Patents Examined by Samuel Broda
  • Patent number: 7089166
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for modeling of faulting and fracturing uses “small scale rules” to produce large-scale results. One part of the method is a user interface for inputting deformations, preexisting faults and fractures, and material rock properties. The second part of the software is the code that solves the motion of each point or node in the subsurface volume defined by the user interface. The model may be defined in one of three modes: an aerial mode, in which the model is 2-dimensional with the material and a substrate on a horizontal plane; a cross-sectional mode similar to the aerial mode except that the nodes are in a vertical cross section and gravity is included in the model; and a 3-D model that is an extension into a third dimension of the 2-D model and deformation may be applied to the bottom and four sides of the material region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company, Norske ConocoPhillips A/S
    Inventors: Anders Malthe-Sorenssen, Thomas Walmann, Torstein Jossang, Jens Feder, Humphrey H. Hardy
  • Patent number: 7085690
    Abstract: The invention provides an automated method for identifying an optimal or near optimal mathematical model to describe observed data including: a) the definition of a candidate model search space, b) methods for searching said candidate model search space to identify the optimal or near optimal model within said candidate model search space. The present invention includes algorithms for writing the computer code needed to implement and evaluate candidate models in the software package NONMEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventor: Mark Edward Sale
  • Patent number: 7085689
    Abstract: A machine-implemented method is provided for placing a plurality of particles to create a simulated particle pack. The method comprises defining a central string, a space disposed about the central string, and N concentric subspaces disposed about the central string and within the space, each of the N subspaces corresponding to one of the N particle categories, selecting a particle from the plurality of particles, and placing the selected particle in the corresponding subspace so that the selected particle becomes a placed particle at a particle location unique to that placed particle and is in non-overlapping relation with other placed particles. The selected particle placement includes defining a catch net representative of buoyancy of a portion of the placed particles and positioning the catch net within the space based upon the placement of the portion of the placed particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: I. Lee Davis, Micheal P. Iverson
  • Patent number: 7076409
    Abstract: A system and method for placing an annotation or label in a route map in an appropriate grid cell are described. Initially, the route map is partitioned into an initial grid; composed of candidate grid cells, into which the annotation or label can be placed. If necessary, a search for grid cells having sufficient adjacent object free grid cells is conducted. When no candidate grid cells are found during the identifying or searching stages, a grid subdivision scheme subdivides a portion of the grid cells in the initial grid to form a new grid. Then, the identifying and searching steps are repeated using the new grid. The process also ranks multiple candidate cells based on a density of objects in bordering grid cells. The candidate grid cell having the lowest density of objects in bordering cells is selected as the appropriate candidate grid cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Maneesh Agrawala, Chris Stolte
  • Patent number: 7031896
    Abstract: Methods for formal verification of circuits and other finite-state systems are disclosed. Formal definitions and semantics are disclosed for a model of a finite-state system, an assertion graph to express properties for verification, and satisfiability criteria for specification and automated verification of forward implication properties and backward justification properties. A method is disclosed to perform antecedent strengthening on antecedent labels of an assertion graph. A method is also disclosed to compute a simulation relation sequence ending with a simulation relation fixpoint, which can be compared to a consequence labeling for each edge of an assertion graph to verify implication properties properties according to the formal semantics. An alternative method is disclosed to compute the simulation relation sequence from the strengthened antecedent labels of an assertion graph, thereby permitting automated formal verification of justification properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 7006950
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for visually detecting and tracking an object through a space. The method chooses modules for a restricting a search function within the space to regions with a high probability of significant change, the search function operating on images supplied by a camera. The method also derives statistical models for errors, including quantifying an indexing step performed by an indexing module, and tuning system parameters. Further the method applies a likelihood model for candidate hypothesis evaluation and object parameters estimation for locating the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Greiffenhagen, Visvanathan Ramesh, Dorin Comaniciu
  • Patent number: 6996505
    Abstract: Embodiments automatically generate an accurate network of watertight NURBS patches from polygonal models of objects while automatically detecting and preserving character lines thereon. These embodiments generate from an initial triangulation of the surface, a hierarchy of progressively coarser triangulations of the surface by performing a sequence of edge contractions using a greedy algorithm that selects edge contractions by their numerical properties. Operations are also performed to connect the triangulations in the hierarchy using homeomorphisms that preserve the topology of the initial triangulation in the coarsest triangulation. A desired quadrangulation of the surface can then be generated by homeomorphically mapping edges of a coarsest triangulation in the hierarchy back to the initial triangulation. This quadrangulation is topologically consistent with the initial triangulation and is defined by a plurality of quadrangular patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Raindrop Geomagic, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Edelsbrunner, Ping Fu, Dmitry Nekhayev, Michael Facello, Steve Williams
  • Patent number: 6973420
    Abstract: A self-resetting circuit is simulated in a switch-level simulator using simulation models that can conditionally treat an unknown value on an input node as a known value. An attribute is included with the simulation model. The attribute specifies to the simulator whether to treat an unknown value as a logical zero or a logical one. A single attribute can be associated with the simulation model, or one attribute can be associated with each input node. Self-resetting circuits can be simulated from an initial state that includes unknown states. The proper logical initialization behavior can be simulated while still allowing the self-resetting circuit to propagate unknown states during normal operation and simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Tetzlaff
  • Patent number: 6961688
    Abstract: A system and method for performing compound computational experiments include an experiment having at least one input. The experiment includes a process controllable by a computer and responsive to the input to produce at least one output, the output capable of being stored on a medium readable by the computer. The system includes a generator capable of running on the computer. The generator automates the performance of a plurality of experiments and automatically varies the inputs for the experiments. An outcome store of the system stores the outputs on the computer-readable medium. The system also includes a display capable of running on the computer. The display presents an interpretation of a set of the outputs extracted from the outcome store. The display is responsive to user input to alter the interpretation, to present an interpretation of a different set of outputs, or to cause the generator to perform a plurality of experiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Evolving Logic Associates
    Inventor: Steven C. Bankes
  • Patent number: 6959270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computational tool that allows to evaluate the degradation of cement-based materials under various types of chemical attacks such as sulfates, chlorides, and plain water. It is based on the physical principles of ionic mass conservation and chemical equilibrium between a solution and different solid phases. The effect of the dissolution or the precipitation of solid phases on the transport coefficients is considered. A method for determining an ion concentration in solution of at least two ions capable of undergoing transport in a cement-based material under a chemical attack and a solid phase profile for at least one component of said cement-based material is provided. A method for determining a diffusion coefficient for each of at least two ions capable of undergoing transport in a cement-based material is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignees: Université Laval, SIMCO Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques Marchand, Eric Samson, Yannick Maltais
  • Patent number: 6952663
    Abstract: An automatic pipe gridding method allowing implementation of codes for modelling fluids carried by pipes is disclosed which has for example an application for oil pipes. The method comprises, considering a minimum and a maximum grid cell size, subdividing the pipe into sections including bends, positioning cells of minimum size on either side of each bend, positioning large cells whose size is at most equal to the maximum size in the central portion of each section, and distributing cells of increasing or decreasing size on the intermediate portions of each section between each minimum-size cell and the central portion. The method preferably comprises a prior stage of simplification of the pipe topography by means of weight or frequency spectrum analysis, so as to reduce the total number of cells without affecting the representativeness of the flow model obtained with the grid pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Emmanuel Duret, Isabelle Faille, Eric Heintze
  • Patent number: 6952661
    Abstract: A system and method for making computer-generated maps includes a different scale factor for each road in a route. The scale factors are used to optimize the route map against a target function that considers factors such as the number of false intersections in the route and the number of roads falling below a minimum length threshold. A refinement technique such as simulated annealing is used to find a solution to the target function. Each road in the scaled map is rendered to provide a finished product having the appearance of a hand-drawn map. The finished product includes context roads that intersect the main route but are not part of the main route. Furthermore, the hand-drawn map is optimized to the characteristics of the viewport used to visualize the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Maneesh Agrawala, Chris Stolte
  • Patent number: 6950790
    Abstract: A method of processing seismic data using a seismic energy propagation model of the subsurface is disclosed. The method assigns seismic source, seismic receiver, and reflection point locations to the propagation model; identifies a plurality of alternative raypaths consistent with the propagation model that originate at said seismic source location, reflect at said reflection point location, and terminate at said seismic receiver location; selects a raypath from the plurality of alternative raypaths having a shortest ray length, and utilizes the selected raypath in subsequent seismic processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Westerngeco, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David Edward Nichols
  • Patent number: 6947875
    Abstract: A system for developing a design of an environment such as an aircraft cockpit. A processor generates body models describing a percentage of a body population potentially to be accommodated by the environment. A processor-user interface displays an environment design relative to the body models. The interface accepts user changes to the design and the body models. The processor modifies the design and the body models in accordance with user changes. The system allows a designer of an airplane cockpit to rapidly visualize, analyze and assess its accommodation of a desired percentage of pilots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Winkler, Landon C. Onyebueke
  • Patent number: 6937967
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for finite element modeling of enhanced magnetoresistance in thin film semiconductors containing at least one metallic inclusion therein. The method and system utilizes finite element analysis techniques as a function of the applied magnetic field and the geometry of the device for comparing the device characteristics with predetermined qualities and modifying the device to achieve a correlation between the device characteristics and the predetermined qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel R. Hines, Stuart A. Solin, Tao Zhou, Jonathan E. Moussa, Lakshminarayanapuram Ramdas Ram-Mohan, John M. Sullivan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6931366
    Abstract: A system 10, which receives a computer, aided model or design 18 and which probabilistically analyzes the model 18 by use of a modified Latin Hypercube sampling technique and combined MARS and Kriging simulation methodologies, thereby allowing a simulation to be conducted at a most probable point of operation and allowing products having desired characteristics and attributes to be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Steve C. Wang, Agus Sudjianto, David John Buche, Dingjun Li, Mahesh Himatial Vora, Nathan R. Soderborg, Siyuan Jiang, Xiaoping Liu
  • Patent number: 6917909
    Abstract: Guidance provision to the creation of an electronic design is facilitated through a method that includes facilitating interactive exploration of the electronic design by a designer to aid the designer in formulating his/her guidance, and facilitating the designer in interactively providing the formulated guidance. In one embodiment, facilitation of interactive exploration by the designer include facilitating interactive cross-probing into a number of issues about the design, including generated candidate architectures for the design. In one embodiment, the issues available for cross probing include inter-dependencies of data and mobility of operations of the design, as well as occupation of hardware resources for the generated candidate architectures. In one embodiment, Gantt diagrams are employed to facilitate navigation by the designer in performing the interactive cross probing. Gantt diagrams graphically representing the generated candidate architectures are selectively presented to the designer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventors: Lev A. Markov, Ian Andrew Guyler, Shiv Prakash, David G. Burnette
  • Patent number: 6904392
    Abstract: In CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM systems in which three dimensional objects are display along with two dimensional annotations, a method and system is described for assisting the user in selecting a location for placement of the annotation on the object so that it annotates the proper portion of the object and complies with applicable standards. The system displays through highlighting or other visual means a set of points on the object to which the leader line of an annotation may be connected so that the annotation meets the requirements of applicable standards. The user may select any one of the location points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Marty, Dominique Gaunet
  • Patent number: 6901356
    Abstract: The invention provides a simulation apparatus by which a problem upon designing can be found in the designing stage on the upstream without imposing an unnecessary working time to a designer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yuichi Arita
  • Patent number: 6889176
    Abstract: A method for automatically reconstructing topographical information for a given mesh, altering the mesh by introducing, deleting, or splitting existing polygons when needed. An OctTree space decomposition is used to achieve a log2-complexity search method to find the closest vertex in the polygonal soup to a given point in space. Linear complexities are used to find triangles connected to a given vertex and all triangles connected to a given triangle. The triangles are split to enforce conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Paul Joseph Stewart