Patents Examined by Robert E. Fennema
  • Patent number: 11973344
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for economically optimal control of an electrical system. Some embodiments employ generalized multivariable constrained continuous optimization techniques to determine an optimal control sequence over a future time domain in the presence of any number of costs, savings opportunities (value streams), and constraints. Some embodiments also include control methods that enable infrequent recalculation of the optimal setpoints. Some embodiments may include a battery degradation model that, working in conjunction with the economic optimizer, enables the most economical use of any type of battery. Some embodiments include techniques for load and generation learning and prediction. Some embodiments include consideration of external data, such as weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Fife, Gregg Patterson
  • Patent number: 11960263
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a building automation system (BAS). The systems may include a device to report data, a memory having an application that requires that the data from the device be reported at least at a minimum frequency, and a controller to receive the data from the device at least at the minimum frequency and use the application and the data to determine an operational status of a component of the BAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ben Coleman, Liana Maria Kiff, Christopher Goh, Mayur S. Salgar, Manu Taranath, Prabhat Ranjan, Aaron Francis D'Souza, Henrik Dibowski, Boon Toh
  • Patent number: 11931964
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating a 3D printing file containing an object model of a part having a body and an integral electronic component. To generate the 3D printing file, a processor receives at least one geometry specification of the part to be printed and at least one component performance property of the electronic component to be printed integral to the part. An object model is determined by the processor in accordance with the at least one geometry specification of a part to be printed, the at least one component performance property of an electronic component to be printed, and at least one material property of an electronic component printing material of a 3D printer. The 3D printing file is generated by the processor and comprises the object model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Zamorano Alvear, Mayid Shawi Sanchez, Xavier Soler Pedemonte
  • Patent number: 11934215
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning of heat exchanger tubes including an assembly, an indexer, and a communication device provided with specialized software and programming. The indexer includes orthogonally arranged first and second arms. A trolley and sensors are provided on the indexer arms. One or more lances are provided on the trolley to deliver water jets into the openings. Sensors measure displacement as the trolley is moved relative to the heat exchanger's face plate. An operator controls the system from a distance away using the communication device. During setup, the pattern of the face plate is learned and mapped utilizing information from the sensors as one of the inputs. This information is utilized to help navigate the face plate during a subsequent cleaning operation. A kit for retrofitting existing X-Y indexers is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventors: Terry D. Gromes, Sr., Terry D. Gromes, Jr., Kristen E. Griffin, Jon M. Shockey, Jr., Gordon W. East, William C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11928371
    Abstract: Systems and methods for 3D printer management can verify the printing of a 3D object based on instructions inserted into the 3D object file that cause the 3D printer to perform extra actions, thus emitting certain sounds while printing. In one example, a print server can receive a request to print a 3D object. The print server can insert snippets of instructions at random into the 3D object file. A recording device can record audio of the 3D printer printing the 3D object. The recording device can send the audio to the print server. The print server can verify that the audio emitted by the 3D printer while printing the 3D object match up with the snippets inserted into the 3D object file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventor: Rohit Pradeep Shetty
  • Patent number: 11927938
    Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, at a processor, a data comprising a model of an object to be generated in additive manufacturing. The data comprises object model data representing an object model as a plurality of initial polygons and object property data associated with the initial polygons. The method may comprise generating a representation of a slice of the object model defined between two planes and generating a plurality of polygons to represent the slice of the object model. A mapping between the object property data and the generated plurality of polygons may also be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Josh Shepherd, Matthew A Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11921475
    Abstract: A control system controls tenant services to various tenants by obtaining tenant attributes for each tenant, with respect to a particular workload. A model is generated that models tenant usage performance for a set of best performing tenants. The model is then applied to a remainder of the tenants to obtain a metric indicative of a likely tenant capacity for incremental usage of the workload. The control system controls the services provided to the tenant based upon the likelihood of adoption metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC.
    Inventors: Ravikumar Venkata Seetharama Bandaru, Michael Karl-Frans Berg
  • Patent number: 11914341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-assisted method for generating a control data set for an additive layer manufacturing device. In a first step, a layer data set is accessed, wherein points are marked in the data model which correspond to an object cross-section and at which the bid-up material should be solidified. In a second step, the layer data set is modified in such a way that for at least a portion of the object cross-section, the number of beams required for solidifying the build-up material inside said portion is determined preferably automatically, according to quality specifications of the portion and/or a manufacturing time of the object. In a third step, the modified layer data set is provided as a control data set for the additive layer manufacturing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
    Inventors: Martin Schade, Albert Fruth, Robert Achim Domröse, Maximilian Mittermüller, Michael Göth, Markus Kuchenbaur, Michael Kowal
  • Patent number: 11909199
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, by respective processing circuitry of one or more power modules of an industrial automation device, a control signal from a controller of the industrial automation device. The power modules may include driver circuitry and a power converter that may provide power to a motor based on the signal. The method may also include, detecting, by the respective processing circuitry, a lack of communication from the controller based on the signal, and, in response to detecting the lack of communication from the controller, transmitting, by the respective processing circuitry, a first command to gating signal enable circuitry to disable the driver circuitry, and transmitting, by the respective processing circuitry, a second command to driver power circuitry to prevent power from being provided to the driver circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Al J. Campbell, John David Allan, Marius G. Chis, Reginald A. Drake, Scott D. Braun
  • Patent number: 11892809
    Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing an automated control system to control operations of a target physical system, such as production of electrical power in an electrical grid. The techniques may include determining how much electrical power for each of multiple producers to supply for each of a series of time periods, such as to satisfy projected demand for that time period while maximizing one or more indicated goals, and initiating corresponding control actions. The techniques may further include repeatedly performing automated modifications to the control system's ongoing operations to improve the target system's functionality, by using reinforcement learning to iteratively optimize particles generated for a time period that represent different state information within the target system, to learn one or more possible solutions for satisfying projected electrical power load during that time period while best meeting the one or more defined goals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Veritone, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf Kohn, Chad Edward Steelberg, Andrew Elvin Badgett, Leslie Gene Engelbrecht
  • Patent number: 11879656
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for adjusting a process variable using a closed loop system includes initializing a radial basis function neural network (RBF network) using a maximum error (emax), a maximum first order change in error (?emax), a maximum second order change in error (?2emax), and a maximum output increment (?omax), associated with the closed loop system being controlled. The method further includes inputting, to the RBF network, input values including an error, a first order change in error, and a second order change in error. The method further includes computing, by the RBF network, control parameters based on the input values, and computing, by the RBF network, an incremental change in the process variable based on the control parameters. The method further includes adjusting, by a controller, an output device to change the process variable by the incremental change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Hurley, Brody Wilson, Donald McCleary
  • Patent number: 11880184
    Abstract: A method includes determining a current situation to be present in a process controlled by an industrial process control and automation system (IPCS) that includes at least one process controller coupled to input output (I/O) modules coupled to field devices including sensors and actuators that are coupled to processing equipment. Responsive to the current situation, displaying a plurality of suggested actions each including at least one step in a selectable panel in a human machine interface (HMI) associated with an operator computing system for an operator that is coupled to the process controller. Responsive to the displaying, the operator selects in the selectable panel at least one of the plurality of suggested actions (selected action). The selecting of the selected action results in the IPCS automatically implementing at least in part the step(s) associated with the selected action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rohan James McAdam, Graeme John Laycock, Peter Carl Davis
  • Patent number: 11815922
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a valve control system. The valve control system may include a transmitter and a plurality of valve controllers that each have a receiver. Each valve controller of the plurality of valve controllers is configured to control a respective valve of a plurality of valves. In some embodiments, the transmitter may transmit an electromagnetic signal that includes an encoded message to be decoded by a processor of each valve controller of the plurality of valve controllers. In some examples, the encoded message may include a synchronization message, an instruction message, an error correction message, an encryption message, or any combination thereof that enables the plurality of valve controllers to adjust the plurality of valves to respective target positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Chatelet, Stephane Mainier
  • Patent number: 11762368
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures using generative design processes, where the 3D models of the physical structures are produced so as to facilitate manufacturing of the physical structures using 2.5-axis subtractive manufacturing systems and techniques, include: obtaining a design space, design criteria, and in-use case(s); iteratively modifying a generatively designed shape in the design space in accordance with the design criteria and the in-use case(s) using a density-based representation of the generatively designed shape and including adjusting the density-based representation of the generatively designed three dimensional shape in accordance with a milling direction of a 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: David Jon Weinberg, Nam Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11765809
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals directly from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Pessina, Theodore F. Economy, John C. Browne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11750025
    Abstract: An apparatus for a system power device utilized in an interconnected power system. The interconnected power system may include multiple system power devices connected to various inter connections of groups of direct currents (DC) from power sources which also may be connected in various series, parallel, series parallel and parallel series combinations for example. The apparatus may include a processor connected to a memory and a communication interface operatively attached to the processor. The communication interface may be adapted to connect to a mobile computing system of a user in close proximity to the system power devices. A graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile computing system may allow various operational and re-configuration options for the interconnected power system which may include installation, maintenance and monitoring schedules in the interconnected power system when the user of the GUI is in close proximity to the system power devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaron Binder, Lior Handelsman, Ilan Yoscovich, Guy Sella, Menashe Walsh
  • Patent number: 11748614
    Abstract: An artificial intelligence device for controlling an external device includes a display unit, and a processor configured to acquire a distance between the artificial intelligence device and a first external device, determine whether the acquired distance is less than a reference distance, display a first operation menu item for controlling the first external device on the display unit when the acquired distance is less than the reference distance, acquire situation information when the acquired distance is equal to or greater than the reference distance, determine a second external device as an object to be controlled based on the acquired situation information, and display a second operation menu item for controlling the determined second external device on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dongwook Kim, Kunwoo Kim, Chala Park, Hojun Lee
  • Patent number: 11747795
    Abstract: A system for enabling and disabling operation of manufacturing machines provides a manufacturing machine user interface that facilitates receiving quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine from a user. For quality assurance purposes, the computer system of the manufacturing machine may decide whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information. The computer system of the manufacturing machine may also decide to disable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information provided is incomplete, out of date, or otherwise insufficient to indicate the manufacturing machine is ready for safe and effective operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jason Fruh, George M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 11747036
    Abstract: Techniques for performing an emissions demand response event are described. In an example, a cloud-based HVAC control server system obtains an emissions rate forecast for a predefined future time period. Using the emissions rate forecast, a future emissions rate event during the predefined future time period is identified. The future emissions rate event comprises an indication of predicted magnitude and a time period when a predicted emissions rate will be at an increased or decreased level. A confidence value indicating a certainty of the future emissions rate event occurring as predicted is determined. Based on the identified future emissions rate event and the confidence value, an emissions demand response event having a start time and an end time during the future emissions rate event is generated. The cloud-based HVAC control server system then causes a thermostat to control an HVAC system in accordance with the generated emissions demand response event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Y. Chang, Kristoffer J. Donhowe, Ramya Bhagavatula, Jeffrey Gleeson, Kevin Chen
  • Patent number: 11742089
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide customized cosmetics personalized for individual users. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a customized cosmetics provision system can comprise: a diagnosis device for diagnosing a skin condition, recommending customized cosmetics on the basis of the diagnosis result of the skin condition, and transmitting, to a manufacturing device, information on the customized cosmetics having been recommended; and the manufacturing device for receiving information on the customized cosmetics from the diagnosis device, and providing customized cosmetics on the basis of the information on the customized cosmetics having been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: LG HOUSEHOLD & HEALTH CARE LTD.
    Inventors: Su Ra Jeong, Jung A Kim, Joon Oh Myoung, Jong Sub Han