Patents Issued in July 14, 2020
  • Patent number: 10712687
    Abstract: A developer container includes a container main body that stores a developer, has an outlet for discharging the developer to a downstream side in a conveyance direction in which the developer is conveyed, has a sidewall having a circular cross-section perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and has a first ridge that continuously or intermittently continues to the downstream side in a helical form in a certain winding direction and is formed on an inner surface of the sidewall, and a limiter disposed at a downstream end that is an end on the downstream side of the container main body, to secure a space between the limiter and the sidewall, the space extending to an upstream side of the outlet in the conveyance direction and extending from the upstream side to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Takenori Suenaga
  • Patent number: 10712688
    Abstract: In an example, a method includes providing a print agent comprising chargeable particles in a carrier fluid to a print agent concentration apparatus (600). The print agent may be passed between a conveyor (604) and an electrode (602), and a potential applied to cause the chargeable particles to be attracted to the conveyor and to form a concentrated layer of particles on the conveyor. A proportion of the carrier fluid may be separated from the concentrated layer of particles and a thickness of a remaining layer on the conveyor may be measured. It may be determined if the measured thickness of the layer meets predetermined criteria and, if not, an operational parameter of the print agent concentration apparatus may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Benjamin Dayan, Ezra Cohen, Marc Klein
  • Patent number: 10712689
    Abstract: When a first unit is disposed at a position at which a transfer member comes into contact with an image carrier, the first unit is urged in a first urging direction intersecting a movement direction of a second unit by a second urging member disposed between the first unit and the second unit being movable between a first attachment position with respect to an image forming apparatus body and a second attachment position different from the first attachment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ginga Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10712690
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a contact unit, and a constant-current controller. The transfer unit nips a recording medium using an image retaining unit and a transfer member and generates a transfer electric field in a transfer region therebetween so as to electrostatically transfer the image onto the recording medium. The contact unit is provided upstream and downstream of the transfer region in a recording-medium transport direction and comes into contact with the recording medium while the recording medium passes through the transfer region, so as to function as an electrode leading to a ground. The constant-current controller performs constant-current control on a transfer current to be fed to the transfer region by using a transfer voltage when the recording medium is a low-resistance recording medium having a predetermined resistance value or lower or having an electrically-conductive layer along a medium base surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoko Miyamoto, Noboru Hirakawa, Yasuhiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 10712691
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a medium to the medium comprises a heating rotating member that is rotatably supported; a heater configured to heat the heating rotating member; a pressing member arranged at the inside of the heating rotating member and configured to abut against an inner peripheral surface of the heating rotating member; a pressing rotating member configured to be pressed against the pressing member across the heating rotating member to form a nip through which the medium passes; a support member configured to movably support the pressing member in a direction orthogonal to a rotation axis of the pressing rotating member; and a lubricant supply member arranged between the support member and the pressing member and impregnated with a lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sasuke Endo
  • Patent number: 10712692
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit to fix a toner image which has been transferred onto a sheet by a transfer portion, a loop detector to detect an amount of a loop formed on the sheet at a position between the transfer portion and the fixing unit, and a controller to control a sheet conveyance speed of the fixing unit based on a detection result of the loop detector and control a rotational speed of rotary members to convey the sheet based on an area ratio which is a ratio of an area in which the toner image is formed by the transfer portion within a predetermined region set on a printing surface of the sheet onto which the toner image is transferred. The predetermined region is located at a position distant from a leading edge of the sheet more than a distance between the transfer portion and the fixing unit in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Munehito Kurata, Shinji Hashiguchi, Satoshi Murasaki
  • Patent number: 10712693
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a door; an image forming portion to form an image on a sheet; an image fixing portion including a heater, a nip, an electric energy supply connector for supplying electric energy to the heater, and a shutter for opening and closing an entrance of the fixing portion which leads to the nip; and a link connecting the door and shutter with each other to move the shutter in interrelation with movement of the door. When the door is opened, the link moves in a direction crossing with a surface of the nip to cause the shutter to move from an entrance opening position to an entrance closing position. When the shutter is in the closing position, substantially an entirety of the electric energy supply connector is covered by the link, as viewed from an upstream side relative to a sheet feeding direction in the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinta Cho, Atsushi Oguni
  • Patent number: 10712694
    Abstract: A temperature measuring device for measuring temperatures of a plurality of heating elements, includes a temperature measuring element positioned to receive infrared rays emitted from each of the heating elements and to output a signal corresponding to an intensity of the light reception, and a light guiding unit including a plurality of light guides, one for each of the heating elements, each light guide being configured to guide the infrared ray emitted from a respective one of the heating elements to the temperature measuring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masao Ando
  • Patent number: 10712695
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating device including a heat generator and a resistance value identifier, a body, a resistance value acquisition unit, a detector to detect detachment and attachment of the heating device from and to the body, and an electric power controller. The resistance value identifier corresponds to a resistance value of the heat generator. The resistance value acquisition unit acquires the resistance value from the resistance value identifier. The electric power controller causes the resistance value acquisition unit to acquire the resistance value when the detector detects detachment and attachment of the heating device. The electric power controller changes a lighting duty of the heat generator when the acquired resistance value of the heat generator is different from the resistance value before the detector detects detachment and attachment of the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Inoue, Tomoya Adachi, Yuusuke Furuichi, Yukimichi Someya, Masahiro Samei, Takamasa Hase
  • Patent number: 10712696
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt. A heat supply part is disposed inside the belt, contacts an inner circumferential surface thereof, and supplies heat thereto. A pressure member contacts an outer circumferential surface of the belt to form a nip portion, and conveys a recording medium while nipping the recording medium together with the belt. The heat supply part includes a heater having a plurality of heating sections arranged in a widthwise direction of the belt, and a thermal diffusion member extending in the widthwise direction between the heater and the belt. One surface of the thermal diffusion member contacts the inner circumferential surface of the belt, and the other surface contacts the heating sections. A plate thickness t (mm) between the surfaces of the thermal diffusion member, and a thermal diffusivity D (mm2/s) of the thermal diffusion member satisfy the relationship: t×D?6.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Takazawa
  • Patent number: 10712697
    Abstract: Provided is a fixing member includes: a substrate; and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer contains a rubber and fillers dispersed in the rubber, and wherein an average value of area ratios of large-particle diameter fillers is 20% or more and 40% or less, and the large-particle diameter fillers have an average array degree fL of 0.00 or more and 0.15 or less, an average value of an area ratios of small-particle diameter fillers is 10% or more and 20% or less, the small-particle diameter fillers have an average array degree fS of 0.20 or more and 0.50 or less, and the small-particle diameter fillers have an average array angle ?S of 60° or more and 120° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano, Mamo Matsumoto, Katsuhisa Matsunaka, Yasuharu Notoya, Yo Imaizumi, Takuji Oishi, Yasuhiro Miyahara
  • Patent number: 10712698
    Abstract: In an image forming operation of transferring one developer image to a recording material, when a plurality of image forming portions include a non-image forming portion that is an image forming portion which does not form a developer image on an image bearing member, applying means for applying a charging bias to a charging member which comes into contact with and charges the image bearing member applies a second charging bias to the charging member in the non-image forming portion, the second charging bias having a same polarity as a first charging bias for forming a developer image and being a voltage equal to or lower than a discharge start voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Mukai, Kazuhiro Okubo, Takahiro Kawamoto, Masanori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10712699
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer body, a plurality of image formation units arranged in a direction along which the intermediate transfer body moves. The plurality of image formation units includes a first image formation unit and at least one second image formation unit disposed downstream of the first image formation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10712700
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a processor and a memory to control a system having an image forming apparatus and a sheet discharge apparatus. Executing a memory store program causes the control apparatus to receive configuration information of the system and generate a system configuration image, receive stacking state information and generate a sheet bundle image, display a screen, receive job identification information of an image forming job of sheets to be picked up, and display a thumbnail image. The stacking state information includes a stacking amount of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking tray. The sheet bundle image represents the sheets stacked on a sheet stacking tray based on the stacking state information. The system configuration image and the sheet bundle image are combined in the screen. The thumbnail image is based on receiving the job identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Shinnae, Jerome Guermont, Nobuaki Miyahara, Ryo Fujita, Yoshitaka Oba
  • Patent number: 10712701
    Abstract: In a communication device, a processor identifies first and second group printing devices in accordance with device information on each printing device, and outputs device information corresponding to the first and second group printing devices in a distinguishable manner. A printing device having a tank accommodating printing agent greater than or equal to a first reference is identified as the first and second group printing devices. A printing device having a tank accommodating printing agent less than the first reference is identified as the second group printing device. A printing device without tank and in which a cartridge accommodating printing agent less than a second reference and greater than or equal to a third reference is identified as the first group printing device. A printing device without tank and in which the cartridge accommodating printing agent less than the third reference is identified as the second group printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Nogawa, Masafumi Miyazawa, Akiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 10712702
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a conveying member configured to convey paper along a paper path, an image reading unit configured to read a surface of the paper conveyed by the conveying member along the paper path, and a color sample member. The conveying member, the image reading unit, and the color sample member have a first arrangement in which the image reading unit reads the surface of the paper conveyed by the conveying member along the paper path. The conveying member, the image reading unit, and the color sample member have a second arrangement in which the image reading unit reads the color sample member. The conveying member is configured to change the paper path in front of the image reading unit for switching from the first arrangement to the second arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Shougo Fukai
  • Patent number: 10712703
    Abstract: A sensing device includes a housing, a supporting component, a grating module, a first roller, a second roller, and a control unit. When a media contacts with the second roller, the second roller drives the first roller to move the supporting component relative to the housing according to a thickness of the media, so as to adjust positions of the first roller and a grating wheel of the grating module relative to the housing. When the media drives the second roller to rotate, the second roller drives the first roller to rotate the grating wheel. The control unit determines whether the media proceeds at a predetermined speed according to a corresponding sensing signal generated by the grating module during rotation of the grating wheel, which allows a user to recognize a progress state of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AVISION INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Yao Chen, Ku-Ming Chen, Chia-Ching Lin
  • Patent number: 10712704
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying unit that carries a toner image on a surface of the image carrying unit along with rotation of the image carrying unit to transfer the toner image onto a target transfer unit, and a supply unit that supplies a larger amount of fatty acid metal salt to the image carrying unit as a rotation speed of the image carrying unit increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasutaka Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10712705
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exterior housing, an image forming unit in the exterior housing, the image forming unit, to form an image on a sheet, a scanner to read the image on a document, a first region in the exterior housing, the image forming unit being disposed in the first region in view from a front side of the exterior housing, a second region arranged side by side with the first region in a lateral direction in the exterior housing in view from the front side of the exterior housing, the scanner being disposed in the second region, and an opening defining a space in a front face of the exterior housing. The opening extends across the first region and the second region in a lower part of the exterior housing below the image forming unit and the scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishida, Yuki Sato, Ryuta Kaneda, Kentaro Uji
  • Patent number: 10712706
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing configured to hold toner. The cartridge may further include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a supply roller including a supply roller shaft, a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode and supply electrode may be configured to guide an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus in one or more directions. In some examples, the developing electrode and supply electrode may have angled surfaces that extend toward one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeyuki Takagi, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 10712707
    Abstract: A process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a rotatable roller having a rotation shaft in a position deviated from an axis of the developing roller; an Oldham coupling member at an end portion of the shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the drive receiving portion; a supporting portion supporting the drive receiving portion; an abutting portion receiving the supporting portion urged by the urging member, an elastic sheet positioned to contact at least part of the Oldham coupling member, wherein the abutting portion is positioned outside an outer periphery of the drum on a plane perpendicular to the shaft of the rotatable roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10712708
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes (i) a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member; (ii) a first drive transmission member capable of receiving a rotational force originated by the main assembly; (iii) a second drive transmission member capable of coupling with the first drive transmission member and capable of transmitting the rotational force received by the first drive transmission member to the developing roller; and (iv) a coupling disconnection member including a force receiving portion capable of receiving the force originated by the main assembly, and an urging portion capable of urging at least one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member by the force received by the force receiving portion to separate one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member from the other, thereby disconnecting t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Masatoshi Yamashita, Satoshi Nishiya, Kazuhiko Kanno
  • Patent number: 10712709
    Abstract: A developing device usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the apparatus including a driving shaft rotatable by a motor and having a rotating force applying portion, and a movable member, the developing device being mountable to the movable member, and the developing device being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft in response to movement of the movable member in one direction with the developing device mounted to the movable member, the developing device includes i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis; and ii) a coupling member for transmitting a rotating force to the developing roller, the coupling member including, a rotating force receiving portion engageable with the rotating force applying portion to receive a rotating force from the driving shaft, and a rotating force transmitting portion for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shiego Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 10712710
    Abstract: A developing device usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the apparatus including a driving shaft rotatable by a motor and having a rotating force applying portion, and a movable member, the developing device being mountable to the movable member, and the developing device being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft in response to movement of the movable member in one direction with the developing device mounted to the movable member, the developing device includes i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis; and ii) a coupling member for transmitting a rotating force to the developing roller, the coupling member including, a rotating force receiving portion engageable with the rotating force applying portion to receive a rotating force from the driving shaft, and a rotating force transmitting portion for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shiego Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 10712711
    Abstract: A drum cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus in a mounting direction, the drum cartridge including: a frame having an opening, the frame allowing a toner cartridge to be attached, and the frame including a housing configured to accommodate therein a toner and a first storage medium including a first electric contact; a photosensitive drum; and a second storage medium including a second electric contact and located at an outer surface of the frame, and in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted to the frame, the first storage medium is exposed via the opening and the second storage medium is aligned with the first storage medium in the mounting direction of the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahito Saeki
  • Patent number: 10712712
    Abstract: A timepiece capable of selecting a timepiece mode and a chronograph mode includes an hour hand and a minute hand which indicate current time in a case where the timepiece mode is, selected. A main control unit performs control so as to start measuring time by simultaneously starting hand operations of the hour hand and the minute hand in a case where the chronograph mode is selected. When the hand operation of one of the hands is stopped, the control unit performs control so as to indicate the time when the hand operation of the one hand is stopped, and to continue to measure the time by continuing the hand operation of the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakai, Tomohiro Ihashi
  • Patent number: 10712713
    Abstract: The present invention provides a smart watch, including a case; a window for covering a front surface of the case; a display unit mounted inside the window and including a center hole formed at a center thereof; a movement located on a rear surface of the display unit and including a shaft that passes through the center hole; a watch hand located between the display unit and the window and rotating by being connected to the shaft; and a main board for controlling the display unit and the movement, wherein the display unit includes: a liquid crystal panel; a light guide plate located on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel; and a first light source located at one side of the light guide plate and a second light source located at the other side of the light guide plate, and wherein the center hole is located at a center of the first and second light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaewook Kim, Taekyung Jung
  • Patent number: 10712715
    Abstract: A controlling and monitoring control application associated with one or more work operations of one or more utility devices is disclosed. The controller is programmed for controlling one or more external work operations associated with one or more utility devices. An I/O board is connected in communication with the primary controller having a module with a plurality of device-specific control applications associated with one or more device-specific work operations. The housing of the controller includes one or more cable access points for plugging a cable into the controller. The cable access points are sealed to prevent water from entering into the housing. A mounting bracket assembly provides flexibility for mounting the controller at various orientations and/or positions. The controller also includes a DC control circuit for controlling backlight luminance over the entire dimming ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Brian Philip Carlson, Ryan A. Chernik, Aron D. Dahlgren, Wesley M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10712716
    Abstract: A control device according to the present invention includes a plurality of arithmetic units that operate in parallel. A sensor value of the control amount is input to the first arithmetic unit in a signal transmission sequence, and a correction amount for the manipulation amount is output from the last arithmetic unit in the signal transmission sequence. The first arithmetic unit has a controller that produces an output by processing the input sensor value, and the arithmetic units other than the first arithmetic unit has a delay element that delays an input by a predetermined number of steps and a controller that produces an output by processing the delayed input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kota Sata, Junichi Kako, Satoru Watanabe, Yuta Suzuki, Masato Edahiro
  • Patent number: 10712717
    Abstract: Systems and methods for condition-based validation of performance updates are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method can include operating an asset under updated settings, ascertaining ambient conditions of the asset and matching the ambient conditions to a condition range, determining whether data completion criteria for the condition range are satisfied and, based at least in part on the determination, selectively switching between using the updated settings for operating the asset and using baseline settings for operating the asset while collecting data points for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raimundo Onetto, Peter Alan Gregg, Jeff Eric Bergman
  • Patent number: 10712718
    Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device that includes a touch screen display configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information, a network connection configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller, and a controller in operative communication with the touch screen display and the network connection. The controller may be configured to receive one or more messages related to the operation of the HVAC system via the network connection, and to display the one or more messages on the touch screen display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: David Quam, Kevin Weirich, Brad Paine, Michael Bruce, Ix
  • Patent number: 10712719
    Abstract: A testing machine for testing a test specimen includes an actuator assembly configured to be coupled to the test specimen; and a computing device configured to control the actuator assembly, the computing device including a graphical user interface that renders at least a visual representation or a simulated visual representation of at least a parameter of the component or the component changing in accordance with changes of the actual corresponding component on the testing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley Dean Schulz, Michael Ray Buth, Jeffrey Allan Breece, David Martin Tillman, Maureen Bitney, Darrell Robert Bennington, Pinklekumar D. Patel
  • Patent number: 10712720
    Abstract: A system adapted to provide alert signals to individuals or institutions and/or control signals to utilities control units to automatically stop the flow of gas, water, electricity, oil, etc., such signals being delivered in response to the detection of seismic events, the detection occurring via ground-based monitoring systems and/or satellite-based monitoring systems. The alert and/or control signals are distributed through various broadcasting systems or similar channels of communication, such as radio frequency transmitters, Internet service providers, cell phone wireless carriers, satellite phone service providers and/or security monitoring service providers, to individuals and/or facilities through smartphones, landline telephones, tablets, PC's, voice-controlled web communication devices or the like and/or to signal receivers on utilities control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: E-SEISMIC SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Everett Ogden
  • Patent number: 10712721
    Abstract: A network driven actuator mapping agent is provided. A system includes a sensor configured to sense an event in a first environment. The system also includes an actuator configured to perform an action in a second environment. Moreover, the system further includes a mapping manager configured to map the sensed event to the actuator to provide a custom interaction in the second environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony E. Martinez, Bradley S. Tagg
  • Patent number: 10712722
    Abstract: Environmental characteristics of habitable environments (e.g., hotel or motel rooms, spas, resorts, cruise boat cabins, offices, hospitals and/or homes, apartments or residences) are controlled to eliminate, reduce or ameliorate adverse or harmful aspects and introduce, increase or enhance beneficial aspects in order to improve a “wellness” or sense of “wellbeing” provided via the environments. Control of intensity and wavelength distribution of passive and active Illumination addresses various issues, symptoms or syndromes, for instance to maintain a circadian rhythm or cycle, adjust for “jet lag” or season affective disorder, etc. . Air quality and attributes are controlled. Scent(s) may be dispersed. Noise is reduced and sounds (e.g., masking, music, natural) may be provided. Environmental and biometric feedback is provided. Experimentation and machine learning are used to improve health outcomes and wellness standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Delos Living LLC
    Inventors: Dana S. Pillai, Nathan B. Stodola, Richard A. Macary, Trevor S. Granger, Shaun B. Stewart
  • Patent number: 10712723
    Abstract: A method and system for use in creating a profile of, managing and understanding power consumption in a premise of a user, wherein said premise comprises two or more power consuming devices comprises measuring, via at least one sensor, aggregate energy consumption at the premise, receiving at a mobile computing device comprising a data processor, said aggregated signal from the sensor, collecting and recording the aggregate signal over a plurality of time resolutions and frequencies, therein to create a predicted aggregate signal for each time x and frequency y, detecting changes in the predicted aggregate signal at time x an frequency y (detected consumption pattern changes) and conveying to at least one of the user, a utility company, and other third party a notification of detected consumption pattern changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Haghighat-Kashani, Janice Tze-Nee Cheam, Jonathan Mark Hallam
  • Patent number: 10712724
    Abstract: An input system and failsafe automation system, wherein the failsafe automation system includes a motion controller connected to multiple failsafe processors that are each respectively associated with a safety level, and wherein the motion controller includes at least one associated drive, where the respective drive is respectively associated with areas and each respective area has an associated safety level that indicates the level of (fail)safety level with which the respective area needs to be established such that the failsafe automation system allows individual areas in spaces such as production halls to be easily equipped with the necessary (fail)safety level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Extra, Hermann Jartyn
  • Patent number: 10712725
    Abstract: Provided is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process, the process including: acquiring transfer times of straight transfer paths for a hand of a vertical articulated robot having at least four controlled axes; calculating a vector of each of the straight transfer paths; comparing a direction of a vector of a target path for which a transfer time is to be estimated with a direction of the vector of each of the straight transfer paths, and identifying, among the straight transfer paths, a transfer path most similar in vector direction to the target path; and estimating a transfer time of the target path, in accordance with a scalar quantity of a vector of an identified transfer path, a scalar quantity of the vector of the target path, and a transfer time of the identified transfer path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Masuda, Yukio Ozaki
  • Patent number: 10712726
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a modeling apparatus configured to form a three-dimensional object obtains a number of times of stacking cumulatively counted and recorded in a storage unit of the modeling apparatus each time forming processing of the three-dimensional object to be performed by a forming device of the modeling apparatus is performed, generates a message including identification information for identifying the modeling apparatus and the acquired number of times of stacking, and transmits the generated message to a management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10712727
    Abstract: The subject technology is related to methods and apparatus for discretization and manufacturability analysis of computer assisted design models. In one embodiment, the subject technology implements a computer-based method for the reception of an electronic file with a digital model representative of a physical object. The computer-based method determines geometric and physical attributes from a discretized version of the digital model, a cloud point version of the digital model, and symbolic functions generated through evolutionary algorithms. A set of predictive machine learning models is utilized to infer predictions related to the manufacture process of the physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: XOMETRY, INC.
    Inventors: Valerie R. Coffman, Yuan Chen, Luke S. Hendrix, William J. Sankey, Joshua Ryan Smith, Daniel Wheeler
  • Patent number: 10712728
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a memory and a setting selector. The memory is configured to store setting items each relating to a motor, and the setting sequence to sequentially set the setting items. The setting selector is connected to the memory and configured to select a newly selected item from among the setting items based on the setting sequence, a user input, and a currently selected item of the setting items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI, YASKAWA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yasushi Kibe, William Phillips, Christopher Jaszczolt, Micah Stuedemann
  • Patent number: 10712729
    Abstract: An operational parameter setting supporting system for setting an operational parameter that specifies an operation of a component mounting apparatus is configured to include in an input unit into which a setting value of a component parameter and a setting value of the operational parameter that corresponds to the component parameter are input, a storage in which a correlation table in which the component parameter and the operational parameter that corresponds to the component parameter are associated with other is stored, and a rule table creation processor that creates a rule table from the setting value of the component parameter and the setting value of the operational parameter that are input into the input unit, and from the correlation table that is stored in the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 10712730
    Abstract: Methods aim to reduce and/or eliminate the need for shims in manufacturing assemblies, such as in manufacturing of aircraft wings. Exemplary methods include predicting a set of predicted manufacturing dimensions within a range of predetermined allowances for a first part, manufacturing the first part, scanning the first part to determine a set of actual manufacturing dimensions for the first part, and at least beginning manufacturing a second part before the scanning the first part is completed. The second part may be manufactured based on the set of predicted manufacturing dimensions for the first part. Once the scan of the first part is completed, the set of predicted manufacturing dimensions may be compared to a set of actual manufacturing dimensions to check for any non-compliant deviances between the predicted and actual manufacturing dimensions. Repairs and local re-scans may be performed in the areas of the non-compliant deviances, which may streamline manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Clifford D. Borowicz
  • Patent number: 10712731
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a control device including a memory storing address information and a server section communicating with the external machine serving as a destination of publishing the address information. The server section includes a determining section, a monitoring section, and an address managing section. The determining section determines priority levels of publishing variables included in a control program to the external machine in accordance with a predetermined rule. The monitoring section monitors free capacity of the memory. With respect to public variables for the external machine among the variables included in the control program, the address managing section adds logical addresses of the respective public variables to the address information in order of the publishing priority levels as long as the free capacity does not fall below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Nagata, Kotaro Okamura, Jintaro Deki
  • Patent number: 10712732
    Abstract: To reduce the working hours of a user in an operation and improve an operation rate in an industrial network system. A communication setting change part is provided which automatically changes, in a timing of an end effector replacement, the communication setting in a communication part according to the communication information that corresponds to an end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Ziqiang Xu, Junji Shimamura, Hirohito Mizumoto
  • Patent number: 10712733
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a pattern in time series data representing an operation of a machine. A memory to store and provide a set of training data examples generated by a sensor of the machine, wherein each training data example represents an operation of the machine for a period of time ending with a failure of the machine. A processor configured to iteratively partition each training data example into a normal region and an abnormal region, determine a predictive pattern absent from the normal regions and present in each abnormal region only once, and determine a length of the abnormal region. Outputting the predictive pattern via an output interface in communication with the processor or storing the predictive pattern in memory, wherein the predictive pattern is a predictive estimate of an impending failure and assists in management of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Nikolaev Nikovski, Yan Zhu, Amir-massoud Farahmand
  • Patent number: 10712734
    Abstract: Continuous monitoring of a model in an interactive computer simulation station. The model comprises a plurality of interrelated parameters defining a dynamic behavior of a simulated interactive object in an interactive computer simulation when inputs are provided on tangible instrument(s) of the station. During a diagnostic period of time, a frequency sweep of the model is performed for measuring the dynamic behavior of the simulated interactive object. During the frequency sweep, each of the tangible instrument(s) is automatically mechanically moved following an input function defining an input range variation at a related frequency. The frequency sweep provides an actual frequency response function for the tangible instrument(s) defining the dynamic behavior. The station is determined to require maintenance when the dynamic behavior of the simulated interactive object, measured by the frequency sweep, is outside of a target dynamic behavior range for the simulated interactive object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CAE Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent Myrand-Lapierre
  • Patent number: 10712735
    Abstract: Methods and systems for infrastructure-monitoring control are provided. An example method for providing a visual representation of system events occurring in a system monitored by an infrastructure-monitoring control system includes the infrastructure-monitoring control system providing, in substantially real-time, a visual representation of at least one system event occurring in the system, wherein the visual representation comprises a color-coded visual representation depicting the at least one system event throughout the system. The method further includes the infrastructure-monitoring control system storing the visual representation. Still further, the method includes the infrastructure-monitoring control system then providing the visual representation after a given amount of time since the at least one system event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ASCO POWER TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
    Inventors: Mario Ibrahim, Dan Sylvester
  • Patent number: 10712736
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a sever system includes a non-volatile storage device with a plurality of loadable configuration data and a configurable sever logic circuit configured responsive to a transfer of the loadable configuration data to perform a plurality of operations. The operations include mapping a plurality of module-level sever logic inputs to a plurality of module-specific sever logic functions as defined in the loadable configuration data. The module-level sever logic inputs are monitored by the configurable sever logic circuit based on the module-specific sever logic functions for a sever condition. A sever command to disconnect one or more outputs of a plurality of modules is triggered based on the module-specific sever logic functions and the module-level sever logic inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven A. Avritch, Christopher Brian Noll
  • Patent number: 10712737
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods of dynamically displaying a network of alarms. This can comprise establishing a first hierarchy of a plurality of alarms in an alarm server, the plurality of alarms comprising the network of alarms; receiving a state of the alarms over a network, wherein the state of the alarms are received from one or more Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) for Process Control (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) clients through a standard interface of an Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) Alarms and Events (OPC AE) protocol, communicating with the alarm server; dynamically changing the first hierarchy of the alarms based on the state of the alarms to obtain a second hierarchy of the alarms; and presenting, on a display in communication with the alarm server, a second list of alarms to an operator based on the second hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Johnny Downor