Patents Examined by Ryan A. Jarrett
  • Patent number: 8935000
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool monitoring device. It is proposed that the machine tool monitoring device comprises at least one signal unit for an ultra wide band operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Krapf, Heiko Braun, Michael Mahler, Alexander Werner Hees
  • Patent number: 8712577
    Abstract: An electronic system for compensating the dimensional accuracy of a 4-axis CNC machining system includes a CNC machining system configured to machine a plurality of features into a part, a dimensional measuring device configured to measure a plurality of dimensions of the part, and to provide an output corresponding to the measured dimensions and a compensation processor in communication with the CNC machining system and dimensional measuring device. The CNC machining system includes a global coordinate system, and at least one feature being defined relative to a local coordinate system that is translated from the machine coordinate system. Additionally, the compensation processor is configured to receive the output from the dimensional measuring device, to calculate a plurality of CNC offsets, including at least one local offset, and to provide the offsets to the CNC machining system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jie Gu, Sheri K. Kurgin, Paula J. Deeds
  • Patent number: 8615329
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system. The distribution system has a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels providing the liquid to a multiplicity of users. A plurality of controllable user valves are interposed in the multiplicity of user channels. A liquid monitor senses a liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel. A user control changes selective controllable user valves for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Water Optimizer LLC
    Inventor: Thomas M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 8606376
    Abstract: A method of actuating a system comprising a movable component and an actuator configured to move the movable component comprises providing a control signal representative of a desired motion of the movable component. The control signal is supplied to one or more resonators. Each of the one or more resonators has a mode of oscillation representative of at least one elastic mode of oscillation of the system. The control signal is modified by subtracting from the control signal a signal representative of a response of the one or more resonators to the control signal. The actuator is operated in accordance with the modified control signal. Thus, undesirable elastic oscillations of the system which might occur if the system were operated with the original control system can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Mitutoyo Corporation, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Endvertreten Durch den Präsidenten der Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt
    Inventors: Hartmut Illers, Kazuhiko Hidaka, Akinori Saito, Hans-Ulrich Danzebrink
  • Patent number: 8600539
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus which can securely show the status of recipe transition is provided. In a substrate processing apparatus 100 including a main control unit 312 which sends a control instruction to process a substrate, and a sub control unit 314 which carries out control of the apparatus in accordance with the control instruction from main control unit 312, the main control unit 312 has a memory unit 317 which stores plural recipes, a display control unit 336 which accepts an execution instruction to cause an arbitrary recipe of the plural recipes to be executed, and a display unit 334 which displays the arbitrary recipe designated by the display control unit 336, on an operation screen 308.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8594821
    Abstract: A system, a method and a computer program product for identifying incompatible manufacturing tools. The system receives measurements of products that were subject to a manufacturing process involving a plurality of manufacturing tools. The measurements pertain to a performance characteristic of each product. The system evaluates whether each manufacturing tool implemented in a sequential manufacturing process individually performs normally based on the received measurements. In response to evaluating each manufacturing tool implemented in said manufacturing process individually performs normally, the system evaluates whether a first combination of the manufacturing tools together in sequential manufacturing process perform normally based on the received measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Baseman, Fateh A. Tipu, Sholom M. Weiss
  • Patent number: 8583265
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, systems and apparatus for computing a voltage advance used in controlling operation of an electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Michael J. Grimmer, Konstantin S. Majarov, William R. Cawthorne
  • Patent number: 8571720
    Abstract: A first predicting unit predicts a power demand required by each customer. A first reliability value calculator calculates the reliability value of the predictive power demand for each customer. Predicted power supply from a power system is calculated with respect to each power generating unit. A second reliability value calculator calculates the reliability value of the predictive power supply for each power generating unit. A balancing unit obtains a supply-demand margin level based on the difference between: a first weighted sum obtained by performing weighted sum on the predictive power demand and a weight depending on the reliability value; and a second weighted sum obtained by performing weighted sum on the predictive power supply and a weight depending on the reliability value. A plan creator creates a plan for controlling power used by the controllable appliance of the customer based on the supply-demand margin level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Minoru Yonezawa, Tomoshi Otsuki, Yoshiyuki Sakamaki, Nobutaka Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8515562
    Abstract: A computer based control system including a field network to which field devices equipped with hardware addresses and logical names are to be connected, a control device performing addressing control in relation to the field devices and their logical addresses and a simulation handling device. The simulation handling device has an own logical address, an own hardware address and is capable of obtaining a logical address, as well as possibly a logical name and/or a hardware address of at least one field device involved in the simulation. It notifies the control device that the field device is connected to the field network, detects a control signal directed towards field device addressed using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device and responds to the control signal with simulation results using the same logical and/or hardware address as the source of the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Kai Hansen
  • Patent number: 8401690
    Abstract: In a method for processing a blank (1), in which the blank (1) can be densely sintered with shrinkage following machining and machining of the blank (1) is carried out in a machining device (7) allowing for an individual scale-up factor (F) relevant to the blank (1) for compensating for the shrinkage occurring during dense sintering, a linear measurement of the blank (1) is performed in one or more of the dimensions length, width, and height for determining the scale-up factor (F), wherein the measured linear measure (1) bears a known relationship to the scale-up factor (F), the type of blank (1) being known. Linear measurement of the blank (1) can be carried out in the machining device (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Gleditzsch, Franz Basler, David Figge
  • Patent number: 8380360
    Abstract: In a temperature control method in which a target temperature is given in a thermal treatment furnace and plural heaters are controlled according to the target temperature, the correlation of the each heater and plural profile temperature sensors provided in the thermal treatment furnace is determined, a virtual temperature is calculated on the basis of the detection temperature of each profile temperature sensor and a weighting factor calculated from the correlation, and the each heater is controlled so that the virtual temperature is coincident with the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventor: Hideto Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8369978
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a sequence of current spectra of reflected light from a substrate; comparing each current spectrum from the sequence of current spectra to a plurality of reference spectra from a reference spectra library to generate a sequence of best-match reference spectra; determining a goodness of fit for the sequence of best-match reference spectra; and determining at least one of whether to adjust a polishing rate or an adjustment for the polishing rate, based on the goodness of fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials
    Inventors: Jeffrey Drue David, Dominic J. Benvegnu, Harry Q. Lee, Boguslaw A. Swedek
  • Patent number: 7477961
    Abstract: A method of modeling yield for semiconductor products includes determining expected faults for each of a plurality of library elements by running a critical area analysis on each of the library elements, and assessing, from the critical area analysis, an expected number of faults per unit area, and comparing the same to actual observed faults on previously manufactured semiconductor products. Thereafter, the expected number of faults for each library element is updated in response to observed yield. A database is established, which includes the die size and expected faults for each of the library elements. Integrated circuit product die size is estimated, and library elements to be used to create the integrated circuit die are selected. Fault and size data for each of the selected library elements are obtained, the adjusted estimated faults for each of the library elements are summed, and estimated yield is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas S. Barnett, Jeanne P. Bickford, William Y. Chang, Rashmi D. Chatty, Sebnem Jaji, Kerry A. Kravec, Wing L. Lai, Gie Lee, Brian M. Trapp, Alan J. Weger
  • Patent number: 7463950
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and analyzing elevated temperatures at a component rack to identify and characterize air recirculation anomalies. In one embodiment, temperatures are sensed in proximity to an air intake of the component rack. Temperature sensors communicate with a workstation having system management software including a thermal management component for analyzing air intake temperatures. Predefined temperature differentials (PTD) are established, corresponding to expected temperature differentials between the selected locations in the absence of any appreciable recirculation. The PTD provides a threshold for comparing with “actual” temperature differentials (ATD) to identify the presence and/or mode of recirculation. If an ATD exceeds a corresponding PTD for a predefined time interval, a signal is output. The mode of recirculation, such as left-side, right-side, or dual-surface recirculation, may be determined using as few as four temperature sensors positioned at a zone of interest (ZOI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Brey, Richard Edwin Harper, Thomas Dixon Pahel, Jr., William Joseph Piazza
  • Patent number: 7451003
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system for real-time monitoring, validation, optimization and predictive fault analysis in a process control system. The invention monitors process operations by continuously analyzing sensor measurements and providing predictive alarms using models of normal process operation and statistical parameters corresponding to normal process data, and generating secondary residual process models. The invention allows for the creation of a fault analyzer directly from linearly independent models of normal process operation, and provides for automatic generation from such process models of linearly dependent process models. Fuzzy logic is used in various fault situations to compute certainty factors to identify faults and/or validate underlying assumptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Falconeer Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Chester, Stephen L. Daniel, Richard J. Fickelscherer, Douglas H. Lenz
  • Patent number: 7447557
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing production cycle time of a hard disk drive and a generic hard disk drive ready for customization. A generic disk drive is provided for stocking until a shipment order is issued. When a shipment order defining customer requirements is received, a generic disk drive from stock is pulled from stock. Then, the generic disk drive is featured to meet the customer requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventor: Richard Clinton Dyer
  • Patent number: 7437204
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention includes a method and device for listening to communications between processes and tools, recording report and report trigger definitions, matching reports from tools with the recorded definitions, and translating messages into a context-insensitive format. Other aspects of the present invention include dynamically enhancing tool status reports, migrating processes form tool control hosts to distributed processors, and screening requests for tool status information from hosts and distributed processors. More detailed descriptions of aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Uzi Lev-Ami, Yossef Llan Reich
  • Patent number: 7418315
    Abstract: A power generation system (200) of the present invention comprises a power generation portion (202) configured to generate power, a load power detecting means (205) configured to detect a load power supplied from a power source including the power generation portion to a load, an operation stop determination means (209) configured to stop a power generation operation of the power generation portion based on the load power detected by the load power detecting means and a stop condition; and a stop condition setting means (220) configured to set the stop condition, wherein the stop condition setting means sets different stop conditions in a plurality of time periods, and wherein the operation stop determination means stops the power generation operation of the power generation portion based on each of the different stop conditions set by the stop condition setting means and the load power detected by the load power detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinari Nakamura, Masataka Ozeki, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Takashi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7406359
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a production planning system using a process of adaptive learning is disclosed. A production planning system receives production objects wherein each production object has at least one attribute. In one embodiment, the production objects include information relating to product to be manufactured. After receipt of production objects, multiple preference scores according to the attributes of the production objects are calculated. In one embodiment, each preference score represents desirability of transition from manufacturing a first object to a second object. The system subsequently identifies a suggested production plan which includes a sequence order of two or more objects in response to the preference scores. In one embodiment, the planning preferences are updated or modified by an adaptive learning system in response to adjustments of the suggested production plant by a planner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: CDC Software Global Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: George Roumeliotis, Jonathan Louis Knight
  • Patent number: 7398137
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that enable one or more work machines to control operations of one or more remote work machines. In one embodiment, the systems and methods perform a process including determining a first type of first work machine performing first operations in a work environment and determining a second type of second work machine performing second operations in the work environment. Based on the first and second type of the first and second work machines, a selected second operation that the first work machine can control is determined. Subsequently, the first work machine may adjust the selected second operation while the first work machine performs the first operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Lewis Ferguson, Trent Ray Meiss, Brian Lane Jenkins, Steven Wayne O'Neal, Daniel Craig Wood