Patents by Inventor Robert J. Thomas
Robert J. Thomas 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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Publication number: 20220360653Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing a software defined industrial system are described herein. For example, an orchestrated system of distributed nodes may run an application, including modules implemented on the distributed nodes. In response to a node failing, a module may be redeployed to a replacement node. In an example, self-descriptive control applications and software modules are provided in the context of orchestratable distributed systems. The self-descriptive control applications may be executed by an orchestrator or like control device and use a module manifest to generate a control system application. For example, an edge control node of the industrial system may include a system on a chip including a microcontroller (MCU) to convert IO data. The system on a chip includes a central processing unit (CPU) in an initial inactive state, which may be changed to an activated state in response an activation signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Rita H. Wouhaybi, John Vicente, Kirk Smith, Robert Chavez, Mark Yarvis, Steven M. Brown, Jeremy Ouillette, Roderick E. Kronschnabel, Matthew J.` Schneider, Chris D. Lucero, Atul N. Hatalkar, Shara K. Garg, Casey Rathbone, Aaron R. Berck, Xubo Zhang, Ron Kuruvilla Thomas, Mandeep Shetty, Ansuya Negi
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Publication number: 20220360321Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for inband telemetry for a virtual transponder are disclosed. A disclosed method for inband telemetry for a virtual transponder comprises transmitting, by a payload antenna on a vehicle, a payload signal to a hosted receiving antenna. The method further comprises transmitting, by the payload antenna, a hosted telemetry signal to the hosted receiving antenna. In one or more embodiments, the hosted telemetry signal and the payload signal are transmitted on the same frequency band.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Kristina Miller, Eric Anden, Robert J. Winig, Dimitri D. Thomas
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Publication number: 20220296345Abstract: The present disclosure provides a photopolymerizable composition. The photopolymerizable composition includes at least one urethane component, at least one monofunctional reactive diluent, an initiator, and optionally an inhibitor. The present disclosure also provides an article including the reaction product of the photopolymerizable composition. Further, the present disclosure provides a method of making an article. The method includes (i) providing a photopolymerizable composition and (ii) selectively curing the photopolymerizable composition to form an article. The method optionally also includes (iii) curing unpolymerized urethane component and/or reactive diluent remaining after step (ii). Further, methods are provided, including receiving, by a manufacturing device having one or more processors, a digital object comprising data specifying an article; and generating, with the manufacturing device by an additive manufacturing process, the article based on the digital object.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Zeba Parkar, Jonathan E. Janoski, Carla S. Thomas, Robert J. DeVoe, Ahmed S. Abuelyaman, Eric W. Nelson, Richard B. Ross, John M. Riedesel
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Patent number: 11389276Abstract: The present disclosure provides a photopolymerizable composition. The photopolymerizable composition includes at least one urethane component, at least one monofunctional reactive diluent, an initiator, and optionally an inhibitor. The present disclosure also provides an article including the reaction product of the photopolymerizable composition. Further, the present disclosure provides a method of making an article. The method includes (i) providing a photopolymerizable composition and (ii) selectively curing the photopolymerizable composition to form an article. The method optionally also includes (iii) curing unpolymerized urethane component and/or reactive diluent remaining after step (ii). Further, methods are provided, including receiving, by a manufacturing device having one or more processors, a digital object comprising data specifying an article; and generating, with the manufacturing device by an additive manufacturing process, the article based on the digital object.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2018Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties ComanyInventors: Zeba Parkar, Jonathan E. Janoski, Carla S. Thomas, Robert J. DeVoe, Ahmed S. Abuelyaman, Eric W. Nelson, Richard B. Ross, John M. Riedesel
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Patent number: 11394458Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for inband telemetry for a virtual transponder are disclosed. A disclosed method for inband telemetry for a virtual transponder comprises transmitting, by a payload antenna on a vehicle, a payload signal to a hosted receiving antenna. The method further comprises transmitting, by the payload antenna, a hosted telemetry signal to the hosted receiving antenna. In one or more embodiments, the hosted telemetry signal and the payload signal are transmitted on the same frequency band.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Kristina Miller, Eric Anden, Robert J. Winig, Dimitri D. Thomas
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Patent number: 11384700Abstract: Control of a spark ignited internal combustion in response to an exhaust manifold pressure measurement of an engine is disclosed. An engine out NOx amount for at least one cylinder is determined at least in part in response to the exhaust manifold pressure measurement and a brake mean effective pressure of the at least one cylinder. An operating condition of the engine is adjusted in response to the engine out NOx amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Andrew G. Kitchen, Axel Otto zur Loye, Jinghua Zhong, Richard A. Booth, Robert J. Thomas, Jisang Sun
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Patent number: 11168624Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing a target compressor outlet pressure that is based on a desired pressure differential across an intake throttle of an internal combustion engine and an intake manifold pressure by opening or closing a compressor recirculation valve and a turbocharger wastegate to commanded positions based on the target compressor outlet pressure.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Mayura H Halbe, Robert J. Thomas, Ming-Feng Hsieh
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Publication number: 20210259561Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, a system for evaluating a health condition includes a storage containing cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) data and heart rate data for a person for a sleep time period, one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor(s), they cause the system to access the CPC data and the heart rate data from the storage, identify one or more time periods in the sleep time period categorized as high frequency coupling (HFC) state based on the CPC data, evaluate one or more characteristics of a portion of the heart rate data corresponding to the one or more time periods, and evaluate health condition of the person based on the one or more characteristics of the portion of the heart rate data corresponding the one or more time periods categorized as HFC state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Hugi Hilmisson, Robert J. Thomas
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Publication number: 20210079858Abstract: Control of a spark ignited internal combustion in response to an exhaust manifold pressure measurement of an engine is disclosed. An engine out NOx amount for at least one cylinder is determined at least in part in response to the exhaust manifold pressure measurement and a brake mean effective pressure of the at least one cylinder. An operating condition of the engine is adjusted in response to the engine out NOx amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Andrew G. Kitchen, Axel Otto zu Loye, Jinghua Zhong, Richard A. Booth, Robert J. Thomas, Jisang Sun
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Patent number: 10920687Abstract: Control of a spark ignited internal combustion in response to an exhaust manifold pressure measurement of an engine is disclosed. An engine out NOx amount for at least one cylinder is determined at least in part in response to the exhaust manifold pressure measurement and a brake mean effective pressure of the at least one cylinder. An operating condition of the engine is adjusted in response to the engine out NOx amount.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Andrew G. Kitchen, Axel Otto zur Loye, Jinghua Zhong, Richard A. Booth, Robert J. Thomas, Jisang Sun
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Publication number: 20200309049Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing a target compressor outlet pressure that is based on a desired pressure differential across an intake throttle of an internal combustion engine and an intake manifold pressure by opening or closing a compressor recirculation valve and a turbocharger wastegate to commanded positions based on the target compressor outlet pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Mayura H. Halbe, Robert J. Thomas, Ming-Feng Hsieh
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Patent number: 10711723Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fuelling of dual fuel internal combustion engines are disclosed. The control techniques maximize the substitution rate of gaseous fuel for the liquid fuel by determining a target fuelling amount for the liquid fuel and then regulating an actual fuelling amount of the liquid fuel in response to engine speed and power variations and by modulating the flow rate of the gaseous fuel to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Axel Otto zur Loye, Christopher Pollitt, Robert C. Borregard
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Patent number: 10677175Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a system comprising a dual-fuel engine structured to selectably combust a first fuel type and a second fuel type, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the dual-fuel engine. The electronic control system is structured to control a transition of the dual-fuel engine from a dual-fuel mode to a single-fuel mode. After initiating the transition from the dual-fuel mode to the single-fuel mode, the control system stops provision of the second fuel type, requires combustion using control parameters configured for the dual-fuel mode until a transition ventilation condition is satisfied, permits non-emergency commanded engine shutdown only if the transition ventilation condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, David Lambert
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Publication number: 20200116100Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for managing engine output. A method includes receiving at least one of a torque input and an acceleration input; generating a torque request for an engine; receiving the torque request; and determining an amount of the torque request that can be provided by a fast response actuator including a spark timing actuator based on a governed torque fraction value based on existing operating conditions of the spark timing actuator and a torque fraction value indicative of a total torque request value and an anticipated future torque demand value. The method includes managing the spark timing actuator to produce the amount of torque; determining a remaining amount of the torque request that cannot be provided the fast response actuator based on an existing operating condition of the engine; and commanding a slow response actuator to provide the remaining amount of the torque request.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: Cummins IP, Inc.Inventors: David J. Stroh, Zachary Schwab, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Robert J. Thomas, Richard S. Fox, Craig M. Calmer, Rohit Zope
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Patent number: 10524138Abstract: A communications system having a network of nodes that may transmit and receive wireless signals. RF channel quietness may be measured at each node. A channel that is the best for all of the nodes may be selected. However, if all of the nodes except for one node determine that a particular channel is the best and not acceptable to the one node but that another channel is acceptable to all of the nodes, then the entire network may choose to operate on the other channel. The network may choose to operate on more than one channel in a time slotted fashion if a single acceptable channel cannot be found for all of the nodes. Channel quietness measurements may be facilitated by and uploaded to a host controller. The host controller may build a profile of measurements from the nodes for each channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Jeffrey M. Reeder
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Patent number: 10508614Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for managing engine output that includes a machine manager module and a combustion module. In one embodiment, the combustion module includes a slow response pathway and a fast response pathway. The slow response pathway includes managing air and fuel actuators and the fast response pathway includes managing spark timing. According to one embodiment, managing spark timing comprises bringing a spark actuator to the middle of a spark timing range for bi-directional control and involves sacrificing engine efficiency for engine responsiveness. Further, the fast response pathway may be selectively enabled based upon an optimization index.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.Inventors: David J. Stroh, Zachary Schwab, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Robert J. Thomas, Richard S. Fox, Craig M. Calmer, Rohit Zope
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Patent number: 10227934Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for controlling operation of dual fuel engines are disclosed. One embodiment is a method for controlling operation of a dual fuel engine based upon a combustion index value. The combustion index may be empirically determined to provide desired engine operation at a plurality of ratios of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel. The desired engine operation may include a number of criteria including, for examiner an engine knock criterion and/or an exhaust emissions criterion. The combustion index value may be determined during operation of the engine based upon measured, estimated or predicted engine operating parameters. The combustion index value may be utilized to interpolate between a first engine operating map for a first ratio of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel and a second engine operating map for a second ratio of gaseous fuel and liquid fuel.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Axel Otto Zur Loye, Timothy P. Lutz, Christopher Pollitt, Phanindra V. Garimella
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Publication number: 20180135541Abstract: Control of a spark ignited internal combustion in response to an exhaust manifold pressure measurement of an engine is disclosed. An engine out NOx amount for at least one cylinder is determined at least in part in response to the exhaust manifold pressure measurement and a brake mean effective pressure of the at least one cylinder. An operating condition of the engine is adjusted in response to the engine out NOx amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Ming-Feng Hsieh, Andrew G. Kitchen, Axel Otto zu Loye, Jinghua Zhong, Richard A. Booth, Robert J. Thomas, Jisang Sun
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Publication number: 20170339583Abstract: A communications system having a network of nodes that may transmit and receive wireless signals. RF channel quietness may be measured at each node. A channel that is the best for all of the nodes may be selected. However, if all of the nodes except for one node determine that a particular channel is the best and not acceptable to the one node but that another channel is acceptable to all of the nodes, then the entire network may choose to operate on the other channel. The network may choose to operate on more than one channel in a time slotted fashion if a single acceptable channel cannot be found for all of the nodes. Channel quietness measurements may be facilitated by and uploaded to a host controller. The host controller may build a profile of measurements from the nodes for each channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Jeffrey M. Reeder
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Patent number: 9763112Abstract: A communications system having a network of nodes that may transmit and receive wireless signals. RF channel quietness may be measured at each node. A channel that is the best for all of the nodes may be selected. However, if all of the nodes except for one node determine that a particular channel is the best and not acceptable to the one node but that another channel is acceptable to all of the nodes, then the entire network may choose to operate on the other channel. The network may choose to operate on more than one channel in a time slotted fashion if a single acceptable channel cannot be found for all of the nodes. Channel quietness measurements may be facilitated by and uploaded to a host controller. The host controller may build a profile of measurements from the nodes for each channel.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Thomas, Jeffrey M. Reeder