assembly controlled by the controller and such data is stored on the data storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Tetra Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Darel Mesher
  • Tool replacement timing management system
    Patent number: 11376701
    Abstract: A tool replacement timing management system includes a data acquisition section configured to acquire time series data indicating a machining state from a machine, a data cutout section configured to cut out specimen data from the time series data according to at least one condition or a combination of conditions selected from among machining, a tool, a workpiece, and a tool speed, a machining state variable calculating section configured to calculate a machining state variable, which is a statistical index, from the specimen data, a tool deterioration state generation section configured to generate tool deterioration state data in which the machining state variable is aligned in a time series, and a tool replacement timing calculating section configured to calculate a tool replacement timing on a basis of the tool deterioration state data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Kaniwa, Nobuhiro Hara, Yuuki Ootsuka
  • Inspection assistance device, inspection assistance method, and recording medium
    Patent number: 11380140
    Abstract: Provided is a technology for recording effective data, as a result of inspection on a to-be-inspected object. This inspection assistance device is provided with: a reception unit that receives information about a to-be-inspected object; an acquisition unit that acquires image data captured by an imaging device; and a recording control unit that, in the case when the imaging time of the image data falls within a prescribed time range based on the time at which the information was received being set as a reference, and when the to-be-inspected object indicated by the received information coincides with the to-be-inspected object recognized from the image data, records the information pertaining to the result of inspection on the to-be-inspected object and the information about the to-be-inspected object in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takami Sato, Kota Iwamoto, Yoshinori Saida, Shin Norieda
  • Dynamically directed workpiece positioning system
    Patent number: 11370138
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a dynamically directed workpiece positioning system may include a transport, a sensor positioned to detect a workpiece on the transport, a cutting member positioned along or downstream of the transport, and a computer system. The sensor may scan the workpiece as the workpiece is moved relative to the transport by a human operator or a positioning device. Based on the scan data, the computer system may generate commands to guide the human operator or positioning device in moving the workpiece to a desired position corresponding to a cut solution for the workpiece. Optionally, the computer system may cause the cutting member to be repositioned while the workpiece is being moved relative to the transport. Once the workpiece is in the desired position, the transport may be used to move the workpiece toward the cutting member. Corresponding methods and apparatuses are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Garyland Kirk Middleton, Scott Erling Norton, Christopher W. Blomquist
  • Lifespan diagnosis device, method, non-transitory storage medium, and system for motion guidance device
    Patent number: 11371909
    Abstract: A lifespan diagnosis device for a motion guidance device including: a stress calculating means which calculates stresses during movement for each of virtual segments, the stresses during movement being stresses that occur in each segment during a movement of the moving member; a counting means which counts, for each of the segments, on the basis of the amount of displacement, the number of occurrences of the stresses during movement which repetitively occur with waving during a movement of the moving member along the track; and a diagnostic means which calculates, for each of the segments, a lifespan exhaustion ratio on the basis of magnitudes of the stresses during movement and the number of occurrences of the stresses during movement, and which diagnoses the lifespan of the motion guidance device on the basis of the calculated lifespan exhaustion ratios of the respective segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Unno, Yuki Hayashi, Yuki Tanaka, Tomofumi Ohashi, Yusuke Asano, Katsunori Kogure
  • Methods and systems for optimization of data collection and storage using 3rd party data from a data marketplace in an industrial internet of things environment
    Patent number: 11366455
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for data collection in an industrial environment are described. The system may include a data acquisition circuit structured to interpret a plurality of detection values, each of the plurality of detection values corresponding to input received from at least one of a plurality of input sensors operatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of components of an industrial process, a data marketplace circuit structured to communicate at least one of the plurality of detection values to a data marketplace, and to obtain at least one external detection value, a data analysis circuit structured to determine a state value, an optimization circuit configured to provide a recommendation to adjust a parameter of the process in response to the state value, and an analysis response circuit structured to perform an action in response to the recommendation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Strong Force IoT Portfolio 2016, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, Jr., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Method and device for assessing a control loop
    Patent number: 11366463
    Abstract: A method for assessing a control loop. In the method, the control loop is assigned one degree of fulfillment each with respect to at least three quality criteria. The surface area of a polygon having a geometry defined by the degrees of fulfillment is determined. An overall control quality of the control loop is evaluated on the basis of the surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Patrik Zips, Markus Gurtner, Adrian Trachte, Daniel Seiler-Thull, Julian Ophey, Muhammed Atak
  • Signals of opportunity aided inertial navigation
    Patent number: 11366236
    Abstract: A signal of opportunity (SOP)-aided inertial navigation system (INS) framework provides various technical solutions to technical problems facing GNSS implementations. A mobile receiver, whether handheld or vehicle-mounted, has access to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, multiple unknown terrestrial SOPs, and IMU measurements, which are used to estimate receiver states. When GNSS signals become unreliable, the mobile receiver continues to navigate using the SOP-aided INS. The SOP-aided INS produces bounded estimation errors in the absence of GNSS signals, and the bounds are dependent on the quantity and quality of exploited SOPs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Zak M. Kassas, Joshua J. Morales
  • Intelligent electronic device with enhanced power quality monitoring and communications capability
    Patent number: 11366145
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device IED has enhanced power quality and communications capabilities. The IED can perform energy analysis by waveform capture, detect transient on the front-end voltage input channels and provide revenue measurements. The IED splits and distributes the front-end input channels into separate circuits for scaling and processing by dedicated processors for specific applications by the IED. Front-end voltage input channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for transient detection, waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. Front-end current channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ELECTRO INDUSTRIES/GAUGE TECH
    Inventors: Hai Zhu, Erran Kagan
  • Method for calculating tread frequency of bicycle, wearable device, and storage medium
    Patent number: 11361602
    Abstract: A method for calculating a tread frequency of a bicycle includes obtaining a first state of an acceleration signal in a first time window, determining a feature point set from the acceleration signal when the first state includes a riding state, where time distribution of a feature point in the feature point set meets a preset periodic distribution condition, and amplitude meets a physical rule, determining that the first state is the riding state when a feature point subset in the feature point set meets a preset reasonableness condition, and calculating, based on the feature point subset, a quantity of circles and a tread frequency that are in the first time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yixin Chen, Chen Dong, Xiaohan Chen, Yu Wang
  • Systems and methods for liquid-volume measurement in immersion-cooled devices
    Patent number: 11359955
    Abstract: A level sensing module for use with a liquid immersion cooling system having a device chassis housing an electronic device, the level sensing module comprising a fluid level sensor, and a controller coupled to the fluid level sensor and configured to receive a signal from the fluid level sensor indicative of a height of dielectric fluid in the device chassis, receive a signal from a pump controller indicative of a volume of dielectric fluid provided to the device chassis, and generate a map of dielectric fluid volume within the device chassis based on the signal from the fluid level sensor and the signal from the pump controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: John H. Bean, Jr., Cory D. Basden
  • Intelligent outlier data detection
    Patent number: 11354384
    Abstract: Transaction data is received from a remote client computing device that includes user-generated entries in each of a plurality of fields. Thereafter, it can be determined, using an outlier detection algorithm, that values for one or more of the entries is an outlier. Data can then be provided (e.g., displayed in a visual display, loaded into memory, stored in physical persistence, transmitted to a remote computing system, etc.). The outlier algorithm can be based on a number of similar records g, a number of distinct values d(g) in the similar records, and a number of same values s in the similar records. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Kefeng Wang
  • Systems and methods for policy automation for a data collection system
    Patent number: 11334063
    Abstract: Methods and systems for policy automation for a data collection system in an industrial environment are disclosed. A policy input interface may be structured to receive policy inputs relating to definition of at least one parameter of at least one of a rule, a policy, or a protocol, wherein the at least one parameter defines at least one of: a configuration for a data collection device, an access policy for accessing data from the data collection device, or a collection policy for collection of data by the data collection device, and a policy automation engine structured to interpret the policy inputs and automatically configure and deploy the at least one of the rule, the policy, or the protocol within the data collection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Strong Force IoT Portfolio 2016, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, Jr., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Proactive compressor failure remediation
    Patent number: 11320814
    Abstract: A diagnostic instrument failure prediction and remediation system may include a compressed air system and a computer configured to analyze stored information regarding the compressed air system to predict likely failures of the compressed air system. Such analysis may utilize information such as duty cycle information for a compressor comprised by the compressed air system and pressure information for a pressure sensor for a compressed air system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Littman, Xiao Yin