Patents Examined by Thomas C. Lee
  • Patent number: 11338495
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device and a method for controlling the throughflow of blow-molding fluid during the blow molding of containers. It is the intention to provide a control device and a control method which permit a controlled or defined growth and a defined propagation of the container bubble formed by the expanding preform in the pre-blowing phase of the blow molding process without the specification of a specific setpoint value profile or of a setpoint value curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Aventics GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Busch, Heinz-Herrmann Meyer, Theo Paulus, Francis Petitjean
  • Patent number: 11340585
    Abstract: A method for creating metadevices includes receiving, at a computing device, one or more boundary conditions for a metadevice. The method also includes processing, with an inverse-design algorithm stored in a memory of the computing device, the one or more boundary conditions to generate a metadevice structure design that satisfies the one or more boundary conditions. The method also includes converting, by a processor of the computing device, the metadevice structure design into a file that is compatible with an additive manufacturing device. The method further includes providing the file of the metadevice structure design to the additive manufacturing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Koray Aydin, Francois Callewaert, Alan Varteres Sahakian
  • Patent number: 11340570
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating and maintaining a wind turbine. Accordingly, a plurality of data inputs are received. The plurality of data inputs represent a plurality of monitored attributes of a component of the wind turbine. A consolidated risk index for the component is determined using the plurality of monitored attributes, and a range of potential risk indices is forecasted. A remaining-useful-life distribution is determined based on the damage potential and an end-of-life damage threshold. The wind turbine is shut down or idled if the remaining-useful-life distribution is below a shutdown threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Suryarghya Chakrabarti, Youngwon Shin, John Joseph Mihok, Waad Hussain Subber
  • Patent number: 11334046
    Abstract: A movable gantry system is described. In an example, the movable gantry system is configured to interface with jigs of different types or sizes and/or with different positions of a same jig and/or to perform operations on different parts mounted in such jigs. To do so, the movable gantry system includes an end effector, a gantry, and a computing system. The end effector is mounted within the gantry and provides at least rotational movement to perform operations on a part. The gantry is movable and interfaces with a jig holding the part. Further, the gantry provides translational movement to the end effector. The computing system identifies the gantry and the part and controls the gantry and the end effector, thereby facilitating the operations on the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Wilder Systems, LLC
    Inventor: William Wilder
  • Patent number: 11331642
    Abstract: An apparatus for the production of solid dosage forms is presented, wherein the apparatus comprises a material processing chamber which is operable for manufacturing a product according to a pre-set product formation process path. The apparatus has at least one sensor for continuously monitoring formation of the product in the material processing chamber during the product formation process non-invasively in real time by sensing at least one product functional attribute value and a means for comparing each sensed product functional attribute value with a desirable product functional attribute value for that point on the product formation process path. A controller controls operation of the material processing chamber in response to the sensed product functional attribute value for maintaining the product on the product formation process path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Innopharma Research Limited
    Inventors: Ian Jones, Sean Costello
  • Patent number: 11334051
    Abstract: A system for automated adaptive manufacturing of airfoil castings is disclosed. The system may receive a three dimensional scan of a work piece. The system may compare the three dimensional scan to a digital model of the work piece. The system may identify an area of dimensional abnormality on the work piece based on the comparison. The system may alter the area of dimensional abnormality on the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: James Tilsley Auxier, Alan C. Barron, Norman W. Cofalka, Joel H. Wagner
  • Patent number: 11325313
    Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving object model data at a processor, the object model data characterising an object to be generated using additive manufacturing. The method may further include receiving a status indicator for each of a plurality of additive manufacturing apparatus, the status indicator comprising, for each apparatus, an indication of an adaptable build volume. The processor may assign an object generation task corresponding to the received object model data to one of the plurality of additive manufacturing apparatus based on the status indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Stylianos Manousakis
  • Patent number: 11327464
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a collimator (134) on a three-dimensional printer (510) includes obtaining design specifications (536) for the collimator, the design specifications including a channel perimeter pattern and an overall collimator thickness, determining a first quantity of deposit layer permutation types based on the channel perimeter pattern, determining a respective second quantity of permutation layer elements (310, 320, 330) for each respective one of the deposit layer permutations, generating respective sets of sequences for each respective one of the deposit layer permutations, the number of sets equal to the respective second quantity for the corresponding deposit layer permutations, assembling the respective sets of sequences into a three-dimensional print file (538), providing the three-dimensional file to the three-dimensional printer, and manufacturing the collimator by depositing additive layers of material based on contents of the three-dimensional file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Miesher Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 11318677
    Abstract: In some examples, with respect to feature protection for three-dimensional printing, a three-dimensional model of a three-dimensional object to be printed may be ascertained. A determination may be made as to whether a configuration of a three-dimensional model feature of the three-dimensional model matches a removable feature configuration from a set of removable feature configurations. Based on a determination that the configuration of the three-dimensional model feature of the three-dimensional model matches the removable feature configuration from the set of removable feature configurations, the three-dimensional model feature may be removed from the three-dimensional model to generate a modified three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joshua Shepherd, Brent Ewald, Matthew A. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11320794
    Abstract: An electric power system includes a generating unit, which includes a controller for controlling an operational mode of the generating unit. The electric power system also includes an event estimator communicatively coupled to the controller of the generating unit and a network estimator communicatively coupled to the event estimator. The network estimator includes a processor configured to receive status information associated with the electric power system, determine, based upon the status information, at least one characteristic of the electric power system, and transmit the at least one characteristic to the event estimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ara Panosyan, Sreedhar Desabhatla, Luca Parolini, Adolfo Anta Martinez, Naresh Acharya, Krishna Kumar Anaparthi, Scott William Szepek
  • Patent number: 11314230
    Abstract: A machining program generation support device includes: a CAD data analysis unit which analyzes the CAD data of a workpiece so as to obtain CAD shape information; a machining program analysis unit which analyzes a machining program that is in the middle of being produced by an operator so as to obtain machining shape information; a relative position matching unit which performs relative position matching of shapes of the CAD shape information and the machining shape information so as to obtain relative position matching shape information and to determine, based on the relative position matching shape information, whether or not an input error of a position is made by the operator in the machining shape information; and a display unit which displays the machining shape information and which displays a part of the input error of the position and made by the operator in the machining shape information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zhaojia Liu
  • Patent number: 11307559
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design and manufacture of physical structures using subtractive manufacturing systems and techniques include, in one aspect, a method including: obtaining a toolpath specification for a three dimensional model of geometry of a part to be machined from a workpiece; calculating predicted cutting forces to be applied to the workpiece when machining the part; generating a set of holding tabs for the part based on the predicted cutting forces, wherein each of the holding tabs bridge from the part to the workpiece so as to keep the part fixed, in situ, within the workpiece during the machining, and at least one position of a holding tab from the set is determined in accordance with the predicted cutting forces; and providing the set of holding tabs for use by a computer-controlled manufacturing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Sanders, Mark Antony Millership
  • Patent number: 11305384
    Abstract: According to the invention, a Cartesian positioning device for positioning an optics includes an optics socket for holding the optics; a y actuating element for linear movement of the optics socket in the y direction, the y actuating element having a y slider at one end; an x actuating element for linear movement of the optics socket in the x direction, the x actuating element having an x slider at one end; wherein the x actuating element and the y actuating element are arranged on a support element and adjustable along the y direction. Furthermore, a laser machining head for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam includes such a Cartesian positioning device for positioning an optics, the optics being arranged in a beam path of the laser machining head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Precitec GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Schubert
  • Patent number: 11301021
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs encoded on computer storage medium, for polling a battery management unit (BMU) that is coupled to a battery power source, the polling including identifying parameters associated with the battery power source and are stored by registers; determining that an AC power source is not actively providing power to the IHS; determining that the battery power source does not support dynamic battery power technology (DBPT); determining that the RSoC of the battery power source is greater than a first threshold percentage and less than a second threshold percentage; determining an updated processor peak power (PPP) value based on i) the RSOC, ii) a minimum PPP of the processor at the first threshold percentage, and iii) a maximum PPP of the processor at the second threshold percentage; and updating the registers based on the updated PPP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Merle Jackson Wood, Andy Liu, Jessica Chin, Adolfo S. Montero
  • Patent number: 11301779
    Abstract: A method of operating an air conditioner, including: obtaining an image acquired by a camera; determining a distance and a direction of an occupant relative to the air conditioner, based on the image; using at least one machine-learning network to classify an air-blowable space of the air conditioner into an intensive air blowing area and a non-intensive air blowing area, based on the distance and the direction of the occupant; controlling the air conditioner to operate in an intensive operation mode with respect to the intensive air blowing area; and controlling the air conditioner to operate in a non-intensive operation mode with respect to the intensive air blowing area and the non-intensive air blowing area based on completion of the intensive operation mode. A time duration of the intensive operation mode is smaller than a time duration of the non-intensive operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Taeyup Song, Dongwoo Han
  • Patent number: 11300948
    Abstract: A process control method for manufacturing semiconductor devices, including determining a quality metric of a production semiconductor wafer by comparing production scatterometric spectra of a production structure of the production wafer with reference scatterometric spectra of a reference structure of reference semiconductor wafers, the production structure corresponding to the reference structure, the reference spectra linked by machine learning to a reference measurement value of the reference structure, determining a process control parameter value (PCPV) of a wafer processing step, the PCPV determined based on measurement of the production wafer and whose contribution to the PCPV is weighted with a first predefined weight based on the quality metric, and based on a measurement of a different wafer and whose contribution to the PCPV is weighted with a second predefined weight based on the quality metric, and controlling, with the PCPV, the processing step during fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: NOVA LTD, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Taher Kagalwala, Alok Vaid, Shay Yogev, Matthew Sendelbach, Paul Isbester, Yoav Etzioni
  • Patent number: 11300932
    Abstract: A base software application and an operation software application are installed in a machine control computer. The base software application includes a first communication unit being a program portion, a second communication unit being a program portion, and an information conversion unit being a program portion. The information conversion unit enables a CPU of the computer to convert first machine information specific to a machine into second machine information specific to the operation software application, based on a data model or the like corresponding to a category of the machine or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Oda
  • Patent number: 11302544
    Abstract: A method for measurement of misregistration in the manufacture of semiconductor device wafers, the method including measuring misregistration between layers of a semiconductor device wafer at a first instance and providing a first misregistration indication, measuring misregistration between layers of a semiconductor device wafer at a second instance and providing a second misregistration indication, providing a misregistration measurement difference output in response to a difference between the first misregistration indication and the second misregistration indication, providing a baseline difference output and ameliorating the difference between the misregistration measurement difference output and the baseline difference output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roie Volkovich, Renan Milo, Liran Yerushalmi, Moran Zaberchik, Yoel Feler, David Izraeli
  • Patent number: 11293662
    Abstract: An HVAC actuator (1) comprises an electric motor (11); an energy buffer (13) configured to store electrical energy from a power supply (2), and to provide the electrical energy to the motor (11); and a power limiting circuit (12) configured to limit input power from the power supply (2) to the energy buffer (13) to a threshold lower than motor power drawn by the motor (11) from the energy buffer (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Gaƫtan Matthey, Silvio Grogg, Peter Schmidlin
  • Patent number: 11289944
    Abstract: A distribution network risk identification system and method and a computer storage medium include: multi-source information data for risk identification is acquired; the multi-source information data is analyzed and processed to obtain a risk characteristic; a risk identification index is calculated on the basis of the risk characteristic, and a state of a power grid is determined according to the risk identification index; a temporal and spatial variation rule and variation trend of the risk characteristic are analyzed; a location and cause of occurrence of a risk are determined according to the temporal and spatial variation rule and variation trend of the risk characteristic; a severity of the risk is analyzed by adopting an analogue simulation manner; and the severity of the risk is assessed, and risk early warning information is issued on the basis of an assessment result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: CHINA ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE COMPANY LIMITED, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA
    Inventors: Wanxing Sheng, Xiaohui Song, Yu Zhang, Jianfang Li, Fei Gao, Yajie Li, Shanshan Zhao