Patents Examined by Mark A Connolly
  • Patent number: 10935266
    Abstract: An HVAC register airflow control system and an air flow control method are provided. A housing of the system is in fluid communication with an air source for supplying an airflow. The housing includes an air outlet to the enclosed space. A detection sensor detects occupancy information of the enclosed space. A controller generates a control signal based on the occupancy information and controls the shape change of a damper made of a shape memory material. The damper is controlled to switch between a first operative configuration for preventing the airflow from entering the enclosed space and a second operative configured for permitting the airflow to enter the enclosed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Ya Wang, Zhangjie Chen
  • Patent number: 10915075
    Abstract: A device for controlling an industrial system comprises an input block and a reference value predicter. The reference value predicter includes a disturbance predicter, a state predicter, and a model parameter predicter. A model updater updates the model of the industrial system based on the predicted state and the predicted parameters. A one-prediction-step calculator of the reference value predicter calculates a prediction step based on the predicted disturbances and the model of the system. The device further includes a matrix updater and a linear solver that includes a memory structure such that each row of Jacobian and gradient matrices may be processed in parallel, a pivot search block that determines a maximum element in a column of the Jacobian and gradient matrices, and a pivot row reading block. Moreover, the device further includes a solution updater that updates the solution for an iteration step and controls the iteration process and an output block that sends a solution to the industrial system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON
    Inventors: Zhenhua Jiang, Seyed Ataollah Raziei
  • Patent number: 10908563
    Abstract: Real-time dynamic process modeling in an online model-based process control computing environment. A solver system utilizes an oracle to implement adaptive algorithms for a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) solver and a nonlinear programming (NLP) solver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: AVEVA SOFTWARE, LLC
    Inventors: Rajkumar Vedam, Detong Zhang, Purt Tanartkit, Gareth Hillier, Sanjay Desai, John C. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10897860
    Abstract: Technologies disclosed herein are provided for irrigation monitoring and controlling based on water usage monitoring and control using an efficiency model for a defined geographic region. The technology includes receiving a first and a second set of moisture sensor measurements from a set of moisture sensors located in a defined geographic region, and determining an amount of water that is applied to the defined geographic region at a time period between the first and the second set of moisture measurements. An efficiency model representing efficiencies of locations in the defined geographic region is obtained based on the first and second set of moisture measurements and the amount of water applied. Schedule information is generated based on the efficiency model that indicates time periods at which areas in the defined geographic region are to be watered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Dish Network L.L.C.
    Inventor: Leo James Ferras
  • Patent number: 10883507
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling at least one first circulation pump (17b, 17c) of a heating or cooling system (1) having a primary circuit (2, 2a) and a secondary circuit (4, 30a) coupled therewith at a transfer point (3, 29). The first circulation pump (17, 17b, 17c, 17b?) conveys a heating or cooling medium in the primary circuit (2, 2a), and in the second secondary circuit (4, 30a), at least one second circulation pump (12, 17d) is located that conveys a heating or cooling medium in at least one partial area of the secondary circuit (4, 30a). The volume flow rate (formula I) of the first circulation pump (17, 17b, 17c, 17b?) is controlled in functional dependence on the volume flow rate (formula II) of the secondary circuit (4, 30) behind the transfer point (3, 29). In this way, a demand based, and thus an energy-efficient control of the primary-side circulation pump is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Wilo SE
    Inventor: Stephan Schmied
  • Patent number: 10876756
    Abstract: A method of controlling a discharge air reset in an heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR system includes determining, by a controller, a space temperature in a conditioned space, a setpoint temperature of the conditioned space, and an operating mode of a variable-air-volume (VAV) box for the conditioned space. The controller determines whether the operating mode of the VAV box matches an operating mode of an HVACR unit. A deviation from the setpoint temperature of the conditioned space for the VAV box for the conditioned is calculated in response to determining the VAV box is in a same mode as the HVACR unit. A statistical deviation from the setpoint temperature of the conditioned space is calculated. A discharge air setpoint temperature is determined based on the statistical deviation from the setpoint temperature of the conditioned space. The controller sets the discharge air setpoint temperature of the HVACR unit using the determined discharge air setpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Aaron E. Opatz, Ronnie R. Moffitt, John Arthur Murphy, James Kenneth McKeever, Eugene R. Shedivy
  • Patent number: 10876752
    Abstract: A method of controlling a discharge air reset in an heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR system includes determining, by a controller, a space temperature in a conditioned space, a setpoint temperature of the conditioned space, and an operating mode of a variable-air-volume (VAV) box for the conditioned space. The controller determines whether the operating mode of the VAV box matches an operating mode of an HVACR unit. A deviation from the setpoint temperature of the conditioned space for the VAV box for the conditioned is calculated in response to determining the VAV box is in a same mode as the HVACR unit. An average deviation from the setpoint temperature of the conditioned space is calculated. A discharge air setpoint temperature is determined based on the average deviation from the setpoint temperature of the conditioned space. The controller sets the discharge air setpoint temperature of the HVACR unit using the determined discharge air setpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Aaron E. Opatz, John Arthur Murphy, Ronnie R. Moffitt, James Kenneth McKeever
  • Patent number: 10863681
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a greenhouse or single container for plant growth coupled to the Internet of Things and including a microfluidic die for water or nutrient distribution. The microfluidic die is controllable automatically or with instructions from a remote user, based on sensors included within a growth environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Marco De Fazio, Simon Dodd
  • Patent number: 10860011
    Abstract: During operation, the system receives time-series signals from sensors in the asset while the asset is operating. Next, the system obtains real-time environmental parameters for an environment in which the asset is operating. The system then selects an environment-specific inferential model for the asset based on the real-time environmental parameters, wherein the environment-specific inferential model was trained on a golden system while the golden system was operating in an environment that matches the real-time environmental parameters. Next, the system uses the environment-specific inferential model to generate estimated values for the received time-series signals based on correlations among the received time-series signals, and performs a pairwise-differencing operation between actual values and the estimated values for the received time-series signals to produce residuals. Finally, the system determines from the residuals whether the asset is operating correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Guang C. Wang
  • Patent number: 10859995
    Abstract: To provide a numerical controller for a machine tool capable of shredding chips efficiently along one path by making oscillating motion involving synchronization between multiple axes and intermittently making cutting-out motion and cutting-in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Yamamoto, Naoto Sonoda
  • Patent number: 10823443
    Abstract: A self-adaptive smart setback heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control system includes an HVAC unit configured to deliver at least one of heated air and cooled air to a target area. A temperature sensor determines a current internal air temperature (IAT) of the target area. An HVAC controller is in signal communication with the HVAC unit and the temperature sensor. The HVAC controller selectively operates in an active mode and a setback mode. The active mode controls the HVAC unit based on a first temperature setpoint value, and the setback mode controls the HVAC unit based on a second temperature setpoint value different from the first temperature setpoint value. The HVAC controller includes an electronic temperature setback unit that is configured change the IAT during the setback mode based on an actively determined upcoming temperature recovery rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xinyu Wu, Sheng Li, Xing Cai, Jun Pyo Lee, Marcin Cychowski
  • Patent number: 10802571
    Abstract: Techniques for power-Field Effect Transistor (power-FET) gate drivers are described herein. In an example embodiment, a method for an USB-enabled system with an integrated circuit (IC) controller comprises: determining, by the IC controller, whether a first power path or a second power path is coupled to the IC controller, where the first power path comprises an external N-channel power-FET and the second power path comprises an external P-channel power-FET; turning and maintaining ON the external N-channel power-FET by the IC controller, when the first power path is determined as being coupled to the IC controller; and turning OFF the external N-channel power-FET and turning and maintaining ON the external P-channel power-FET by the IC controller, when the second power path is determined as being coupled to the IC controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Anup Nayak, Ramakrishna Venigalla
  • Patent number: 10801733
    Abstract: A heating power control system includes a storage that stores cooking information including a cooking process being executed using a cooking appliance, a receiver that receives detection information indicating an absence or a presence of a user of the cooking appliance, and a controller that determines whether or not the user is absent for a predetermined period of time based on the detection information, determines, based on the cooking information, whether or not the cooking process is a heating process when the user is determined to be absent for the predetermined period of time, determines, based on the cooking information, a control method of controlling heating power of the cooking appliance when the cooking process is determined to be a heating process, and controls the heating power of the cooking appliance by the control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Aso, Masao Nonaka
  • Patent number: 10802459
    Abstract: A building temperature may be allowed to deviate from a comfort temperature set point to an energy saving temperature when a user is outside the geo-fence. Crossing information indicating when a user crosses into the geo-fence may be received. The crossing information may be stored over time to develop a history of when the user crosses into the geo-fence. A probability function that operates on at least part of the stored crossing information may be used to predict a time range of when the user is expected to next arrive at the building, the time range having a starting time and an ending time. The HVAC system may be instructed to drive the building temperature to an intermediate temperature at the starting time of the time range, wherein the intermediate temperature is between the energy saving temperature and the comfort temperature set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan P. Frenz
  • Patent number: 10797511
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a photovoltaic energy field, a stationary energy storage device, an energy converter, and a controller. The photovoltaic energy field converts solar energy into electrical energy and charges the stationary energy storage device with the electrical energy. The energy converter converts the electrical energy stored in the stationary energy storage device into AC power at a discharge rate and supplies a campus with the AC power at the discharge rate. The controller predicts a required load of the campus and an electrical generation of the photovoltaic energy field across a time horizon and optimizes a cost function subject to a set of constraints to determine a discharge rate of the AC power to achieve a desired power factor. At least one of the set of constraints applied to the cost function ensures that the energy converter can convert the electrical energy stored in the stationary energy storage device into AC power having the determined power factor and discharge rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Kirk H. Drees, Camille M. Aucoin
  • Patent number: 10795323
    Abstract: In some examples, a method includes determining, by a controller in a system, a result of a first control loop based on a first sensed signal in a first instance and determining, by the controller, a result of a second control loop based on a second sensed signal in a second instance. The method also includes clamping, by the controller, the result of the second control loop to be equal to the result of the first control loop in the first instance and clamping, by the controller, the result of the first control loop to be equal to the result of the second control loop in the second instance. The method further includes outputting, by the controller and to a component of the system, a control signal based on the result of the first control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Joseph Skertic
  • Patent number: 10782711
    Abstract: A method, an electronic device, and a computer readable medium for fuel blending are disclosed. The method includes deriving a volume of each product from at least two products that is transferred from separate source containers to fill a destination container. The method also includes transferring a portion of the derived volume of each of the products sequentially into the destination container, wherein each product is transferred one at a time. The method further includes repeating the transfer of the portion of each of the products for a plurality of cycles until the derived volume of each of the products is transferred into the destination container. Each product of at least two products is transferred individually and sequentially during each of the cycles. The portion of the derived volume is based on the plurality of cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Chitta Ranjan Panigrahi
  • Patent number: 10775757
    Abstract: The system generally includes a crosspoint switch in a local data collection system having multiple inputs and multiple outputs including a first input connected to a first sensor and a second input connected to a second sensor. The multiple outputs include a first output and a second output configured to be switchable between a condition in which the first output is configured to switch between delivery of a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and a condition in which there is simultaneous delivery of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal. Each of multiple inputs is configured to be individually assigned to any of the multiple outputs. The local data collection system includes multiple data acquisition units each having an onboard card set configured to store calibration information and maintenance history. The local data collection system is configured to manage data collection bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Strong Force IOT Portfolio 2016, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, Jr., Jeffrey P. McGuckin
  • Patent number: 10775756
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a synchronous control method and a synchronous control system. The synchronous control method includes: acquiring respectively response durations during which multiple controlled components execute their corresponding control instructions; determining respectively instruction execution delay durations corresponding to the multiple controlled components according to the response durations during which the multiple controlled components execute their corresponding control instructions, and controlling the multiple controlled components to execute their corresponding control instructions according to the instruction execution delay durations corresponding to the multiple controlled components, such that the multiple controlled components are able to complete their corresponding operations synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING ETECHWIN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiqian Yang, Rui Gao
  • Patent number: 10768607
    Abstract: A controller of a machining device includes an X correction value determiner to determine an X correction value based on an X coordinate value obtained when a detection tool clamped by a clamp is brought into contact with a predetermined X reference point, a Y correction value determiner to determine a Y correction value based on a Y coordinate value obtained when the detection tool clamped by the clamp is brought into contact with a predetermined Y reference point, an actual length determiner to determine an actual length of the detection tool clamped by the clamp, and a Z correction value determiner to determine a Z correction value based on the X correction value, the Y correction value, the actual length of the detection tool, and the design length of the detection tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: DGSHAPE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Ueda