Patents Issued in August 21, 2018
  • Patent number: 10054928
    Abstract: A numerical controller capable of automatically calculating a tool path based on a command of a cutting path in skiving machining includes a command analysis unit that determines whether a block read from a machining program corresponds to a skiving machining command, a skiving machining command data calculation unit that calculates a path and a feed speed of a tool based on a path of a cutting point and a feed speed of the cutting point commanded by the skiving machining command when the command analysis unit determines that the block corresponds to the skiving machining command, and an interpolation unit that calculates interpolation data according to a progress rate of the block during actual machining based on the path of the tool calculated by the skiving machining command data calculation unit and a coordinate value during actual machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Nagano, Motohiko Itou
  • Patent number: 10054929
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating sensor data, wherein the sensor data includes measured transit time information for items flowing through a work process, accessing a set of control data for one or more machine tool workstations and accounting data for the work process, calculating a standard deviation of the measured transit time information, calculating an achievable minimum WIP for at least one of the workstations using current values of workstation performance parameters, receiving input including: information identifying process improvement projects and corresponding predictive performance parameter values, and information identifying resources available for process improvement, for the at least one of the workstations: determining an achievable minimum WIP using the corresponding predictive performance parameter values, determining a reduction in minimum WIP based on the difference between the achievable minimum WIP for the current performance parameter values and the predictive performance parameter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited
    Inventor: Michael L. George
  • Patent number: 10054930
    Abstract: In an error correction amount creating device that creates an error correction amount for a five-axis machine controlled by a numerical controller and having three linear axes and two rotation axes, the translation error correction amount and the rotation error correction amount for each lattice point of a lattice region into which a two-dimensional coordinate system space with the rotation axes is divided is obtained from data measured for each position of division of the respective axes and given to the numerical controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zhaojia Liu
  • Patent number: 10054931
    Abstract: A numerical controller having a machine abnormality history analysis support function includes drawing unit for generating a tool image based on CNC information in which operation state information of a machine tool at the time of detection of an abnormality by an abnormality detection unit is associated with information about the detected abnormality, and arranging and drawing the tool image in a coordinate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Satake, Hideaki Maeda, Kazuo Sato
  • Patent number: 10054932
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a slicing engine that generates two or more slices of a virtual 3D model given a slice plane. The slicing engine then determines connection points on each of the slices that indicate how the 3D model is to be reconnected by the user when the 3D model is fabricated. The slicing engine also determines an optimized layout for the various slices of the 3D model on fabrication material for minimal use of the material. The user is then able to “print” the layout on the fabrication material via 3D printers, and connect the various printed slices according to the connection points to build a physical representation of the 3D model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: AUTODESK, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Bachrach, Saul Griffith
  • Patent number: 10054933
    Abstract: Techniques are described for controlling distributed operations of devices, such as for devices that are each part of or otherwise associated with a mechanical system containing actuators to manipulate a surrounding environment and optionally further containing sensors to obtain information from the surrounding environment, and with such a device controlling the associated system to perform industrial operations. The described techniques may include identifying a group of multiple such devices to perform one or more assigned tasks, such as in a cooperative distributed manner with each device performing part of the assigned tasks, and/or in a competitive manner with some or all devices independently performing at least one assigned task. The performances of the devices may further be evaluated in various manners, and the devices selected to perform one or more tasks may be identified in various manners (including based at least in part on past performance evaluations).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Sirqul, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Frederick, Michael Sangeun Woo, Justin Jaewook Yu, Justin Arruda, Ryan Azucena, John Thomas Hurr, Matthew Aaron Kleczka, Russell Brian Dodds, Chris Gay, Thang Le
  • Patent number: 10054934
    Abstract: An industrial automation system includes a first computing device that communicatively couples to a second computing device via a communication network. The first computing device receives image data capturing a visual representation of industrial automation equipment in operation via the communication network, in which the image data is acquired by the second computing device; determines an identity of the industrial automation equipment based at least in part on the image data; determines relevant information regarding the industrial automation equipment based at least in part on the identity of the industrial automation equipment; and instructs the industrial automation equipment, the second computing device, the first computing device, the industrial automation system, a user, or any combination thereof to perform one or more operations in the industrial automation system based at least in part on the relevant information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jimi R. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, Matthew W. Fordenwalt, John J. Jauquet, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber, Kelly A. Michalscheck
  • Patent number: 10054935
    Abstract: A method is provided, including: establishing a session over the Internet with a client device, the session configured to provide for remote control or monitoring of a manufacturing tool over the Internet via communication with a controller of the manufacturing tool, the manufacturing tool being one of a plurality of manufacturing tools in a fabrication facility (FAB); receiving a request from the client device to access an equipment model defining a representation of the manufacturing tool, the representation of the manufacturing tool; receiving data from a controller of the manufacturing tool that is stored in association with a service object of the manufacturing tool; sending to the client device, via the session, a response to the request, the response including the data received from the manufacturing tool that is stored in association with the service object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: PEER Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond W. Ellis, Mark T. Pendleton, Charles M. Baylis
  • Patent number: 10054936
    Abstract: A manufacturing execution system (MES) for providing an indication of the performance of the line. The MES includes a configuration module for modeling entities and lines containing the entities. The MES also includes a runtime module configured to determine the entities on the line whose production can be extrapolated to evaluate the performance of the line. In some cases, the MES determines which of the entities on the line limits the performance of the line; in other cases, the MES determines which of the entities has a production amount that best represents that of the line. The MES is operatively connected to field inputs associated with the entities that provide production data for the entities. Using the production data for the entities chosen to represent the line, the MES generates production metrics representative of the performance of the line and displays them to MES users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Software, LLC
    Inventors: Raghavendran Gobalakrishnan, Keith Richard Frantz, Jeffrey Kohen Barkehanai
  • Patent number: 10054937
    Abstract: A manufacturing process management (MPM) computer device is provided. The MPM computer device includes a processor and at least one memory device. The processor is in communication with the at least one memory device. The MPM computer device is configured to receive a first engineering design for a first configuration of a product to be assembled including a plurality of features, determine a plurality of parts associated with the plurality of features based on the received engineering design, and prior to completion of a manufacturing process plan, generate a manufacturing bill of materials based on the determined plurality of parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward A. DiPippo, Kyle Kurtis Hagberg, Christopher Luis Carpenter, Max Neal Jensen, Anthony John Williams
  • Patent number: 10054938
    Abstract: A first embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising clustering processing tools of a processing stage into a tool cluster based on processing data and forming a prediction model for processing a semiconductor wafer based on the tool cluster. A second embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising providing cluster routes between first stage tool clusters and second stage tool clusters, assigning a comparative optimization ranking to each cluster route, and scheduling processing of wafers. The comparative optimization ranking identifies comparatively which cluster routes provide for high wafer processing uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Cheng Ko, Tzu-Yu Wang, Kewei Zuo, Kuan Teng Lo, Chien Rhone Wang, Chih-Wei Lai
  • Patent number: 10054939
    Abstract: An improved unmanned aerial vehicular system having a rotor head assembly with any balanced number of rotary wings or blades, a generally tubular body assembly, a gimballed neck connecting the head to the body, and a navigation, communications and control unit such as for military and humanitarian operations, including payload delivery and pickup. The vehicle is generally guided using a global positioning satellite signal, and by pre-programmed or real time targeting. The vehicle is generally electrically powered and may be launched by one of (a) hand-launch, (b) air-drop, (c) catapult, (d) tube-launch, or (e) sea launch, and is capable of landing on both static and dynamic targets. Once launched, unmanned aerial vehicles may be formed into arrays on a target area and find use in surveillance, warfare, and in search-and-rescue operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Paul G. Applewhite
  • Patent number: 10054940
    Abstract: A method is provided for assisting a driver of a vehicle. The method may include performing a lateral control of the vehicle in an autonomous mode, determining information about a surroundings of the vehicle, checking whether a longitudinal control of the vehicle performed by the driver is appropriate considering the determined information about the surroundings, and, if appropriate, continuing an autonomous mode of the lateral control of the vehicle. A driver assist system is also provided for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Solyom, Marcus Nils Gunnar Rothoff
  • Patent number: 10054941
    Abstract: A system and related method for regulating the location of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) determines the current position of the UAS via onboard sensors or via decoding and derivation of ADS-B signals received from other vehicles. The system may operate in inert mode, where the position of the UAS is not broadcast, or alert mode, where the position of the UAS is continually broadcast via ADS-B Out signal. Based on the position of the UAS, the system detects proximate vehicles, restricted airspaces, or other problem statuses of the UAS. If a problem status is detected, the UAS may activate the alert mode. If a problem status is critical, the UAS may execute an auto-landing or correct course to exit a restricted airspace or avoid a detected vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: uAvionix Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Beard
  • Patent number: 10054942
    Abstract: An autonomous driving control device capable of starting an autonomous driving control without an operation of a driver and reducing a possibility that the driver can not start manual driving. An autonomous driving control is switched to manual driving when a determination section determines that the amount of operation by the driver is equal to or greater than a first threshold, before a predetermined time elapses since the autonomous driving control is automatically started. An autonomous driving control is switched to manual driving when the determination section determines that the amount of operation by the driver is equal to or greater than a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, after the predetermined time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Maiko Hirano, Bunyo Okumura
  • Patent number: 10054943
    Abstract: A UAV has two rotors. First and second sensors sense a first and second type of input respectively. The second type of input is different than the first type, the first sensor providing a first sensor output and the second sensor providing a second sensor output. The first sensor output is input to a first computer and the second sensor output is input to a second computer. The first and second computer communicate in parallel to process the first and second sensor outputs to create a control signal having a predetermined number of variables therein, each variable having an exclusive position within the signal. The first computer outputs a first variable and the second computer outputs a second variable, each output being assigned an exclusive position within the control signal. At least one of the first and second computers outputting the control signal to the rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Hoverfly Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: George Richard Sapp, II, Alfred D. Ducharme, Daniel Burroughs, Stacey L. Ducharme
  • Patent number: 10054944
    Abstract: An illustrative example system for developing an autonomous vehicle response includes a simulator that provides an at least visual simulation of a plurality of different situations that may be encountered while driving, a driver input device that allows the driver to respond to the simulation of the plurality of situations in a manner consistent with the driver's driving response to the situations, respectively, and a compute device including at least one processor and data storage associated with the processor. The compute device is configured to determine a profile of the driver based on information from the driver input device regarding the driver's driving responses to the simulation of the situations. The profile is at least temporarily stored in the data storage. The profile provides information for controlling the autonomous vehicle response to an actual situation corresponding to at least one of the simulated situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Matt Jones, Peter Bontrager, Sebastian Paszkowicz, Paul Wheller
  • Patent number: 10054945
    Abstract: In one embodiment, driving statistics of an autonomous vehicle are collected. The driving statistics include driving commands, speeds, and changes of speeds in response to the driving commands at different points in time represented by one or more command cycles. Command delay candidates for the autonomous vehicle are determined, each of the command delay candidates represented by one or more command cycles. For each of the command delay candidates, a percentage is calculated for driving commands that resulted in a response of the autonomous vehicle conforming to the driving commands associated with the command delay candidate. One of the command delay candidates having the highest percentage of conformity is selected as the command delay for the autonomous vehicle. The command delay is utilized to plan and control subsequent operations of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Fan Zhu, Qi Kong, Guang Yang, Jingao Wang
  • Patent number: 10054946
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a gimbal; a first camera; a second camera to detect a point of interest on ground; at least one sensor; a first motor; a second motor to operate the first camera and the second camera to maintain horizontality; and at least one processor electrically connected to the first camera, the second camera, the at least one sensor, the first motor, and the second motor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect a change in an angle; control the second motor to control the second camera to maintain horizontality; determine whether the point of interest is changed; if the point of interest is not changed, control the first motor to maintain hovering; and, if the point of interest is changed, control the first motor to maintain hovering by moving to original position before moving and compensating for tilt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Young-Chul Shin, Wu Seong Lee
  • Patent number: 10054947
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to autonomous commercial vehicles. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for controlling a commercial highway vehicle. The method includes detecting a failure of a first component based on a first signal from a first sensor. The method also includes classifying, by an automated driving system on the vehicle, a severity of the component failure. The method further includes determining to stop the vehicle if the severity exceeds a threshold severity level. The method also includes determining an emergency stopping distance based on the severity and a current momentum of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a stopping location within the emergency stopping distance. The method also includes stopping the vehicle at the stopping location. The present disclosure also provides an autonomous commercial vehicle and an emergency control system for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: OMNITRACS, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley M. Mays
  • Patent number: 10054948
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is mounted on a vehicle including an emergency stop function to detect an abnormal state of a driver and automatically stop the vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus provides control at a time of stopping the vehicle and includes process execution sections and a process stop section. The process execution sections perform predetermined emergency processes in response to the emergency stop function stopping the vehicle; the emergency processes control instruments mounted on the vehicle and use a battery of the vehicle as a driving power source. The process stop section stepwise stops at least part of the emergency processes performed by the process execution sections based on a predetermined stop sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Teshima, Tetsuya Hara, Daisuke Takemori
  • Patent number: 10054949
    Abstract: A robotic surface treatment apparatus treats corners of rooms more effectively through intricate guidance of the apparatus through inside and outside corners. In one aspect, contact and/or non-contact sensors provide information to one or more on-board processors on the apparatus to enable selective overriding of obstacle avoidance program code and allow the apparatus to get closer to walls to facilitate treatment. In another aspect, the sensors provide information to the on-board processors to control backup motion of the apparatus to cover previously-missed areas when turning corners. In yet another aspect, the apparatus is shaped to have its treatment mechanism positioned more closely to the front of the apparatus to enable treatment more closely to walls near corners. In one embodiment, the robotic surface treatment apparatus is a robotic vacuum. The vacuum may have its cleaning brush positioned near a flat front portion of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Neato Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Mathew Alexander, Bruno Augusto Hexsel
  • Patent number: 10054950
    Abstract: A deployable docking station for supporting at least one mobile robot is provided. The deployable docking station includes a housing and an anchor connected to the housing. The anchor can engage with a surface to maintain the position of the deployable docking station. The deployable docking station is further configured to couple and decouple with the at least one mobile robot. The deployable docking station can be configured to selectively alternate between a first and second condition. In the first condition, the deployable docking station is coupled with the at least one mobile robot and the at least one mobile robot can transport the deployable docking station to a desired location on the surface. In the second condition, the deployable docking station is de-coupled from the at least one mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Pablo Carrasco Zanini, Ali Outa, Fadl Abdellatif, Brian Parrott, Sahejad Patel, Hassane Trigul, Ayman Amer, Ali Shehri
  • Patent number: 10054951
    Abstract: An indoor localization and navigation system for a mobile robot, the system comprising: a projector mounted on the mobile robot and configured to project a temporal projector light signal, wherein the temporal projector light signal is encoded, for each pixel of the projector, with an information segment comprising the pixel coordinates of the each pixel of the projector; a stationary sensor node comprising a light sensor configured to detect the temporal projector light signal and generate a sensor signal and a transmitter configured to transmit a sensor node identifier and a position code generated based on the sensor signal; a receiver mounted on the mobile robot and configured to receive the sensor node identifier and the position code from the transmitter; and an onboard computer mounted on the mobile robot and operatively coupled to the projector and the receiver, wherein the onboard computer is configured to receive the sensor node identifier and the position code from the receiver and to determine a l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiong Liu, Shang Ma, Sven Kratz
  • Patent number: 10054952
    Abstract: An automatic operation vehicle that automatically performs an operation in an operation area is provided. The vehicle includes a moving direction determination unit configured to determine a moving direction of the vehicle, an image analysis unit configured to extract a marker included in an image captured by a camera provided on the vehicle, and a survey unit configured to acquire, by triangulation, position information of the marker extracted by the image analysis unit. When the survey unit starts acquiring the position information of the marker, the moving direction determination unit determines, as the moving direction, a direction in which the vehicle does not come into contact with the marker, and an angle difference with respect to a direction from a current position of the vehicle to the marker is smaller than 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Shiromizu, Tsutomu Mizoroke, Makoto Yamanaka, Yoshihisa Hirose, Minami Kigami, Kensei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10054953
    Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product controls operations of a vehicle based on a condition of cargo being transported. One or more processors receive output from vehicle sensors on a first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the vehicle sensors describes a movement of the first cargo vehicle. The processor(s) determine that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused cargo in the first cargo vehicle to shift beyond a predetermined amount, and instruct a second cargo vehicle to adjust operations of the second cargo vehicle based on determining that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused the cargo to shift beyond the predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evelyn R. Anderson, Michael Bender, Michael Boone, Rhonda L. Childress
  • Patent number: 10054954
    Abstract: An aircraft landing system is disclosed. In various embodiments, an aircraft landing system as disclosed herein includes a processor that determines to start a final stage of descent for the aircraft. The processor determines a set of commands for actuators of the aircraft, based on the determination to start the final stage of descent, to flare the aircraft while wings of the aircraft are substantially in a forward flight position followed by transitioning to a vertical tilt position and completing the landing in substantially vertical flight. The commands are provided to the actuators of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Damon Vander Lind, Gregory Mainland Horn, Thomas Van Alsenoy
  • Patent number: 10054955
    Abstract: The system includes a rudder bar configured to be able to be actuated by a pilot of the aircraft, a unit for automatically detecting a position value corresponding to a position of the rudder bar, an auxiliary unit for generating a trim value, a computation unit configured to generate a control value as a function of the position value of the rudder bar and of the trim value. The computation unit is configured to generate the control value according to a nonlinear kinematic relative to the position value of the rudder bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Patrice Brot, Sylvain Devineau
  • Patent number: 10054956
    Abstract: A method of controlling a marine propulsion system includes receiving a roll position measurement signal from a roll sensor measuring roll position of a marine vessel and receiving a steering input. The method includes determining based on the roll position measurement signal and the steering input that the roll position of the marine vessel exceeds a port threshold in a port roll direction where no corresponding steering input is present, and determining based on the roll position measurement signal and the steering input that the roll position of the marine vessel exceeds a starboard threshold in a starboard roll direction where no corresponding steering input is present. A steering compensation is then determined based on the roll position measurement signal, and an actuator is controlled to effectuate the steering compensation to reduce a magnitude of the roll position of the marine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Anschuetz, Andrew J. Przybyl, Justin R. Poirier
  • Patent number: 10054957
    Abstract: A system for receiving feedback in a flight plan of a vehicle includes a haptic-enabled device comprising a crew seat with an inceptor mounted thereto; and a processor with memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive signals indicative of the flight plan for the vehicle; receive deviation signals indicative of a proposed deviation in a trajectory for the flight plan; and transmit signals to the haptic-enabled device representing trajectory constraints in the proposed deviation in response to the receiving of the deviation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Igor Cherepinsky, Harshad S. Sane
  • Patent number: 10054958
    Abstract: One example embodiment includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The VTOL UAV includes a flight control system configured to provide avionic control of the VTOL UAV in a hover mode and in a level-flight mode. The VTOL UAV also includes a body encapsulating an engine and the flight control system. The VTOL UAV further includes a propeller disk coupled to the engine and configured to provide vertical thrust in the hover mode and to provide horizontal thrust for flight during the level-flight mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Son F. Creasman
  • Patent number: 10054959
    Abstract: A device that includes a flow controller system that comprises one or more sensors, a flow measurement sensor that comprises one or more sensors. The flow measurement sensor is configured to generate a signal based on determine the difference between the flow as measured by the flow controller system and the flow measurement system in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Bhushan Somani
  • Patent number: 10054960
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system for controlling fluid systems and for remotely controlling fluid control devices. In some described embodiments, the system includes at least one fluid control device, a proportional valve driver coupled to the at least one fluid control device, a wireless network, and at least one user controller device coupled to the proportional valve driver through the wireless network. In some described embodiments, the proportional valve driver comprises a wireless transceiver, a proportional translation unit, and a parameter unit. The proportional valve driver comprises a wireless transceiver operable to establish a communication channel with a user controller, receive a request signal, transmit the request signal to a processor for deconstruction and execution, and transmit a response signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Lynch Fluid Controls Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Thomas Lynch
  • Patent number: 10054961
    Abstract: The present invention provides manipulation of spacing between microdroplets flowing in a microfluidic system. The manipulation includes increasing and/or decreasing spacing between a pair of adjacent droplets of a sample fluid flowing in an immiscible carrier fluid within a main microfluidic channel. The main microfluidic channel includes a region having one or more side branch channels. The spacing between the pair of droplets flowing through the region can be increased or reduced with either the addition of or removal of immiscible carrier fluid between the adjacent droplets via at least one of the side branch channels, wherein the pair of droplets remain intact while flowing through the region and continue to flow within the main microfluidic channel downstream of the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Rustem F. Ismagilov, Bo Zheng, Cory John Gerdts
  • Patent number: 10054962
    Abstract: A thermo valve has a valve chamber disposed inside a housing and open to a first flow path through an opening. Second and third flow paths open into the valve chamber. A thermo-element that can move back and forth axially inside the valve chamber in response to fluid temperature opens and closes the second and third flow paths and is biased in a direction that blocks the flow paths by a coil spring. A valve element that is a bypass valve that opens and closes an opening that connects the first and third flow paths inside the valve chamber and communicates the first and third flow paths is disposed in the opening. The coil spring is also used to bias the valve element in a direction that blocks the flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON THERMOSTAT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noriyasu Yajima
  • Patent number: 10054963
    Abstract: A thermally actuated flow control valve comprises a wax filled actuator assembly including a guide, a piston, a cup and a diaphragm. The cup is disposed at the guide first end and defines a cavity that receives a thermally activated pellet. The thermally activated pellet, diaphragm and piston act in concert to exert a variable actuating force as a temperature of a fluid increases between a first temperature T1 and a second temperature T2. The valve is arranged so that the cup and wax are directly exposed to fluid flowing through the valve and a peripheral shoulder of the cup acts as a valve member to control flow through the valve. One end of the guide also acts as a valve member to control flow between an inlet and outlet of a return flow pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Rostra Vernatherm, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin W. Lamb, Timothy Haskell, Kenneth Lionello
  • Patent number: 10054964
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide thermostat controls having improved tactile feedback. According to one embodiment, a thermostat includes a bottom member, a switch, a top member, and a motion guiding member or assembly that operationally couples the top member with the bottom member so that the top member is inwardly pressable by a user relative to the bottom member to allow the thermostat to receive input from the user by contacting the switch with a component of the top member or the bottom member. The motion guiding member or assembly contacts the top member near its outer periphery to control the inward motion of the top member relative to the bottom member to provide the improved tactile feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: John B. Filson, Eric B. Daniels, Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew Lee Rogers
  • Patent number: 10054965
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems for analog/digital input architecture having programmable analog output mode are described herein. One apparatus includes a current source component to create a current source, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control component to implement an analog output mode, wherein the analog output mode is implemented on a same input/output terminal as at least one other device mode, a dither input component to receive a dither signal, a current shunt component to create an input shunt, a resistance/thermistor input pull-up component to provide an excitation voltage, a voltage/current input scaling component to provide input prescaling, an input protection component to protect at least one port of the apparatus from damage, and an input filter component to provide filtering to high frequency noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey David Lucas, Victor Allen Camp, Eric B. Williams
  • Patent number: 10054966
    Abstract: A battery backup unit (BBU) for supplying backup power to a load includes at least one battery, an output terminal for coupling to a load, a power converter having an input coupled to the at least one battery and an output coupled to the output terminal, and a bypass circuit having an input coupled to the at least one battery and an output coupled to the output terminal. The power converter is configured to regulate a voltage at the output terminal after startup of the power converter. The bypass circuit is configured to regulate the voltage at the output terminal during startup of the power converter. Other example systems including one or more BBUs are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: VERTIV ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Francis Smith
  • Patent number: 10054967
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may be provided. The semiconductor device may include a reference voltage generation circuit suitable for controlling a level of a reference voltage depending on an internal resistance value, and controlling the level of the reference voltage depending on the internal resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Myung Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 10054968
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a reference voltage circuit. The reference voltage circuit includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) configured to receive a first current during a first phase of a clock cycle to generate a first base-emitter junction voltage, and receive a second current during a second phase of the clock cycle to generate a second base-emitter junction voltage. The reference voltage circuit includes a switched capacitor circuit configured to provide a reference voltage associated with the first base-emitter junction voltage and the second base-emitter junction voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Umanath R. Kamath, John K. Jennings
  • Patent number: 10054969
    Abstract: A reference circuit may include a bandgap reference stage, a filter stage, and a buffer stage. The reference stage may be configured to generate a reference voltage or current. The filter stage may be coupled to the reference stage and may be configured to receive the reference voltage or current, filter noise from the reference voltage or current, receive a buffer output voltage or current, and filter noise from the buffer output voltage or current. The buffer stage may be coupled to the filter stage and may be configured to isolate the reference stage and the filter stage from a loading effect of a load circuit and generate a reference signal based on the reference voltage or current to drive the load circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anand Subramanian, Anand Kannan, Sunil Rafeeque, Venakatesh Guduri
  • Patent number: 10054970
    Abstract: A voltage regulator which provides an output current at an output voltage at an output node, based on an input voltage at an input node is described. The voltage regulator has an output amplification stage comprising a pass transistor for deriving the output current at the output node from the input voltage at the input node; and comprising a driver stage to set a gate voltage at a gate of the pass transistor based on a drive voltage. A gain of the output amplification stage is adjustable. Furthermore, the voltage regulator comprises a differential amplification unit to determine the drive voltage in dependence of the output voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. In addition, the voltage regulator comprises a gain control circuit to adjust the gain of the output amplification stage in dependence of the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Ambreesh Bhattad, Frank Kronmueller
  • Patent number: 10054971
    Abstract: A received electric power reduction information calculation apparatus (corresponding to an example of a received energy reduction information calculation apparatus) has an energy predictor and a reduction information calculator. The energy predictor predicts a prediction amount of at least one of energy supply and energy consumption in a future prescribed time period with respect to at least one of an energy-supplying equipment and an energy-consuming equipment, based on a request for reduction of the received energy. The reduction information calculator calculates the reduction amount of the received energy associated with the prediction amount, based on an energy fee reflected from an expected fee of incentive with respect to the reduction request of the received energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaaki Saito, Dai Murayama, Yutaka Iino, Nagako Hisada
  • Patent number: 10054972
    Abstract: A system and method for centralized statistical analysis and control of power consumption is provided. The centralized statistical analysis, performed by a centralized power utility management system, may then be compared with one or more goals of the customer. Based on the comparison of the statistical analysis with the one or more goals of the customer, one or more actions may be taken including controlling one or more appliances resident at the customer premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Gaëlle Le Roux, Alastair Partington
  • Patent number: 10054973
    Abstract: A method for smoothing current consumed by an electronic device is based on a series of current copying operations and on a current source delivering a reference current. The reference current is delivered in such a manner that current consumed as seen from the power supply depends on the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Demange, Jimmy Fort, Thierry Soude
  • Patent number: 10054974
    Abstract: Current mirror devices and methods for operating a current mirror device. The current mirror device includes a first transistor having a gate, a source, a drain, and a back gate. The drain and the gate of the first transistor are coupled to an input node of the current mirror device. The current mirror device further includes a second transistor having a gate, a source, a drain, and a back gate. The drain of the second transistor is coupled to an output node of the current mirror device, and the gate of the second transistor is coupled to the gate of the first transistor and to the input node. A voltage source supplies a bias voltage to the back gate of the first transistor that adjusts a threshold voltage of the first transistor and to the back gate of the second transistor that adjusts a threshold voltage of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventor: Wern Koe
  • Patent number: 10054975
    Abstract: A sliding portion of a slider slides on a sliding surface of a base. This slider is biased toward the base by a stabilizer formed by an elastic, small-diameter, rod-shaped member. Specifically, the stabilizer is formed by a center portion, a link portion, a spring portion, and an abutting portion. When the abutting portion abuts an abutting recess of a cover attached over the slider to be biased toward the base, the spring portion plastically deforms about an arc portion. Due to a resulting reaction force, a pressing portion formed by the center portion biases the sliding portion of the slider toward the base. Accordingly, play may be suppressed with a small number of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoki Tachiiri, Yasuhiko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10054976
    Abstract: A remote controller includes a fixed body equipped with pivots in a first axis and pivots in a second axis, together with an operating lever. The remote controlling further includes a main frame configured to pivot about the axes to transmit pivoting movement of the lever to a pivoting sensor. The main frame is coupled by pivots to the lever. The lever has two pairs of arms to control the pivoting of the main frame and the pivoting of the auxiliary frame. The auxiliary frame is coupled to the lever by an intermediate frame. The intermediate frame is coupled to the auxiliary frame by a swivel. The frames are located under a plane of the axes and the lever is located above the plane of the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guillaume Fremiot, Benjamin Dollhofer
  • Patent number: 10054977
    Abstract: Managing system clocks of virtual machines. A host system clock value of a host system clock of a host system is obtained, and a virtual machine system clock value of a system clock of a virtual machine managed by the host system is determined. The determining of the virtual machine system clock value includes using the host system clock value and a system clock adjustment value. The system clock of the virtual machine is adjusted using the virtual machine system clock value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ivan Mikhaylov, Ivan Mironov, Petr Petrov