Patents Examined by Sivalingam Sivanesan
  • Patent number: 9158292
    Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate home automation via a receiving device. In one embodiment, a home device manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The home device manager is configured to discover home devices and to obtain device control information from the discovered devices. The home device manager is further configured to, based on the obtained device control information, present a user interface operable by a user to specify commands for controlling a home device, receive a specified command, and control the home device by transmitting the specified command to the home device. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gavin James Quail
  • Patent number: 9158301
    Abstract: An embodiment is a method for semiconductor processing control. The method comprises identifying a key process stage from a plurality of process stages based on a parameter of processed wafers, forecasting a trend for a wafer processed by the key process stage and some of the plurality of process stages based on the parameter, and dispatching the wafer to one of a first plurality of tools in a tuning process stage. The one of the first plurality of tools is determined based on the trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunny Wu, Yen-Di Tsen, Chun-Hsien Lin, Keung Hui, Jo Fei Wang, Jong-I Mou
  • Patent number: 9159109
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention disclose a method and apparatus for detecting the statuses of energy source consumption devices, relate to the field of energy source auditing and are intended to improve the efficiency and accuracy of detecting the statuses of the energy source consumption devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: NEC (CHINA) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Song, Changjian Hu, Lu Yu, Kai Zhao
  • Patent number: 9121786
    Abstract: A system for establishing a center of gravity of a device under test (DUT) includes a test platform and a control device. The test platform includes three support elements and a marker. A sensor is positioned on top of each support element. The control device includes three processing modules and a central processing unit (CPU). Each sensor senses a pressure of the DUT on a support element, and outputs an analog signal to a processing module. Each processing module converts the analog signal into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal to the CPU. The CPU controls the marker to make a mark on the DUT when values of three digital signals received from the three processing modules are equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian-Feng Tie
  • Patent number: 9117184
    Abstract: A visualization system integrated with an enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) system utilizing preconfigured EMI data models, workflow reports and process event notifications to optimize a manufacturing process. The visualization system and the EMI system exchange data and information providing both systems with a broader process view than either system has independently. The visualization system can specifically target information and action requests to different classes of manufacturing personnel such as operators and engineers. Additionally, the visualization system maintains an audit log of all production identities, raw material usage, and requested corrective actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Joseph McGreevy, Michael John Pantaleano, Bruce Gordon Fuller, Ian Edward Tooke, Kevin John Albert, John Joseph Baier, Jan Pingel
  • Patent number: 9107511
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a patient, such as a hospital bed, is provided. The apparatus includes a patient support surface and at least one fluid containing bladder. A pressure control assembly is operably coupled with the bladder. When the fluid pressure within the bladder falls outside of an acceptable range of pressure values, the active adjustment of the pressure within the bladder is initiated by the pressure control assembly if the pressure does not return to the acceptable range of pressure values within a time period, e.g., a time delay, that has a variable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Skinner, Sandy M. Richards, David P. Lubbers, Steven A. Dixon, Richard B. Stacy, Aziz A. Bhai
  • Patent number: 9086690
    Abstract: Control programs for robotic systems are synchronized through the use of synchronization objects which control access to shared resources and allow for sequencing of events in separate program threads. Where necessary, partner objects generate between control programs and synchronization objects to assure uniform interaction between control program threads and synchronization objects. As all synchronization objects contain searchable partner lists, actual simulated and runtime deadlocks including any type of synchronization object can be detected, and the full system can be analyzed to identify potential deadlocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Stoddard
  • Patent number: 9087151
    Abstract: A program analysis support device that can freely combine program analysis conditions and can realize desired program analysis. An analysis condition setting part inputs a program analysis condition in a form of a conditional equation (analysis command, an analysis subject, and analysis condition) having an inherent equation number. A POU list extraction processing executing part executes an analysis command that reads a program to generate a collection of POUs serving as analysis subjects constituting the program, and a variable use list extraction processing executing part executes an analysis command that extracts a cross-reference of a variable to extract a cross-reference of a variable to the POU collection serving as the analysis subject. Both the parts further extract a cross-reference of a variable to another POU collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Nakai, Hirohisa Furuta, Akira Ishihara, Kimiaki Sato, Takashi Tsuboi, Akira Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9085931
    Abstract: The invention describes a system for controlling a shading device with a plurality of controllable shading elements. To provide a system for controlling a shading device, which reduces direct sunlight transmission and enhances thermal comfort and lighting conditions, the system comprises at least one detector unit for providing an image signal of a shading area and a control unit (5) being configured to receive said image signal, determine from said signal, whether a characteristic pattern is present in said shading area and in case said characteristic pattern is determined, control said shading elements to reduce said characteristic pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Bernd Ackermann
  • Patent number: 9088951
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to reducing battery usage in handheld communication devices due to operation of variable managed features, such as a location determination feature and other features that consume variable amounts of time and power. The techniques of this disclosure include dynamically managing a power budget allocated to one or more variable managed features of the handheld communication device based on power consumption over time by the variable managed features. More specifically, the techniques include, for each variable managed feature, recalculating a frequency for performing power events based on an amount of remaining power after one or more power events. The techniques also include reallocating the power budget to the one or more variable managed features based on an amount of remaining power after one or more power events of the variable managed features, a pre-determined period of time, or reaching a threshold level of power consumption jitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Barrett, Jangwon Lee
  • Patent number: 9078377
    Abstract: An air volume control device determines whether or not a cooling capacity of an electronic device fulfills a predetermined cooling capacity. Then, if it is determined that the cooling capacity of the electronic device is failing to fulfill the predetermined cooling capacity, the air volume control device decreases the number of revolutions of a fan for cooling the electronic device. For example, the air volume control device compares a temperature of a heating element provided in the electronic device before a change in the number of revolutions of the fan with that after the change in the number of revolutions of the fan. If the temperature of the heating element is increased when the number of revolutions of the fan is increased, the air volume control device determines that the cooling capacity of the electronic device is failing to fulfill the predetermined cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Ikuro Nagamatsu, Yuji Ohba, Junichi Ishimine
  • Patent number: 9075407
    Abstract: The reduced complexity auto-tuning process controller system and method is a control scheme in which, for each process variable, a single gain K, which is initialized with a sufficiently small value, is iteratively auto-tuned using a predetermined discrete sample time and learning rate. A plant error is calculated and summed with an output of a one-sample delay, the sum being input to the one-sample delay. The combined output of the one-sample delay is multiplied by the input signal, i.e., used as a gain constant of the control input signal. The control input signal times this gain constant is fed to the plant input, thereby reducing error in the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Hussain Al-Duwaish, Syed Z. Rizvi
  • Patent number: 9072437
    Abstract: A method includes retrieving a signal that measures an activity of a cardiac system. A heart beat model is created based on the retrieved signal, and heart beats are detected using the heart beat model. The model can be trained using a machine learning technique and also respiratory cycle phase information can be used in training the model. A related algorithm, apparatus and computer program are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Beddit Oy
    Inventor: Joonas Paalasmaa
  • Patent number: 9056342
    Abstract: A detail thermal model memory has stored detail thermal models each including a mathematical formula using parameters describing a temperature variation of a rolling material in a prescribed cooling interval, an influence coefficient calculator calculate an influence coefficient as necessary for a control of temperature variation of the rolling material, a simple cooling pattern calculator calculate a simple cooling pattern in a simplified form of a preferable detail cooling pattern being necessary for the rolling material to have a preferable material quality, strength, or ductility, a detail cooling pattern calculator calculate a detail cooling pattern of the rolling material in the prescribed cooling interval, and a cooling controller takes the detail cooling pattern as a basis to control a cooling of the rolling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Imanari
  • Patent number: 9026259
    Abstract: A microgrid including a renewable power source is optimized by treating the renewable source as operating in an isochronous mode, and by decomposing the optimization process. A renewable capability is defined for the renewable source to enable treatment of the renewable source as operating in an isochronous mode. The renewable capability may be based on a power rating of the renewable source. An objective function of the microgrid optimization problem may then be optimized while treating the renewable source as operating in an isochronous mode. A penalty factor may be applied to avoid power shortage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Reza Dadash Zadeh, Amirhossein Hajimiragha, Michael Joseph Krok
  • Patent number: 9020651
    Abstract: A prediction device for predicting a prediction interval being a time interval predicted with a high possibility of appliance utilization starts includes: an evaluation unit calculating, using utilization interval history data, an evaluation value for determining a prediction scheme for each appliance; a determination unit, based on the evaluation value at least for each appliance, determining at least one of a first and a second prediction scheme as the scheme of the prediction interval for the appliance, the first prediction scheme using a property that the appliance is utilized in a predetermined cycle, and the second prediction scheme using a property that the utilization of a second appliance being the appliance is started in a period from a start or an end of utilization of a first appliance being another appliance to a passage of a predetermined time; a prediction unit predicting a prediction interval according to the determined scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inoue, Jun Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9008844
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to ventilation systems and methods, and more particularly to selectively configurable climate control systems and methods for use in data centers and the like. A method includes receiving or obtaining input data, generating at least one actuation signal to change a flow configuration of a re-configurable duct system based upon the input data, and transmitting the at least one actuation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Vincenzo V. Diluoffo, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Michael D. Kendzierski
  • Patent number: 9002480
    Abstract: A method for operating a control network includes a first control computer, a second redundant control computer and a plurality of data-processing appliances, wherein a connection between the computers and the appliances is provided by a redundant and diverse heartbeat. The connection between the computers is checked before operating the control network. If a test result is positive, a master function is assigned to the first computer. If the test result is negative, both computers connect the appliances to themselves in a defined sequence. When a predetermined number of appliances are connected to the first computer, the computer takes over a master function and the second computer takes over a standby function, or, when a number, which is less than the predetermined number, of appliances are connected to each of the two computers, a signal is produced which signals a fault state of the control network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Porsch, Hartmut Ludwig, Andreas Ziegler, Tino Schwarz, Andreas Kirsch
  • Patent number: 8996144
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a remote disconnect switch assembly. In one embodiment, the remote disconnect switch assembly comprises: an actuator; a shuttle that is operably moved by the actuator; one or more disconnect switches that are opened or closed by movement of the shuttle; one or more sensors; a communication interface; and a processor, wherein the processor is operably connected with the actuator, the one or more sensors and the communication interface, and wherein the processor is configured to: communicate with one or more other computing devices over a network using the communication interface; receive signals from the one or more sensors; and cause the actuator to operate in accordance with the signals received from the one or more sensors or the communications with the one or more other computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Marc LaFrance, Scott Michael Shill, Steven Lee Bietz, Subramanyam Satyasurya Chamarti
  • Patent number: 8977406
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: a plurality of power supply devices; a battery device; an abnormal state detection unit that detects a state of a first power supply device is an abnormal state; and a switching control unit that, when it is detected the state of the first power supply device is the abnormal state, switches a state from an electric power input forbidding state in which electric power is not inputted into a second power supply device to an electric power input permitting state in which electric power is inputted into the second power supply device, and switches the state from an electric power supply forbidding state of not supplying the electric power stored by the battery device to the external load to an electric power supply permitting state of supplying the electric power stored by the battery device to the external load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nec Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Yano