Patents Examined by Tung Lau
  • Patent number: 9990469
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, apparatus, system and computer program for inferring a system state over time. Biomedical measurement data is obtained, wherein the data relate to at least one indicator of a system of interest and includes at least two indicator values being indicative of the state of the system of interest and the indicator values are measured at different time points. At least one measure of goodness for the indicator is formed by using values of the indicator of at least one control state and at least one comparison state. Difference values are formed for at least two indicator values with reference to the control and comparison states, and using the at least two difference values a change in value of said indicator is displayed with a progress indicator so that the change over time can be used in inferring the system state. The progress indicator has at least one dimension depending on the value of the at least one measure of goodness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: COMBINOSTICS OY
    Inventors: Jussi Mattila, Jyrki Lotjonen, Juha Koikkalainen
  • Patent number: 9983576
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method for monitoring the health of blades in a combustion turbine engine is provided. Sensors mounted around the circumference of a rotor sense and record the passage of blades during turbine operation. Analysis of information from the sensors indicates whether a blade is damaged. Analysis of blade vibration and amplitude, as measured by the sensors, is used to predict the number of cycles the blade can undergo before replacement or maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Czerniak, Elizabeth C. Day, Paul V. Sickles
  • Patent number: 9983004
    Abstract: A temperature characteristic correction device corrects a temperature characteristic of an electronic device. The temperature characteristic correction device calculates a peak correction characteristic approximating a peak waveform having a peak value in a second range included in a first range of the temperature characteristic using a first formula, and a correction characteristic approximating a waveform continuing in the first range of the temperature characteristic using a second formula. The temperature characteristic correction device calculates a total correction amount from the peak correction characteristic and the correction characteristic, and then corrects the temperature characteristic using the total correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9983330
    Abstract: A method for making a log of material properties in a plurality of beds from an instrument utilizes steps such as estimating material properties for said plurality of beds and/or estimating positions for a plurality of bed boundaries and/or estimating orientations for said plurality of bed boundaries wherein the bed boundary orientations are individually variable. The estimated positions, orientations, and/or material properties can be utilized to compute the log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Inventor: Richard H. Hardman
  • Patent number: 9968302
    Abstract: Methods and devices for determining a measurement time period, receiving a plurality of signals associated with a monitored analyte level during the determined measurement time period from an analyte sensor, modulating the received plurality of signals to generate a data stream over the measurement time period, and accumulating the generated data stream to determine an analyte signal corresponding to the monitored analyte level associated with the measurement time period are provided. Systems and kits are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventor: Martin J. Fennell
  • Patent number: 9952074
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system with automated flow direction detection is provided. The HVAC system includes one or more hoses configured to provide airflow from HVAC equipment, a bidirectional pressure sensor coupled to the hoses, and a controller coupled to the bidirectional pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the bidirectional pressure sensor, determine a direction of the airflow relative to the bidirectional pressure sensor based on the signal, correct the signal for a reversed hose polarity relative to the bidirectional sensor based on the direction of the airflow, and perform a control activity using the corrected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Mark G. Freund, Troy A. Goldschmidt, Gary W. Gavin, Brandon A. Sloat, Timothy C. Gamroth
  • Patent number: 9939333
    Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for evaluating changes in the operational efficiency of an HVAC system over time. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system, and status of said HVAC system. One or more processors receives measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said HVAC system and compares said temperature measurements from said first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: John Douglas Steinberg, Scott Douglas Hublou
  • Patent number: 9927233
    Abstract: A coating thickness measuring instrument has a probe for measuring the thickness of a coating applied to a substrate and producing an output relating to the measured thickness; a memory storing calibration data; and a processor arranged to process the output produced by the probe, together with calibration data stored by the memory, and produce a coating thickness measurement. The memory stores at least two sets of calibration data, each set associated with a different surface profile value and a user may select the set of calibration data to be used by the processor according to the surface profile of the substrate on which a measurement is to be made. This enables a user to make coating thickness measurements on substrates with at least two different, known, surface profiles without having to calibrate the instrument specifically for those surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Elcometer Limited
    Inventors: Michael Carrington Sellars, Joseph J. Walker
  • Patent number: 9927232
    Abstract: In order to support an inspecting person in a method for the manual non-destructive inspection of a test object, a detection device is provided for detecting three-dimensional surface coordinates of a region to be inspected on the test object and for continuously determining positions and speeds of an inspecting tool relative to the test object Discrete position values and speed values of the inspecting tool for the respective measurement time points are stored by a storage device. A computing device determines the share of an already inspected region in relation to the total region of the test object to be inspected. The method and device can be used for manual inspection of test objects having a plurality of different shapes. The inspecting person is effectively relieved and the process for the non-destructive inspection is documented in order to guarantee a complete inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Lukasz Adam Bienkowski, Christian Homma, Hubert Mooshofer, Max Rothenfusser
  • Patent number: 9921112
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically measuring and storing a various measured values of an item, or a sequence of measured values of one or more item(s) suitable for single-handed use by a user. In particular, the present invention relates to a mobile computing device with one or more sensors for determining when to measure and record a particular value of one or more items. The mobile computing device may automatically measure the values based on sensing a change in the temperature value or through using proximity as detected by one or more onboard sensors. Additionally, the mobile computing device may automatically measure the values based on coming within range of an external proximity device. In response to automatically measuring the values, the measured values are stored along with additional information for record keeping purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Squadle, Inc.
    Inventors: Le Zhang, William K. Chen
  • Patent number: 9921252
    Abstract: The isolation resistance value is determined by measuring the voltage across a set of high resistance resistor networks placed between the high voltage battery pack (both the positive and negative terminals) and the chassis ground and then modifying the resistance networks by switching in an additional high resistance network and repeating the measurements. This results in a system that can be assembled using low cost components to determine with a high degree of accuracy the value of the isolation resistance. The implementation of this system does not require expensive solid state relays, as the small amount of resistance through the switching device is negligible when determining the isolation resistance of the high voltage system. The system is not dependent on high precision devices to give accurate isolation resistance detection in a range that is appropriate for high voltage applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Paris, Larry Deal, Cathal Oscolai
  • Patent number: 9921329
    Abstract: A method for selecting core points in subsurface formations includes selecting a zone from at least one subsurface formation. At least one statistical measure of at least one petrophysical measurement with respect to position along the selected zone is calculated. A predetermined number of core points at randomly selected positions along the selected zone is selected The at least one statistical measure is calculated for the randomly selected positions. Using a Monte Carlo iteration, the positions along the selected zone are randomly reselected and the at least one statistical measure is recalculated for the randomly reselected points until the at least one statistical measure for the randomly selected points is a maximum for a user selected statistical criterion applied to the at least one statistical measure of at least one petrophysical measurement with respect to position along the selected zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Apache Corporation
    Inventor: Ryan Banas
  • Patent number: 9915639
    Abstract: This agricultural device introduces an innovative approach to soil treatment that restores the fertility of depleted soils, which currently depend on chemical fertilizers to keep up with global food production needs. The new technology is based upon the concept of bioenergetics, whereby soil is conceived as the main factor that needs to be balanced in order to increase natural soil fertility, crop production, and food quality. This scientifically-based farming technology utilizes horizontal tillage—as opposed to conventional tillage—to reduce the entropy of the soil-plant-atmosphere system, helping regenerate biological memory and natural soil fertility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Heriberto Bouza Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9910423
    Abstract: A control apparatus in an automaton that operates in cooperation with a peripheral device, includes: an operating time accumulator regarding the output time of a control signal to the peripheral device or the output time of an operating signal from the peripheral device as operating time and determining cumulative operating time by adding up the operating times; a time-at-inspection recorder recording the cumulative operating time when inspection is performed as the cumulative operating time at inspection; a cumulative operating time comparator comparing the difference between the current cumulative operating time and the cumulative operating time at inspection, the cumulative operating time from the latest inspection, or the cumulative operating time after inspection, with a preset inspection interval; and, a maintenance request output unit outputting a maintenance request to the outside when the cumulative operating time after inspection obtained as a result of the comparison exceeds the preset inspection i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Ikeda, Soichi Arita
  • Patent number: 9909908
    Abstract: A calibrator has profiles for holding locators for items in a tree-like database of smart device that monitors a process. The calibrator is connected to the smart device and obtains tag and other identity information to find the profile for the smart device. When a profile is located, the calibrator displays a list of calibration setup items and favorite items and loads the items on the list into the calibrator as default inputs or settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Nikola Mrvaljevic, Randy Peterson, Joseph V. Ferrante, Dileepa Prabhakar, David Clarence Dyck
  • Patent number: 9903810
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for the determination of weight fractions of hydrocarbons, water and acid in the acid catalyst phase of petroleum refinery alkylation catalyst streams by flowing the acid catalyst phase through a density detector and a spectrometer cell so that the determination can be made according to first principles. An alternative apparatus and method uses spectroscopy without the density detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Yokogawa Corporation of America
    Inventor: William Marcus Trygstad
  • Patent number: 9891592
    Abstract: The present technique relates particularly to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program which can improve sleep efficiency. The information processing device according to one aspect of the present technique has: an acquisition unit which acquires information which indicates an action schedule of a user; and a first determination unit which determines whether the user needs to wake up or sleep, and determines the degree of necessity of waking up when determining that the user needs to wake up and the degree of necessity of sleeping when determining the user needs to sleep, according to the action schedule of the user. The present technique is applicable to a mobile device such as a mobile telephone, a PDA and a digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Kimishima, Naoyuki Onoe, Tatsuhito Sato, Hideyuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9886364
    Abstract: A computer readable medium storing a computer program for providing a method for evaluating the performance of a software application, the computer program executable by at least one or the one or more processors. The computer program comprising a set of instructions for receiving an indication of the initiation of a workflow transaction in an Application, determining whether the workflow transaction is to be marked as a traceable transaction based on a Measurement Marker Algorithm, tracking the performance of operations executed for the workflow transaction, and storing raw Call Metrics based on the tracked performance in an Intermediate memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ALLSCRIPTS SOFTWARE, LLC
    Inventors: Stanislav Makarskyy, Mark Gregory Plunkett, Igor Chmil, Stephen E Smith
  • Patent number: 9882660
    Abstract: Method, system and computer program product for providing real time detection of analyte sensor sensitivity decline is continuous glucose monitoring systems are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: ABBOTT DIABETES CARE INC., UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Marc D. Breton, Boris P. Kovatchev, Erwin Satrya Budiman, Kenneth J. Doniger
  • Patent number: 9879967
    Abstract: A method for compensating measurement errors caused by the deformation of a component defining a slide axis in a measurement machine, comprising the steps of calculating the curvature of the component as a function of the difference between the current temperature Tc and a reference temperature Tr at which the geometric compensation map of the machine has been obtained, calculating correction values for the compensation parameters stored in the compensation map as a function of the curvature, and updating the compensation map with these correction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HEXAGON METROLOGY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Merlo, Emanuele Ricci