Patents Issued in October 24, 2017
  • Patent number: 9798262
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a toner including the steps of: mixing a resin solution comprising a resin R, a colorant, and an organic solvent, a resin fine particle comprising a resin S containing an element ?, and carbon dioxide to form a droplet having a surface covered with the resin fine particle; introducing carbon dioxide in a liquid state and pressurizing to extract the organic solvent in the droplet; and removing the extracted organic solvent together with the carbon dioxide to provide a toner particle. In the method of producing a toner, when the resin fine particle is treated with the carbon dioxide in a liquid state, a change in amount of the element ? on the surface of the resin fine particle after the treatment as compared to the amount before the treatment falls within a specific range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noritaka Toyoizumi, Yusuke Kosaki, Tetsuya Kinumatsu, Kenji Aoki, Shuntaro Watanabe, Takaaki Kaya, Atsushi Tani, Kazumichi Nakahama, Shinnosuke Koji, Takashige Kasuya
  • Patent number: 9798264
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a carrier for developing an electrostatic latent image, the carrier including carrier particles each including a core particle with a surface coated with a coating material including a resin, and the method including the steps of: a) obtaining first coating resin particles by polymerizing an alicyclic methacrylate monomer using, as a polymerization initiator, an azo compound having a nitrogen atom-containing substituent; b) obtaining second coating resin particles by polymerizing an alicyclic methacrylate monomer using a persulfate as a polymerization initiator; and c) forming carrier particles by coating surfaces of core particles with a coating material obtained by mixing at least the first and second coating resin particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kosuke Nakamura, Satoshi Uchino, Koji Shibata
  • Patent number: 9798265
    Abstract: The present invention can provide a liquid developer that can accommodate faster process speeds by image forming apparatuses, in which the liquid developer contains a toner particle comprising a polyester resin, and a carrier liquid having a vinyl ether compound. The liquid developer further contains a polymer compound having a structural unit represented by formula (1) in either of the toner particle or the carrier liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei Inoue, Kenji Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 9798266
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first exposing unit exposing a surface of a charged photosensitive member to form a latent image; a second exposing unit exposing the surface of the photosensitive member after the surface of the photosensitive member passes a transfer position at which a toner image obtained by causing toner to adhere to the latent image is transferred to a transferred body and before the surface of the photosensitive member reaches a charging position; and a control unit varying a length of a period from a timing at which a portion of the photosensitive member exposed by the second exposing unit is initially charged by the charging member to a timing at which the first exposing unit starts formation of the latent image when performing image formation based on a print signal, based on information related to a photosensitive layer thickness of the photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Agata, Kosuke Ikada
  • Patent number: 9798268
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force in a frontward direction of the housing at the rear of the housing. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface moves in the frontward direction and protrudes from the front of the housing with at least a portion of the front of the second engagement surface unobstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Andrew Buchanan, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9798269
    Abstract: A developer container includes a casing having a developer accommodating chamber and a waste-developer accommodating chamber, conveying member, a conveying-member accommodating unit, and a supporting member. The conveying member conveys waste developer in a longitudinal direction of the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The conveying-member accommodating unit accommodates the conveying member therein and has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is provided in an upstream end portion and allows the waste developer to move from outside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit. The second opening allows the waste-developer to move from the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The supporting member is provided on the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9798270
    Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a housing, a screw, a discharging part and a removing member. The housing houses toner. The screw is formed by fixing a vane of a spiral shape to a circumferential face of a rotation axis rotatably supported in the housing. The discharging part is formed to be able to discharge the toner conveyed by the screw, to an outside of the housing. The removing member is elongated from the rotation axis to an outside in a radial direction, rotates with the screw and removes the toner remaining at the discharging part. The removing member is formed in a comb shape formed by continuously forming a recess and a protrusion at a free end part of the removing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 9798271
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developing portion; a toner storing container; and a supply path capable of supplying toner to the developing portion from the toner storing container, where the toner storing container is attachably and detachably provided to the supply path, and the toner storing container has a screw-like conveying member configured to convey the toner; a discharge portion configured to discharge the toner toward the supply path; and a first cleaning member arranged at an end portion of the conveying member and configured to clean the discharge portion by scraping the toner on the discharge portion based on a rotation of the conveying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiaki Ino
  • Patent number: 9798272
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a transfer body that transports a recording medium in a contact region between the image carrier and the transfer body, a pair of transport members that are disposed upstream of the contact region in a transport direction, and transport the recording medium to the contact region, a guide member that includes, between the contact region and the pair of transport members, a portion on a downstream side in the transport direction which serves as a free end portion and a portion on an upstream side in the transport direction which is supported in a cantilever state, that guides a non-transfer surface of the recording medium, that is elastically deformed, and that has a cutout, and a detection unit that detects an image on an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier on a optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gen Nakajima, Tetsuya Furuyama, Kazunari Yamagishi, Yoshiaki Haginoya
  • Patent number: 9798273
    Abstract: A fuser assembly comprising an endless fuser belt having positioned internally within a first metal roll having a heat pipe, a second metal roll having a first heating element, and a second heating element disposed between the first and the second metal rolls. The endless fuser belt is disposed proximate to a backup roll for forming a fusing nip therewith, wherein a rotation of the backup roll moves the fuser belt and rotates the first and the second metal rolls. The second metal roll is positioned upstream of the first metal roll relative to a media process direction. The first heating element has a rated heating power greater than the rated heating power of the second heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Fangsheng Wu
  • Patent number: 9798274
    Abstract: A preheating device includes a heating member that is capable of heating a continuous medium, and a movement unit that moves at least one of the continuous medium and the heating member in a direction in which the continuous medium and the heating member move relatively closer to each other or in a direction in which the continuous medium and the heating member move relatively away from each other. The movement unit moves at least one of the continuous medium and the heating member in the direction in which the continuous medium and the heating member move relatively closer to each other if predetermined heating conditions are satisfied, and the movement unit moves at least one of the continuous medium and the heating member in the direction in which the continuous medium and the heating member move relatively away from each other if the heating conditions are not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hayashi, Mizuki Sugino, Toshinori Sasaki, Koichi Kimura, Mitsutoshi Hongo
  • Patent number: 9798275
    Abstract: A system and method for applying lubricant to a surface, such as a heating surface of a fuser member. The system includes lubricant conduit for carrying pressurized lubricant toward a spraying assembly. A heating element surrounds the lubricant conduit and heats the pressurized lubricant before it arrives at the spraying assembly. The system also includes a pair of double O-ring sealing assemblies for sealingly coupling a lubricant tube to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Clover Technologies Group, LLC
    Inventors: Heymo Hormann, Craig Calsyn, Daniel J. Andersen
  • Patent number: 9798276
    Abstract: The present invention includes a compressor for generating compressed air for separating a sheet from a fixing portion. By using the compressed air generated by the compressor, an image forming portion, more specifically, for example, a charger, is cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuaki Ono
  • Patent number: 9798277
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes first and second rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating a toner on a sheet; a compressor; an air nozzle configured to blow air which is compressed by the compressor, to the first rotatable member; and a supplying mechanism configured to supply the air which is compressed by the compressor, to the air nozzle. The supplying mechanism includes a pressure adjusting valve configured to adjust an inside pressure and a metal pipe configured to form at least a part of an air supply passage from the compressor to the pressure adjusting valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Kozuma
  • Patent number: 9798278
    Abstract: A recording medium heating device that can heat and dry a continuous recording medium, includes multiple heating rollers, including respective heaters, disposed on a conveying path of the recording medium; and a controller to control the heaters of the heating rollers. In a starting period during which the recording medium heating device is started, the controller sets temperatures of the heaters to starting temperatures where a temperature of a heating roller positioned closest to an exit side of the conveying path is lower than a temperature of a heating roller positioned away from the exit side of the conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Nagayama, Takashi Ebihara, Genichiro Kawamichi, Yuuji Ohmura, Kahei Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9798279
    Abstract: A fuser heater within a printing device includes a substrate with conductive traces and a resistive trace having a first end and a second end. The resistive trace is connected to the conductive traces at each of the first end and the second end and forms an electrical connection between the conductive traces and the resistive trace. A first strip is printed on the substrate using a first metal ink. A second strip is printed on the substrate using a second metal ink. The second strip is in contact with the first strip. The first metal ink is different from the second metal ink. The first strip and the second strip form a thermocouple. The thermocouple is operatively attached to the conductive traces. A controller operatively attached to the thermocouple controls the temperature of the fuser heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Jensen, Brian J. Gillis, Tab A. Tress, Michael A. Fayette
  • Patent number: 9798280
    Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a heating rotary member that heats the toner image on a recording medium, a pressure member that comes in contact with the heating rotary member, wherein the recording medium provided with the toner image is conveyed at a nip portion, a cover that covers part of an outer surface of the heating rotary member to form a space with the heating rotary member and extends in a longitudinal direction of the heating rotary member, the cover including a partition including a surface perpendicular to a longitudinal direction on a cover end portion in the longitudinal direction and partitioning the space and outside of the space, and a flange provided on an end portion on a same side as the partition in the longitudinal direction and including an extending portion extending in a direction approaching the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Omata
  • Patent number: 9798281
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to which lubricant is supplied; a toner image forming section; and a patch image forming section and a control section configured to control the toner image forming section and the patch image forming section such that a first development condition for forming the patch image and a second development condition for forming the toner image are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Atsuto Hirai
  • Patent number: 9798282
    Abstract: An inclined flange roller is located outward of an end portion of a tension roller in the belt width direction. The inclined flange roller includes a flange surface capable of being in contact with the edge portion of a belt in a region in which the belt is wound around the tension roller and a roller surface capable of being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt between the flange surface and an end portion of the tension roller in the belt width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Iwakoshi, Atsushi Ogata, Daisuke Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9798283
    Abstract: An imaging forming apparatus includes a positive high-voltage circuit that generates voltage having a positive polarity, a negative high-voltage circuit connected in series with the positive high-voltage circuit and generates voltage having a negative polarity, a transfer roller to which the voltage generated by the positive high-voltage circuit or the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, neutralizing pins to which the voltage generated by the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, a current detection circuit that detects current flowing into the transfer roller, and a diode connected between the transfer roller and the neutralizing pins and that separates a path for the current flowing into the transfer roller and a path for current flowing into the neutralizing pins from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taro Minobe
  • Patent number: 9798284
    Abstract: A multilayered blade made of an elastic material includes an edge layer, having a contact edge to contact an object, and at least one backup layer laminated on the edge layer. The blade has a converted loss tangent tan ? of 0.23 or greater and 0.51 or smaller in a temperature range of from 0° C. to 50° C. The converted loss tangent tan ? is defined as: X = A A + B × L 1 + B A + B × L 2 , where X represents the converted loss tangent tan ?, A represents a thickness in millimeters of the edge layer, B represents a thickness in millimeters of the at least one backup layer, L1 represents a variation of a loss tangent tan ? of the edge layer in the temperature range of from 0° C. to 50° C., and L2 represents a variation of a loss tangent tan ? of the at least one backup layer in the temperature range of from 0° C. to 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Eisuke Shimizu, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Takaaki Tawada, Yuu Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 9798285
    Abstract: An imaging device having a door-actuated feed roll separator mechanism. A pair of opposed panels of a frame of the imaging device are positioned parallel to a media path. A feed roll pair in the media path has a drive roll fixedly and rotatably mounted between the panels and a backup roll translateably mounted between the panels. A pair of cam followers are rotatably mounted to the backup roll. The backup roll is biased against the drive roll forming a feed nip. A door pivotally mounted along a bottom end to the frame substantially covers the media path. A pair of door-mounted, spring-biased actuators engage with the pair of cam followers. With the door lowered, the cam followers rotate with a camming surface thereon contacting the drive roll, translating the backup roll away from the drive roll and opening the feed nip to allow for removal of jammed media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Guerand
  • Patent number: 9798286
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member unit having an image carrying member, a developing unit insertable into and drawable out of the image forming apparatus, and a transfer member. The image carrying member unit is movable between a first position where the image carrying member makes contact with the transfer member and a second position where they are apart. The image carrying member unit or the image forming apparatus has a biasing member that biases the image carrying member unit toward the second position. With the developing unit fitted to the image forming apparatus, the image carrying member unit is at the first position against a biasing force of the biasing member. With the developing unit drawn out of the image forming apparatus, the image carrying member unit is at the second position due to the biasing force of the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hirohito Konishi
  • Patent number: 9798287
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a body having a toner reservoir. A drive element on a rear end of the body is unobstructed to mesh with a corresponding drive element in the image forming device. A toner outlet port is positioned on a bottom of the body near the rear end of the body. A latch catch is positioned on a first side of the body to receive a corresponding latch when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. A latch actuator at the front end of the body is movable between a home position and a releasing position. A release handle at the front end of the body is operatively connected to the latch actuator such that actuation of the release handle causes the latch actuator to move from the home position to the releasing position to unlatch the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Craig Leemhuis, Thomas Eugene Pangburn
  • Patent number: 9798288
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a toner image, a lubricant supply roller to supply lubricant to a surface of the image bearer, a rotation speed changer to change a rotation speed of the lubricant supply roller, and a controller to control the rotation speed changer to change the rotation speed of the lubricant supply roller to a target speed based on a predetermined condition. The controller is configured to control the rotation speed changer to avoid a predetermined speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Maehata, Kenji Honjoh, Takeshi Shintani, Nobuo Kuwabara, Daisuke Tomita, Yasuhito Kuboshima, Yusuke Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 9798289
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a function to clean exhaust air from inside and to discharge cleaned air. The image forming apparatus has an exhaust air duct configured to guide internal air to outside, and a cleaning filter configured to clean air passing through the exhaust air duct. A cubic measure of an airflow path in the exhaust air duct during normal operation has a first value, and the cubic measure of the airflow path in the exhaust air duct during operation causing a large amount of harmful matters to be contained in the exhaust air from inside has a second value greater than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Umemoto, Shigeru Tashiro, Masayuki Satou, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Shoichi Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9798290
    Abstract: Cryptographic techniques for encrypting images, and decrypting and reconstructing images, are provided to facilitate preventing unauthorized access to images. A holographic cryptographic component (HCC) generates complex holograms of multi-dimensional source images of a multi-dimensional object scene. The HCC generates phase holograms, based on the complex holograms, using a stochastic hologram generation process, and encrypts the phase holograms to generate encrypted holograms based on a random phase mask, which can be the private encryption key. At the decoding end, an HCC overlays a conjugate phase mask on the encrypted holograms to decrypt them, wherein the decrypted holograms are illuminated with a coherent light source to generate holographic images that reconstruct the source images. The source images are only reconstructed properly if the correct phase mask is used. If HCC applies the encryption process repetitively to the same source image, HCC can generate a different encrypted hologram in each run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventor: Peter Wai Ming Tsang
  • Patent number: 9798291
    Abstract: Wristwatch comprising a mechanical device for executing a first mechanical function arranged to produce a first acoustic alarm signal, and an electronic device housed in a bracelet and arranged to produce a second acoustic alarm signal and/or a mechanical vibration, wherein the electronic device is arranged to produce the second acoustic alarm signal at the moment when the mechanical device for executing the first mechanical function produces the first acoustic alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Martin, Jean-Jacques Born, Thierry Conus, Jean-Claude Eggen, Emmanuel Fleury, Michel Willemin
  • Patent number: 9798292
    Abstract: A method and related system for presenting time on an appliance. The method includes connecting at least a first and second appliance to each other with a network, establishing a time of day, presenting the time of day on a display of the first appliance, and deactivating a display of the second appliance such that the time of day is not presented on the display of the second appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Xavier Meusburger
  • Patent number: 9798293
    Abstract: An alarm clock device is provided that includes a cup portion and a component housing. The component housing is coupled to a lower edge of the cup portion. The component housing includes a circuit board, a micro controller mounted on the circuit board, an orientation sensing component in communication with the micro controller and detecting movement of the alarm apparatus, and a speaker in communication with the micro controller emitting an audible alarm at a time designated by a user. A light ring is in communication with the micro controller and coupled to the alarm clock device between the cup portion and the component housing. The light ring illuminates the cup portion at the time designated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Bashir Roohani
  • Patent number: 9798294
    Abstract: A system for detecting tampering in a product having a tamper-detector seal, including a secure element configured to store a digital signature and a data associated with the digital signature, transmit the digital signature and the data associated with the digital signature in response to a request, detect tampering of the tamper-detector seal, and modify the data associated with the digital signature if tampering is detected. The system further includes a seal validation device configured to receive a public key associated with the product, request the digital signature and the data associated with the digital signature from the secure element, and validate the digital signature utilizing the data associated with the digital signature and the public key associated with the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Shlomo Markel, Jacob Mendel
  • Patent number: 9798295
    Abstract: A motor controller according to one aspect of the present invention is a motor controller for controlling a servo motor that drives a machine, including: a position command unit for outputting a position command of the machine; a position detector for detecting the position of the machine; a position controller for generating a motor velocity command based on the position command output by the position command unit and the machine position detected by the position detector; and a velocity controller for controlling the motor velocity in accordance with the motor velocity command, and is constructed such that the position controller includes a filter F(s) that approximates the inverse characteristic of the transfer characteristic from the motor velocity command to the machine velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nakamura, Satoshi Ikai
  • Patent number: 9798296
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter is provided, the method including, setting, as a first reference, a pressure data returned from the pressure sensor when a pre-PID ends, updating the first reference that is increased by a predetermined step to a second reference, determining an output frequency of the inverter by performing a PID control using the second reference, and determining an output frequency of the inverter by performing the PID using a third reference set up by the user when the second reference or feedback pressure data is equal to a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyo Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9798297
    Abstract: A control device (1) for controlling a control target comprising an astatic system (2) that has dead time is provided with: a dead time compensation system (5) that compensates for dead time at the control target based on the dynamic characteristics of the control target; and an integration error compensation system (6) that compensates for integration errors originating in the dead time compensation system (5). The integration error compensation system (6) comprises: an ideal response unit (7) in which the dynamic characteristics of the control target while in a state in which interference is not input are used as a model; and a correction unit (8) that is configured to correct a comparative value for the output of the ideal response unit (7) and the output of the control target and subsequently input the result to the control target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Nishida
  • Patent number: 9798298
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed control and energy management of one or more communities of energy-consuming units may include aggregation of consumption data from units, and determining per-unit electricity consumption based thereon, including consumption of backup power provided by a community during periods of time of poor quality (brownouts) or blackouts of a utility. A system may calculate and assess to respective units per-unit costs for such backup power. A system may also issue a command or alert to units to carry out one or both of community electricity usage objectives and electricity quotas required by the utility, which may be determined through execution of rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Vikrant Shyamkant Kaulgud, Sanjoy Paul
  • Patent number: 9798299
    Abstract: Various embodiments manage the operation of a substrate penetrating device. In one embodiment, a set of location information associated with a substrate penetrating device is received. At least one database including information associated with obstructed objects is queried based on the set of location information. A determination is made, based on the querying, that the area where the substrate penetrating device is operating includes at least one obstructed object. A probability is calculated with respect to the substrate penetrating device encountering the at least one obstructed object while operating in the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lorraine M. Herger, Neal M. Keller, Matthew A. McCarthy, Clifford A. Pickover, James R. Kozloski, Andrew Wyskida
  • Patent number: 9798300
    Abstract: A process for controlling a unit for torrefaction of biomass particles including: measurement of a mean diameter of the biomass particles; as a function of the mean diameter, calculation of a maximum torrefaction temperature for which the ratio of a characteristic time of the torrefaction to a characteristic time of the heat transfer at the level of the particles is equal to a minimum value; adjusting the torrefaction temperature to a value less than or equal to the maximum torrefaction temperature; adjusting the torrefaction time to a value such that the final yield by weight of the torrefaction is equal to a predefined target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CENTRE DE COOPERATION INTERNATIONALE EN RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT
    Inventors: Timothee Nocquet, Jean-Michel Commandre, Capucine Dupont
  • Patent number: 9798301
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for automatically managing an environment for a physical zone over a period of time. Position coordinates are received from a plurality of entities. It is determined which of the entities will occupy the physical zone over a time frame, the physical zone including at least one environmental characteristic. Environmental preferences are accessed for the entities determined to occupy the physical zone for the time frame. The environmental characteristic of the physical zone is adjusted for the time frame based on the accessed environmental preferences for the entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barry A. Feigenbaum, Sueann Nichols, Holly H. Nielsen, Elizabeth V. Woodward
  • Patent number: 9798302
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for performing industrial automation control in an industrial automation system. The method may include detecting, via a sensor system, positions and/or motions of a human. The method may then determine a possible automation command corresponding to the detected positions and/or motions, receive an automation system signal from at least one additional control component, and implement a control and/or notification action based upon the determined possible automation command and the received automation system signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Scott, Thong T. Nguyen, Suresh Nair, Timothy Roback, David D. Brandt
  • Patent number: 9798303
    Abstract: An industrial control system may receive processing information from at least two control systems associated with at least two components within an industrial automation system. The processing information may include a processing load value for each of the at least two control systems. The industrial control system may then distribute processing loads associated with the at least two control systems when a total processing load between the at least two control systems is unbalanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Rischar, William Sinner, Michael Kalan, Haithem Mansouri, Subbian Govindaraj, Juergen Weinhofer, Andrew R. Stump, Daniel S. DeYoung, Frank Kulaszewicz, Edward A. Hill, Keith Staninger, Matheus Bulho
  • Patent number: 9798304
    Abstract: A production process monitoring system is used to monitor a set of production parameters in a production process of a plurality of production units that perform parallel production operation. The production units comprise at least one reference production unit and at least one distribution production unit. The reference production unit comprises a first sensor, a second sensor, and a reference control unit. The distribution production unit comprises a second sensor and a distribution controller. The first and second sensors of the reference production unit is configured to monitor a first and second parameters in the production parameters in the reference production unit and output a first and second signals corresponding to the first and second parameters. The second sensor of the distribution production unit is configured to monitor the second parameter in the distribution production unit and output a second parameter distribution signal corresponding to the second parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Shun Jie Fan, Xian Tao Meng
  • Patent number: 9798305
    Abstract: A calculation device includes a plurality of calculation processing units configured to perform different processes with each other, a plurality of calculators configured to perform a same calculation, and a control unit configured to control a number of the calculators to be operated during each of a plurality of divided periods based on a length of a predetermined processing period and a number of calculations to be performed, such that a number of data which is equal to a number of calculations is processed within a predetermined processing period, and that the number of the calculators to be operated during each of the plurality of divided periods is averaged, the divided periods being obtained by dividing up the predetermined processing period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazue Chida, Akira Ueno
  • Patent number: 9798306
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods that provide an energy usage auto-baseline used for diagnostics and/or prognostics. One embodiment describes a method that includes determining, using an industrial control system, energy usage associated with an industrial automation component over a period of time based at least in part on an operational parameter associated with the industrial automation component, generating, using the industrial control system, an energy usage baseline associated with the industrial automation component based at least in part on the energy usage, in which the energy usage baseline includes an expected energy usage associated with the industrial automation component, and sending, using the industrial control system, a notification to a display of the industrial control system, in which the notification indicates that the industrial automation component is potentially experiencing a fault when the energy usage exceeds the energy usage baseline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip John Kaufman
  • Patent number: 9798307
    Abstract: Controlled startup of devices is based on dynamic statistical predictions. Timely startup of onboard associated vehicle devices is based on dynamic statistical predictions and driver proximity to the vehicle. An apparatus for timely startup includes an interface operatively coupled with a power consuming device and control logic coupled with the interface. The control logic is operable in a first mode to perform processing for determining a presence of a first condition of the vehicle, and to selectively activate the power consuming device of the vehicle, via the interface, responsive to determining the presence of the first condition. The control logic is operable in a second mode to suspend, via the interface, the processing for determining the presence of the first condition of the vehicle. The control logic selectively transitions between the first and second modes in accordance with a stochastic modeling of the presence of the first condition over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Ashok K. Moghe, Aaron A. Lung, Min He
  • Patent number: 9798308
    Abstract: A temperature controller that performs a temperature control on a plurality of temperature adjusters including a reference temperature adjuster to adjust a temperature of a semiconductor wafer includes a setpoint setting section that: sets a temperature detected by a master temperature detector as a control setpoint for a reference one of the temperature adjusters of a master loop, until a temporary setpoint below an actual control setpoint preset as a desired temperature of the semiconductor wafer is reached; and sets the actual control setpoint as the control setpoint for the master loop after the temporary setpoint is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KELK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Mimura
  • Patent number: 9798309
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory, machine-readable media that facilitates home automation control based on individualized audio differentiation of carbon monoxide detectors. Audio characteristics may be determined based on first sensor data. Attributes may be defined based on the audio characteristics. Second audio characteristics may be determined based on the second sensor data. Second attributes may be defined based on the second audio characteristics. Third sensor data may be analyzed to identify a first alarm or a second alarm based on a volume and/or a directionality determined based on the third sensor data. Consequent to identifying the first alarm or the second alarm, a home automation rule may be determined. The home automation rule may include an operational setting of a home automation device. The home automation device may be instructed based on the determined home automation rule via a home automation network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christopher Boyd Tirpak
  • Patent number: 9798310
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for searching a cross-regional power supply area based on a common information model (CIM) and a system thereof. In the method, a hash function is first created according to a size of a power grid in which a power source is located; identification numbers of all devices in the power grid are mapped to a discrete hash table according to the hash function, and a collision is solved by using separate chaining; and a hash topological graph of the power grid is formed by using the discrete hash table; and a power supply area of a designated device is searched by using the hash topological graph. According to the present invention, devices in a power supply area are located rapidly and accurately by creating a discrete hash table for all device resources, so that the amount of computation is greatly reduced, and the efficiency of searching the power supply area is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, STATE GRID JIANGSU ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, STATE GRID SUZHOU POWER SUPPLY COMPANY, CHINA ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, BEIJING KEDONG POWER CONTROL SYSTEM CO., LTD., NARI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bing Han, Jianguo Yao, Jiaqing Zhao, Zemei Dai, Kejun Qian, Xuewei Shang, Chunlei Xu, Lingtao Zhang, Weijin Zhuang, Lin Zhao, Yongliang Meng, Pai Sun, Yang Lv, Yan Liu
  • Patent number: 9798312
    Abstract: A numerical control device (1) of a machine tool capable of controlling its spindle rotating speed includes: a program analyzing unit (2) that reads ahead a machining program (6) by one block or more and analyzes a command for the machine tool; and a command determining unit (3) that determines, based on a result analyzed by the program analyzing unit (2), whether a command posterior to a spindle control command causes any machining problem when the command is executed during a spindle rotating speed change, outputs a first command, in which some problem occurs in the machining, after the spindle rotating speed reaches the commanded rotating speed, and output a second command, which is other than the first command, before the spindle rotating speed reaches the commanded rotating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Iuchi, Tomonori Sato
  • Patent number: 9798313
    Abstract: A method for controlling a device system (10) having a saw blade (14) that is attached to a saw arm (15) and that can be moved along an advancing direction (26) by a motor-driven advancing mechanism (13), whereby there is an infeed motion of the saw arm (15) with the saw blade (14) into the workpiece (18) and, during the infeed motion of the saw arm (15) into the workpiece (18), a control unit (27) calculates an arc length (?) of the saw blade (14) that is engaged with the workpiece (18), and the calculated arc length (?) is compared to a pre-set, critical arc length (?crit) of the saw blade (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Brugger, Georg Studer
  • Patent number: 9798314
    Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for testing mobile devices using an intelligent mobile device test fixture. A server computing device generates programmatic instructions for testing an application on a mobile device coupled to the test fixture, where the programmatic instructions are based upon a test script, and include a first set of instructions and a second set of instructions. The server computing device transmits the first set of instructions to the application, and transmits the second set of instructions to a controller board coupled to the test fixture. The application executes the first set of instructions to activate functionality. The controller board executes the second set of instructions to activate one or more servo motors of the test fixture that control movement of the fixture. The server computing device determines an updated state of the application after execution of each instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FMR LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Eugene Dougherty, Hongyu Wang, Hongbing Gu, Bahram Omidfar