Patents Examined by Ryan Jarrett
  • Patent number: 11215968
    Abstract: A numerical control system determines iteratively a group of position setpoint values for axes of a production machine based on presets. When no risk of a collision of one moved element with another element exists, the group of position setpoint values is stored in a buffer store. Another already stored group of position setpoint values is read from the buffer store which then controls the axes and moves the element along a path defined by the sequence of the groups of position setpoint values. This process continues for as long as no risk of a collision exists. If a risk of a collision exists, the numerical control system brings the axes to a standstill. Previously unknown real time events are considered only in the determination of the groups of position setpoint values not yet stored in the buffer store. The groups of already stored position setpoint values are not altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen Bretschneider, Stephen Graham, Steffen Mihatsch, Peter Schiffer
  • Patent number: 11213455
    Abstract: A method and a control panel are described for facilitating the control of a bathing unit system so that the bathing unit system is caused to transition between operating in accordance with a first operational mode to operating in accordance with a second operational mode. A control signal is generated in response to a unitary user input event performed by a user at a control panel of the bathing unit system, the control signal conveying an ambiance activation command associated with a specific ambience setting, the generation of the control signal comprising selecting the specific ambience setting from a set of ambience settings stored in a memory device. The control signal is then transmitted from the control panel to the controller over a communication link where it is processed to cause the bathing unit system to transition from being in the rest mode to operating in accordance with the specific ambience setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: GECKO ALLIANCE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Benoit Laflamme, Christian Brochu
  • Patent number: 11209793
    Abstract: In a machine tool that performs threading, a thread-cutting startable area parallel to an X-axis of the machine tool is set based on a timing when a relative feed rate between a tool and a workpiece reaches a thread-cutting feed rate after the tool starts cutting feed. Then, movement of the tool in an X-axis direction is started first, and a rotation position of a spindle is monitored. When a thread-cutting start angle of the spindle is detected, cutting feed in a Z-axis direction of the tool is started if the tool travels in the thread-cutting startable area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11207755
    Abstract: A detection device includes an idling feed threshold acquiring unit configured to acquire, as an idling feed threshold, a threshold of an acceptable load in an idling feed operation; an expected load acquiring unit configured to acquire, as an expected load, an expected increase in load due to execution of an actual machining operation; a calculating unit configured to calculate, based on the idling feed threshold and the expected load, an actual machining threshold which is a threshold of an acceptable load in the actual machining operation; an actual machining load acquiring unit configured to acquire, as an actual machining load, an actual load during an actual machining operation; and a detecting unit configured to detect, based on the operating mode, an excess of the actual machining load relative to the idling feed threshold or the actual machining threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Aizawa, Hiroyuki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 11198204
    Abstract: This method for generating a tool path for processing a workpiece is provided with: a step for setting a first reference plane with respect to the workpiece; a step for setting, with respect to the workpiece, a second reference plant which is not parallel to the first reference plane; a step for interpolating, on the basis of the first reference plane and the second reference plane, a plurality of third reference planes, which are not parallel to each other, between the first reference plane and the second reference plane; a step in which partial tool paths for processing the workpiece are generated for each of the plurality of third reference planes on the basis of the corresponding third reference plane; and a step for generating a tool path by sequentially connecting the partial tool paths of the plurality of third reference planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: MAKINO MILLING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyohei Suzuki, Kouji Ono
  • Patent number: 11194314
    Abstract: A numerical control device stops automatic operation after machining of a specific part without the need to manually modify a machining program or to perform macro computation. The numerical control device includes a program analysis section that, upon executing a command program for continuously machining a plurality of parts, analyzes the command program, an analyzed program execution unit that executes the command program analyzed, a program stop condition setting section that sets a program stop condition in the command program based on a machining stop condition specified by a user, a program stop determining section that determines whether an execution block of the command program satisfies the program stop condition based on an analysis result, and a program stop requesting section that, when it is determined that the execution block satisfies the program stop condition, outputs an execution block stop request to the analyzed program execution unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichiro Shirai
  • Patent number: 11188061
    Abstract: A method for configuring an automation system for controlling a process, an automation module, and a computer program product. In the method, a mapping of a physical automation device on a non-instantiated automation module is provided, whereby the non-instantiated automation module specifies a device type and has at least one artifact. Furthermore, the method includes the provision of a non-instantiated automation module in a library and a retrieval of the non-instantiated automation module from the library. Furthermore, the method provides for an instantiation of the automation module and a localization of the instantiated automation modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Benno Heines, Jörg Jeschin, Matthias Ilse
  • Patent number: 11188057
    Abstract: A drilling system including a feed control module, a force control module, a hole breaking control module, a conversion module and a computing unit is provided. The feed control module sets a feed force threshold and a feed speed threshold for the computing unit to determine whether the current mode satisfies a first conversion condition. The hole breaking control module sets a drilling penetration force threshold and a drilling penetration speed threshold for the computing unit to determine whether the current mode satisfies a second conversion condition. The conversion module informs to change the feed force and the feed speed according to the determination results of the two conversion conditions. The force control module provides the feed force. With the drilling system, possible impact on the workpiece due to resistance change which occurs when the drill just touches and nearly gets through the workpiece will be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Guan-Wei Su, Chen-Yu Kai, Kai-Ming Pan, Jun-Yi Jiang
  • Patent number: 11188053
    Abstract: Provided are a computer system, and a method and a program for operation verification that easily know the operation of a machine tool more exactly. The computer system acquires operating data while a machine tool operates for a predetermined time, generates computer graphics virtually showing that the machine tool operates for the predetermined time from the acquired data, acquires an image of the machine tool that has taken for the predetermined time, and compares the image with the computer graphics for the predetermined time. The computer system also notifies the abnormality if an abnormality has been detected as the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: OPTIM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunji Sugaya
  • Patent number: 11182956
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating a co-ordination drawing of a project is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes inputting parametric information, and accessing a file associated with a schematic drawing of a project and identifying a plurality of elements in the schematic drawing from the file. The method further includes obtaining geometrical and connectivity information associated with each of the plurality of elements by analyzing each of the plurality of elements. Additionally, the method includes selecting one or more predefined objects from a spatial database based on the geometrical and connectivity information associated with each of the plurality of elements and the inputted parametric information. The method further includes automatically generating a co-ordination drawing of the project using the one or more predefined objects, wherein the coordination drawing provides routing information of the plurality of elements in the project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mechanical Software Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan Cunney, Michael Cunney, Shaun Cunney, Keith Pedrick, Joshua Whitman
  • Patent number: 11181884
    Abstract: According to a machining principle of the CNC gear hobbing machine, a functional relation between a geometric error of a gear and a tracking error of each motion axis of the machine tool is constructed; a machining error mathematical model of tooth profile deviation, tooth pitch deviation and tooth direction deviation at each position control time point is established by tracking errors of each motion axis; a compensation quantity required for a workpiece rotation axis at the next position control time point is calculated by establishing a decoupling compensation model; average absolute values of machining errors and a total compensation quantity of the machining errors under the conditions of not adopting the synchronous control method and adopting the synchronous control method in the total position control time are obtained by calculating machining error values of each position controls time point, and the synchronized multi-axis motion control is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Hefei University of Technology
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Tian, Dan Li, Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 11175062
    Abstract: A controller for an energy plant includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory which stores instructions executed by the processor. The processing circuit is configured to identify, from a plurality of thermodynamic states affected by a plurality of heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) devices, a reduced subset of the plurality of thermodynamic states to be predicted based on connections between the plurality of HVAC devices. The processing circuit is configured to predict values of the reduced subset of the plurality of thermodynamic states and operate the plurality of HVAC devices based on the predicted values of the reduced subset of the plurality of thermodynamic states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Graeme Willmott, Matthew J. Asmus
  • Patent number: 11169188
    Abstract: An example device includes at least one processor configured to receive electrical parameter values corresponding to at least one first location within a power network. The at least one processor is further configured to determine, using matrix completion and based on the at least one electrical parameter value, an estimated value of at least one unknown electrical parameter. The at least one unknown electrical parameter corresponds to a second location within the power network. The at least one processor is also configured to cause at least one device within the power network to modify operation based on the estimated value of the at least one unknown electrical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Andrey Bernstein, Yingchen Zhang, Andreas Joachim Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11143427
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a motor configured to drive rotation of a fan, and an HVAC controller configured to control operation of the HVAC system. The HVAC controller is configured to determine an operating mode target value of the HVAC system, calculate an operating parameter target value of the motor based on the operating mode target value of the HVAC system and a control algorithm of the HVAC controller, and control operation of the motor toward or at the operating parameter target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Wilson, Joshua J. Yagy
  • Patent number: 11137749
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the harmonization of color in manufactured items, which allows color tolerances to be established based on pre-defined values and visual observations for the different parts that form the item and the operating conditions for the manufacture of said parts by which means the colors falling within said tolerances can be obtained as well as the acceptance of the color harmonization of the final product by means of the use of algorithms and visual examination by a person or a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Eloisa María Ortiz Obando
  • Patent number: 11137162
    Abstract: A controller for a building control system includes processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform operations including identifying zones within a building, analyzing data associated with the zones, and generating zone groupings based on the data associated with the zones. Each of the zone groupings define zone groups and specify which of the zones are grouped together to form each of the zone groups. The operations also include identifying a particular zone grouping from zone groupings based on the data associated with zones and using the particular zone grouping to generate control signals to operate equipment of the building control system to provide heating or cooling to the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: John H. Burroughs, Andrew J. Przybylski, Matthew J. Ellis, Mohammad N. EIBsat, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 11137747
    Abstract: A control device that controls a drive unit included by a production line includes: an obtaining unit that obtains physical information indicating a variation with time of a posture of a worker at work; a storage for storing physical information of the worker obtained when the worker works in a stable posture; a detection unit that detects a difference between a magnitude of the variation with time indicated by the physical information obtained and a magnitude of a variation with time indicated by the physical information stored in the storage; and a determination unit that determines from the detected difference whether to change an amount of controlling the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Oya, Kyohei Asai, Go Aoki
  • Patent number: 11133953
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may receive one or more input signals comprising information related to a user of the computing system. The computing system may determine an interpretation of the one or more input signals using a knowledge graph. The knowledge graph may include a number of layers of knowledge about the user or an environment of the computing system. The interpretation of the input signals may be determined based on the knowledge in the knowledge graph. The system may perform one or more execution operations based on the determined interpretation of the one or more input signals. The execution operations may include configuring one or more controllable systems associated with the computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventors: Catherine Lois Shive, Dirk John Stoop
  • Patent number: 11126163
    Abstract: A numerical controller suppresses change of a axis speed to be slow even when a lookahead distance varies with small steps. The numerical controller includes: a lookahead unit that looks ahead a plurality of instruction blocks from an NC program; an analysis unit that analyzes the looked ahead instruction blocks and creates motion instruction data; a target speed calculation unit that calculates a target speed of the axis based on a lookahead distance; an interpolation unit that generates interpolation data based on the motion instruction data and the target speed; and a servo control unit that controls a motor based on the interpolation data. The target speed calculation unit refrains from recalculation of the target speed when a change of the lookahead distance is within a margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Naoya Koide, Jirou Fujiyama
  • Patent number: 11118803
    Abstract: An intelligent control system includes intelligent thermostats and controls an environment, such as a residential living space, commercial building, or another environment. The intelligent control system obtains information related to the controlled environment by collecting sensor data, obtaining data from users during interactive information-exchange sessions, and by directing information queries to users on one or more user devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Yoky Matsuoka