Patents Examined by Robert Fennema
  • Patent number: 9553453
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system used to optimally control the independent voltage and capacitor banks using a linear optimization methodology to minimize the losses in the EEDCS and the EUS. An energy validation process system (EVP) is provided which is used to document the savings of the VCC and an EPP is used to optimize improvements to the EEDCS for continuously improving the energy losses in the EEDS. The EVP system measures the improvement in the EEDS a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state determining the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Dominion Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Tyler, Phillip W. Powell
  • Patent number: 9553455
    Abstract: A utility network powered by a power source has a plurality of substations enabled to power electrical equipment in a participant site. At least one substation is disconnected from the utility network and is to be reconnected via a substation with a power constraint. A processor determines how much power should be shed in a participant site of the substation with the power constraint to allow reconnection of the substation that is disconnected. The processor initiates a Demand Response signal to power consuming equipment in the participant site of the substation with the power constraint to shed power. After shedding power based on the Demand Response signal, the substation that was disconnected is connected to the utility network by closing a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Horsfield
  • Patent number: 9552682
    Abstract: A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices. To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source. As demand at individual collection, charging and distribution machines increases or decreases relative to other collection, charging and distribution machines, a distribution management system initiates redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices from one collection, charging and distribution machine to another collection, charging and distribution machine in an expeditious manner. Also, redeemable incentives are offered to users to return or exchange their portable electrical energy storage devices at selected collection, charging and distribution machines within the network to effect the redistribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
    Inventors: Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Matthew Whiting Taylor
  • Patent number: 9547303
    Abstract: A system is provided that is configured to receive a manufacturing process plan for a product including a plurality of component parts joined by fasteners, with the manufacturing process plan including process definitions that describe process operations in which component parts are worked to manufacture of the product. The system is configured to generate graphical views for respective process operations of the manufacturing process plan in which fastener locations are worked for installation of respective fasteners to join component parts of the product, and output the graphical views. The graphical view of a process operation may graphically depict one or more component parts and only those of the fastener locations on the one or more component parts worked during the process operation, with any others of the fastener locations on the same or other component parts being hidden from the graphical view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Fredrick C. Rudnick, III, Christopher L. Carpenter, Anthony J. Williams
  • Patent number: 9547288
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a switching unit configured to switch between supply and cutoff of power to the information processing apparatus, a driving unit configured to cause the switching unit to be OFF-state to cut off the supply of power to the information processing apparatus, and a control unit configured, in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, to drive the driving unit to cause the switching unit to be OFF-state, in which, if the supply of power to the information processing apparatus is not cut off in response to the control unit driving the driving unit, the control unit reboots the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Utsumi, Shozo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9541912
    Abstract: A method and system are provided that synchronize one or more appliances to one or more users' schedules. Sensor data may be obtained from a sensor. The sensor data may indicate a state of a first appliance. A user location may be determined. A first characteristic of the first appliance may be obtained. Based upon the user location and the sensor data, a schedule indicating when the user will desire a state change of the first appliance may be determined. A feature of the first appliance may be dynamically modified to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule. A notice may be sent to the user that contains information about the first appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: John Henry Grossman, IV, Scott Bartlett
  • Patent number: 9540920
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product facilitate the automation of an oil & gas process, e.g., a drilling process, through the use of a dynamic phase machine incorporating multiple autonomous agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Clinton D. Chapman, Mochammad Faisal Wingky, Jacques Bourque, Jan Morley, Han Yu, Hector Arismendi Sanchez, Jose Luis Sanchez Flores
  • Patent number: 9535434
    Abstract: A method, system or computer usable program product for managing a water heater utilized for heating stored hot water including utilizing an expected user schedule to determine an expected user load for storage in memory, utilizing ambient temperature data to determine a water heating load for storage in memory, utilizing a processor to analyze the expected user load and the water heating load stored in memory to determine a desired temperature for the stored hot water according to a predetermined policy, and utilizing the processor to instruct the water heater to heat the stored hot water to the desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark B. Stevens, John D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9535433
    Abstract: A control device that controls a heating device having a plurality of heating zones, has a monitoring unit configured to monitor a temperature of at least a first heating zone in the plurality of heating zones, and a control unit configured to perform heat-up starting control, in which heat-up of at least a second heating zone is started in the plurality of heating zones, based on the temperature of the first heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Wakahiro Kawai, Takafumi Bessho
  • Patent number: 9529343
    Abstract: A dialog system for examining a processing operation carried out on a machine tool and establishing a proposal for improving at least one quality feature of a subsequent processing operation, the dialog system having input means to predetermine the quality feature to be improved and a proposal module which, by accessing stored expert knowledge, can establish at least one proposal for improving the quality feature. In some implementations, the proposal module is operable to read data established by one or more of a machine tool sensor system and image data of a processed workpiece together with associated material and processing data to provide the proposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Bauer, Gerhard Hammann, Hans-Peter Bock
  • Patent number: 9530109
    Abstract: A method to generate a plurality of groups each including at least one of a plurality of elements. The method includes selecting at least one candidate element from the plurality of elements as a candidate to be included in a group, determining whether or not to generate the group including the at least one candidate element selected in the selecting step, based on an element evaluation value associated with each of the at least one candidate element selected in the selecting step, provided that a determination is made to generate the group in the determining step, generating the group including the at least one candidate element selected in the selecting step, and weighting the element evaluation value of each of the at least one element according to how many times the each element is included in already-generated groups to reflect the weighted element evaluation value in next group generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 9523966
    Abstract: An automatic programming apparatus includes a machining-shape generating unit configured to generate second machining shapes for each of machining processes from each of a plurality of first machining shapes input from outside; a machining-order editing unit configured to receive an input of execution order of the machining processes; a machining-shape adjusting unit configured to extend, among a plurality of the second machining shapes having a same tool direction, which is a direction that a tool pierces, one of the second machining shapes in a direction opposite to the tool direction, delete, from the other machining shape that overlaps the one second machining shape because of the extension of the one second machining shape, a portion of the overlap, and generate a third machining shape; and a control-command generating unit configured to generate, based on the third machining shape and the input execution order, a control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Matsubara, Kenji Iriguchi, Daisuke Fujino, Tomonori Sato
  • Patent number: 9523993
    Abstract: Accessing an energy management policy for a plurality of devices is described, wherein the devices are coupled with a first structure. The energy usage of the devices is monitored. An energy usage rule and energy usage is then compared. The energy management policy and energy usage is also compared. Based on the comparing, an instruction is generated to modify an energy usage profile of said device to correlate with the energy usage rule associated with the devices and the energy management policy, thereby enabling efficient energy management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Weaver, Bradley A. Kayton
  • Patent number: 9519285
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various methods for tuning process parameters of a process tool, including systems for implementing such tuning. An exemplary method for tuning process parameters of a process tool such that the wafers processed by the process tool exhibit desired process monitor items includes defining behavior constraint criteria and sensitivity adjustment criteria; generating a set of possible tool tuning process parameter combinations using process monitor item data associated with wafers processed by the process tool, sensitivity data associated with a sensitivity of the process monitor items to each process parameter, the behavior constraint criteria, and the sensitivity adjustment criteria; generating a set of optimal tool tuning process parameter combinations from the set of possible tool tuning process parameter combinations; and configuring the process tool according to one of the optimal tool tuning process parameter combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Feng Tsai, Chia-Tong Ho, Sunny Wu, Jo Fei Wang, Jong-I Mou, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 9517617
    Abstract: A screen printing safety system is provided. The system includes a screen printing machine, and a plurality of zones in the vicinity of the screen printing machine. Each of the zones includes at least one sensor for sensing encroachment past a predetermined point. The sensors are adapted to stop operation of the screen printing machine when encroachment is sensed in at least one of the plurality of zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Hoffman, Jr., Boguslaw S. Biel, Bernabe Christopher Mauban, Brian William Quirk
  • Patent number: 9513610
    Abstract: An integrated multivariable predictive controller (MPC) and tester is disclosed. The invention system provides optimal control and step testing of a multivariable dynamic process using a small amplitude step for model identification purposes, without moving too far from optimal control targets. A tunable parameter specifies the trade-off between optimal process operation and minimum movement of process variables, establishing a middle ground between running a MPC on the Minimum Cost setting and the Minimum Move setting. Exploiting this middle ground, embodiments carry out low amplitude step testing near the optimal steady state solution, such that the data is suitable for modeling purposes. The new system decides when the MPC should run in optimization mode and when it can run in constrained step testing mode. The invention system determines when and how big the superimposed step testing signals can be, such that the temporary optimization give-away is constrained to an acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Aspen Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Qingsheng Quinn Zheng, Magiel J. Harmse
  • Patent number: 9514999
    Abstract: Methods and systems for semiconductor line scribe centering are provided. A method includes placing and measuring substantially identical test macros within a chip and in a scribe line. The method also includes establishing an estimate correlation between scribe line measurements taken during a manufacturing process and product measurements taken on a final product. The method also includes determining empirical scribe line specification limits consistent with established product screen limits. The method also includes adjusting the manufacturing process in order to optimize performance to the empirical scribe line specification limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Jeanne P. Bickford, Kevin K. Dezfulian, Aurelius L. Graninger, Erik L. Hedberg, Troy J. Perry
  • Patent number: 9513613
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a component for a network system. The method of controlling a component for a network system, which is communicable with the other component, includes recognizing energy information or additional information except for the energy information; and providing recommended information related to an operation of the component within a recommended range on the basis of the recognized energy information or the additional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Junho Ahn, Daegeun Seo, Dalho Cheong, Joongkeun Lee, Bongmun Jang, Yanghwan Kim, Hoonbong Lee, Koonseok Lee, Moonseok Seo, Seogho Go
  • Patent number: 9509176
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimal planning and real-time control of energy storage systems for multiple simultaneous applications are provided. Energy storage applications can be analyzed for relevant metrics such as profitability and impact on the functionality of the electric grid, subject to system-wide and energy storage hardware constraints. The optimal amount of storage capacity and the optimal operating strategy can then be derived for each application and be prioritized according to a dispatch stack, which can be statically or dynamically updated according to data forecasts. Embodiments can consist of both planning tools and real-time control algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: IHI INC.
    Inventors: W. Craig Carter, Marco Ferrara, Michael Goroff, Maxwell Mann
  • Patent number: 9507354
    Abstract: A conversion factor learning unit successively updates a temperature conversion factor by learning a performance ratio of an output heat quantity with respect to an input scale number corresponding to a requested heat quantity generation to a hot water supply apparatus. The temperature conversion factor learned by the conversion factor learning unit is reflected in arithmetic operation of an FF scale number by a feedforward control unit and arithmetic operation of the FB scale number by the feedback control unit. An integral control in the feedback control unit is preferably turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rena Kusachi, Kenichi Nakayama, Hiroki Nabeshima, Yuki Maeshima