Patents by Inventor Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
Clyde Miin-Arng Ko 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).
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Patent number: 7613542Abstract: A material handling system and method of automatic address assignment of components of the material handling system, includes a conveying surface divided into a plurality of zones, a plurality of motors propelling each zone, a plurality of lower level controllers and a plurality of sensors adapted to communicate the presence of an article on the conveying surface to the associated lower level controller. An upper-level controller in communication with the lower level controllers assigns a unique communications address to a specific lower level controller identified by a reference article being detected by the sensor with that lower level controller.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.Inventors: Clyde Miin-Arng Ko, Randall J. Carlson, Roger L. Sinen
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Patent number: 7568572Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Dematic Corp.Inventors: David W Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 7360638Abstract: A material handling system, and method of controlling the material handling system, includes a conveying surface with a plurality of individually controlled zones and a plurality of motors. At least one of the motors propelling the conveying surface at each zone. A plurality of motor controller circuits adapted to control the plurality of motors. An upper-level control circuit in communication with the plurality of motor controller circuits and adapted to send communications to the motor controller circuits for controlling at least one motor. An integrated control card defining the upper-level control circuit and the plurality of motor controller circuits, wherein the upper-level control circuit and the plurality of motor controller circuits are integrated onto the integrated control card.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.Inventors: Clyde Miin-Arng Ko, Randall J Carlson, Roger L Sinen, Thomas H Triesenberg, Donald E Lemke
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Patent number: 7284652Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2005Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 7086519Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2005Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Dematic Corp.Inventors: Frank W Veit, David W Zeitler, Rhonda J Verploegen, Andrew R Black, Charles W Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 6951274Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: October 4, 2005Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Publication number: 20050167240Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2005Publication date: August 4, 2005Inventors: Frank Veit, David Zeitler, Rhonda Verploegen, Andrew Black, Charles Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 6866136Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2004Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: Frank W. Veit, David W. Zeitler, Rhonda J. Verploegen, Andrew R. Black, Charles W. Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 6814216Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: Frank W. Veit, David W. Zeitler, Rhonda J. Verploegen, Andrew R. Black, Charles W. Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Publication number: 20040159526Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2004Publication date: August 19, 2004Applicant: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: Frank W. Veit, David W. Zeitler, Rhonda J. Verploegen, Andrew R. Black, Charles W. Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Publication number: 20020185358Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Publication number: 20020096417Abstract: A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Frank W. Veit, David W. Zeitler, Rhonda J. Verploegen, Andrew R. Black, Charles W. Bozarth, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko
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Patent number: 6345217Abstract: An automated guided vehicle system and method includes providing at least one automated-guided vehicle (AGV) and a pathway for the AGV. A sensor assembly on the AGV senses magnet assemblies on the pathway as the AGV is transported over that magnet assembly. A navigation and guidance system determines the location of the maximum magnitude of the magnetic field by mathematically fitting a curve to the magnitude of portions of the magnetic field sensed by said magnetic sensors and determines a maximum value of the curve. At least some of the said magnet assemblies each produce a bipolar magnetic field extending generally transverse to the pathway and the sensor assembly produces an output indicative of magnitude and polarity of respective portions of the bipolar magnetic field. The navigation and guidance system determines a location of maximum magnitude of the opposite polarities of the bipolar magnetic field and a correction factor.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2000Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.Inventors: David W. Zeitler, Andrew R. Black, Clyde Miin-Arng Ko