Patents Examined by Ronald Hartman, Jr.
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Patent number: 8805570Abstract: A workpiece measuring device, a collision preventing device, and a machine tool acquires 3D data of the shape of a workpiece used to prevent a collision between the workpiece and part of the machine tool. A measuring section measures the distance to the workpiece through scanning in a non-contact manner; and a shape recognition section generates a 3D mesh structure. The coordinates of a measurement point on the workpiece based on distance information about the measured distance to the workpiece, and that generates a measurement geometry map such that, when the ratio of the number of times the calculated measurement point is included in one unit of the 3D mesh structure to the number of times a position of the workpiece corresponding to the one unit is scanned is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, the one unit is regarded as part of the workpiece are included.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2009Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Naoto Kawauchi, Yuichi Sasano, Shin Asano, Kenji Kura, Hirokazu Matsushita, Akihiko Matsumura, Masaru Higuchi
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Patent number: 8805569Abstract: A controller restraining overcorrections which occur upon manual intervention in operation of an equipment controller. The controller includes a driving device which drives equipment to perform mechanical work, a computation element which computes a target value related to an action of the equipment, an automatic controller which outputs an automatic control signal for the driving device based on the target value so that the equipment becomes stable. The controller also includes a manual intervention control unit which outputs a manual correction signal for the driving device in response to a manual intervention. A manual correction unit makes a determination as to whether there is an overcorrection based on the automatic control signal and the manual correction signal, and outputs to the driving device a product obtained by multiplying the manual correction signal output from the manual intervention unit by a prescribed gain regulation value.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems CorporationInventor: Minoru Tachibana
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Patent number: 8798797Abstract: A cooling management system including component racks, a cooling system, pressure measurement devices, and a computing system within a structure. Each component rack includes an exothermic apparatus. The structure includes warm air aisle spaces and cold air aisle spaces located between the component racks. The cooling system feeds cold air into each cold air aisle space. The cold air flows through the component racks resulting in displacement of warm air from each exothermic apparatus. The warm air flows into the warm air aisle spaces and is directed back to the cooling system. The pressure measurement devices measure differential pressure values between the cold air aisle spaces and the warm air aisle spaces. The computing system monitors the differential pressure values, perform calculations associated with the differential pressure values, and control a fan speed of at least one fan within the cooling system based on the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Frederic Bauchot, Jean-Yves Clement, Jean-Marc Legrand
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Patent number: 8798800Abstract: The invention provides improved control of a power transmission system having a first group of measurement units in a first geographical area providing a first set of phasors and a second group of measurement units in a second geographical area providing a second set of phasors, where the phasors in the sets are generated at the same instant in time. In this system the power control device includes a phasor aligning unit that time aligns the first and second sets of phasors and a control unit that compares each set of phasors with a corresponding phasor number threshold, determines that a first control condition is fulfilled if each phasor number threshold has been exceeded and enables the provision of a common signal if the first control condition is fulfilled. The common signal is based on the obtained phasors in the first and second sets.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Bertil Berggren, Petr Korba, Rajat Majumder, Swakshar Ray
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Patent number: 8788106Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices, the method being carried out during a plurality of time periods, and the method during each time period after the first comprising: determining (S700) an energy or power deficit for each device based on the difference between a target amount of energy or power and a measured amount of energy or power supplied to the device prior to the current time period; selecting (S702) at least one device in decreasing order of energy or power deficit, whereby priority is given to devices having the largest energy or power deficit or the smallest energy or power surplus, until the selection of any further devices will cause a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption; and supplying (S704) power to the or each selected device during the time period.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Ultra Electronics LimitedInventors: Ian M. Stothers, Daniel Z. Schneider
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Patent number: 8788084Abstract: The inflow of liquid metal into a continuous casting mold is set by a closure device. A measured actual meniscus value is fed to a controller determining a closure device target position on the basis of the actual and a corresponding target value. The measured actual value is fed to a disturbance variable compensator. The target position/corrected target position or a corresponding actual value are further fed to the disturbance variable compensator which determines the disturbance variable compensation value. The disturbance variable compensator has a model of the continuous casting mold for determining an expected value. A number of oscillating compensators determine a frequency disturbance proportion. The sum of the frequency disturbance proportions corresponds to the disturbance variable compensation value. The disturbance variable compensator has a jump determiner, by which it determines the jump compensation value by integrating the difference.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2010Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Martin Niemann, Bernhard Weisshaar
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Patent number: 8788111Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to identifying a target fan connected to a computing device. In example embodiments, the target fan may be identified based on a fan speed profile of the target fan.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Stephen G Uhlmann, Robert Lee Crane
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Patent number: 8774977Abstract: In a multiphase electrical power construction and assignment, a processor: determines a phase and voltage configuration for bi-directional power device pairs; determines a given bi-directional power device pair is to be coupled to a given phase connection based on the configuration; determines whether the given bi-directional power devices in the given bi-directional power device pair are to be coupled to each other; confirms that the given bi-directional power device pair is not coupled to any of the plurality of phase connections; couples the given bi-directional power device pair to the given phase connections, where power signals of the given bi-directional power device pair are synchronized with a power signal of the given phase connection; and in response to determining that the given bi-directional power devices are to be coupled to each other, couples each of the bi-directional power devices to a short bus.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: STEM, Inc.Inventors: Lynn Smith, Stacey Reineccius
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Patent number: 8774948Abstract: There is a method to model large electric power consuming facilities for power system studies. A general facility model, for example a template, is created for different types of industrial or commercial facilities. A template includes all necessary and general electric system information such as the common electric network configuration of a specific type of facilities. The template, stored in a database, is then scaled and adjusted based on the power demand level of the case-specific facility to be modeled based on facility specific parameters acquired for the facility. The result is a full, case-specific model of the facility to be modeled. The case-specific model is simplified into an equivalent model with varying details according to a user's specification. The results are the case-specific facility model of interest to the user. The model is normally included into the power system model of the utility network for power system simulation studies.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Inventor: Wilsun Xu
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Patent number: 8774949Abstract: A present invention relates to a novel hybrid intelligent control system and method for power generating apparatuses, in which the control system comprises: a fuzzy sliding mode speed controller, embedded with a fuzzy inference mechanism so as to be used for controlling the speed of a power generating apparatus; and a radial basis function network (RBFN) pitch controller, being embedded with an on-line training RBFN so as to be used for controlling the pitch angle of a turbine coupled to the power generating apparatus. In a variable-speed energy conversion system using the aforesaid control system, the turbine can be driven to operate at its maximum efficiency by adjusting its blade pitch angle in response to the variation of the input flowing into the turbine, while allowing the shaft speed of the power generating apparatus to be controlled by a fuzzy interference mechanism so as to achieve its maximum power output.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive YuanInventor: Ting-Chia Ou
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Patent number: 8774947Abstract: A system is provided for controlling at least one climate control apparatus for conditioning a space. The system includes a controller mountable to a climate control apparatus that is segregated from the space to be conditioned. The controller has a plurality of selectable setting parameters for configuring the controller to operate at least one of a plurality of climate control apparatus, and a plurality of visual indicators for visually indicating the selection of at least one selectable setting parameter. A user interface is adapted for installation in the space, and has a display for displaying selectable setting parameters for configuring the controller. The user interface includes user input controls for enabling selection of at least one displayed selectable setting parameter, where the controller responsively activates at least one visual indicator for indicating the selection of at least one selectable setting parameter by the user-interface.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: John M. Sartain, James P. Garozzo, Anil Ramachandran
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Patent number: 8768492Abstract: An automation and motion control system for theatrical objects, such as theatrical props, cameras, stunt persons, lighting, scenery, drapery or other similar types of devices or items, is provided to coordinate the movement of the objects on a large scale and/or to control the operation of the objects.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing LLCInventor: Scott Fisher
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Patent number: 8768526Abstract: A system for shifting energy demand from on-peak time windows to off-peak time windows by using hot water heater load shifting, while providing the end user with the level of service (i.e., availability of hot water) according to the user's customary use described by service quality criteria. The shift is accomplished by a controller located at the end user establishment and in communication with a central control server. The controller monitors local water heater upper and/or lower temperature and controls upper and/or lower water heater heating elements in accordance with a demand shift process commanded by the central control server. The controller may determine usage and remaining capacity for reporting back to the central control server. A volumetric capacity and usage determination is disclosed. The control server may select water heaters according to use patterns and/or measured capacity.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Carina Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin F. Harbin, III, Cecil Ray Holland, Jr., Robert J. Toth, Adrian O'Neil, Michael Scott Sansom, R. Michael Browder, Brook Marin
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Patent number: 8761906Abstract: A system and method of managing therapy provided to patients in an institution. The system monitors all aspects of the medication delivery to a patient, as well as other information related to the patient, such as values of vital signs, laboratory results and patient factors such as history, diagnosis, allergies and the like. The system includes one or more databases of information, including institutionally developed rules, guidelines and protocol representing the best medical practices of the institution. The system provides alerts and/or recommendations based on the application of the rules to the information being monitored, and alerts care givers accordingly, providing for dynamic adjustment of the patient's therapy. The system also monitors the status of the alerts, and if no action is taken in a selected period of time, may escalate the priority of the alert and/or halt the delivery of medication to the patient until the alert is resolved.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Condurso, Cynthia Yamaga, Robert Butterfield, Simon Morling, Clifton Pait, Patricia West, Timothy W. Vanderveen, Richard Crass
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Patent number: 8755917Abstract: To obtain a safety control device capable of shortening a response time without using a high-speed CPU, command judging units judge whether an output command that has been input is an ON command or an OFF command; comparing units transmit a judgment result of their command judging units to each other and compare the judgment results of the command judging units with each other. Output units output an output signal to turn off a switch if the judgment result of the command judging units is the OFF command or if the comparison result of the comparing units indicates disagreement.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Haruyuki Kurachi
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Patent number: 8755944Abstract: A module including a case; an electrical switching device configured to control power to a load; and a controller coupled to the electrical switching device. The electrical switching device and the controller are substantially encapsulated by the case. Functionality of the module can be exposed through a communication interface in the case.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: Randall B. Elliott, Richard A. Leinen, Robert L. Hick, Kevin Parsons, Subramanian Muthu
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Patent number: 8755925Abstract: Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Kuo-Hung Lee, Chih-Chi Chang, Ming-Feng Jean, Chang-Chu Liao
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Patent number: 8755912Abstract: An apparatus for remotely operating a computer using a combination of voice commands and finger movements. The apparatus includes a microphone and a plurality of control elements in the form of touch-sensitive touchpads and/or motion-sensitive elements that are used to operate the computer and to move an on-screen cursor. At least one touchpad is used to selectively switch between a command-mode of operation in which the computer interprets spoken words as commands for operating the computer and any software applications being used, and a text-mode of operation in which the computer interprets spoken words literally as text to be inserted into a software application.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Inventor: Stephen S. Miller
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Patent number: 8725299Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit and controller with memory provisions for storing, receiving, and transmitting customer equipment profiles. The controller may include a plurality of profiles that allows a selection thereof for restoration. A method for configuring HVAC equipment, including a customer profile database and efficiently transmitting unique customer and factory profiles, is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.Inventors: Mark D. Hess, Richard A. Mauk, John G. Thomas
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Patent number: 8718809Abstract: A system for determining a group of semiconductor manufacturing process steps with a similar influence on individual semiconductor products. The system generates a first table including time stamps for the individual semiconductor products. The system creates a second table including Q-times based on the first table. The Q-times refers to time differences between every pair of the time stamps. The system forms a dependency table by grouping the Q-times with similar dependencies together. The system identifies groups of the similar dependencies. The system extracts semiconductor process steps belonging to the groups.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert J. Baseman, Tomasz J. Nowicki