Patents Examined by Peter W. Eissmann
  • Patent number: 6050717
    Abstract: An optical visualizing apparatus for use in a head mounted display unit contains a liquid crystal shutter designed to allow a viewer to see both an image display and scenery outside of the image display at the same time. The apparatus contains a screen placed in front of the viewer's eyes, an optical visualizing unit to display an image on the screen, a mounting unit for supporting the optical visualizing unit in front of the viewer's face, and a control unit that can either suspend transmission of the image and allow clear sighting through the screen without the image or, if desired, simultaneous display of the image and sighting of scenery outside of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Kosugi, Daiji Takahashi, Yoshio Okoshi, Akira Ogihara, Atsushi Koide, Isao Sawachika
  • Patent number: 5988847
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for controlling processes of a process facility and, in particular, for distributing data among nodes of a real time process control system controlling such a facility. An exemplary process control system includes a plurality of sensors, controllable devices, and communication paths, and a computer system. The sensors and controllable devices are associated with various ones of the processes of the process facility, and the communication paths couple the sensors and controllable devices to the computer system. The computer system operates on data related to the process facility, and distributes the data among both client and process nodes. The client nodes desire data associated with processes of the facility and the process nodes control such process data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. McLaughlin, Ian K. Canavan, Peter C. Davis
  • Patent number: 5988845
    Abstract: A three-dimensional universal unit includes multiple identically configured assembly units, each having a central unit body, arms that can rotate relative to the unit body, the arms extending from the unit body in three orthogonal axes and having a connecting mechanism at the end of each arm. The assembly unit also has an information processing unit for controlling a motor in the unit body, an assembly unit operation, a rotary drive transmission system for transmitting arm drive motion from the motor, and a drive transmission system for engaging and disengaging the connecting mechanisms. Each connecting mechanism can mechanically connect with a connecting mechanism of another assembly unit and includes a communication device for exchanging information between information processing units of connected assembly units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science & Technology, Ministry of International Trade & Industry
    Inventor: Satoshi Murata
  • Patent number: 5975745
    Abstract: A web cutting apparatus has a decurling unit for correcting curl of a web unwound from a reel while the web is being fed, a slitter for slitting the web, a cutter for cutting the web into successive sheets each having a predetermined length, a curl measuring unit disposed at an exit end of the runner cutter, and a conveyor for conveying the sheets to a stacker station. The curl measuring unit has a cut completion detecting mechanism for detecting when the web is cut by the cutter, a cutter distance measuring mechanism for detecting the position of the cutter, and a web displacement measuring mechanism for detecting a displacement due to a bend of a free distal end of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohiko Oishi, Kazuo Horiuchi, Hisayoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5971585
    Abstract: A computer implemented decision support tool serves as a solver to generate a best can do (BCD) match between existing assets and demands across multiple manufacturing facilities within boundaries established by manufacturing specifications and process flows and business policies to determine which demands can be met in what time frame by microelectronics (wafer to card) or related (for example disk drives) manufacturing and establishes a set of actions or guidelines for manufacturing to incorporate into their manufacturing execution system to insure the delivery commitments are met in a timely fashion. The BCD tool has six major components, a material resource planning explode or "backwards" component, an optional STARTS evaluator component, an optional due date for receipts evaluator, an optional capacity available versus needed component, an implode "forward" or feasible plan component, and a post processing algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Geetaram S. Dangat, Anand R. Gokhale, Shuchen Li, Robert J. Milne, Robert A. Orzell, Robert L. Reid, Xueqing Tang, Chih-Kuan Yen
  • Patent number: 5963446
    Abstract: A digital computer implemented software system is provided for programming industrial logic controllers using a software package of the type utilizing relay ladder logic to represent control programs. The control program is executable by the controller to control the operation of one or more industrial devices. Using relay ladder logic, the control programmer is provided with a system to replace a coil with an ACTION block containing at least one complex expression. When the left side of the ACTION block is energized, the expression is evaluated. In a further embodiment, the programmer is able to replace a contact with a DECISION block containing a Boolean expression. When the left side of the DECISION block is energized, the Boolean expression is evaluated. If the expression evaluates as TRUE, the right side of the DECISION is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Steeplechase Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Klein, William Perry Su, Richard Leroy Mahn, Per-Ola Gustav Forsgren
  • Patent number: 5963710
    Abstract: An apparatus automatically generates internal representations in a recognition and control system which is capable of actively varying a state of a subject, such an object and a related environment, to be processed by the recognition and control system, a state of the recognition and control system itself, or a relationship between the subject and the recognition and control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Daiki Masumoto
  • Patent number: 5963458
    Abstract: A DDC controller is disclosed which implements a control strategy that provides for near-optimal global set points, so that power consumption and therefore energy costs for operating a heating and/or cooling plant can be minimized. Tile controller can implement two chiller plant component models expressing chiller, chilled water pump, and air handler fan power as a function of chilled water supply/return differential temperature. The models are derived from a mathematical analysis using relations from fluid mechanics and heat transfer under the assumption of a steady-state load condition. The analysis applies to both constant speed and variable speed chillers, chilled water pumps, and air handler fans. Similar models are presented for a heating plant consisting of a hot water boiler, hot water pump, and air handler fan which relates power as a function of the hot water supply/return differential temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Cascia
  • Patent number: 5959864
    Abstract: An acceleration change determination device determines whether or not a change in acceleration at a joint in blocks in a matching program decoded by a pre-processing and arithmetic device is more than a predetermined value. When the change of acceleration is found to be more than the predetermined value, the speed commanding device adjusts the speed to lower commanded speed at points immediately before and immediately after the joint in blocks. A movement control device outputs an interpolation pulse to individual moving axes so that the speed becomes the commanded modified speed, thereby controlling a servo motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Fanuc, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Mori, Yoshinori Nakata
  • Patent number: 5933351
    Abstract: A method for locating dies (70) cut from a silicon wafer (54) on a wafer table (14) is provided. The method includes removing a first group of dies (70) with a robot assembly (16). Wafer location data (62) is then generated from the location (66, 68) of the first group of dies (70). Continuous wafer edge coordinates are then determined from the wafer location data (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Subramanian Balamurugan
  • Patent number: 5933346
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the cutting depth and angle of an excavator bucket to excavate a surface to a desired contour. The method includes the steps of: (1) inputting data to a machine control system to define a desired contour of the excavated surface; (2) positioning the excavator bucket close to the desired contour; (3) enabling automatic control; and (4) automatically controlling movement of the excavator bucket only when the position of the excavator bucket is within a predetermined distance or angle of the desired contour. The method is used to automatically control the excavation to a desired depth if the bucket is within a predetermined distance of a desired depth. The method is also used to automatically control the angular orientation of bucket if the slope of the bucket is within a predetermined angle of a desired slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Topcon Laser Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon J. Brabec, Bill B. Crumb, Renard T. Graham