Patents Examined by Tung Lau
  • Patent number: 9696441
    Abstract: A method of estimating stress in an earth formation is disclosed. The method includes: dividing a domain including at least a portion of an earth formation into a first region and a second region; estimating a first vertical stress in the first region and representing the first vertical stress as at least one point load; estimating a second vertical stress in the second region by a point load based method using the first vertical stress; and estimating at least one horizontal stress based on the second vertical stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Cem Ozan, Martin Brudy, Wouter Van der Zee
  • Patent number: 9689909
    Abstract: A sensor detects partial discharges (PDs) in an electrical power system and generates a corresponding analog electrical signal. A data acquisition component receives the signal from the sensor and converts it to digitized zero span data for a series of uniformly spaced frequencies in a frequency spectrum of interest. A digital signal processing component receives the digitized zero span data, analyzes such data, and generates a corresponding phase resolved spectrum signal in three dimensional format including dimensions of amplitude, phase and frequency for each of the uniformly spaced frequencies. A display component receives the analyzed data stream from the processing component and actuates one or more displays from which characteristics of the PD can be identified, such as different types of PDs from different sources, and information on the location of a PD relative to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: CableWISE Techimp Limited
    Inventor: Jun Guo
  • Patent number: 9693120
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for monitoring a current state of a spatially extensive supply network having at least one control station that monitors and controls the supply network and a plurality of sensors that transmit measurement values relating to operating behavior to the at least one control station. Current measurement values are measured at positions on the supply network corresponding to each sensor. Each sensor analyzes measured signal variations and signal trends of the measured current values via an evaluating unit. The measurement values of each respective sensor are transmitted to the at least one control station in data packets at a defined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Frederik Blank, Markus Gauder, Stefan Lauxtermann, Werner A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9689882
    Abstract: A monitoring system monitoring an environmental condition of an area by measuring an environmental quantity, including: a static monitoring section including plural static sensor units each configured to collect first measure data relating to the environmental quantity in respective portions of the area; a mobile monitoring section including at least one robot configured to move within the area to collect second measure data relating to the environmental quantity in a portion of the area surrounding the robot; and a central unit communicating with the static sensor units and robot to perform: conditioned to assessing an anomalous environmental condition from first measure data collected by at least one static sensor unit, commanding the robot to operate according to anomaly routines, and conditioned to assessing an anomalous environmental condition from second measure data collected by the robot, commanding at least one static sensor unit to operate according to anomaly routines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TELECOM ITALIA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Antonini, Gian Piero Fici, Marco Gaspardone
  • Patent number: 9672577
    Abstract: A method for estimating component power usage using aggregate power usage data are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A power estimation model is received, the model correlating a factor of the component with an aggregate power consumption of a set of components during a period, the component being a member of the set of components, the component being a hardware device operating in the data processing environment and consuming electrical power, the factor being a characteristic of the component related to the consumption of the electrical power in the component. A value of the factor at a determined time is received. The value of the factor is applied to the power estimation model to generate an estimate of electrical power consumed by the component. The estimate is output as the estimated power usage of the component when the factor attains the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd Dickson Gatts, Jason Karl Yellick
  • Patent number: 9672663
    Abstract: There is provided a management apparatus for an electrical apparatus, the management apparatus including a communication unit configured to receive conduction state information from an electrical apparatus, a storage unit configured to store reference conduction state information of the electrical apparatus, and a determination unit configured to compare the conduction state information of the electrical apparatus with the reference conduction state information of the electrical apparatus to determine a state of the electrical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Taro Tadano, Kayoko Tanaka, Miki Shibuya, Kazuyoshi Takemura, Kuniya Hayashi, Isao Soma, Takahiro Suzuki, Kazutoshi Serita, Jiang Wu
  • Patent number: 9655548
    Abstract: Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques for utilizing gyroscopes in biometric monitoring devices are provided. Such techniques may, in some implementations, involve obtaining swimming metrics regarding swim stroke count, lap count, and stroke type. A biometric monitoring device for obtaining such metrics may include an immersions sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Ook Hong, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, Andrew Cole Axley
  • Patent number: 9645180
    Abstract: The accuracy of photovoltaic simulation modeling is predicated upon the selection of a type of solar resource data appropriate to the form of simulation desired. Photovoltaic power simulation requires irradiance data. Photovoltaic energy simulation requires normalized irradiation data. Normalized irradiation is not always available, such as in photovoltaic plant installations where only point measurements of irradiance are sporadically collected or even entirely absent. Normalized irradiation can be estimated through several methodologies, including assuming that normalized irradiation simply equals irradiance, directly estimating normalized irradiation, applying linear interpolation to irradiance, applying linear interpolation to clearness index values, and empirically deriving irradiance weights. The normalized irradiation can then be used to forecast photovoltaic fleet energy production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: CLEAN POWER RESEARCH, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Hoff
  • Patent number: 9645261
    Abstract: Normalization coefficients in are computed for positron emission tomography (PET) continuous bed motion acquisition (CBM). The normalization coefficients for the lines-of-response in CBM account for the change in decay of the injected isotope over time and/or changes in velocity of the bed motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Y. Panin, Michael E. Casey
  • Patent number: 9638831
    Abstract: Probabilistic forecasts of the expected power production of renewable power sources, such as solar and wind, are generally provided with a degree of uncertainty. The expected power production for a fleet can be projected as a time series of power production estimates over a time period ahead of the current time. The uncertainty of each power production estimate can be combined with the costs and risks associated with power generation forecasting errors, and displayed or visually graphed as a single, deterministic result to assist power grid operators (or planners) in deciding whether to rely on the renewable power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CLEAN POWER RESEARCH, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Hoff
  • Patent number: 9625327
    Abstract: An electronic inspection apparatus includes a probe, a sensor, a memory unit, and a controller. The apparatus senses a condition, and stores data representative of the sensed condition at a high bit rate. The inspection apparatus transfers the sensed data to a computing device or database via a lower bit rate. In one embodiment, a data queue or memory unit of a temperature probe temporarily stores data before transmitting the data to a computing device (e.g., a mobile device). The method of the present invention provides two separate data logging parameters: (1) how fast to read and log data which determines a data logging period and (2) how fast to send the data to the mobile device which determines a data transmit period. Thus, the data transfer period is isolated or decoupled from the data logging period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: E-CONTROLSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Eran Y. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 9625502
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided in connection with a photovoltaic power generator composed of series-connected photovoltaic modules. The method includes determining a maximum power point voltage (UMPP) and a maximum power point current (IMPP). The method also includes determining the ambient temperature (Tamb), calculating an estimated maximum power point voltage (Uest) by using maximum power point current (IMPP) and the determined ambient temperature (Tamb), comparing the estimated maximum power point voltage with the determined maximum power point (UMPP), and determining on the basis of the comparison whether the generator is operating under uniform conditions or in conditions with two maximum power points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Anssi Mäki, Seppo Valkealahti
  • Patent number: 9625600
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining and removing swell noise from electric field data collected from streamers towed at different are disclosed. In one aspect, a first set of streamers called upper streamers is towed at a shallow depth, and the second set of streamers called lower streamers is towed below the upper streamers. Receivers located along the streamers measure surrounding electric fields and produce electric field signals. A proportionality parameter is calculated as a function of the electric field signals generated by vertically aligned receivers. The proportionality parameter can be used to calculate an approximate swell noise that is used to remove swell noise from electric field data measured by the receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Robert Juhasz, Peter Lindqvist
  • Patent number: 9625291
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises: retrieving, without direct observation, one or more activity measures recorded within a particular time period and associated with activities performed by a group of analyzers in a specimen analysis laboratory; transforming the activity measures into a count of activities performed by the group of analyzers within the particular time period; determining whether the count of activities for the group of analyzers is less than a peak value for the group of analyzers; in response to determining that the count of activities for the group of analyzers is less than a peak value: determining a spare capacity value for the group of analyzers for the particular time period as a difference between the peak value and the count of activities for the group of analyzers; causing generating a first display of the spare capacity value for the group of analyzers on a computer display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: VISIUN, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Joseph, Denis Robert Burke
  • Patent number: 9618918
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns estimating the number of people within building-based device networks. Increasingly, local area network (LAN) devices are capable of sensing people (e.g. smart appliances). Features of building layout, and physical arrangement of devices provide that only a subset of sensor data patterns can be accounted for by a single user (e.g. simultaneous activation of a smart TV and a motion sensor). Over time, a central controller (e.g. LAN gateway) can gather these building-specific sensor patterns and learn single occupant characteristics for a network (e.g. features or boundaries of single occupant capability). In one embodiment, the central controller generates a single occupancy criterion (e.g. a building-specific test), comprising single occupant characteristics, operable to test a subset of sensor data for single occupancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: James Thomas O'Keeffe
  • Patent number: 9613413
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining part wear using a mobile device. One such exemplary method includes capturing, using the mobile device, at least one digital image of a wear part of a machine. The method further includes determining, by the mobile device and based on the at least one digital image, a degree of wear of the wear part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D Hasselbusch, Stephen Paul Lu, Erich Owen Mathews, Mark Steven Diekevers, Jonathan Taylor Blocksom, Todd R. Goins
  • Patent number: 9606236
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for processing LiDAR return data prior to analyzing the data to detect planted trees. LiDAR return data for an area in question is filtered to remove data that are not within a predetermined area of where trees have been planted. Planting data such as GPS data that is collected by tractors or other equipment records the location of where trees are planted. The planting data is used to filter the LiDAR return data by eliminating or ignoring LiDAR return data that are not within a buffer zone around the location where the trees have been planted. Once filtered, the LiDAR return data can be analyzed to detect trees or other items of interest in the LiDAR return data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventor: Julio C. Rojas
  • Patent number: 9606962
    Abstract: A method and device for dynamically altering the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database of a set of access points for use in localizing of an object, by obtaining a location profile for the object and obtaining an estimated location of an object by measuring the signal parameter induced by at least one access point and using the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database for deriving an estimated location from the measured signal parameter, and determining whether the obtained estimated location complies with the obtained location profile for the object. If the obtained estimated location does not comply with the location profile, the mapping database is dynamically adjusted to obtain an adjusted signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database based on a difference between the measured signal parameter and the signal parameter corresponding with the signal space for the location expected based on the location profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN
    Inventor: Maarten Weyn
  • Patent number: 9606055
    Abstract: A computer implemented method. The method includes obtaining, using a processor, spectral reflectance data from a coated surface having a target coating theron; and determining, using the processor, whether the data includes any outlier data points. The method also includes removing, using the processor, at least one of the outlier data points to produce final spectral reflectance data; and calculating, using the processor, a characteristic of the target coating based at least in part on the final spectral reflectance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventor: Alison M. Norris
  • Patent number: 9599466
    Abstract: A wall area estimation system generates an estimated wall area measurement of a building based on the received roof measurements (e.g., those generated by, received from or found in a three-dimensional model of the roof) and a reference distance. The reference distance is a measurement indicative of a distance between the roof and a model ground surface placed on an image of the building where the walls of the building meet the ground. This reference distance may be used to determine how for down to extend the walls of the building (e.g., to a ground level) when building a three-dimensional digital model of the building to aid in generating wall area measurements. The resulting wall measurements, roof measurements, measurements of areas missing from the wall used to generate a wall estimate report, or a combined roof and wall estimate report including various different identifiers indicating the different features and measurements based on the three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Eagle View Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Pershing