Patents Issued in February 19, 2008
  • Patent number: 7333878
    Abstract: A method of combining mail streams in a printing finishing process including the acts of generating a master mailing list having a sequence, forming a first mail stream, forming a second mail stream, and combining the first mail stream and the second mail stream according to the sequence of the master mailing list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres
  • Patent number: 7333879
    Abstract: An offline programming device capable of automatically generating a measuring program by which the time and the workload for making an offline program may be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takizawa, Yoshiharu Nagatsuka, Hirohiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7333880
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling distributed energy resources is provided. Notification of an upcoming regional power distribution event is received and a distributed energy resource affected by the upcoming event is determined or identified. A first notification message is sent to an affected distributed energy resource asset owner or other administrator to notify the distributed energy resource asset of the event. An event data process is initiated to monitor and collect data associated with the event and an event control process is initiated to control one or more affected distributed energy resource asset during the event. The event control process and the event data process are terminated at the end of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: EnerNOC, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Brewster, Timothy G. Healy
  • Patent number: 7333881
    Abstract: In a device for displaying maintenance procedures for motor vehicles with a display that has surface sections separate from one another on which information on the type of procedure and information on the due date of the procedure is displayed for each maintenance procedure, the information on the procedure is formed as a time line diagram. The due date is represented as a marking on the particular time line at a distance from a reference point common to the maintenance procedures corresponding to the length of time to the due date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas Binderberger
  • Patent number: 7333882
    Abstract: In a suspension control system a sky-hook command signal (B) obtained from velocity data obtained by integrating a sprung mass acceleration (?u) from a sprung mass acceleration sensor (9u) and an unsprung mass vibration damping command signal (C) obtained on the basis of an unsprung mass acceleration (?d) detected by an unsprung mass acceleration sensor (9d) are added together to obtain a control signal (A) for a damping characteristic inverting type shock absorber (6). The control signal (A) reflects the unsprung mass acceleration (?d) that leads in phase by 90° the piston speed. Accordingly, it is possible to compensate for a response delay due to an actuator (11), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Uchino, Nobuyuki Ichimaru, Masaaki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7333883
    Abstract: A logic for detecting vehicle rollover includes a first main activation path activated by vehicle lateral acceleration and a second main activation path activated by vehicle vertical acceleration. The logic also includes a first additional activation path activated by vehicle roll angle, a second additional activation path activated by vehicle roll rate, and a third additional activation path activated by vehicle longitudinal acceleration. Activation of each path results from the sensor specific for that path when the output exceeds a threshold value. Logic activation occurs when at least one main activation path and at least one additional activation path are activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mariusz Geborek, Abtin Darvish, Jens Haun
  • Patent number: 7333884
    Abstract: A rollover detection system for a vehicle comprises at least one sensor for the detection of the angle of rotation of the vehicle and/or at least one angular rate sensor, an electronic control device connected to the sensors as well as at least one safety device which can be activated via the control device in the event of a rollover scenario detected with reference to the sensor data. At least one irreversible safety device and at least one reversible safety device are provided. The control device distinguishes between at least one stage of a lower degree of severity and at least one stage of a higher degree of severity of the rollover scenario in the detection of a respective rollover scenario with reference to the sensor data in order to activate at least one reversible safety device in the case of a lower degree of severity and to activate at least one irreversible safety device in the case of a higher degree of severity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtin Darvish, Markus Falkner, Jens Haun
  • Patent number: 7333885
    Abstract: There is provided an engine control unit to ensure operational performance and safety performance of a vehicle by carrying out switchover of combustion according to an operating condition of a vehicle (automobile). A vehicle peripheral condition such as vehicular gap, etc., a traveling geographical state, a condition that ensures vehicle stability, etc. are acquired, and switchover of combustion, for example, switchover between compression ignition combustion and spark ignition combustion is effected correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromu Kakuya, Shiro Yamaoka, Atsushi Shimada, Shinya Satou, Kunihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7333886
    Abstract: In a method for estimating an injected quantity of fuel of an isolated injection, the segment time of the cylinder in which the isolated injection takes place is evaluated numerically by forming the second temporal derivation. With the aid of the second temporal derivation of the segment time the injection parameters are updated using test quantity-test torque characteristic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Böhnig, Michael Hardt, Peter Ruβe
  • Patent number: 7333887
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for an aviation system to manage the temporal assignment of airport gates for use by a plurality of aircratf includes the steps of: (a) collecting and storing data, (b) processing the data to predict the trajectories of the aircraft, (c) processing the data to predict the loads imposed on the ground resources and gates (d) processing the data, trajectories and loads to identify the various possible ways to distribute the ground system resources and assign the gates so as to meet the time constraints of the predicted trajectories and loads, and (e) assigning to each of the plurality of aircraft a gate for use for a prescribed period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Inventors: R. Michael Baiada, Lonnie H. Bowlin
  • Patent number: 7333888
    Abstract: A vehicle navigation system transmits navigation information to a vehicle display in form of video data in a standard video format. The video data may be displayed as a still or a moving image. The vehicle navigation system includes a decoder for decoding and displaying video data and a display that may be interfaced to a vehicle entertainment system. The video data may include map data, user information, directional instructions, video information (still or moving images) or information relating to a destination or point of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Schoepp
  • Patent number: 7333889
    Abstract: A car navigation system changes from a normal guidance mode to a simplifying guidance mode when determining that part or all of sections in a guidance route is familiar or specific to an occupant. The simplifying guidance mode provides no audio guidance or simplified audio guidance with respect to route-related information compared to the normal guidance mode, while traffic-related information is provided using the same audio guidance as in the normal guidance mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Hashizume
  • Patent number: 7333890
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Chinese lunar calendar-based tidal prediction system and method that generate tidal predictions using empirical prediction models, wherein the empirical prediction models are generated using Genetic Algorithms-based regression analysis for a given set of observed tidal data collected at a water level station during a period of one year which is referred as reference year. In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tidal prediction system comprising an electronic device having a memory capacity as a storage medium for storing input, intermediate, and output information, and a processing capacity for executing embedded programs; a regression model creator program; and a tidal height predictor program; wherein both of programs are implemented in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Nanyang Polytechnic
    Inventor: Chunbao Zhu
  • Patent number: 7333891
    Abstract: Measurements are made with a multicomponent logging tool in an earth formation. The measurements are inverted without using a selected cross-component measurement. The model is then used to predict the value of the selected cross-component. A misalignment angle of the tool is estimated from the predicted and actual values of the selected cross-component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael B. Rabinovich, Leonty A. Tabarovsky, Bill H. Corley, Luis M. Pelegri
  • Patent number: 7333892
    Abstract: A method with application for evaluation or production of a reservoir for determining multiphase flow parameters of a porous medium such as a rock, from the interpretation of displacement experiments. From an injection experiment on a rock sample, the saturation profiles are measured in different sections of the sample. The experimental data are then subjected to a preliminary interpretation by means of a numerical simulation code allowing production of simulated pressure profiles. These profiles are then combined with the measured saturation profiles so as to evaluate the local properties of the sample in terms of capillary pressure. These properties are then re-injected into the simulator as input data so as to finely interpret the flow parameters while respecting the evolutions of the differential pressure, of the displaced fluid production and of the saturation profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Patrick Egermann, Roland Lenormand
  • Patent number: 7333893
    Abstract: Method for removing effects of shallow resistivity structures in electromagnetic survey data to produce a low frequency resistivity anomaly map, or alternatively imaging resistivity structures at their correct depth levels. The method involves solving Maxwell's electromagnetic field equations by either forward modeling or inversion, and requires at least two survey data sets, one taken at the source frequency selected to penetrate to a target depth, the other a higher frequency able to penetrate only shallow depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Olivier M. Burtz, James J. Carazzone, Dmitriy A. Pavlov
  • Patent number: 7333894
    Abstract: The disclosed invention pertains to methods for diagnosing clinical conditions that are common in hemodialysis patients and that may be related to abnormal carnitine metabolism resulting from hemodialysis. Further, the present invention pertains to methods for monitoring and improving the administration of therapeutic intravenous levocarnitine to such patients. Clinical algorithms have been developed for the clinical symptoms seen in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients that may be related to carnitine deficiency. Monitoring tools to assist healthcare professionals in implementing the clinical algorithms are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Schreiber, Vyonne T. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7333895
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of quality assurance/quality control for high-throughput bioassay processes. The method permits monitoring of an entire system for obtaining spectral data from biological samples. Generally, the method includes generating a bioassay process model, comparing a test sample against the bioassay process model. The bioassay process model may be based on the position of a centroid in n-dimensional space. The comparing may include comparing the location of a centroid associated with the test model against the centroid associated with the control model to determine the distance between the two centroids. By generating a trend plot of the distance between the centroid associated with the test sample and the centroid associated with the control model, overall system performance may be monitored over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Correlogic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben A. Hitt, Peter J. Levine, Timothy A. Coleman
  • Patent number: 7333896
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of quality assurance/quality control for high-throughput bioassay processes. The method includes generating a bioassay process model, and then comparing spectral data based on a combination of a biochip and a test serum to the bioassay process model to determine if the test sample and the bioassay process are producing acceptable data. Alternatively, the method may include comparing spectral data based on a combination of serum and diluents used in an electrospray process to the bioassay process model. If the bioassay process and test sample fall within the model, then the spectrum produced may be further analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignees: Correlogic Systems, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Ben A. Hitt, Peter J. Levine, Emanuel F. Petricoin, III
  • Patent number: 7333897
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a most likely material composition of an object. At least one respective stored radiation polarization transformation is stored for at least one material composition at a plurality of wavelengths. A transmitted electromagnetic signal with at least one wavelength within the plurality of wavelengths and that has a predetermined transmitted polarization profile is transmitted. The transmitted signal encounters an object and is received as at least one received signal. Processing determines a respective received polarization for each of the at least one wavelength of the received signal, determines a respective calculated polarization transformation between the transmitted polarization profile and the received polarization of the respective wavelength, for each of the at least one wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Glafkos Stratis, Eric T. Eaton, Salvador Sibecas
  • Patent number: 7333898
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing and monitoring a structure are provided. The system includes at least one non-destructive inspection sensor carried by the structure and configured for acquiring data in response to ambient events associated with the structure. The system also includes a data acquisition system configured to communicate with the non-destructive inspection sensor and provide information indicative of a defect in the structure based on the data acquired by the non-destructive inspection sensor in response to the ambient events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Griess, Gary E. Georgeson
  • Patent number: 7333899
    Abstract: A thermo-anemometer-type fluid flow rate sensor design and a method for its operation that overcome the response time limitations of prior known fluid flow rate sensors is disclosed. The fluid flow rate sensor includes a probe having a detection module adapted to change condition in response to the presence of the flow of the fluid, a control module that is electrically connected to the probe that monitors the condition of the detection module over time (e.g., a temperature), determines a rate of change of that condition over time, and generates an output that is indicative of the rate of flow of the fluid, and a I/O module connected to the control module to provide a means for communicating the output of the control module to another device or a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernd D. Zimmermann, Tung-Sheng Yang, Lance A. Bostic
  • Patent number: 7333900
    Abstract: Described is a method for automatically initiating an update of a parasitic echo storage device in a fill level meter operating according to a runtime method. In this method individual echoes of echo curves of different ages are allocated, according to their typical echo characteristics, to global echo groups so that subsequently, after examining the behaviour over time of the echoes of the respective global echo curves, it can be judged whether the echoes of the respective global echo curves are useful echoes or parasitic echoes. Starting from this classification, the parasitic echo storage device is then updated with the oldest echoes of the corresponding global echo groups. Apart from the method for updating a parasitic echo storage device described is also an evaluation device for implementing the method as well as to a computer program and a computer program product for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Roland Welle, Karl Griessbaum, Josef Fehrenbach, Thomas Deck, Martin Gaiser
  • Patent number: 7333901
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a small, low-cost, convenient transmitter system. The transmitter system detects physical quantities, converts the physical quantities into electrical signals, and allows the electrical signals to be transmitted to a load through a transmission line, comprising a main output circuit to be connected to a main instrumentation power supply and at least one subordinate output circuit to be connected to a subordinate instrumentation power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Nikkuni
  • Patent number: 7333902
    Abstract: A system for determining an operating limit of at least one battery according to some embodiments of the present invention comprises a voltage module that measures a voltage V across at least one battery during first and second periods. A current sensor that measures current I supplied by the at least one battery during the first and second periods. A limit module estimates an ohmic resistance R0 based on at least one of a temperature of the at least one battery and a time difference between the first and second periods, and that estimates a sum of a polarization voltage VP and an open circuit voltage V0 of the at least one battery at the second period based on the voltage V and current I of the at least one battery at the first period and an ohmic resistance R0 of the at least one battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Cobasys, LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Melichar
  • Patent number: 7333903
    Abstract: A network operation center for a light management system having networked intelligent luminaire managers. A plurality of networked luminaire managers, each collocated with a respective luminaire, monitor the status of their respective luminaires. The luminaire managers include transmitters for transmitting status information about their respective luminaires and third-party devices to a network server. The network server forwards the received status information from the networked luminaire managers to a computer of an owner/operator of the plurality of luminaires and/or a third-party user. The luminaire managers communicate with each other, whereby they form a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Acuity Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff D. Walters, Charles J. Darnell, Zachary S. Gibler, David A. Henderson, Michael M. Minarczyk, William Eric Holland
  • Patent number: 7333904
    Abstract: A processor is responsive to a thermistor temperature (Tth) adjacent a FET and to a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) of the FET. The processor stores the characteristics of the PET and a thermal model of the system hardware and uses a first set of equations to determine the temperature (TJ) at the junction of the PET in a stable region of operation where TJ?Tth is nearly constant. The processor is further responsive to a step change in successive measurements of VDS indicative of a lag of Tth relative to TJ. In this step-change region, the processor then resolves TJ based upon a second set of equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Turner, Mohammad Zakaria
  • Patent number: 7333905
    Abstract: The disclosed methodology and apparatus measures the duty cycle of a clock signal. A variable duty cycle circuit receives a clock signal from a clock signal generator. The variable duty cycle circuit adjusts the duty cycle of the clock signal by an amount dependent on a duty cycle index value that it receives. The variable duty cycle circuit supplies a duty-cycle adjusted clock signal to a divider circuit. The apparatus sweeps the frequency of the clock signal from a starting value up to a maximum frequency above which the divider circuit fails. The apparatus then determines the duty cycle of the duty-cycle adjusted clock signal from the maximum frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David William Boerstler, Eskinder Hailu, Jieming Qi
  • Patent number: 7333906
    Abstract: A device and technique for monitoring the quality of a manufacturing process, a resulting part or both includes determining a cumulative deviation of an actual process signature from an expected signature. A disclosed example includes determining a quantitative value of a difference between the signatures at each of a plurality of corresponding segments of the signatures. A cumulative deviation based upon deviations of the corresponding segments provides an indication of quality. A disclosed example includes determining a negative cumulative deviation, a positive cumulative deviation and a total cumulative deviation, each of which may be used independently for analysis purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: OES, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Reeve, Jean-Paule Mongeau Grice
  • Patent number: 7333907
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media for characterizing a chemical array. At least one metric indicative of accuracy of location of features on the chemical array by a feature extraction process used to extract signals from features of the chemical array may be generated, as well as additional metrics adapted to identify errors caused by a particular process used in generating the signals on the array. A quality control report may be generated to contain at least one metric indicative of accuracy of location and said at least one additional metric. Customized quality control reports may be generated by providing for user selection of at least one metric adapted to identify errors caused by a particular process used in generating signals on a chemical array, from plurality of metrics, and including such selections in the quality control report generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenda C. Delenstarr, Jayati Ghosh, John F. Corson
  • Patent number: 7333908
    Abstract: A system and methods for calibrating a memory device are provided. More specifically, a technique for internally generating a test pattern within a memory device and driving the test pattern to a memory controller for synchronization and calibration is provided. An internal test pattern may be generated along the write bus within a memory device, employing elements already present for high speed memory devices. The test data may be looped back from the write bus to the read bus and transmitted to the memory controller for calibration. The loop back function may be implemented without accessing the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 7333909
    Abstract: A method of verifying a circuit implementing a data transfer protocol is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises steps of providing a block under test that implements a variable latency data transfer protocol; coupling a verification circuit to the block under test; enabling variable latency data transfers to the block under test; and verifying that the block under test is implementing the variable latency data transfer protocol. The method could be implemented to verify the operation of a memory controller of an FPGA, for example. According to another embodiment, a method enabling a multi-stage verification is disclosed. Finally, specific implementations of a verification circuit coupled to an on-chip memory controller of an FPGA are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehul R. Vashi, Alex Scott Warshofsky
  • Patent number: 7333910
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fire sensing system comprising a step of recording positional data of a wireless chip in a memory included in the wireless chip, a step of obtaining temperature data from a temperature sensor included in the wireless chip to be recorded in the memory, a step of taking out the positional data and the temperature data from the memory, and a step of judging whether a fire occurs or not based on an individual identification number, the positional data, and the temperature data of the wireless chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Ishii
  • Patent number: 7333911
    Abstract: In a method for operating a positional measurement device and a corresponding positional measurement device, the device includes a signal generation unit configured to generate positional data and is connected to sequential or follower electronics by a communication unit. Data is transmitted between the signal generation unit and the communication unit via an internal interface unit, whereas measurement-data request instructions, which are transmitted by the sequential or follower electronics to the positional measurement device, are transmitted to the signal generation unit by bypassing the internal interface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Hofbauer, Erich Strasser
  • Patent number: 7333912
    Abstract: An extension unit provided adjacent to an amp unit comprises a measurement data accumulation memory, a measurement data acquiring part for acquiring measurement data coming through a transmission line and accumulating it in the above memory, a data analyzing part for analyzing an accumulated series of measurement data according to predetermined algorithm, a determining part for determining a data analyzed result, and an output part for outputting a control signal corresponding to a determined result to the outside. A plurality of process programs in which measurement algorithm is segmentalized are incorporated in the extension unit and a process program is selected according to a command from a personal computer and the selected process program is performed in a predetermined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Iida, Yuichi Inoue, Nobuharu Ishikawa, Toru Hosoda
  • Patent number: 7333913
    Abstract: A clearance measurement system is provided. The clearance measurement system includes a reference geometry disposed on a first object having an otherwise continuous surface geometry and a sensor disposed on a second object, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a first signal representative of a first sensed parameter from the first object and a second signal representative of a second sensed parameter from the reference geometry. The clearance measurement system also includes a processing unit configured to process the first and second signals to estimate a clearance between the first and second objects based upon a measurement difference between the first and second sensed parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Mahadevan Balasubramaniam, Todd Alan Anderson, Samhita Dasgupta, David Mulford Shaddock, Shobhana Mani, Jie Jiang
  • Patent number: 7333914
    Abstract: A two-way motion sensor meter for measuring arm exercise. The meter is mounted on a wrist band adapted to be affixed to a user's wrist. The meter includes numeric display means driven by an electronic or mechanical system. The electronic or mechanical system includes first and second pendulums. The first pendulum is adapted to swing about an axis in a plane substantially parallel to a user's body. The second pendulum is adapted to swing about an axis in a plane substantially perpendicular to a user's body. Each pendulum is adapted to send a signal to the numeric display means each time it is caused to swing by movement of the user's arm upwardly and/or downwardly during exercise. The numeric display means is adapted to add each signal to provide a display of the total number of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Inventor: Janette L. Iachini
  • Patent number: 7333915
    Abstract: A signal conditioning arrangement includes a sensor arrangement for sensing a measured quantity and for outputting an output signal having a first or a second logical signal state based on the measured quantity, and means for generating an evaluating impulse if the logical signal state of the output signal does not change for a maximum predetermined time duration, and which are further formed to allocate a first or a second pulse signal state, which differs from the signal state of the output signal which the output signal has during the predefined time duration, to the evaluating impulse. Furthermore, the signal conditioning arrangement includes means for combining the output signal and the evaluating impulse, with means for providing being formed to provide a conditioned output signal, the conditioned output signal having, when an evaluating impulse is present, the impulse signal state thereof and otherwise having the logical signal state of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Mario Motz
  • Patent number: 7333916
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for monitoring the performance of a solar powered electrical supply where the supply comprises an array of photovoltaic cells that are mounted on a building. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises: a device for producing a signal representative of solar irradiance; circuitry for computing a running performance signal by using at least the irradiance signal and a measure of the electrical power supplied to the load from the array; a radio for broadcasting the performance signal; and a portable unit for receiving the performance signal from the radio and for visually displaying the performance signal, power production, and electrical utility usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Donald B. Warfield, Paul Garvison
  • Patent number: 7333917
    Abstract: Sensors are configured to repeatedly monitor variables of a physical system during its operation. A novelty detection system is responsive to the sensors and is configured to repeatedly observe into an associative memory, states of associations among the variables that are repeatedly monitored, during a learning phase. The novelty detection system is further configured to thereafter observe at least one state of associations among the variables that are sensed relative to the states of associations that are in the associative memory, to identify a novel state of associations among the variables. The novelty detection system may determine whether the novel state is indicative of normal operation or of a potential abnormal operation. Multiple layers of learning for real-time diagnostics/prognostics also may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignees: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Saffron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel P. Greis, Jack G. Olin, Manuel Aparicio, IV
  • Patent number: 7333918
    Abstract: A system and method for utilizing reliability data from a plant to dynamically calculate an expended life for a selected part. A system is provided that includes a central database for storing service data for different parts of a unit within the plant, wherein the service data includes installation data and a service history of the different parts; a data collection engine for dynamically collecting operational data from the plant in a near real-time manner, wherein the operational data is collected, processed and stored independently from the central database; and a lifetime calculation engine for implementing a lifetime calculation equation for the selected part, wherein the lifetime calculation equation utilizes the service data and the operational data to determine the expended life of the selected part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Strategic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garth Burrill, Thomas Christiansen, Salvatore A. DellaVilla, Jr., Kevin Dunn, Robert Steele, Jr., David Turpin
  • Patent number: 7333919
    Abstract: A method for detecting perturbation of a physical system from a reference state associated with a reference parameter (?0) to a perturbed state associated with a perturbed parameter (?) includes firstly deriving the reference parameter (?0). A reference vector (F) is then derived which describes the system's state at the reference parameter (?0). A measurement-related vector (Z) associated with a perturbed state of the system is then subtracted from the reference vector (F) to provide an error vector (E). The error vector members are summed and normalised by division of a summation of elements of a vector (F?) representing a derivative (f(?0??)e) of a reference itself represented by the reference vector (F), the derivative (f(?0??)e) being evaluated at the reference parameter (?0). This provides a result equal to the difference (??(?0) between the perturbed parameter (?) and the reference parameter (?0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Stephen David Hayward, Timothy Ingram Cox, Marie Harper Anderson
  • Patent number: 7333920
    Abstract: There is here disclosed a method and apparatus for detecting the occurrence of arcing of a conductor by monitoring the current on an AC power line. The signal detected is split and directed along four separate paths to generate four signals having separate characteristics which represent the current in the line. A first path is for a signal representative of the current flowing in the line. A second path is for a signal having a pulse for each occurrence of a positive step change in current that is significant and has a di/dt value above a predetermined value. A third path is for a signal having a pulse for each occurrence of a negative step change in current that is significant and has a di/dt value above a predetermined value. A fourth path is for a signal having a voltage level representative of the broadband noise signal on the line. Using at least one of five different methods in combination with one of three input signals, a reference signal designated as “SINE” is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David Kolker, Roger M. Bradley, Ross Mernyk
  • Patent number: 7333921
    Abstract: A sensor system and method for collecting and analyzing sensor data transmitted by various distributed sensors in a secure, scalable, and efficient manner. Sensors having sensor data to transmit establish concurrent connections with a central server that is configured to collect the sensor data. For each connection, the server generates a single writer thread dedicated to the connection. Each single writer thread accesses the server's underlying file system and writes the sensor data into a sensor file dedicated to the sensor. Each sensor file is written by a single writer thread, but may be concurrently read by multiple reader threads. Analysis threads may also concurrently access the sensor files to perform complex analyses of the stored sensor data. The analysis results are written to dedicated analysis files. The analysis threads act as single writer threads in writing to the analysis files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen Taylor, Peter Haaland
  • Patent number: 7333922
    Abstract: A method of monitoring machine operation includes sensing an operating characteristic of a plurality of machines and calculating a performance metric. The performance metric is indicative of the operating characteristic of at least a portion of the plurality of machines. The method also includes storing the performance metric and comparing the performance metric to at least one other stored performance metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Kimball Cannon
  • Patent number: 7333923
    Abstract: Degree of outlier of one input data is calculated by an amount of change in a learned probability density from that before learning as a result of taking in of the input data. This is because data largely differing in a tendency from a so far learned probability density function can be considered to have a high degree of outlier. More specifically, a function of a distance between probability densities before and after data input is calculated as a degree of outlier. Accordingly, a probability density estimation device appropriately estimates a probability distribution of generation of unfair data while sequentially reading a large volume of data and a score calculation device calculates and outputs a degree of outlier of each data based on the estimated probability distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Yamanishi, Jun-ichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7333924
    Abstract: A method for device level simulation of a circuit modeled by a set of CCR graphs, a computer system programmed to perform such a method, and a computer readable medium which stores code for implementing such a method. Typically, the circuit includes MOS transistors having unknown gate potentials, each CCR graph includes a top rail, and a bottom rail, and variable nodes, each of the transistors having unknown gate potential is modeled in the CCR graphs as a selectable resistor having a selected one of a first resistance and a much larger second resistance, and the method includes the steps of determining potentials at variable nodes of one of the CCR graphs with each selectable resistor of the graph having its first resistance (and also with each selectable resistor of the graph having its second resistance) without determining effective resistances between the variable nodes of the graph and the top rail or bottom rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tathagato Rai Dastidar, Partha Ray
  • Patent number: 7333925
    Abstract: A complex Fourier transform is performed on measured values of wall thickness at points in a cross section of a pipe in an axial direction, types of thickness deviation are classified, thickness deviation amount is calculated from the absolute value of the complex Fourier component, the position of a thick or thin portion of thickness deviation is calculated from the phase of the complex Fourier component, and manufacturing conditions of the pipe are adjusted based on these variables. The relationship r·exp(j?) between the thickness deviation amount r and phase ? of a first-order thickness deviation obtained for cross sections in the axial direction is subjected to a complex Fourier transform as a function of pipe longitudinal direction, the thickness deviation is further classified by the frequency of twist of the thickness deviation, and an action is taken to prevent the thickness deviation according to the classified thickness deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihito Yamane
  • Patent number: 7333926
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for facilitating combinatorial logic modeling at an asynchronous clock domain crossing. The modeling technique employs a simulation value of X in combinatorial logic at the asynchronous clock domain crossing of a circuit being modeled to facilitate modeling of a potential combinatorial logic glitch at the crossing during metastability periods thereof. Employing the simulation value of X includes: generating one or more equivalent functional equations for one or more combinatorial paths through the combinatorial logic at the crossing; propagating the simulation value of X through the combinatorial logic using the at least one equivalent functional equation; and then converting the simulation value of X at an output of the combinatorial logic of the asynchronous clock domain crossing to a random logic value for further propagation within the circuit being modeled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond W. M. Schuppe
  • Patent number: 7333927
    Abstract: The method for retrieving a similar sentence to a source sentence inputted by a user through a translation memory in a translation aid system is provided. An inverted file of an index word and a translation memory from a parallel corpus are constituted. Candidate sentences having a high similarity are filtered by comparing the source sentence provided by the user with sentences of the constituted translation memory. A source sentence and a corresponding target sentence are outputted in the order of similarity by calculating similarity between the filtered candidate sentences and the source sentence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Ki-Young Lee, Yoon-Hyung Roh, Chang Hyun Kim, Sung Kwon Choi, Young Kil Kim, Young-Ae Seo, Seung Il Yang, Cheol Ryu, Mun-Pyo Hong