Patents Examined by Robert E. Fennema
  • Patent number: 11715367
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for managing a set of electrical/electronic devices for driving fans of a heat exchanger of a refrigeration plant, having a basic control unit adapted to act as interface between a remote control unit/Master unit and a plurality of electrical/electronic devices to be controlled. The basic control unit has a data input to receive inputs from the remote control unit/Master unit and a plurality of data outputs connectable with respective electrical/electronic devices of the electrical/electronic devices. The basic control unit is configured to address the electrical/electronic devices using management signals to program the operating parameters of the electrical/electronic devices, and to directly manage the operation. The management signals include addressing, programming and management commands previously programmed in the memory unit based on specific applications and communication protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SELPRO SRL
    Inventor: Stefano Rizzi
  • Patent number: 11698631
    Abstract: A crash sensor device may include multiple sensor components positioned along one or more data paths to a communication interface of the crash sensor device. The crash sensor device may include a test control unit. The test control unit may receive a test command from an electronic control unit during operation of a vehicle. The test control unit may perform a test of one or more sensor components, of the multiple sensor components, during operation of the vehicle based on the test command. The test control unit may output a test result to the electronic control unit based on performing the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 11010377
    Abstract: Methods and systems for scheduling include implementing a schedule based on a path in a search tree having an optimal associated priority score. Each node in the search tree represents a scheduling unit formed from a priority queue that includes orders from multiple mutually compatible sets of orders. Each path through the search tree represents a sequence of orders and has an associated priority score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Hama
  • Patent number: 11009841
    Abstract: A method for initialising control data for a device comprises determining whether an identification value stored in a control storage location of the device has a first value or second value. When the identification value has the first value, space is allocated in the memory for storing the control data and an address of the allocated space in memory is written to a control data pointer storage location of the device. When the identification value has the second value, the allocation of space in memory is omitted and the control data pointer storage location comprises a preset address indicative of a location for storing the control data in local storage provided within the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: Håkan Persson, Matthew Lucien Evans
  • Patent number: 11009863
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for predicting material properties in an Additive Manufacturing (AM) process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Raj Mohan Bharadwaj, Andrew Peter Vechart, Suresh Sundarraj, Piyush Ranade
  • Patent number: 11003148
    Abstract: Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Lucas, Anush G. Nadathur, Nathan E. Carroll
  • Patent number: 10996646
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to the monitoring and control of heating devices in multiple units in one or more buildings. An intelligent node, containing a monitoring module and a controlling module, is installed for each unit in a building. The monitoring module monitors the activation and deactivation of the heating device or, alternatively, directly measures the amount of power used by the heating device. This monitoring data is transmitted to a central server and is sent to a user. The user can control the duty cycle of the heating device and, as such, can directly cause savings in energy. The duty cycle for each heating device is adjusted by the controlling module based on the user's commands. The system can also be used so that the duty cycle is set such that energy settings for adjacent units are similar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Trevor Boicey
  • Patent number: 10998754
    Abstract: To effectively determine premises as a counterpart for transmission or reception of power in a case of interchanging direct-current power between respective premises A control device (110) according to the present invention includes a power control unit (114) configured to determine a node that performs transmission or reception of direct-current power to or from an own node by using profile information indicating a power usage state of each of the nodes exchanging direct-current power with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Alexis Andre, Annette Werth
  • Patent number: 10996647
    Abstract: Method for configuring, commanding and/or controlling a command and/or control interface (IN) of devices of a home automation installation, comprising the following steps: (E1) collecting a set of status queries (E) relating to at least one possible status of at least one home automation device (3), (E2) constituting a selection of at least one status query (SeIE) of the set of status queries (E), (E3) configuring an interface element (IN) on the basis of the selection of the at least one status query (SeIE), in such a way as to trigger transmission of a collection request (RC) comprising the selection, and obtaining, for each status query (E) of the selection, of at least one corresponding status indication (IDC) relating to at least one current status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
    Inventors: Frédéric Devis, Isabelle Duchene, Claudia Rety, Michael Danis
  • Patent number: 10990084
    Abstract: A control apparatus that controls a control target is provided. The control apparatus includes: a time manager configured to manage time; a counter configured to synchronize with at least one device; a control computation unit configured to execute control computation according to timing indicated by the counter; and a record generator configured to generate a record that includes an observation value that is available to the control computation unit and is related to the control target, time that is indicated by the time manager and is associated with the observation value, and a counter value that is indicated by the counter and is associated with the observation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Nishiyama, Shigeyuki Eguchi, Masanori Ota
  • Patent number: 10975846
    Abstract: The present discussion relates to generating power generation forecasts both on-site and remote to a wind farm, or other intermittent power generation asset, so as to increase the reliability of providing a forecast to interested parties, such as regulatory authorities. Forecasts may be separately generated at both the on-site and remote locations and, if both are available, one is selected for transmission to interested parties, such as regulatory authorities. If, due to circumstances, one forecast is unavailable, the other forecast may be used in its place locally and remotely, communications permitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rahul Kumar Srivastava, Krishna Kumar Swaminathan, Sridhar Dasaratha, Shishir Goel, Milesh Shrichandra Gogad, Nitika Bhaskar, Pritesh Jain
  • Patent number: 10969772
    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: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jason Fruh, George M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 10973159
    Abstract: A component mounting machine which deals with a component remaining on a nozzle of a mounting head includes a board conveyance device conveying a board to a predetermined position, a component supply device accommodating multiple components therein, a component mounting device on which a mounting head which picks up and holds a component by vacuum pumping of a suction nozzle is installed and which mounts a component which is taken out from the component supply device onto a board which is conveyed by the board conveyance device, and a control device controlling each of the devices. The component mounting device performs lowering of the component, releasing the component with respect to the suction nozzle of the mounting head, a first lifting of the component to a middle height, a component pickup performed at the height of the first lifting, and a second lifting after the component pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Suzuki, Seiji Shibata, Satoshi Iwashima
  • Patent number: 10969129
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sensor network, machine type communication (MTC), machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and technology for internet of things (IoT). A method of a server is provided. The method includes determining a target temperature range to be applied to a first zone; predicting an indoor temperature for each of a plurality of zones included in a second zone in which the first zone is included; predicting efficiency of at least one first outdoor unit connected to first indoor units installed at the second zone; and controlling operations of the first indoor units based on the target temperature range, the indoor temperature for each of the plurality of zones, and the efficiency of at least one first outdoor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kyung-Jae Kim, Kwan-Woo Song, Byeong-Chan Lee, Woon-Sik Lee, Je-Hyeon Lee, Hye-Jung Cho, Soon-Heum Ko, Sung-Geun Song, Jae-Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 10955812
    Abstract: A method for configuring a clean room (2) for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products and the manufacture of pharmaceutical products includes the steps: selecting a pharmaceutical product for the manufacture in the clean room (2); determining one or a plurality of specific devices (16) and/or one or a plurality of specific materials (18) for the manufacture of the selected pharmaceutical product; and assigning locations for the particular, respectively specific devices (16) and/or specific materials (18) in the clean room (2) and, that is, by using a navigation system (4). The navigation system (4) issues at least one notification (6, 8, 10, 12, 14) associated with a location in the clean room (2) indicating where the specific device (16) and/or the specific material (18) for the manufacture of the selected pharmaceutical product is/are to be placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan Schlack, Lars Boettcher, Mario Becker
  • Patent number: 10955804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking a compatibility of a functional module for an installation for process automation. An input specification is provided for an input interface of the functional module, the input specification indicating for an input signal all input values that the functional module respectively accepts as valid. An output specification is provided, the output specification indicating for an output signal of the functional module all output values that the functional module provides as intended when the input specification is fulfilled. Operation of the functional module on the installation is preceded by an analysis device checking whether the functional module produces, for each input signal produced on the input interface in accordance with the input specification, the output signal on an output interface in accordance with the output specification. When an output value of the output signal violates the output specification, a module error is signaled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellchaft
    Inventor: Martin Richard Neuhäusser
  • Patent number: 10954812
    Abstract: A flutter control system for a turbine includes a processor. The processor is configured to detect blade flutter of a turbine. The blade flutter indicates that blades of the turbine are in a deflected position different from a nominal operating position. The processor is configured to control operational parameters of the turbine that reduce or eliminate the blade flutter to improve the reliability and efficiency of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, Xu Fu, Mustafa Tekin Dokucu, Ronghui Zhou
  • Patent number: 10955814
    Abstract: A robot system is configured to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) objects using closed-loop, computer vision-based control. The robot system initiates fabrication based on a set of fabrication paths along which material is to be deposited. During deposition of material, the robot system captures video data and processes that data to determine the specific locations where the material is deposited. Based on these locations, the robot system adjusts future deposition locations to compensate for deviations from the fabrication paths. Additionally, because the robot system includes a 6-axis robotic arm, the robot system can deposit material at any locations, along any pathway, or across any surface. Accordingly, the robot system is capable of fabricating a 3D object with multiple non-parallel, non-horizontal, and/or non-planar layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: AUTODESK, INC.
    Inventors: Evan Atherton, David Thomasson, Maurice Ugo Conti, Heather Kerrick, Nicholas Cote
  • Patent number: 10955158
    Abstract: A venue occupant comfort system, comprises a processor that stores computer executable components stored in memory. A plurality of sensors sense ambient conditions associated with exterior and interior conditions of a venue. A context component infers or determines context of an occupant of the venue. A crowd estimation component infers, based at least in part on mining social networks, size of crowd expected at the venue. A comfort model component implicitly and explicitly trained on occupant comfort related data analyzes information from the plurality of sensors, the crowd estimation component and context component. A comfort controller adjusts environmental conditions of the venue based at least in part on output of the comfort model component. The adjustments to venue environment can optionally be differentiated by zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karan Ahuja, Heena Bansal, Kuntal Dey, Seema Nagar, Roman Vaculin
  • Patent number: 10932424
    Abstract: A system and method for providing optimal irrigation or watering, and more specifically providing a soil sensor grid placed in the ground of a landscaped property, in commercial, residential or even agricultural areas. The soil sensor grid can allow for optimal water usage in a specified irrigation area by providing real time data to an irrigation system and a user to optimize water usage. A soil sensor grid, or moisture sensor grid, may be installed on a property, buried in the ground, to provide current and real time feedback of the current moisture levels of the soil. The moisture data is uploaded to the cloud and provided to a user and the irrigation system allowing a user to automatically or manually manipulate the irrigation system to properly water or irrigate different portions of the property based on the data from the soil sensor grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Smart Rain Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Rudy Lars Larsen