Patents Examined by Paul P. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6018687
    Abstract: A cutoff control system for controlling the positional relationship of a series of printed images on a continuous web of material relative to a cutoff device. The system includes a scanner for producing an output signal indicative of a suitable portion of the printed image on said web and a mechanism for laterally positioning the scanner with respect to said printed image on said web. The system also includes a control mechanism for controlling the operation of the positioning mechanism in response to digital prepress data, including a system for determining a suitable portion of the printed image to be scanned by the scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith A. Tabor
  • Patent number: 6018689
    Abstract: Described are a vibration actively reducing apparatus and a method for identifying a transfer function in the vibration actively reducing apparatus. An identification signal which is a quantization of at least one sinusoidal wave is supplied from a controller of the vibration actively reducing apparatus to a controlled vibration source in synchronization with a predetermined output sampling clock (SCo) to develop an identification vibration therefrom. The controller reads a residual vibration signal from a residual vibration detector of the actively reducing apparatus in synchronization with a predetermined input sampling clock (SCi). After read of the residual vibration signal as a time series data for each frequency, an FFT calculation is carried out for each time series data to extract a frequency component of the original sinusoidal wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kumura, Shigeki Satoh
  • Patent number: 6016567
    Abstract: In a radio broadcast system constituted by a base station and a plurality of subsidiary stations located at various portions around the base station, each subsidiary station includes a detection unit for detecting an error in received data, and a unit for transmitting a burst retransmission request signal (NAK signal) upon detecting an error in the received data, and transmits no signals for a predetermined limited time, except the NAK signal for indicating reception of broadcast data containing an error. The base station either detects the NAK signal within the limited time or regards detection of a radio carrier having a predetermined time length as detection of the NAK signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuhei Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6014592
    Abstract: A cheese-producing textile machine 1 with a central control unit 37 and a plurality of winding stations 2 which are serviced by an autonomously operating service unit 23. The central control unit 37 of the textile machine 1 is connected via a machine bus 40 with individual winding station computers 39 as well as with a control device 38 of the service unit 23. Control programs A, B, C, D, etc. are stored in the control device 38 of the service unit 23, and are specially adapted to various respective structural configurations of the service unit 23. It is possible in a simple manner to activate the control programs A, B, C, D, etc. in correspondence to the particular prevailing structural configuration of the service unit 23 by means of appropriate software encoding via an input element 41 on the central control unit 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Ulrich Fechter, Peter Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6014593
    Abstract: A module (1) is removably and replaceably provided on a sewing machine for domestic use and includes an electronic memory unit (4) for storing of specific stitch patterns selectable to control drive arrangements included in the sewing machine. The memory unit (4) is insertable behind a transparent front (3) provided on the sewing machine and having a touch control keyboard (31). The side of the memory unit (4) which, when inserted, is turned outwards to be visible through the keyboard (31) of the front has preprinted pattern illustrations. Each of these pattern illustrations correspond to a touch key on the front keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Viking Sewing Machines AB
    Inventor: Hans Grufman
  • Patent number: 6007230
    Abstract: The invention is characterized in that it comprises a toolpath generating routine and system for generating a plurality of control points directly from image data representing an image to be engraved. The control points are used to generate a toolpath which, in turn, will be used to energize an engraving head such that a tool or stylus will engrave a pattern of engraved areas in response to the toolpath. An engraving system and method for engraving at least one engraved area is shown having an engraving head tuner for tuning an engraving head such that the frequency characteristic of the engraving head defines a substantially constant gain for frequencies less than a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ohio Electronic Engravers, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony D. Beckett, Mark Burns, Neal Clements, Louis Jacques Duchesneau, John W. Fraser, Kenneth W. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6009354
    Abstract: A sectional rate control unit for an agricultural implement is disclosed herein. The sectional rate control unit is preferably used with a planting system including a planting implement coupled to a work vehicle. The implement includes a frame having at least one section supporting multiple row units which are configured to apply a product (e.g., seed, fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide) to the rows in a field. Each section includes a product delivery apparatus having a target delivery rate controlled by a section application control signal and at least one product channel for delivering an amount of the product to each of the row units. The control unit includes an electronic product sensor coupled to each of the sections and the product channel. The product sensor is configured to generate a product rate signal representative of the amount of the product delivered to the row units. An electronic display located in the cab is configured to generate an image in response to a display signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Flamme, Paul W. Haack, Aly M. El-Dars
  • Patent number: 6000829
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a CMOS logic circuit receives a voltage from a power-source line, while releasing a current through a ground line. A constant-voltage auxiliary circuit is disposed in parallel with the CMOS logic circuit. The constant-voltage auxiliary circuit receives an output signal from the CMOS logic circuit. The constant-voltage auxiliary circuit consumes power when the output signal from the CMOS logic circuit is stable to maintain a potential difference between the power-source line and the ground line at a specified voltage and halts power consumption when the output signal from the CMOS logic circuit is inverted, i.e., when the potential difference is decreasing, thereby suppressing the decrease of the potential difference. Accordingly, voltage fluctuations on the power-source line are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Kurokawa, Miwaka Takahashi, Minako Fukumoto, Noriko Koshita, Masahiko Toyonaga
  • Patent number: 6002650
    Abstract: A method for forming mounting data, includes reading component text data corresponding to to-be-mounted components of individual mounting positions stored in a component electronic catalog, according to mounting-position data including mounting angles relating to the mounting positions formed on the to-be-mounted components, by using the component electronic catalog that has stored image data concerning various types of components including the to-be-mounted components as well as component text data necessary for component mounting including configurations and dimensions of the components. The method also includes forming mounting data for a mounter to receive components and mount them to specified mounting positions according to the mounting-position data as well as the component text data read for the individual mounting components concerning the to-be-mounted components corresponding to the mounting-position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kuribayashi, Yasuhiro Maenishi, Hiroyoshi Nishida, Nobuyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6000830
    Abstract: A system for applying recipes of semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses includes a plurality of apparatus controllers respectively arranged for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a host computer commonly connected to the apparatus controllers to store process recipes, and a group controller which is commonly connected to the apparatus controllers through a channel different from channels which connect the apparatus controllers to the host computer, and is connected to the host computer through a dedicated channel to directly exchange information with the host computer. The host computer sends process recipes to the respective apparatus controllers, writes/reads out a recipe in/from the group controller through the dedicated channel, and reads out a recipe history therefrom through the dedicated channel. The apparatus controllers respectively operate the semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses on the basis of the process recipes sent from the host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Asano, Yoshikatsu Miura
  • Patent number: 6000826
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining assignments to attributes (e.g., electrical power or overall dimensional size) of components within a system. A computerized constraint network is constructed which uses constraint agents, variable agents, and task agents in order to make assignments to the attributes of the components based upon market-based constraint optimization techniques. The attributes have variables indicative of the assignments to the attributes. Constraint data structures assist the agents in determining permissible assignments for the variables. The constraint data structures use preferential rules for determining the assignments to the variables. The preferential rules indicate which assignments for the variables of the agents produce higher utility and lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Institute
    Inventors: H. Van Dyke Parunak, John A. Sauter, Allen C. Ward
  • Patent number: 5997167
    Abstract: A controller for one or more pieces of industrial equipment accommodates multiple sensed conditions--that is, different conditions each associated with a different response, which may be an alarm or a branch control procedure. The controller includes a database of diagnostic templates specifying conditions, and actions or states associated therewith. For example, a template may provide multiple, specified, discrete time spans each reflecting a different machine condition, and each specifying a different action associated with that condition. The templates may be associated with a model of machine behavior, e.g., one based on probabilities, which utilizes the templates and programmed control instructions to simulate machine behavior over time. More broadly, the behavior model may be used to perform a simulated execution of control instructions based on various specified values for limit parameters, which may be provided by the user or computed in accordance with the behavior model (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Control Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Crater, Daniel L. Pierson
  • Patent number: 5997166
    Abstract: A redundant controller employs two controller chassis having replaceable functional modules interconnected electrically within the chassis. System back up modules in the chassis coordinate the switching of control from a primary to a secondary chassis according to chassis redundancy state information of the chassis stored in the backup modules and module redundancy state information stored in the modules unique to the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Flood
  • Patent number: 5995878
    Abstract: Producing an exposure data used for exposing a design pattern data of a semiconductor integrated circuit on an exposure medium. Repetitive exposure pattern data is extracted from the design pattern data as a group of exposure pattern data. The group of exposure pattern data includes plural pieces of the repetitive exposure pattern data. A rearrangement information table, which includes information for placing the plural pieces of repetitive exposure pattern data in a predetermined rearrangement area, is generated. The design pattern data is rearranged based on the rearrangement information table to generate the exposure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaaki Miyajima
  • Patent number: 5996080
    Abstract: A portable, hand-held data collection terminal is of modular structure including, among other modules, multiple endcap modules and radio frequency communications pod modules, each of which may be chosen from a plurality of modules available for assembly into the terminal unit therby providing a plurality of modular combinations thereof. The functions of the multiple modular combinations are activated and controlled by a virtual trigger on a touch sensitive display. The virtual trigger may be positioned anywhere on the display to ergonomically accommodate different users. The terminal evaluates touch images retrieved from the touch sensitive display to determine whether they constitute an intentional touch. Unintentional touching will not activate the virtual button. Various other safety and power saving features are provided via orientation and motion sensors placed within the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Norand Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Silva, Paul Beard, Jeffry A. Howington
  • Patent number: 5993046
    Abstract: The system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal (76) which is connected through a local area network (82) to at least one remote computer (84) having a processor and a data store. A user of the data terminal is enabled to select a patient for whom medical items will be used, and responsive to a request to dispense items the requested items are dispensed from dispensing devices (96, 100) connected to the data terminal. The data store also includes brand name and generic name information concerning medical items that are dispensed. Through selection of an input button (252) included in a plurality of windows (256, 264, 286) a user is enabled to selectively display medical items by either brand or generic name and to dispense the items for a patient in accordance with either of said names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: R. Michael McGrady, Sean M. McCune
  • Patent number: 5988850
    Abstract: An interpolation method for enabling a robot to make a smooth connecting motion accompanied by velocity control even in the case where the connecting motion involves a nonzero-acceleration motion. During motion path planning for the robot, in order to perform an interpolation so that a point a.sup.(0) on a first motion path G and a point b.sup.(0) on a second motion path H may be smoothly connected by a connecting curve S, the connecting curve S being determined using a parameter including time instant t. First, a function p(T, t) satisfying boundary conditions (continuity of position, velocity, acceleration, etc.) corresponding to required smoothness C.sup.k is derived as a polynomial equation or the like including an unknown parameter T, and by optimizing a suitable evaluation function .epsilon.(T), T.sub.0 for keeping the velocity constant is obtained. Interpolation is performed using q(t)=p(T.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Fanuc, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kumiya
  • Patent number: 5988855
    Abstract: An operating method for a working area comprising an anthropomorphous robot enslaved to a bending press for working a metal sheet comprises a) detecting fixed input data formed by geometric positions in space of the robot, of the press and at least of one feeding unit, b) the definition of variable input data formed by thickness of the metal sheet, height, angle and direction of each bend, length and orientation of each bend, position of a bending tool, c) processing the above-mentioned data in a processing unit by an algorithm based on the solutions of the inverse kinematics in order to automatically generate cycles of feeding, bending and unloading of said metal sheet and d) the transfer of the cycles to a control unit of the robot so as to drive the bending press to start a complete productive working cycle of a finished metal sheet starting from the metal sheet to be bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Salvagnini Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Marobin
  • Patent number: 5988849
    Abstract: In the movement of objects, especially benches or robot arms, on a programmed path, the object must be moved into a new position as fast and as smoothly as possible. To this end, the control device of the invention has a compensating unit 17 employing a movement equation describing the state of the system as a reference value Y. At the same time, deviations are controlled by a regulating unit (19). The regulating unit (19) is thus more dynamic and automatically compensates for changes locally and in time in the system parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Leica Lasertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 5984506
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a machine tool includes at least one memory for storing control data characterizing the instantaneous operating state of the machine tool during machining and a memory management device for managing the control data such that machining can be resumed after an interruption. The control data is separated into dynamic control data and static control data. The method for controlling a machine tool uses the control device and stores the static and dynamic control data in the memory. As a workpiece is machined, the instantaneous operating state of the machine tool is continuously stored so that machining can be resumed after an interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: AG fur industrielle Elektronik AGIE Losone bei Locarno
    Inventors: Fabrizio Robbiani, Renzo De Maria