Patents Examined by Michael D. Masinick
  • Patent number: 10253757
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, controllers, wind turbines and computer program products for controlling a wind turbine. One or more wind speed measurements upstream of a wind turbine are received 202 and a determination of an indication of a current wind speed at the wind turbine is made 204. The indication may include below rated wind speed or above rated wind speed. It is determined 205 if the wind speed is in an up transition region or a down transition region based on the received one or more wind speed measurements and the indication of said current wind speed. If determined that said wind speed is in an up transition region or a down transition region then a boost action is performed 206.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Alex Pericleous
  • Patent number: 10235626
    Abstract: A pneumatic valve system that includes an actuator that pneumatically actuates a valve, and circuitry that calculates a control signal to control the actuator by compensating for nonlinear dynamic of the actuator using a stable inverse model of the valve, optimizes parameters of the stable inverse model such that a difference between output information of the pneumatic valve system and desired reference information is reduced, and outputs the control signal to control the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Yokogawa Saudi Arabia Company
    Inventors: Sami El Ferik, Mohammed Abdeen Mohammed Hassan, Zaid Jamal Albarghouthi, Mohammed Sabih, Mustafa Al-Naser, Mohammed Mahmoud Abd El Samie Mohamed Ali
  • Patent number: 10222787
    Abstract: A petrochemical plant or refinery may include equipment such as pumps, compressors, valves, exchangers, columns, adsorbers, or the like. Some petrochemical plants or refineries may include one or more sensors configured to collect operation information of the equipment in the plant or refinery. A faulty condition of a process of the petrochemical plant may be diagnosed based on the operation of the plant equipment. A diagnostic system, which may receive operation information from the one or more sensors, may include a detection platform, an analysis platform, a visualization platform, and/or an alert platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christophe Romatier, Ian G. Horn, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein, David Rondeau
  • Patent number: 10216168
    Abstract: An operation of a processing machine with redundant actuators is controlled according to a reference trajectory by selecting, from a set of points forming a segment of the reference trajectory to be processed for a period of time, a subset of points corresponding to a fraction of the period of time. The subset of points is selected such that the redundant actuators are capable to position the worktool at each point in the subset within the period of time and are capable to maintain the worktool at the last point of the subset after the period of time while satisfying constraints on motion of the redundant actuators. The constraints on motion are selected based on the mode of operation of the processing machine. The segment of the reference trajectory is modified in the time domain and the control inputs for controlling the motion of the redundant actuators are determined using the modified segment of the reference trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham Goldsmith, Stefano Di Cairano, Uros Kalabic
  • Patent number: 10207912
    Abstract: Crossover protection system graphical user interfaces, crossover protection systems that display graphical user interfaces, and methods for pairing tank delivery connectors with product delivery vehicle systems are provided. A tank delivery connector reads a tank tag with a tank tag reader, and transmits a tank tag indicator associated with the tank tag with network interface hardware. An electronic control unit receives the tank tag indicator with network interface hardware, determines a distribution tank fuel type associated with a distribution tank based on the tank tag indicator, determines that the tank delivery connector is associated with a tank compartment of a product delivery vehicle based on the tank tag indicator, and displays a graphical user interface on the display. The graphical user interface includes a tank delivery connector graphic displayed proximate a tank compartment graphic to indicate that the tank delivery connector is associated with the first tank compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: KNAPPCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikael A. Nelson, Kapil Pandey, Scott A. Finnell, Jeffrey J. Blair
  • Patent number: 10204310
    Abstract: An interface receives analyzed energy usage data, the analyzed energy usage data comprising information determined by one or more home automation devices. A processor applies optimization recommendation rules to the energy usage data. The processor determines an optimization recommendation, the optimization recommendation based on the analyzed energy usage data and the optimization recommendation rules. Upon a determination of the optimization recommendation, the interface further operable to communicate the optimization recommendation to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TXU Energy Retail Company LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer Marie Pulliam, Samudra Sen
  • Patent number: 10197344
    Abstract: A heating ventilation and cooling system includes an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The ERV is configured to produce an inlet airstream and an exhaust airstream. An enthalpy wheel within the energy recovery ventilator is operable to transport heat between the inlet and exhaust airstreams. A pressure transducer is configured to determine a backpressure across the enthalpy wheel. A controller is configured to determine, in response to the backpressure, an operational characteristic of the enthalpy wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Justin McKie, Eric Perez, Greg Thomas, Steve Schneider
  • Patent number: 10198300
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to managing volatile and non-volatile memory. A set of volatile memory sensor data may be obtained. A set of non-volatile memory sensor data may be obtained. The set of volatile memory sensor data and the set of non-volatile memory sensor data may be analyzed. A memory condition may be determined to exist based on the analysis. In response to determining that the memory condition exists, one or more memory actions may be issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Briana E. Foxworth, Saravanan Sethuraman, Kevin M. Mcilvain, Lucas W. Mulkey, Adam J. McPadden
  • Patent number: 10188809
    Abstract: A medical pump provides programming to assist a patient in complying with treatment schedules involving varying dosages of medicament(s). The pump includes stored treatment schedules and protocols that describe control of flow control device(s) for delivering different medicines according to the protocols and which may provide reminders and instructions to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Zyno Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Chaoyoung Lee, Mei Zhang
  • Patent number: 10189211
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) definition of a build piece, from which a build plan has been derived, is received. The computer system generates, based on the 3D definition, a processing plan that includes a plurality of robotic instructions to successively orient a build piece created by an additive manufacturing process into successive orientations. The computer system outputs the processing plan for use by a robotic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Incodema3D, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Volk, Michael D. Pinnisi
  • Patent number: 10185300
    Abstract: A numerical controller for controlling a machine receives an instruction to reestablish a machine coordinate value of a movable part of the machine and stops a servo motor driving the movable part. When the servo motor is stopped, the numerical controller acquires position information of a position detector provided to the servo motor. Then, the numerical controller updates the machine coordinate value of the movable part based on the position information, and further updates the absolute coordinate value of the movable part based on the updated machine coordinate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Haga, Satoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10185308
    Abstract: Methods and systems to update information of a device description of a field instrument are described. In one example, a method involves comparing a host revision of the device description executed via a host application to an instrument revision of the device description of the field instrument, generating a character string of update information based on the comparison, the character string containing the update information, and displaying the character string via the host application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Mitchell Stephen Panther
  • Patent number: 10179375
    Abstract: Provided is an NC program generating device that generates an NC program used in laser machining, using a rapid traverse command that moves a relative position between a machining head and a workpiece at a first movement speed, and a linear interpolation movement command that moves the relative position at a second speed, while causing the relative position to trace the workpiece, the device comprising: a movement time calculation unit that calculates a first movement time of the relative position when using the rapid traverse command and a second movement time of the relative position when using the linear interpolation command, a movement method selection unit that selects the movement command corresponding to the shorter time of the first movement time and the second movement time, and an NC program generating unit that generates an NC program by setting the selected movement command between the machining points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kurokawa, Toshiki Koshimae, Yoshiyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 10175681
    Abstract: An optimization system for a central plant includes a processing circuit configured to receive load prediction data indicating building energy loads and utility rate data indicating a price of one or more resources consumed by equipment of the central plant to serve the building energy loads. The optimization system includes a high level optimization module configured to generate an objective function that expresses a total monetary cost of operating the central plant over an optimization period as a function of the utility rate data and an amount of the one or more resources consumed by the central plant equipment. The high level optimization module is configured to optimize the objective function over the optimization period subject to load equality constraints and capacity constraints on the central plant equipment to determine an optimal distribution of the building energy loads over multiple groups of the central plant equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Robert D. Turney, Kirk H. Drees, Matthew J. Asmus
  • Patent number: 10162343
    Abstract: A process for performing localized corrective actions to structure of an electronic device is described. The structure may include a mating surface configured to receive another structure such that the two structures may be, for example, adhesively bonded together. The localized corrective actions are configured not to improve the mating surface but to also prevent light within the electronic device from escaping in undesired areas of the electronic device. In some embodiments, the corrective action includes using a removal tool to remove identified portions of the surface. In other embodiments, the corrective action includes using a different tool to add material identified portions of the surface. The identified means may include an automated inspection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Leggett, Simon Regis Louis Lancaster-Larocque
  • Patent number: 10157761
    Abstract: A temperature controller for a semiconductor wafer is configured to perform a temperature control on a plurality of temperature adjusters including a reference temperature adjuster to perform a temperature adjustment of the semiconductor wafer, in which a manipulated variable calculator to give a manipulated variable to a master loop and a slave loop includes a master-slave switching unit configured to switch between the master loop and the slave loop and a master-slave cancellation unit configured to cancel a setting of the master loop and the slave loop when a temperature setpoint of the slave loop is set to have a temperature gradient against a temperature setpoint of the master loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: KELK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Mimura
  • Patent number: 10151300
    Abstract: A blade mounted radar system comprises a wind turbine having a hub and blades extending therefrom; a radar antenna configured to transmit and/or receive a radio frequency (RF) signal; and a processor in electrical communication with the radar antenna and configured to generate the RF signal for transmission and/or to process the received RF signal. The radar antenna is affixed to one of the blades of the wind turbine such that relative motion is defined between the radar antenna and a target within a line of sight of the radar antenna. The radar antenna detects impending weather events. A turbine controller generates a signal which alters at least one aspect of the wind turbine to secure and protect the wind turbine from the impending weather event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Svetlana M. Bachman, Elliott Reitz
  • Patent number: 10146199
    Abstract: A building controller for controlling one or more building control components in a building, wherein the building controller is configured for bidirectional communication via a communication network between the building controller and the one or more building control components. The building controller can include a housing, a control unit, and a display unit. The control unit can execute an operating system and a building control application program having a control algorithm. The display unit may be configured to display at least one screen that facilitates user monitoring of diagnostic messages of the operating system of the control unit. Alternatively, or in addition, the display unit can be configured to display a screen to facilitate user entry of operating system parameters and/or a screen to facilitate entry of operating system commands for execution on by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Majewski, Jeffrey Lucas
  • Patent number: 10140253
    Abstract: A process modeling technique uses a single statistical model, such as a PLS, PRC, MLR, etc. model, developed from historical data for a typical process and uses this model to perform quality prediction or fault detection for various different process states of a process. The modeling technique determines means (and possibly standard deviations) of process parameters for each of a set of product grades, throughputs, etc., compares on-line process parameter measurements to these means and uses these comparisons in a single process model to perform quality prediction or fault detection across the various states of the process. Because only the means and standard deviations of the process parameters of the process model are updated, a single process model can be used to perform quality prediction or fault detection while the process is operating in any of the defined process stages or states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Mark J. Nixon, John M. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 10139793
    Abstract: Acquiring correspondence among a plurality of time zones and target upper limit temperatures and target lower limit temperatures of the air conditioner that correspond to the respective plurality of time zones. A display allows a user to set the preset temperatures of the air conditioner in the respective plurality of time zones. The display includes a graph region having a first axis corresponding to the plurality of time zones and a second axis corresponding to the preset temperatures of the air conditioner. The graph region includes, in each of the plurality of time zones, a first temperature region having a first appearance and a second temperature region displayed having a second appearance. A symbol indicative of a corresponding preset temperature is displayed in the first temperature region in a corresponding one of the plurality of time zones in the graph region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamada, Taiji Sasaki, Masashi Sugiyama, Yoichi Nishida, Tetsuji Fuchikami, Shunji Harada