Patents Issued in July 29, 2008
  • Patent number: 7406357
    Abstract: Product descriptions (e.g., brochures) and processing instructions required to create a product (impose, print, fold, staple) can be abstracted into common vocabularies that link one to the other. A link from a product description to the processing instructions is made. A set of pre-defined templates containing specific processing instructions can be selected. Templates representing the processing instructions have a set of capabilities for the process network described. Templates representing the processing instructions can associate a set of well-defined queries regarding the product description, answers to which are used to complete process templates. A System of Classification when constructed can be used to classify a vocabulary to describe products and a separate vocabulary to describe required processing for the product(s). Once a System of Classification is established, templates for various product classes can be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk John Ocke, Michael D. Shephard, Frank M. Goetz
  • Patent number: 7406358
    Abstract: Modeling a process chain includes mapping processes in the process chain to control cycles, defining states for the control cycles, and defining couplings between states in different control cycles such that a state change in one control cycle causes a state change in another control cycle. The control cycles may be Kanban control cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Preiss
  • Patent number: 7406359
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a production planning system using a process of adaptive learning is disclosed. A production planning system receives production objects wherein each production object has at least one attribute. In one embodiment, the production objects include information relating to product to be manufactured. After receipt of production objects, multiple preference scores according to the attributes of the production objects are calculated. In one embodiment, each preference score represents desirability of transition from manufacturing a first object to a second object. The system subsequently identifies a suggested production plan which includes a sequence order of two or more objects in response to the preference scores. In one embodiment, the planning preferences are updated or modified by an adaptive learning system in response to adjustments of the suggested production plant by a planner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: CDC Software Global Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: George Roumeliotis, Jonathan Louis Knight
  • Patent number: 7406360
    Abstract: A dummy substrate (17) differs from a substrate to be processed in having a first guide (G1) for assisting centering, however, it can be handled as a substitute of the substrate to be processed. In a process chamber (2), a second guide (G2) is arranged to assist the dummy substrate (17) to center. To detect a transfer shift of a transfer mechanism (TRM), at first, the dummy substrate (17) is centered to a placing table (14) on the placing table (14) or at an upper position thereof by engagement of the first and the second guides (G1, G2). The dummy substrate (17) centered in such a manner is received by the transfer mechanism (TRM) and transferred to a detector (11). Then, a detection value of a decentering quantity and that in a decentering direction of the dummy substrate (17) are obtained by the detector (11), and a transfer shift of the transfer mechanism (TRM) is obtained based on the detection values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Elctron Limited
    Inventor: Wataru Machiyama
  • Patent number: 7406361
    Abstract: V-CAD data is prepared by dividing external data 12 consisting of boundary data of an object into rectangular parallelepiped cells 13 having boundary planes orthogonal to each other in accordance with octree division and separating the respective divided cells into internal cells 13a positioned on the inner side of the object and boundary cells 13b including a boundary face, and a modeling unit quantity of a prototyping material 7 is changed in accordance with sizes of the internal cell 13a and the boundary cell 13b of a modeling portion. The prototyping material 7 is a resin, lumber powder, a low-fusing-point metal, metal powder, ceramics powder or a mixture of a binder and one of these materials, and its modeling unit quantity is set in such a manner that the modeling unit quantity is smaller than a capacity of a corresponding cell and does not protrude from the boundary plane of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ohmori, Masahiro Anzai, Kiwamu Kase, Hideo Tashiro, Akitake Makinouchi
  • Patent number: 7406362
    Abstract: A workpiece regrasping system for a robot. The system includes a manipulator grippable a workpiece; a deck member having a deck surface on which a workpiece is placeable; a support mechanism rotatably supporting the deck member about an axis parallel to the deck surface; a workpiece-orientation control section for controlling the manipulator so as to grip a workpiece at a first point of the workpiece and to bring the workpiece into abutment with the deck surface of the deck member, and configured to displace the workpiece together with the deck member about the axis, while maintaining a mutually abutted condition, until the workpiece occupies a desired orientation, with at least a part of a weight of the workpiece being carried on the deck surface; and a regrasping control section for controlling the manipulator so as to temporarily release the workpiece placed on the deck surface in the desired orientation and to regrasp the workpiece at a second point different from the first point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Kazuo Hariki, Kazuhisa Otsuka, Masaru Oda
  • Patent number: 7406363
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an irrigation controller, method and software program product for generating valve control signals for energizing a valve. The irrigation controller includes a valve actuation control module selectively coupled each of plurality of control nodes and generating a valve actuation control signal thereon. The valve actuation control signal is a continuous control voltage over a plurality of control signal periods for selectively energizing the selected irrigation valve. Also integrated in the irrigation is a valve chatter module for selectively coupled each of plurality of control nodes and generating a valve chatter control signal thereon. The valve chatter module selectively and, intermittently, energizes the selected irrigation valve. The irrigation controller may further include a remote controller of remotely controlling the irrigation controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Telsco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Doering, Joseph R. Esposito, William F. Cain
  • Patent number: 7406364
    Abstract: A method to calculate energy demand in an energy generation, transmission and distribution network including one or more power plants based on different energy source types including renewable energy, a communications system and one or more local consumption metering units. A customer demand profile for one or more customers is provided. A customer-specified proportion of power demand to be supplied from a given energy source type is registered. A total predicted energy demand dependent is calculated in part on an accumulated demand for the given energy source type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Anders Andrén, Peter Löfgren, Markku Rissanen, Gang Zhou
  • Patent number: 7406365
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a power manager may be coupled to a load circuit and configured to receive an input signal indicating a line disturbance on a power supply line and to reduce a load requirement of the load circuit in accordance with the received signal. The power manager may be configured to selectively reduce power to components with low entrance latency while continuing to provide full power to components with high entrance latency. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Annabelle Pratt, Eugene Gorbatov, Pavan Kumar, Tomm V. Aldridge
  • Patent number: 7406366
    Abstract: A method for validating engine and motor velocities in a vehicle having an engine and two motors is provided. The method validates the velocities without using two speed sensors for each device. The velocities of the engine and the two motors are first determined, and then mathematically combined using known velocity relationships based on the vehicle architecture. The mathematical combination of the velocities is then compared to a first pre-determined speed range, and if the mathematical combination is within the predetermined range, the velocities of the engine and the two motors are validated. If the validation of the engine and the two motors fails, additional equations can be used utilizing additional inputs, including the vehicle speed as measured at the vehicle wheels. In this way, the velocities of one or more of the torque generating devices in the vehicle may be validated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew A. Boesch, Vijay K. Garg, Abbas Raftari, Bader M. Badreddine, Sergey G. Semenov, Lawrence M. Rose, Gregory H. Benz
  • Patent number: 7406367
    Abstract: A bicycle component is provided with a manual input device, and an input circuit having a signal line, a power line and a comparison section. The input circuit is especially useful in electronic shifting. The manual input device has a first ON position, a second ON position and an OFF position. The signal line produces a pair of input signals corresponding to the first and second ON positions. The comparison section produces pair of output signals based on a comparison of the input signals with a reference signal from the power line. Preferably, the input circuit includes a power saving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kouji Uno
  • Patent number: 7406368
    Abstract: A security mechanism identifies users, so as to restrict access and operation to authorized users, such as to persons authorized to access and fly a particular aircraft. The security mechanism comprises one or more security devices to identify the user attempting to gain access or operate the controller; and one or more monitoring devices to determine whether or not the user identified is authorized to have access or operate the controller. Methods of safely operating aircraft are also described. The methods include protocols for limiting access to the aircraft and assuming remote control of the aircraft if a possibly hostile situation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Arnouse
  • Patent number: 7406369
    Abstract: A take off ground effects compensated angle of attack system includes a radio altimeter and/or timer, a pitch angle system and a flight control computer. The radio altimeter generates a signal which is indicative of the aircraft's altitude from 0 i.e., weight off wheels to an altitude of ½ the wing span of the aircraft. The angle of attack system simultaneously generates a signal which is indicative of the aircraft's angle of attack without compensation for ground effects. Therefore, a ground effects signal of from 1½° to 0° is generated and added to the angle of attack signal as the aircraft climbs from 0 ft. to an altitude which is equal to ½ the wing span of the aircraft. The ground effects signal is added to the angle of attack signal to provide a ground effects compensated angle of attacks signal which is then fed to the flight control computer or display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Leonard M. Greene
  • Patent number: 7406370
    Abstract: An electrical energy management system (100) for a more electrical vehicle is provided. The electrical energy management system (100) includes a vehicle operation system (120) for controlling operation of the more electrical vehicle; an electrical system (140) for controlling electrical power generation, conversion, distribution and aero system utilities of the more electrical vehicle; a first controller (102); and a second controller (104) redundant to the first controller (102). The second controller (104) is coupled to the first controller (102) via an inter-controller data bus (106). Each of the first and second controllers (102, 104) is coupled to the vehicle operation system (120) via a vehicle data bus (108). Each of the first and second controllers (102, 104) is coupled to the electrical system (140) via a local data bus (110). The first and second controllers (102, 104) process same data in a first operation mode and process different data in a second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hassan A. Kojori, Rodney G. Michalko, Sophia V. Konyukhova
  • Patent number: 7406371
    Abstract: In a suspension control system, accelerations detected by acceleration sensors are differentiated by a differentiator to calculate acceleration derivative values. Based on these values, a target electrical current calculating section calculates a target electrical current that is supplied to an actuator which controls a damping force of a damper. Before a rolling or pitch angle occurs in the vehicle, the change of the rolling or pitch angle is predicted to control the damping force of the damper, thereby improving the response of rolling angle and pitch angle control to achieve, simultaneously, an accurate posture control and a satisfactory riding comfort. Because the target electrical current calculating section corrects the target electrical current of the actuator based on a damper speed obtained by differentiating a damper displacement, even when a large input is applied to the damper due to an unevenness of the road surface, a proper posture control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Izawa, Takafumi Kato, Shigenobu Sekiya, Yoshio Onoe, Tsukasa Fukuzato
  • Patent number: 7406372
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a variable damper in a vehicle wherein a rear-wheel variable damper can be controlled by estimating a vertical acceleration value of a rear wheel based on the fact that there is a certain time delay in a wheel motion between front and rear wheels due to the wheelbase and vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Heon Kim, Wan Il Kim
  • Patent number: 7406373
    Abstract: An electric power steering system for an automotive vehicle, including a steering torque detecting device which detects a steering torque of a steering shaft. An electric motor is provided to generate an assist torque for assisting a driver's steering effort required for steering the vehicle and a counter-assist torque for increasing the driver's steering effort. The assist torque and the counter-assist torque are applied to a steering mechanism. Additionally, a controller is provided to output a drive command to the electric motor in accordance with the detected steering torque. The drive command is for causing the electric motor to generate the counter-assist torque when the detected steering torque is a transitional torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kubota, Hiroshi Mouri, Tadashi Tamasho, Ryota Shirato, Takayuki Sonoda
  • Patent number: 7406374
    Abstract: A steering ratio control system of a vehicle includes a variable steering ratio mechanism variably adjusting a steering ratio of a steer angle at left and right steered road wheels to a steering-wheel rotation angle, and a braking/driving force control unit individually controlling braking force and/or driving force of the left and right steered wheels. A steering ratio control unit determines a reference steering ratio based on a vehicle's driving state. The steering ratio control unit calculates a steering-ratio correction value needed for canceling torque steer resulting from a difference in braking force and/or driving force between the left and right steered wheels. A final steering ratio is determined based on both of the reference steering ratio and the steering-ratio correction value to drive the variable steering ratio mechanism responsively to the final steering ratio reflecting the steering-ratio correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ono, Hajime Kosaka
  • Patent number: 7406375
    Abstract: When it is determined that the torque output from the electric motor abnormally fluctuates or the torque output from the electric motor varies between clockwise and counterclockwise turning operations of the driver's steering wheel, the steering assist control is continued if the vehicle speed v is equal to or lower than the reference speed v0. In this case, the width of the dead band of the steering torque in the assist map used to calculate the target assist torque is increased. Thus, only in a case where the vehicle is moving at a low speed and the driver's steering wheel is operated with a great force, the steering assist torque is produced to alleviate the burden on the driver. In the other cases, the electric motor is stopped to minimize a sense of discomfort in the steering operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Fujita, Eiji Kasai, Ippei Yamazaki, Junro Yamamoto, Yasunori Shintani, Hideo Kometani
  • Patent number: 7406376
    Abstract: A determination device includes a single acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration of a vehicle and a determination circuit for determining severity of a collision in an accident. A plastic deformation pulse detection section and an elastic deformation pulse detection section of the determination circuit detect a plastic deformation pulse and an elastic deformation pulse, respectively, from a waveform of measured accelerations. A severity determination section of the detection circuit determines the severity of a collision based on a correlation between a vehicle speed and a plastic deformation pulse, and a correlation between the vehicle speed, the plastic deformation pulse, and an elastic deformation pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Higuchi, Seiya Ide
  • Patent number: 7406377
    Abstract: When a slide door stops at an intermediate position over a protection action time start time (T?), an electric motor is operated in closing direction in low driving force mode. When the move speed (Vc) of the slide door is a movable speed (V?) or higher, the slide door is moved to its fully closed position by automatic closing action, and an electromagnetic clutch is disconnected. On the other hand, when the move speed (Vc) of the slide door is not made to reach the movable speed (V?) or higher over a speed judgment time (Tj), the electric motor is operated in closing direction in the low driving force mode, and when the move speed (Vo) of the slide door is made to reach the movable speed (V?) or higher, the slide door is automatically opened. Further, when the move speed (Vo) of the slide door is made to reach the movable speed (V?) or higher for the speed judgment time (Tj), the electric motor is stopped, and the electromagnetic clutch is made into its disconnected status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Naohiko Shiga
  • Patent number: 7406378
    Abstract: In response to simultaneous ON settings of a heater switch signal HSW and an eco switch signal ESW, an eco priority map is set to an intermittent operation permission map (step S350). The heater switch signal HSW is output from a heater switch that is operated to warm up a passenger compartment, while the eco switch signal ESW is output from an eco switch that is operated to give preference to improvement in fuel consumption of the vehicle over the heater function. The eco priority map is designed to allow intermittent operation of an engine in a lower range of cooling water temperature Tw of the engine than that in a heater-on state map set in response to OFF setting of the eco switch signal ESW and ON setting of the heater switch signal HSW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Harada, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7406379
    Abstract: An exemplary navigation system uses a master navigation component at a first location with a first sensor in a vehicle and a slave navigation component with a second sensor at a second location that is a variable displacement to the first location due to physical deformation of the vehicle. Static and dynamic location components provide static and dynamic information of the displacement between the first and second locations. A flexural model based on the deformation characteristics calculates the dynamic displacement. An error estimator estimates errors in the navigation measurement data of the slave navigation component based on the displacement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Volk, James R. Huddle, Daniel A. Tazartes, Maureen Lipman, legal representative, Jerome S. Lipman
  • Patent number: 7406380
    Abstract: A navigation system for providing different modes of navigation guidance to drivers is provided. A smart card stores user information. In a main apparatus, a parameter table storage section stores parameters which are used for controlling the outputting of navigation guidance to an entity. A control section acquires at least one parameter from the parameter table storage section based on the user information stored in the smart card, and thereafter generates information necessary for providing navigation guidance for the entity in accordance with the acquired parameter(s). A display section or an audio output section outputs various information generated by the control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyomi Sakamoto, Noboru Nomura, Shinji Kubota
  • Patent number: 7406381
    Abstract: A navigation system, a vehicle navigation apparatus therein, and a method for obtaining navigation information using the same are provided which can obtain navigation information quickly when a vehicle goes off-route by obtaining the navigation information required for route guidance of the vehicle through communications, thereby achieving reduction in communication time and cost. In a vehicle-mounted terminal connected in communication with a server for executing route guidance to provide a guidance route from the present position of the vehicle to a destination, when the vehicle reaches a point located at a predetermined distance before a fork representing the next turn on the guidance route, the server is accessed to set a communication means in a communication connection stand-by state. If the vehicle deviates from the guidance route, information needed for the vehicle to return to the guidance route is requested from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kijuro Obata
  • Patent number: 7406382
    Abstract: A system that collects parametric information that reflects local weather conditions receives signals from sensors. The signals are transmitted to a server that combines the information contained within the signals with weather data to determine local weather conditions and develop forecasts. The local weather conditions and forecasts may be transmitted to a vehicle and may be combined with navigation information to optimize travel routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Harman/Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Brulle-Drews
  • Patent number: 7406383
    Abstract: The invention relates to an estimate of the seismic illumination fold (x, p) in the migrated 3D domain at an image point x, for a dip of vector p characterized in that the illumination fold I (z, p; s, r) is estimated for each (source s, receiver r) pair in the seismic survey, by applying the following steps:—determination of the reflection travel time tr(·xr(p);s·r) from the source s to the specular reflection point z, on the plane reflector passing through the image point x and perpendicular to the dip vector p, and then return to the reflector r; starting from the diffraction travel time td(·z;s·r) from the source to the said image point x and then return to the reflector r;—incrementing the said illumination fold I (X, p; s, r) related to the said (source s, receiver r) pair as a function of the difference between the diffraction travel time td(x;s,r) and the reflection travel time tr(xr(p)issr).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale de Geophysique
    Inventors: Philippe Herrmann, Nicolas Bousquie
  • Patent number: 7406384
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying high order associations between variables in complex systems that is particularly useful where there is no correlation or weak correlation between variables due to the influence of a third variable, a ternary relationship. The ternary relationship describes how the variation in the pattern of association between a pair of variables, including its sign and strength, is mediated by a third variable. In one embodiment applied to gene expression data, the activity of pairs of correlated genes due to the activity of one or more third genes is shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Regents Of The University Of California
    Inventor: Ker-Chau Li
  • Patent number: 7406385
    Abstract: The present teachings disclose a method for evaluation of a polynucleotide sequence using a consensus-based analysis approach. The sequence analysis method utilizes quality values for a plurality of aligned sequence fragments to identify consensus basecalls and calculate associated consensus quality values. The disclosed method is applicable to resolution of single nucleotide polymorphisms, mixed-based sequences, heterozygous allelic variants, and heterogeneous polynucleotide samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventor: Jon M. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 7406386
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensing system which is capable of discriminating types of causes of changing loads on a surface, such as the type of motion of a human subject. The system has wide ranging applications including sports performance (e.g. golf club swing analysis). The system comprises a deformable load bearing surface (2), a plurality of mutually spaced sensors (6), a processor (8) and an output (10). The sensors (6) are coupled through the deformation response of the surface (2) to an applied load (4) to receive local sensory data from the surface (2). The processor (8) is operatively coupled to the sensors (6) and is arranged to transform the sensory data into information data relating to a load (4) applied to the surface (2), e.g. by means of a neural network algorithm. In an alternative embodiment, a housing including the deformable load bearing surface (2) contains a flowable material (e.g. liquid) which flows in response to the deformation of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Aston University
    Inventors: Peter Brett, Anthony Molloy, Xianghong Ma
  • Patent number: 7406387
    Abstract: A detecting apparatus includes the following units. A pressure detecting unit detects in time series higher and lower static pressures and a differential pressure. Fluctuation calculating units calculate time series data sets of a differential pressure fluctuation, a higher static pressure fluctuation, and a lower static pressure fluctuation. Square sum calculating units calculate the square sum of the time series data sets of the differential pressure fluctuation, the square sum of the time series data sets of the higher static pressure fluctuation, and the square sum of the time series data sets of the lower static pressure fluctuation. A correlation coefficient calculating unit calculates first and second correlation coefficients. An intermediate variable calculating unit calculates an intermediate variable. A blockage rate calculating unit calculates a blockage rate. A determination unit determines a blockage of higher and lower pressure impulse lines with reference to the blockage rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Hashizume, Tetsuya Wakui, Jyun-ichi Eino, Nobuo Miyaji
  • Patent number: 7406388
    Abstract: A method for calibration process management of a calibration testing unit and a plurality of units under test, comprising configuring a user interface in communication with a calibration process management software system, configuring a communications link in communication with the software system, the software system capable of communicating with the calibration testing unit and the plurality of units under test, wherein the software system manages the user interface and the communications link in a manner permitting an operator to calibrate the plurality of units under test. Tracking of the calibrated units under test uses a permanent unique identifier and a dynamic unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Southern California Edison
    Inventors: Curtis V. Casto, Kevin C. Sullivan, Laurence E. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7406389
    Abstract: A state detecting system which can detect state of power storage at high precision even with lesser characteristic data to be used for calculation, and a device employing the same. The state detecting system has a memory for storing a characteristic data, calculation information, and set information, an arithmetic unit for calculating state information indicative of state of said power storage and calculating correction information for performing correction, a first correcting unit for correcting input of said arithmetic means, and a second correcting unit for correcting information stored or set in the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Emori, Akihiko Kudou, Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Hideki Miyazaki, Toshisada Mitsui, Mitsuyuki Hombu, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa
  • Patent number: 7406390
    Abstract: Gravity information for a gravity survey is obtained by using an array of relative gravimeters whose relative gravity measurement signals have been calibrated by using an absolute gravimeter to approximate absolute gravity measurements. The absolute gravimeter is moved periodically to the location of each relative gravimeter to measure absolute gravity. The absolute and relative gravity measurements for each relative gravimeter form an error signal which is used to calibrate each relative gravimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Micro-g Lacoste, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Niebauer, Christopher J. M. Nind
  • Patent number: 7406391
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of determining a drift value is described that includes performing one or more X-axis translations of an excitation beam over a probe array; measuring light responsive to the excitation beam from at least two positional reference elements associated with the probe array for the X-axis translations; calculating a distance value for the X-axis translation using a positional relationship of a known location associated with each of the positional reference elements and positions of the positional reference elements from the measured light; and determining a drift value using a difference between the calculated distance value and an expected distance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Miles
  • Patent number: 7406392
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for prioritizing the processing of standardized tests. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for processing completed standardized tests. In one embodiment, test-processing priority information is received, and is associated with machine-readable identifiers for standardized tests. Completed standardized tests are received, and are identified by reading machine-readable identifiers. The identified standardized tests are processed according to the associated test-processing priority information such that higher priority tests are automatically processed before lower priority tests. Other aspects are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Data Recognition Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Gedlinske, Doyle Kirkeby, Michelle Edenborg
  • Patent number: 7406393
    Abstract: A low cost x-y digitising system is described for use in consumer electronic devices, such as portable digital assistants, mobile telephones, web browsers and the like. The digitiser includes a resonant stylus, an excitation winding for energising the resonant stylus and a set of sensor windings for sensing the signal generated by the stylus, from which the x-y position of the stylus is determined. A novel stylus design is described together with novel digitiser windings and novel excitation and processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Synaptics (UK) Limited
    Inventors: David Thomas Eliot Ely, Gareth John McCaughan, Geoffrey Foote
  • Patent number: 7406394
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for spectrum-based endpointing. An endpointing method includes selecting two or more reference spectra. Each reference spectrum is a spectrum of white light reflected from a film of interest on a first substrate and has a thickness greater than a target thickness. The reference spectra is selected for particular spectra-based endpoint determination logic so that the target thickness is achieved when endpoint is called by applying the particular spectra-based endpoint logic. The method includes obtaining two or more current spectra. Each current spectrum is a spectrum of white light reflected from a film of interest on a second substrate when the film of interest is being subjected to a polishing step and has a current thickness that is greater than the target thickness. The method includes determining, for the second substrate, when an endpoint of the polishing step has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Boguslaw A. Swedek, Dominic J. Benvegnu, Jeffrey Drue David
  • Patent number: 7406395
    Abstract: A system for measuring geometrical characters of a figure includes an application server (1), client computers (3), and a database (5). The application server includes: a figure inputting module (10) for inputting a figure of a workpiece and displaying the figure, which is constituted by different kinds of objects; an object filtering module (11) for filtering needless objects and keeping the objects that need to be measured, and for marking the kept objects; a measuring module (12) for measuring the marked objects and obtaining measuring results, and for recording measure paths; a program storing module (13) for storing the measure paths as a program; and a simulative demo module (14) for demonstrating the measure paths via invoking the program. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin-Yuan Wu, Chih-Kuang Chang
  • Patent number: 7406396
    Abstract: The present invention is an online methodology for end point detection for use in a chemical mechanical planarization process which is both robust and inexpensive while overcoming some of the drawbacks of the existing end point detection approaches currently known in the art. The present invention provides a system and method for identifying a significant event in a chemical mechanical planarization process including the steps of decomposing coefficient of friction data acquired from a chemical mechanical planarization process using wavelet-based multiresolution analysis, and applying a sequential probability ratio test for variance on the decomposed data to identify a significant event in the chemical mechanical planarization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Tapas K Das, Rajesh Ganesan, Arun K Sikder, Ashok Kumar
  • Patent number: 7406397
    Abstract: A structure, apparatus and method for deterring the temperature of an active region in semiconductor, particularly a FET is provided. A pair FETs are arranged on a silicon island a prescribed distance from one another where the silicon island is surrounded by a thermal insulator. One FET is heated by a current driven therethrough. The other FET functions as a temperature sensor by having a change in an electrical characteristic versus temperature monitored. By arranging multiple pairs of FETs separated by different known distances, the temperature of the active region of one of the FETs may be determined during operation at various driving currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Hyde, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7406398
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for identifying underperformance in a pumping system used to produce a desired fluid. Various conditions are sensed during operation of the pumping system, and those sensed conditions are used to determine measured parameters that are provided with an associated confidence factor. The measured parameters in conjunction with the confidence factors are compared to a reference composite curve for the specific pumping system to determine whether actual performance has satisfied underperformance criteria or moved across a threshold into underperformance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Albert G. Ollre, Jan Dolejsi, Antonio Vizurraga
  • Patent number: 7406399
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can include obtaining and analyzing data from at least one discrete machine, automatically determining relationships related to the data, taking corrective action to improve machine operation and/or maintenance, automatically and heuristically predicting a failure associated with the machine and/or recommending preventative maintenance in advance of the failure, and/or automating and analyzing mining shovels, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Furem, Daniel W. Robertson, Gopal Madhavarao
  • Patent number: 7406400
    Abstract: An equipment inspection support system, equipment inspection support method, and program includes a maintenance and inspection management unit for selecting and transmitting to a terminal device inspection item contents stored in a contents storage unit, and receiving the inspection result data transmitted from the terminal device; a timing determination unit for determining status information acquisition timing by the status information acquisition device based on inspection item contents transmitted to the terminal device by the maintenance and inspection management unit and the inspection result data transmitted from the terminal device; a status information acquisition unit for collecting status information acquired by the status information acquisition device according to the status information acquisition timing determined by the timing determination unit; a result data control unit for creating a result data correspondence table for associating the inspection result data received by the maintenance and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Ai Yano, Tatsuro Matsumoto, Kazuo Sasaki, Satoru Watanabe, Masayuki Fukui, Eiichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7406401
    Abstract: A sensor network controller (4) includes: a sensor interface (44) receiving sensing data transmitted from sensors (5); a data write section (150) writing the received sensing data and sensing time information indicating a sensing time of the sensing data in association with each other to a memory section (42); the memory section (42) storing the sensing data and the sensing time information; a first data processing section (144) generating sensing data which is at the timing designated by a client on the basis of the sensing data and the sensing time information stored in the memory section (42); and a data output section (148) outputting the generated sensing data to the client. The client is enabled to acquire sensing data in accordance with a request even if the scheme by which the sensors convey sensing data does not match with the scheme by which the client makes a request for sensing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji Ota, Yoshiyuki Otsuki, Masayuki Oyagi, Yoshihiko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7406402
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for scheduling the emptying or replacement of a waste container based on the fullness of the container or the usage of the container. These factors may be considered to determine when the waste container will become completely full. Additionally, the system and method may consider the customer preferences or the limitations of the waste hauler. All of these factors may be considered to determine an optimal time for the waste container to be emptied or replaced. These factors are also considered to determine when to accomplish the scheduling (i.e. when to notify the waste hauler that the waste container should be emptied or replaced at a given time).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: MGM Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Waitkus, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7406403
    Abstract: Computer-based systems, methods, and computer-program products for automatically creating three dimensional geometric models are provided. The geometric models may be used to generate finite element models for computer modeling and loads testing. Automatically creating geometric models includes generating a surface curve based on surface and parameter information at all frame locations. Stringer points are automatically spaced on the first generated surface curve based on the parameter information. The stringer seed points are then propagated to the other frame curves based on parameter information. A stringer curve is automatically generated for each set of corresponding stringer points. The generated stringer curves are automatically projected onto the surface. All points, projected curves, lines and ribbon surfaces are named according to a naming convention established by the user to facilitate the automatic importation of the CAD elements into a FEM preprocessor program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Fox, Michael D. Galuska, Brian H. Seong
  • Patent number: 7406404
    Abstract: In a method for developing a machine for producing a product, properties of the product to be produced are defined and tasks to be performed for producing the product are defined. The tasks are subdivided into a plurality of sub-tasks, and, based on the sub-tasks, an algorithm is established for producing the product in a virtual model, wherein hardware and control functions are established simultaneously. A machine that implements the algorithm and the control functions can then be constructed, with the control functions implemented as reconfigurable hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ronny Hopf
  • Patent number: 7406405
    Abstract: A design verifier includes a bounded model checker, an abstractor and an unbounded model checker. The bounded model checker verifies a property to a depth K and either finds a counterexample, or generates a proof in the form of a directed acyclic graph. If no counterexample is found, the abstractor generates an abstracted design description using a proof generated by the bounded model checker. The unbounded model checker verifies the property of the abstracted design description. If a counterexample is found, the bounded model checker increases K and verifies the property to the new larger depth. If no counterexample is found, the design is verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. McMillan, Nina Amla
  • Patent number: 7406406
    Abstract: Two unique instructions for the instruction set of a target 36-bit machine which is emulated on a host 64-bit machine are provided in order to achieve visibility, to an emulated application program, of a “containing” word stored in the memory of the host machine. A “LOAD64” instruction loads the emulator memory location representing an emulated “Q” (supplementary accumulator) register with the “normal” 36-bits of the containing word. At the same time, the “upper” 28 bits of the 64-bit containing word is copied into the emulator memory location representing an emulated “A” (accumulator) register. Thus, the emulated 36-bit machine “sees” and can examine the 64-bit word in its entirety. A “Store64” instruction stores the emulated “Q” register contents into the lower 36-bits of the 64-bit containing word, and at the same time stores the lower 28 bits of the emulated “A” register contents into the upper 28 bits of the 64-bit containing word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Bull HN Information Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Russell W. Guenthner, Sidney L. Andress, John E. Heath