Patents Examined by Robert E. Fennema
  • Patent number: 10401880
    Abstract: Embodiments include a modular fuel pump apparatus for an aircraft refueling chassis and related devices, systems and methods. In one exemplary embodiment, a pump module includes a hydraulic motor driven by a hydraulic pump connected to a chassis motor. A chassis engine is operated at a substantially constant RPM, which causes the hydraulic pump to output hydraulic fluid to the pump module at a substantially constant hydraulic pressure. The speed of the hydraulic motor can be varied by a proportional flow control valve disposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor, thereby varying the speed of the fuel pump and the flow rate of the fuel. A controller is configured to operate the pressure control valve such that the flow of the fuel is maintained at a predetermined flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: BETA FLUID SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Clifford Glenn Darrow, Jonathan Edmund DeLine
  • Patent number: 10400536
    Abstract: A pump-down method includes deploying a tool in a well via a wireline and measuring a tension of the wireline. The method also includes determining a difference between the measured tension and a reference tension. The method also includes updating at least one of a pump rate and a wireline speed used for pump-down of the tool based on the difference and at least one control parameter obtained at least in part from prediction model results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Muralidhar Seshadri, Daniel E. Viassolo, Randy Coles
  • Patent number: 10405143
    Abstract: A system for autonomous operation of equipment in an environment inaccessible to GPS. The system includes a plurality of location controllers configured to be arranged in the environment. Each one of the location controllers includes a ranging transmitter/receiver, a communication transmitter/receiver, and a control module. The ranging transmitter/receiver is configured to measure controller distance to another one of the location controllers to map the environment, and measure equipment distance to the equipment to determine the equipment's location. The communication transmitter/receiver is configured to transmit the measured controller distance to the master controller, and transmit directional commands to the equipment. A master location controller is configured to build a map of the environment based on the measured controller distances. The plurality of location controllers transmit directional commands to the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Graves
  • Patent number: 10399280
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) printing system includes computer-executable instructions for obtaining a volumetric object representation file, parsing the volumetric object representation file into multiple layers, and for each layer, decomposing the layer into a sequence of continuous paths, aggregating non-continuous sets of tool paths with a single outer path and zero or more open or closed inner paths into islands, and generating one or more motion segments according to each island. Once generated, the motion segments may be aggregated to form a toolpath, which is used by the three dimensional printer to print a 3D model. Other embodiments may employ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND
    Inventors: Sam Lensgraf, Ramgopal Mettu
  • Patent number: 10401803
    Abstract: A manufacturing action is performed on a first part or first component involved in a manufacturing process. The manufacturing action is directed by computer software that is stored in a memory and executed by a processor. The first part or first component is examined to determine results of the manufacturing action. Based upon the results, a structure of the computer software is selectively changed to optimize the results. Subsequently the manufacturing action is performed on a second part or second component. The manufacturing action is directed by the computer software having the changed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Weatherbee, Michael Behnke, Nilesh Dixit
  • Patent number: 10394214
    Abstract: A numerical controller analyzes a program with a command program analysis unit, and determines a macro call or a sub program call with a macro call or sub program call determination unit. When a program stop determination unit determines that the program is to be stopped, the program stop determination unit commands a program stop requesting unit to output a program stop request to the command program analysis unit and an interpolation processing unit, thereby stopping the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 10391731
    Abstract: A press machine includes a memory storing a plurality of function programs for changing a mode of pressing; a connection unit including a plurality of connection terminals; and a controller configured to execute at least one function program among the plurality of function programs stored in the memory, in accordance with a combination of the plurality of connection terminals of the connection unit which are each in one of a conductive state and a non-conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KOMATSU INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuhei Yamashita, Hisanori Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10386827
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and analyzing data in a distributed process control system is provided. The system includes a user interface having a set of user controls for selecting and configuring data blocks to create a data diagram representing a data model. The data blocks are associated with data operations, such as data analytics functions, and may be configured by the user for particular instances of general blocks. The data blocks are interconnected by wires conveying outputs or inputs of the blocks, which may also connect data sources to the data blocks. The data sources may include on-line data (i.e., data streams) or off-line data (i.e., stored data) from the process control system. Additional user controls may be used to evaluate the data diagram or convert the data diagram from an off-line to an on-line version.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Alper Turhan Enver, Mark John Nixon, Noel Howard Bell, Joshua Brian Kidd, Paul R. Muston
  • Patent number: 10386799
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system which uses a 3D additive manufacturing system having more than a single 3D additive manufacturing subsystem. The operation employs a set of control files including a first control file with part names and method names which correspond to particular ones of the part names. Additional files in the set of control files include a plurality of method control files, describing the methods named in the first control file. The method control files are configured to include (i) control parameter names, and (ii) values associated with the parameter names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Steven E. Ready
  • Patent number: 10379363
    Abstract: A system for controlling a platform mounted devices which includes an orientation sensor configured to sense orientation of the platform mounted device relative to an earth leveled frame of reference; and a processor configured to: create a sector relative to the earth leveled frame of reference, receive from said orientation sensor an indication about orientation of said mounted device, analyze orientation versus the created sector, decide whether the device is within a pre-decided portion of the sector, and generate a control command according to the decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Elbit Security Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Yitzhak Malka
  • Patent number: 10371402
    Abstract: A sensor mounting device (100) of the present disclosure includes: a power supply unit (110) configured to generate power that is to be supplied to the device; a sensor (120) configured to acquire information of the environment around of the device; a first control unit (130) configured to give an instruction based on the information acquired by the sensor (120); and a second control unit (150) configured to control the device in accordance with the instruction of the first control unit (130). Power to the sensor (120) and the first control unit (130) is directly supplied from the power supply unit (110). Power to the second control unit (150) is supplied from the power supply unit (110) via a switching unit (140) whose ON/OFF state is controlled by the first control unit (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Shinichi Shikii, Koichi Kusukame, Nawatt Silawan, Tatsuo Itoh
  • Patent number: 10372088
    Abstract: There is provided a power consumption management device including a power measurement unit configured to measure power consumption of an electrical device, an environmental factor measurement unit configured to measure a factor of an environment in which the electrical device is used, a storage unit configured to store a predicted value related to the power consumption in which a value of the factor of the environment is designated as a parameter, and a calculation/control unit. The calculation/control unit obtains the predicted value related to the power consumption stored in the storage unit based on the value of the factor of the environment measured by the environmental factor measurement unit and compares the obtained predicted value related to the power consumption to an actual measurement value related to the power consumption obtained based on a power consumption value measured by the power measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Takanori Washiro, Kazutoshi Serita, Taro Tadano, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Kayoko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10372179
    Abstract: An electronic device is configured to perform a power cycle reset in response to a change in charging power applied to the device. The device includes an electrical load with a microprocessor, a battery, a charging circuit that receives power from an external power source and uses the received power to charge the battery, and a control circuit that regulates the power cycle reset operation. The power supply circuit selectively uses the battery to power the device by coupling the load to a power supply path and discharges the load by coupling the load to a discharge path. The control circuit receives, from the charging circuit, an indication of a change in power applied to the charging circuit and responsively generates a control signal and applies the control signal to the power supply circuit, which causes the power supply circuit to temporarily couple the load to the discharge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventor: Russell Norman Mirov
  • Patent number: 10372093
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for mapping a building space using wearable devices in order to better control the comfort level in the building. In some instances, a system compiles information such as temperature information that is provided by an individual's wearable device as the individual moves about the building over time. Using this data, the system may create and/or update a comfort map of the building, which can be used to determine how various rooms of the building heat and cool over time, as well as usage pattern of the various rooms of the building. The system can then use the comfort map of the building to better control one or more comfort sources of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Pedro Davalos, Wendy Foslien, Ajay Pai
  • Patent number: 10365619
    Abstract: Technologies for individualized building automation include a building automation application server, a building controller, and several mobile computing devices. Each mobile computing device generates individualized sensor data based on the time and location of the mobile computing device and sensor data indicative of a building system control parameter. The sensor data may include temperature data, humidity data, or other environmental data, and may be received by the mobile computing device from one or more external sensors. The building automation application server receives the individualized sensor data from the mobile computing devices and generates a building system configuration based on the individualized sensor data. The building automation application server may optimize the building system configuration for cost, efficiency, or user comfort based on the individualized sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Mirrasoul J. Mousavi, James Stoupis, Shakeel M. Mahate
  • Patent number: 10364799
    Abstract: A system for generating power includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system that provides control commands to a plurality of turbine controllers to cause a windfarm to output power at a level within power parameters in a setpoint. Each turbine controller is installed at a corresponding wind turbine of a plurality of wind turbines in the windfarm. The system also includes a backup system comprising a programmable logic controller (PLC). The PLC receives turbine state information from the SCADA system that characterizes an operational state of each of the plurality of wind turbines in the windfarm and detects that the SCADA system is offline. The PLC also selectively provides start and stop commands to a plurality of terminal interface units (TIUs) to cause the windfarm to output power at a level within the power parameters identified in the setpoint in response to the detecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: INVENTUS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Frank L. Roark, Marc Benedict C. Tinio, Nicholas A. Wayne, Carmine A. Priore, III, Kevin R. McWhorter
  • Patent number: 10365001
    Abstract: A HVAC system for a building includes a plant and a plurality of single-variable extremum-seeking controllers (ESCs). The plant includes HVAC equipment operable to affect an environmental condition in the building. Each of the single-variable ESCs is configured to perturb a different manipulated variable with a different excitation signal and provide the manipulated variables as perturbed inputs to the plant. The plant uses multiple perturbed inputs to concurrently affect a performance variable. The single-variable ESCs are configured to estimate a gradient of the performance variable with respect to the each manipulated variable and independently drive the gradients toward zero by independently modulating the manipulated variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, John M. House
  • Patent number: 10359752
    Abstract: An operation program editing device includes a program editing portion configured to edit an operation program executable by a programmable controller that controls a facility, and the program editing portion includes a bypass circuit generation unit that generates a bypass circuit including a bypass path for skipping execution of some of the plurality of steps at a time of reactivation of the facility, a first selection receiving unit that receives selection of a last step, from among the plurality of steps, within a range where the execution is skipped by the bypass circuit, and a second selection receiving unit that receives selection of a first step, from among the plurality of steps, within the range where the execution is skipped by the bypass circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Shimizu, Terukazu Senda, Masanori Muramatsu, Kouji Hamakawa, Kenzou Mima, Kouji Yamashiro
  • Patent number: 10359744
    Abstract: A method for operating a fluid dispenser is provided. The method includes receiving, by the fluid dispenser, an interrogation signal from a remote electronic device, and in response to receiving the interrogation signal, transmitting, by the fluid dispenser and to the remote electronic device, an identification of a fluid type of the fluid stored within the fluid dispenser. The method further includes dispensing fluid from the fluid dispenser in response to an actuation request and based upon a fluid-specific setting received from the remote electronic device. A method for programming a fluid dispenser is also provided. The method includes detecting, by a remote electronic device, a fluid type of a fluid stored within the fluid dispenser, and transmitting one of a first fluid-specific setting and a second fluid-specific setting to the fluid dispenser based upon a detected fluid type of fluid stored within the fluid dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: GOJO Indutries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jackson W. Wegelin
  • Patent number: 10352572
    Abstract: A heating control device including input/output ports, a memory operable to store smoke output thresholds, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to transmit a first electrical signal to operate an air circulation fan at a first speed and a heating unit in a first configuration to burn a lubricant at a first temperature where less than all of the burners are active. The microprocessor is further configured to obtain a smoke output measurement for the first temperature, compare the smoke output measurement to the smoke output threshold, and transmit a second electrical signal to transition the air circulation fan to a second speed to burn the lubricant at a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature when the smoke output measurement is less than the smoke output threshold and is less than the first temperature when the smoke output measurement is greater than the smoke output threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric M. Perez, Mark G. Beste, Steven Schneider