Patents by Inventor Anthony J. Grichnik

Anthony J. Grichnik has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8478506
    Abstract: A method is provided for a virtual sensor system. The method may include obtaining data records associated with a plurality of input parameters and at least one output parameter and adjusting values of the input parameters based on autocorrelation of respective input parameters. The method may also include reconfiguring the input parameters based on cross-correlation of respective input parameters relative to the output parameter and establishing a first virtual sensor process model indicative of interrelationships between the adjusted and reconfigured input parameters and the output parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Evan E. Jacobson, Amit Jayachandran, Michael Seskin
  • Patent number: 8364610
    Abstract: A method is provided for model optimization. The method may include obtaining respective distribution descriptions of a plurality of input parameters to a model indicative of interrelationships between the input parameters and one or more output parameters. The method may also include specifying respective search ranges for the plurality of input parameters and simulating the model to determine a desired set of input parameters based on a zeta statistic of the model. Further, the method may include determining respective desired distributions of the input parameters based on the desired set of input parameters; determining significance levels of the input parameters in interacting with the output parameter based on the simulation and the desired distributions of the input parameters; and presenting the significance levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael Seskin
  • Publication number: 20130000276
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system is provided. The exhaust treatment system may include a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) unit for removing NOX from exhaust; a reducing agent dispensing unit for providing a reducing agent to the SCR unit; a first NOX sensor for indicating a NOX emission level of the exhaust prior to the SCR unit; a second NOX sensor for indicating a NOX emission level of the exhaust after the SCR unit, wherein at least one of the first NOX sensor and the second NOX sensor is a virtual NOX sensor; and a controller configured to electronically communicate with a virtual sensor network comprising a first virtual NOX sensor and a virtual reducing agent quality sensor indicating a quality index of the reducing agent according to the first NOX sensor and the second NOX sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Timothy J. Felty, James R. Mason
  • Patent number: 8260636
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for prioritizing communication of a health risk. The method may include obtaining health information for individuals and determining, based on the health information, a risk of each individual contracting each of plurality of diseases. The method may also include calculating, based on the risks, an average risk of each individual contracting the diseases and selecting a subset of the individuals based on the average risks. Further, the method may include calculating an improved risk by making lifestyle changes for the subset of the individuals and communicating the health risks and the lifestyle changes to individuals in the subset based on the amount of improved risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8224468
    Abstract: A method is used for providing sensing data to a control system of a machine. The method may include providing a plurality of virtual sensors, each of which may have a model type, at least one input parameter, and at least one output parameter. The method may also include integrating the plurality of virtual sensors into a virtual sensor network; determining interdependencies among the plurality of virtual sensors; and obtaining operational information of the plurality of virtual sensors. Further, the method may include recording measurement data and performance information of the virtual sensor network and the plurality of virtual sensors; and generating one or more calibration certificate of the virtual sensor network based on the operational information, the measurement data, and the performance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, James Mason, Tim Felty
  • Patent number: 8209156
    Abstract: A method is provided for designing a product. The method may include obtaining data records relating to one or more input variables and one or more output parameters associated with the product and selecting one or more input parameters from the one or more input variables. The method may also include generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records and providing a set of constraints to the computational model representative of a compliance state for the product. Further the method may include using the computational model and the provided set of constraints to generate statistical distributions for the one or more output parameters. The one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters represent a design for the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael X. Seskin, James R. Mason, Timothy J. Felty
  • Patent number: 8185359
    Abstract: A method for transforming machine sensor data between a time domain and a combustion pulse domain is disclosed. The method may include determining a number of pulse events per rotation of a shaft and determining a sampling rate per pulse event. The method may also include sampling one or more sensors at the sampling rate per pulse event. The method also may include transforming the samples into the combustion pulse domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Timothy J. Felty, James R. Mason, Amit Jayachandran, Mary Lou Kesse, Christopher L. Wynkoop
  • Patent number: 8073652
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for pre-processing data. The method may include detecting one or more erroneous vectors in a plurality of vectors, detecting one or more erroneous elements in the one or more erroneous vectors, and deleting the detected one or more erroneous elements. The method may also include detecting one or more missing elements in the plurality of vectors. Further, the method may include populating one or more offending vectors that include one or more missing elements and/or deleted erroneous elements with one or more elements that are based on a distance metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Timothy J. Felty, James R. Mason
  • Patent number: 8036764
    Abstract: A method is used for providing sensing data to a control system of a machine. The method may include providing a plurality of virtual sensors, each of which may have a model type, at least one input parameter, and at least one output parameter. The method may also include integrating the plurality of virtual sensors into a virtual sensor network; determining interdependencies among the plurality of virtual sensors; and obtaining operational information of the plurality of virtual sensors. Further, the method may include determining a first condition under which the virtual sensor network is unfit to provide one or more virtual sensor output parameter to the control system based on the determined interdependencies and the operational information; and presenting the determined first condition to the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, James Mason, Tim Felty
  • Patent number: 8015134
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for determining a corrective action. The method may include obtaining diagnostic data and calculating, using the diagnostic data, a prognostic. The method may also include retrieving, when the prognostic is above an alarm level, historical records and calculating a Bayesian posterior probability using the diagnostic data and the historical records. Further, the method may include calculating a prognostic prescience metric using the diagnostic data and the historical records and determining, based on the Bayesian posterior probability, the prognostic prescience metric, and an economic calculation, the corrective action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael Seskin, Brian Lee Boggs
  • Publication number: 20110153035
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting sensor failure and controlling a machine. The system includes a plurality of physical sensors, an electronic control module operably connected to the plurality of physical sensors, and a data storage unit operably connected to the electronic control module. The electronic control module is configured to retrieve calibration data associated with a plurality of input parameters, obtain a set of values of the plurality of input parameters, calculate a Mahalanobis distance of the set of values of the input parameters based on the calibration data, increment an evidence score of an input parameter if the Mahalanobis distance exceeds a threshold Mahalanobis distance value; and command a machine action when the evidence score of an input parameter exceeds an threshold evidence score value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Timothy J. Felty, Tyler J. Tippett, James R. Mason, Brandon P. Zobrist
  • Patent number: 7928393
    Abstract: A method of correlating thermal sensors data with temperature sensor data is disclosed. The method may include generating one or more temperature sensor data points and receiving the one or more temperature sensor data points at a remote location. The method may also include generating one or more thermal sensor data points or images and receiving the one or more thermal sensor data points or images at the remote location. Additionally, the method may include correlating the one or more thermal sensor data points or images based on the one or more temperature sensor data points and generating a notification when a temperature of one or more correlated thermal sensor data points or images fails to maintain a determined relationship with a preset limit in one or more locations other than the location of one or more temperature sensor data point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Brady, Michael Seskin, Anthony J. Grichnik
  • Patent number: 7917333
    Abstract: A method for providing a virtual sensor network based system. The method may include obtaining project data descriptive of a virtual sensor network to be used in a control system of a machine; establishing a virtual sensor network including a plurality of virtual sensors based on the project data. Each virtual sensor may have a model type, at least one input parameter, and at least one output parameter. The method may also include recording model information, measurement data, and performance information of the virtual sensor network including the plurality of virtual sensors; creating one or more calibration certificates of the virtual sensor network including a plurality of virtual sensors based on the model information, the measurement data, and the performance information; and generating a documentation package associated with the virtual sensor network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Mary L. Kesse, Amit Jayachandran, James Mason, Tim Felty, Christopher L. Wynkoop
  • Patent number: 7877239
    Abstract: A method is provided for designing a product. The method may include obtaining data records relating to one or more input variables and one or more output parameters associated with the product and selecting one or more input parameters from the one or more input variables. The method may also include generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records and providing a set of constraints to the computational model representative of a compliance state for the product. Further the method may include using the computational model and the provided set of constraints to generate statistical distributions for the one or more input parameters based on a symmetric random scatter process and the one or more output parameters. The one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters represent a design for the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael Seskin
  • Patent number: 7831416
    Abstract: A method is provided for designing a product. The method may include obtaining data records relating to one or more input variables and one or more output parameters associated with the product; and pre-processing the data records based on characteristics of the input variables. The method may also include selecting one or more input parameters from the one or more input variables; and generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records. Further, the method may include providing a set of constraints to the computational model representative of a compliance state for the product; and using the computational model and the provided set of constraints to generate statistical distributions for the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters, wherein the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters represent a design for the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael Seskin, Amit Jayachandran
  • Publication number: 20100250202
    Abstract: A method is provided for designing a product. The method may include obtaining data records relating to one or more input variables and one or more output parameters associated with the product and selecting one or more input parameters from the one or more input variables. The method may also include generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records and providing a set of constraints to the computational model representative of a compliance state for the product. Further the method may include using the computational model and the provided set of constraints to generate statistical distributions for the one or more input parameters based on a symmetric random scatter process and the one or more output parameters. The one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters represent a design for the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael Seskin
  • Patent number: 7805421
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for applying a dimensionality reduction process to a data set. The method includes obtaining a data set including a first set of variables and identifying collections of the first set of variables for replacement by a second set of variables. The method also includes replacing the collections of the first set of variables with the second set of variables and eliminating the first set of variables from the data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Michael Lee Taylor, Christos Nikolopoulos, James Robert Mason, Meredith Jaye Cler, Gabriel Carl Hart
  • Patent number: 7792662
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatic hose and harness routing. The method may include obtaining a solid model of a structural design of a structure assembly and deriving a mathematical representation of the solid model. The method may also include selecting at least a pair of connection points, including a start point and an end point and determining a desired path between the start point and the end point. Further, the method may include performing a validity check on the desired path to decide whether the desired path is valid and presenting the desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Tatiana Kalganova
  • Patent number: 7788070
    Abstract: A method is provided for developing a product. The method includes obtaining data records from a plurality of stages of development of the product; identifying respective objectives of the plurality of stages and corresponding objective factors of the objectives; and determining common variables associated with the objectives based on the objective factors. The method includes selecting one or more input parameters based on the common variables and one or more output parameters based on the objectives; and updating the data records to generate desired data records indicative characteristics of the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters. The method includes generating a computational model indicative of interrelationships between the one or more input parameters and the one or more output parameters based on the data records; and providing a set of constraints to the computational model representative of a design of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Andrea Brazzale-Anderson, Amar Patel, Michael Seskin, Stephan D. Roozenboom, David M. Milam
  • Patent number: 7787969
    Abstract: A method is provide for providing sensors for a machine. The method may include obtaining data records including data from a plurality of sensors for the machine and determining a virtual sensor corresponding to one of the plurality of sensors. The method may also include establishing a virtual sensor process model of the virtual sensor indicative of interrelationships between at least one sensing parameters and a plurality of measured parameters based on the data records and obtaining a set of values corresponding to the plurality of measured parameters. Further, the method may include calculating the values of the at least one sensing parameters substantially simultaneously based upon the set of values corresponding to the plurality of measured parameters and the virtual sensor process model and providing the values of the at least one sensing parameters to a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Anthony J. Grichnik, Amit Jayachandran, Mary L. Kesse, Michael Seskin