Patents Examined by Olvin Lopez Alvarez
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Patent number: 8682466Abstract: A method to enable wafer result prediction includes collecting manufacturing data from various semiconductor manufacturing tools and metrology tools; choosing key parameters using an autokey method based on the manufacturing data; building a virtual metrology based on the key parameters; and predicting wafer results using the virtual metrology.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Francis Ko, Chih-Wei Lai, Kewei Zuo, Henry Lo, Jean Wang, Ping-Hsu Chen, Chun-Hsien Lim, Chen-Hua Yu
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Patent number: 8676368Abstract: A system includes a handheld tool for executing steps of a sequence within a work cell. An electromagnetic marker connected to the tool emits a magnetic field within the cell. A receptor detects the magnetic field and generates a raw position signal in response thereto. A control unit updates an assembly setting of the tool. The host executes a control action when a position determined using the raw data is not equal to an expected position in the sequence. A method calculates the present position of a torque wrench using magnetic fields generated by the marker and measured by a receptor array, and calculates a present position of the tool or a fastener. The present position of the fastener may be compared to an expected position in the calibrated sequence, and the torque wrench may be disabled when the fastener position is not equal to the expected position.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2009Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Fives Cinetic Inc.Inventors: John Stencel, Henry Arthur Loos, Jr.
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Rolling of a strip in a rolling train using the last stand of the rolling train as a tension reducer
Patent number: 8676371Abstract: A rolling train for rolling a strip has a number of rolling stands and a coiler. The rolling stands have work and backing rolls. Data of the strip are fed to a control device of the rolling train which determines individual pass reductions for the rolling stands based on the data. It controls the main rolling stands and the coiler such that the strip is rolled in the main rolling stands according to the individual pass reductions and then coiled up. It determines the individual pass reductions such that they are zero and controls the rolling stand arranged directly upstream of the coiler such that—with respect to this main rolling stand—the tension in the strip on the outlet side is less than on the inlet side, but the strip runs through this rolling stand without undergoing any forming, at least on one side.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2008Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Berthold Botta -
Patent number: 8666560Abstract: A power control system/method implementing Internet based access to hybrid home automation networks is disclosed. The system utilizes a smart gateway power controller (SGPC) to selectively switch an AC power source to a load device under control of local or remote network commands that may be routed through a variety of network interfaces and protocols present within home or other structure-local communications network. SGPC configurations may be nested within a home automation network to permit separation of control for load devices within a common home automation environment. Present invention methods may include routing protocols between disparate home automation networks as well as remote access protocols that permit control of disparate home automation networks via the Internet using a wide variety of remote access interfaces including mobile devices, tablet computers, laptops, desktop computers, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Advanergy, Inc.Inventors: Jin Lu, Todd Scott Kelly, Lee Cheung
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Patent number: 8644992Abstract: The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for controlling operation of a washing machine motor. Different control algorithms may be used during different time periods of operation of the motor where each algorithm is configured to provide different operating characteristics of the motor based on the needs of the washing machine system. The method and apparatus both provide for changing from one motor control algorithm to another algorithm while the motor is spinning. For certain type motors, a time period may be established between operation of the motor under a first or second control algorithms where no energy is supplied to the motor but the motor is permitted to continue to spin. During this period of time for these type motors, magnetic fields in the motor are permitted to subside prior to application of the second control algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2011Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Richard Dean Suel, II
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Patent number: 8615329Abstract: A control system is disclosed for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system. The distribution system has a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels providing the liquid to a multiplicity of users. A plurality of controllable user valves are interposed in the multiplicity of user channels. A liquid monitor senses a liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel. A user control changes selective controllable user valves for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Water Optimizer LLCInventor: Thomas M. O'Connor
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Patent number: 8615332Abstract: An appliance network having a first networked appliance, an energy controller, at least one of a smart dimmer and smart adapter, and a communication network coupling the first networked appliance, energy controller, and the at least one of the smart dimmer and smart adapter for communication therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Layne E. Heilman, Gale R. Horst, Richard A. McCoy
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Patent number: 8612063Abstract: An environmental control systems (ECS) for an aircraft in which bleed air is cooled with ram air, the ECS may include a ram air controller configured to control a rate of ram air flow responsively to a desired temperature of bleed air at a bleed air outlet and a bleed air controller configured to control a rate of bleed air flow responsively to a temperature lower than the desired temperature of the bleed air at the bleed air outlet. Collectively the two controllers may provide a minimizing of ram air usage for cooling the bleed air.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventors: Andrea Chor Ying Lau, Xiaomei Li
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Patent number: 8612029Abstract: A system includes at least one piece of equipment. The system also includes a state detector adapted to measure one or more operating parameters of the equipment. The system has a signature generator adapted to encode a plurality of data streams from the state detector into an operating signature for the equipment.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2008Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Michael Edward Cottrell, Kenneth John Innes, James Po-Cheung Kong, Charles Anthony Lickteig, Robert Frank Parchewsky, Steven Michael Schultheis, Daniel Dazhang Ying
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Patent number: 8606376Abstract: A method of actuating a system comprising a movable component and an actuator configured to move the movable component comprises providing a control signal representative of a desired motion of the movable component. The control signal is supplied to one or more resonators. Each of the one or more resonators has a mode of oscillation representative of at least one elastic mode of oscillation of the system. The control signal is modified by subtracting from the control signal a signal representative of a response of the one or more resonators to the control signal. The actuator is operated in accordance with the modified control signal. Thus, undesirable elastic oscillations of the system which might occur if the system were operated with the original control system can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2009Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignees: Mitutoyo Corporation, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Endvertreten Durch den Präsidenten der Physikalisch-Technischen BundesanstaltInventors: Hartmut Illers, Kazuhiko Hidaka, Akinori Saito, Hans-Ulrich Danzebrink
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Patent number: 8606426Abstract: A system includes a displacement sensor, an actuator connected to the displacement sensor, and a feedback unit. The displacement sensor is configured to measure at least one of a relative position and a relative orientation between the displacement sensor and the target object. The feedback unit receives a signal from the displacement sensor related to the measured relative position or relative orientation and controls the actuator to move the displacement sensor on the basis of variations in the received signal arising due to a change in environmental conditions.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2009Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Academia SinicaInventors: Ing-Shouh Hwang, En-Te Hwu, Hans Ulrich Danzebrink, Hartmut Illers
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Patent number: 8600539Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus which can securely show the status of recipe transition is provided. In a substrate processing apparatus 100 including a main control unit 312 which sends a control instruction to process a substrate, and a sub control unit 314 which carries out control of the apparatus in accordance with the control instruction from main control unit 312, the main control unit 312 has a memory unit 317 which stores plural recipes, a display control unit 336 which accepts an execution instruction to cause an arbitrary recipe of the plural recipes to be executed, and a display unit 334 which displays the arbitrary recipe designated by the display control unit 336, on an operation screen 308.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2007Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.Inventor: Akihiko Yoneda
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Patent number: 8594821Abstract: A system, a method and a computer program product for identifying incompatible manufacturing tools. The system receives measurements of products that were subject to a manufacturing process involving a plurality of manufacturing tools. The measurements pertain to a performance characteristic of each product. The system evaluates whether each manufacturing tool implemented in a sequential manufacturing process individually performs normally based on the received measurements. In response to evaluating each manufacturing tool implemented in said manufacturing process individually performs normally, the system evaluates whether a first combination of the manufacturing tools together in sequential manufacturing process perform normally based on the received measurements.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert J. Baseman, Fateh A. Tipu, Sholom M. Weiss
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Patent number: 8548619Abstract: A maintenance system for an assembly comprises a storage medium containing an as-built computer-aided design model of the assembly, a displaying means for displaying the as-built computer-aided design model, a metrology device for measuring a location of at least one characteristic of the assembly and creating as-built data regarding the location, and a replacing means for replacing a part of the assembly with a replacement part. The replacing means determines the location for the replacement part on the assembly by analyzing the as-built computer-aided design model and the data created by the metrology device.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Michael C. Richey
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Patent number: 8532832Abstract: In a temperature control system using a controlled mix of high temperature pressurized gas and a cooled vapor/liquid flow of the same medium to cool a thermal load to a target temperature in a high energy environment, particular advantages are obtained in precision and efficiency by passing at least a substantial percentage of the cooled vapor/liquid flow through the thermal load directly, and thereafter mixing the output with a portion of the pressurized gas flow. This “post load mixing” approach increases the thermal transfer coefficient, improves control and facilities target temperature change. Ad added mixing between the cooled expanded flow and a lesser flow of pressurized gas also is used prior to the input to the thermal load. A further feature, termed a remote “Line Box”, enables transport of the separate flows of the two phase medium through a substantial spacing from pressurizing and condensing units without undesired liquefaction in the transport lines.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth W. Cowans, William W. Cowans, Glenn Zubillaga
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Patent number: 8515562Abstract: A computer based control system including a field network to which field devices equipped with hardware addresses and logical names are to be connected, a control device performing addressing control in relation to the field devices and their logical addresses and a simulation handling device. The simulation handling device has an own logical address, an own hardware address and is capable of obtaining a logical address, as well as possibly a logical name and/or a hardware address of at least one field device involved in the simulation. It notifies the control device that the field device is connected to the field network, detects a control signal directed towards field device addressed using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device and responds to the control signal with simulation results using the same logical and/or hardware address as the source of the response.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2007Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventor: Kai Hansen
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Patent number: 8504209Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that controls a device that generates vibrations in a computer system. During operation, a critical vibration frequency is determined for the computer system. Next, a keep-out zone is generated based on the critical vibration frequency, wherein the keep-out zone specifies a range of frequencies to be avoided. Then, the device is controlled based on the keep-out zone to reduce vibrations generated by the device in the keep-out zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Aleksey M. Urmanov, Kalyanaraman Vaidyanathan
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Patent number: 8437870Abstract: System and method for implementing a VM APC platform are described. In one embodiment, the VM APC system comprises a process tool for processing a plurality of wafers, a metrology tool for measuring a sample wafer of the plurality of wafers and generating actual metrology data therefor, and a VM model for predicting metrology data for each of the plurality of wafers. The actual metrology data is received from the metrology tool and used to update the VM model. Key variables of the virtual metrology model are updated only in response to a determination that the VM model is inaccurate and parameters of the VM model are updated responsive to receipt of the actual metrology data for the sample wafer of the plurality of wafers. The system also includes an APC controller for receiving the predicted metrology data and the actual metrology data and controlling an operation of the process tool based on the received data.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Po-Feng Tsai, Andy Tsen, Jin-Ning Sung
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Patent number: 8433452Abstract: A method for load control in an electrical distribution system using energy usage profiles based on temporal measurements. A load control unit (10) installed at a customer site profiles equipment (E1-En) directly connected to the load control unit and remotely located equipment (RE1-REn) wirelessly connected to the load control unit using measurements of time rather than energy usage. This reduces the cost and complexity of the load control unit. Profiling is done for individual pieces of load controlled equipment rather than for the site as a whole. This improves data resolution. The load control unit controls the load only when the equipment is powered, and adaptively synchronizes load shedding during this time, so to improve local load control performance. Termination of a load control event results in gradual reduction in load shedding so to control the inrush of demand seen by the distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Aclara Power-Line Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher K. Fleck, Edward Kobeszka, Mark Virkus
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Patent number: 8423171Abstract: In a method for processing a workpiece in a tool machine, a first step (Step S4) for continuously measuring a position of a tip portion of a tool attached to a main axis, a second step (Step S5) for computing a displacement amount of the position of the tip point of the tool based on a result of the measurement, a third step (Step S8) for observing a time period while the displace amount is belonged in arrange of allowable displace amount previously determined, a fourth step (Step S9) for keeping an idling operation in case that the time for which the displace amount is belonged in the range of the allowable displacement amount is shorter than a time period previously determined and intermitting the idling operation in the case that the time for which the displace amount is belonged in the range of the allowable displacement amount become the time period previously determined and a fifth step (Step S10) for starting a process with respect to the workpiece in the case that the idling operation is finished areType: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshikatsu Sato, Shigeru Honda