Patents Examined by Ronald Hartman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8805570
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Kawauchi, Yuichi Sasano, Shin Asano, Kenji Kura, Hirokazu Matsushita, Akihiko Matsumura, Masaru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8805569
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Tachibana
  • Patent number: 8798797
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Bauchot, Jean-Yves Clement, Jean-Marc Legrand
  • Patent number: 8798800
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Bertil Berggren, Petr Korba, Rajat Majumder, Swakshar Ray
  • Patent number: 8788106
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ultra Electronics Limited
    Inventors: Ian M. Stothers, Daniel Z. Schneider
  • Patent number: 8788084
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Niemann, Bernhard Weisshaar
  • Patent number: 8788111
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen G Uhlmann, Robert Lee Crane
  • Patent number: 8774977
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: STEM, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn Smith, Stacey Reineccius
  • Patent number: 8774948
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Wilsun Xu
  • Patent number: 8774949
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
    Inventor: Ting-Chia Ou
  • Patent number: 8774947
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: John M. Sartain, James P. Garozzo, Anil Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8768492
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: Scott Fisher
  • Patent number: 8768526
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 8761906
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Condurso, Cynthia Yamaga, Robert Butterfield, Simon Morling, Clifton Pait, Patricia West, Timothy W. Vanderveen, Richard Crass
  • Patent number: 8755917
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Haruyuki Kurachi
  • Patent number: 8755944
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Elliott, Richard A. Leinen, Robert L. Hick, Kevin Parsons, Subramanian Muthu
  • Patent number: 8755925
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Kuo-Hung Lee, Chih-Chi Chang, Ming-Feng Jean, Chang-Chu Liao
  • Patent number: 8755912
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventor: Stephen S. Miller
  • Patent number: 8725299
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Hess, Richard A. Mauk, John G. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8718809
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Baseman, Tomasz J. Nowicki