Combined (e.g., Automatic Control) Patents (Class 134/18)
  • Patent number: 12179550
    Abstract: A method for cooling a sensor of a vehicle, the method including receiving temperature data corresponding to the sensor from a temperature monitor; and in response to determining that a current temperature of the sensor being greater than a first threshold temperature, initiating a cleaning cycle and directing cleaning fluid to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Jackson, Dustin Yautz
  • Patent number: 12148674
    Abstract: A substrate processing method and a substrate processing apparatus for removing material on a substrate are disclosed. In order to remove the material, a processing liquid including a chemical liquid and water is supplied on the substrate so that a liquid layer maintained by surface tension is formed. The material is removed from the substrate by a reaction between the material and the processing liquid. A size distribution of by-product particles formed by the reaction between the material and the processing liquid is measured by a dynamic light scattering method. A supply of the processing liquid is controlled based on the size distribution of the by-product particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Suk Goh, Young Dae Chung, Ji Hoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 12147239
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for dividing a robot area based on boundaries, a chip and a robot. The method includes: setting, when the robot travels along the boundaries in a preset boundary direction in an indoor working area, a reference division boundary line according to data scanned by a laser sensor of the robot in real time; and identifying, after the robot finishes traveling along the boundaries in the preset boundary direction, a door at a position of the reference division boundary line according to image characteristic information of the position of the reference division boundary line acquired by a camera of the robot, and marking the reference division boundary line on a laser map, so as to divide the indoor working area into different room subareas by means of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: AMICRO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qinwei Lai, Yimian Xu, Yuelin Wang
  • Patent number: 12124540
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a map of a closed space. The method also includes obtaining trajectory points. The method also includes processing the trajectory points, and recognizing a correct door in the closed space based on the map and a result of processing the trajectory points. The method also includes dividing the closed space into zones based on the correct door and the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: QFEELTECH (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chenhao Wu, Minsheng Wu, Yiming Zhang, Zhen Chen
  • Patent number: 12117840
    Abstract: A method for identifying a doorway, including: capturing, with a sensor disposed on a robot, sensor data of an environment of the robot as the robot drives along a movement path; identifying, with a processor of the robot, at least one feature from the sensor data indicative of a doorway; identifying, with the processor, the doorway at a location within the environment upon detecting the at least one feature in the sensor data; and generating, with the processor, a map of the environment based on at least the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 12109984
    Abstract: A system to promote car wash safety and protection of car wash assets is provided. The system comprises a server and an application executing on the server. The system receives content from a video camera that captures video of vehicles entering a car wash. The system also performs a first analysis of at least tire alignment of a first vehicle with conveyor equipment. The system also performs a second analysis of characteristics of the first vehicle comprising at least body shape and optional equipment attached to exterior surfaces of the vehicle. The system also determines, based on the analyses, that at least one of a safety issue and a property damage issue is present and at least one of transmits an audible or visual message, transmits an instruction for adjustment of at least one car wash component, and transmits an instruction for full or partial shutdown of the car wash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Inventor: Claire Cunningham
  • Patent number: 12105519
    Abstract: Embodiments are proposed, including: a method for estimating the posture of a moving object by using a big cell grid map; a recording medium in which a program for implementing the method is stored; and the computer program stored in the medium to implement the method. More particularly, there are provided the embodiments including: a method for estimating the posture of a moving object by using a big cell grid map, the method dividing a map into a plurality of finite cells, and estimating and correcting the posture of a moving robot in the map (the big cell grid map) where map feature point information about a map feature point corresponding to a position of a corresponding cell is matched for each cell; a recording medium where a program for implementing the method is stored, and the computer program stored in the medium to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Twinny Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Hyoung Kim, Hong Seok Cheon, Jai Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 12099367
    Abstract: An obstacle touching detecting device for a swimming pool cleaner includes a main functional portion of the cleaner and a sensor obstacle touching detecting device. The main functional portion of the cleaner includes a cleaner main body, a controller module, and a power-driven actuating device. The controller module and the power-driven actuating device are connected to the cleaner main body. The sensor obstacle touching detecting device includes a trigger unit connected to the cleaner main body and a sensor detecting module electrically connected to the controller module. The controller module is electrically connected to the power-driven actuating device. The trigger unit works collaboratively with the sensor detecting module to trigger the sensor detecting module to generate a detection signal. An automatic detection is performed when the cleaner touches the wall or other obstacles, and the cleaner is controlled to change direction automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: WYBOTICS Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Qian Yu, Pu Cen, Jiancheng Huang, Yueming Wang, Shouqiang Guan, Zilong Zhang
  • Patent number: 12094732
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes step S51, step S52, and step S6. In step S51, a substrate immersed in a rinsing liquid is lifted from the rinsing liquid and the substrate is immersed in a rinsing liquid stored in a tank in a chamber while an organic solvent having a surface tension smaller than that of the rinsing liquid adheres to the substrate. In step S52, the substrate is lifted from the rinsing liquid. In step S6, a vapor of an organic solvent having a surface tension smaller than that of the rinsing liquid is supplied into the chamber in which the lifted substrate exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Miyajima, Keiji Magara, Takashi Katayama
  • Patent number: 12084089
    Abstract: A driving control device including a processor. The processor detects that a vehicle has encroached into an area configured for car-washing by a carwash machine, switches a travel mode of the vehicle to autonomous driving, and controls the vehicle so as to stop at a carwash position for the carwash machine under autonomous driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Teruaki Haibara, Kenji Hoshi, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 12080567
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: immersing a wafer in a bath within a cleaning chamber; removing the wafer out of the bath through a solvent and into a gas within the cleaning chamber; determining a parameter value from the gas; and performing remediation within the cleaning chamber in response to determining that the parameter value is beyond a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chun Hsu, Shu-Yen Wang, Chui-Ya Peng
  • Patent number: 12058048
    Abstract: Implementations are described herein for leveraging an “out-of-band” communication channel between nodes of a process automation system. In various implementations, an out-of-band communication channel may be established between two or more process automation nodes of a process automation system. The out-of-band communication channel may be outside of a process automation network through which the two or more process automation nodes are communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of the process automation system. The two or more process automation nodes may cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes to implement an at least partially automated process. One or more characteristics of the process automation system may be monitored, and based on the monitoring, traffic may be selectively diverted from the process automation network to the out-of-band communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Emerson, Joseph Malm, Andrew Keller, Patrick Clay, Hidenori Sawahara, Vien Nguyen
  • Patent number: 12027394
    Abstract: A method includes: supplying a processing liquid to a center position of a substrate surface; shifting a supply position of the processing liquid from the center position to a first eccentric position; holding the supply position of the processing liquid at the first eccentric position and supplying a substitute liquid to a second eccentric position; shifting the supply position of the processing liquid in a direction away from the center position, and shifting a supply position of the substitute liquid to the center position; and supplying the processing liquid to the first eccentric position at a first flow rate, and reducing the flow rate of the processing liquid to a second flow rate after the supply position of the processing liquid starts to be shifted from the first eccentric position in the direction and until the supply position of the substitute liquid reaches the center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Sakurai, Kazuki Kosai, Kazuyoshi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11994872
    Abstract: Provided is a method including obtaining a map of an environment of a robot; maneuvering the robot to a first location and orientation that positions the robot to sense a part of the working environment at a second location of the working environment; sensing, while the robot is at the first location, the part of the physical layout of the working environment at the second location; updating the map of the physical layout of the working environment; determining at least a part of a route plan of the robot through the working environment; and maneuvering the robot along the at least the part of the route plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11967518
    Abstract: Disclosed are a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate reversing method. The substrate treating apparatus includes a supporting portion, a transport mechanism, and a reversing mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a first suction portion and a hand driving unit. The reversing mechanism includes a second suction portion and a rotation driving unit. When the transport mechanism transports a substrate to the supporting portion, the first suction portion is located above the substrate and sucks the substrate upward while causing gas to flow along a top face of the substrate, and the hand driving unit moves the first suction portion to the supporting portion. When the reversing mechanism receives the substrate from the supporting portion, the second suction portion is located above the substrate supported by the supporting portion and sucks the substrate upward while causing gas to flow along the top face of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Takayama
  • Patent number: 11958735
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dispensing ice and at least one liquid, and related cleaning processes. In one embodiment, the system comprises an ice bin for storing a quantity of ice particles, a dispensing tube for carrying at least a first liquid, and a discharge chute in communication with a discharge outlet, wherein the discharge chute is disposed upstream of the discharge outlet. An outlet end of the dispensing tube is positioned within a portion of the ice bin at a location aligned above the discharge outlet. The ice particles and the first liquid are dispensed through the discharge outlet separately or at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: FOLLETT PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Paul William Blayle
  • Patent number: 11920335
    Abstract: An information processing system includes an acquisition unit that acquires excretion information, based on imaging data captured by an image capture apparatus installed in such a way as to include, in an image capture range, an excretion range of excrement in a toilet bowl of a toilet, a generation unit that generates presentation information to be output, based on the excretion information, and a control unit. The acquisition unit acquires information that indicates whether a foreign body being an object other than feces and urine is included in the imaging data as a subject excluding the toilet bowl and washing liquid for the toilet bowl. When information including the foreign body is acquired, the control unit outputs a stop command for stopping a washing function of the toilet bowl to the toilet bowl side, and the generation unit generates alert information as at least a part of the presentation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Furuya, Tsutomu Mieno, Haruhiko Yamabuchi
  • Patent number: 11910979
    Abstract: A water-using household appliance includes a pump sump, a filter element arranged at least partially in the pump sump, and a nozzle unit arranged on the pump sump. The nozzle unit produces an annular flow between the pump sump and the filter element in order to remove dirt from the filter element, with the annular flow flowing around the filter element only in one direction of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Heinle, Anton Oblinger
  • Patent number: 11812935
    Abstract: In an endoscope cleaning work support device, an operation reception unit received an input from a cleaner. A display control unit controls the display unit to display a procedure for manual cleaning of an endoscope on a display unit step by step. A measurement unit measures a first period of time from a start time of a procedure in a current step marked by reception of an input for displaying the procedure in the current step by the operation reception unit, to an end time of the procedure in the current step marked by reception of an input for displaying a procedure in a subsequent step by the operation reception unit. A comparison determination unit compares a reference period of time defined for each step for displaying the procedure with the first period of time. The display control unit displays information for alerting the cleaner when the first period of time is shorter than the reference period of time on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishi, Hikari Shimizu, Clarinda Kuan, Kaori Kitano, Yoshiko Ikeda, Takeshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11795719
    Abstract: An operating method of an underwater robot based on ultrasonic radar, an underwater robot and a non-volatile storage medium is described. The method comprises: controlling the underwater robot to travel in a first direction from any first position at a bottom of a pool to a second position close to a wall of the pool based on an electrical signal from the ultrasonic radar; controlling the underwater robot to travel from the second position along the wall to a third position to generate an along-wall path; comparing the along-wall path with a pool bottom model, and determining the position information of the third position in the pool bottom model; and controlling the underwater robot to travel along a spiral path starting from the third position to traverse the whole bottom based on the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: COCLEAN Technologies, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fei Zhao, Ye Zhao
  • Patent number: 11782142
    Abstract: A device which is designed to detect surroundings and which includes a housing and a sensor situated within the housing. The housing includes a transmitter/receiver window, through which the corresponding sensor signals may be emitted into the surroundings by the sensor, and/or sensor signals from the surroundings may be received. The device includes a cover, the cover being designed to be transparent to the sensor signals, and the cover being designed to cover the transmitter/receiver window against exterior surroundings of the device. The device includes a cleaning unit, which is situated at an outside of the housing and is movable relative to the housing using a drive unit. The cleaning unit is designed to remove contaminants from the cover. The cleaning unit includes at least one first nozzle to spray a cleaning liquid onto the cover, and at least one second nozzle to blow a gas onto the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andre Albuquerque, Annemarie Holleczek, Joao Oliveira, Pedro Caldelas, Maria Vorontsova, Ricardo Andre
  • Patent number: 11769390
    Abstract: A furniture cleaning management system (FCMS) for a furniture affordance includes an indicator for indicating a state of the furniture affordance, a sensor option generating a signal indicating that the furniture affordance has been cleaned, and a processor receiving the trigger signal from the sensor option and causing the indicator to indicate that the furniture affordance is a cleaned state. The state of the furniture affordance indicated by the indicator may be selected from the cleaned state and a needs cleaning state. The processor may cause the indicator to indicate that the furniture affordance is in the needs cleaning state according to a schedule of furniture affordance occupancy, a schedule of furniture affordance cleaning, or as a consequence of sensing a user occupancy state at the furniture affordance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: MillerKnoll, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew James Lilley
  • Patent number: 11697140
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a tool is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a support structure having a first base portion, and a nozzle disposed on the first base portion of the support structure. The cleaning apparatus further includes circuitry that is communicatively coupled to an electronically-actuated fluid release mechanism and a robot. The circuitry determines a count of operation cycles of the tool coupled to an end-effector of the robot and instructs the robot to align the tool with the nozzle. The instruction is provided to the robot based on a determination that the determined count is greater than or equal to a threshold number. The circuitry controls the electronically-actuated fluid release mechanism based on whether the tool is aligned with the nozzle, to release a cleaning fluid through the nozzle for a first time-duration to clean the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jasmeen Luckey, Rodney Riley
  • Patent number: 11676708
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for managing hospital operating room turnover. One exemplary method includes communicating a request associated with a task to one or more users, receiving an acceptance of the request at an acceptance time by the one or more users, determining if the acceptance is on time, starting the task at a task start time, determining if the acceptance is on time based on comparing the task start time with the start due time to determine if the task start time is earlier or equal to the task start due time, indicating task completion by one or more users, recording task completion, and communicating availability of a room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: CCDR GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Guarino, Damian Barker, Chris DiRusso
  • Patent number: 11627861
    Abstract: Image classification is used to dynamically control one or more wash parameters in an automated cleaning machine. An imaging device installed in the wash chamber of the cleaning machine captures one or more image(s) of articles to be cleaned at various times throughout a cleaning process. A computing device analyzes the captured image(s) to classify the images as to an article type and a rack volume. Based on the article type classification and the rack volume, the computing device dynamically controls one or more parameters of the cleaning process to achieve a satisfactory cleaning and/or sanitizing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian, Elizabeth Minhee Han, Paul R. Kraus, Rachel Marie McGinness
  • Patent number: 11627859
    Abstract: A wash monitoring system including a water flow meter that transmits water flow readings of flow through a water line, chemical conduits with color sensors on the chemical conduits and configured to transmit color readings of a chemical within the chemical conduits, and chemical flow meters on the chemical conduits that transmit chemical flow readings of flow through the chemical conduits. The system includes a memory containing processor-executable instructions that cause processors to compare the water flow readings with a range of water flow readings, compare the chemical flow readings with a range of chemical flow readings, compare the color readings with a range of color readings associated with each of the one or more chemical conduits, and initiate an alarm if one of the water flow readings, the chemical flow readings, or the color readings are not within the respective ranges of readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: WASHGUARD LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Kaner, Gary Estes, Daniel Devore, Alan Seiler
  • Patent number: 11614744
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relates to a self-moving apparatus and a method for controlling same, the self-moving apparatus including: a housing; a movement module for driving the housing to move; an ultrasonic module configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and receive an echo signal formed through reflection of an obstacle; and a control module installed on the housing and connected to the ultrasonic module, to implement an ultrasonic detection function by processing the echo signal, thereby controlling a movement mode of the movement module. The control module can control disabling of the ultrasonic detection function according to a received preset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuanzhong Ran, Jiang Du, Kai Wang
  • Patent number: 11585037
    Abstract: A dosing device or system for dispensing tablets, which can include at least one active ingredient for an automatic washing process, into an automatic washing machine, wherein the dosing device or system is for dispensing one or more, but not all, of the tablets at once into the automatic washing machine, and wherein the dosing device or system can be for dispensing only one tablet at once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Finish B.V.
    Inventors: Henry Matthew Lawrence Fletcher, Max William Middleton, Colin Pryor, Simon Burge, Charles Kevin Dillon, Iain Christopher Smith, Mike Andrew Vilhauer, Thomas Murray Fry, Rosanna Elizabeth Parrish, Jörg Peter Pflug, Kai Werner Heppert
  • Patent number: 11548040
    Abstract: A household dishwasher includes a receiving compartment for receiving an item to be washed, a pump sump, and a heat pump assembly through which, during operation, a heat transfer medium flows. The heat pump assembly includes a plate condenser configured to enable a transfer of heat from the heat transfer medium to a washing liquor circulating in the household dishwasher. A spray assembly supplies washing liquor to the item to be washed. A first flow path extends from the pump sump to the spray assembly for conducting the washing liquor, and a second flow path extends from the pump sump to the plate condenser. Means are provided to prevent or hinder foreign matter that is swept along with the washing liquor from adhering to a washing-liquor-facing surface of the plate condenser, or to detach foreign matter adhering to the washing-liquor-facing surface from said surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Naiara Arandigoyen Martínez, Sergio Casado Carlino, Esther Castillo Bergad, Eloy Merino Alcaide, Gustavo Moliner Murillo, Jose Maria Sadaba Chalezquer, Xabier Sagües García, Koldo Urdiain Yoldi, Ciro Sebastián Vereda Ortiz
  • Patent number: 11467553
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for initiating actions based on sequences of events. In one aspect, a process includes receiving, from each of multiple devices, data specifying an event detected by the device. The events are compared to configured scenarios that each specify a sequence of trigger events and an action to be initiated in response to detecting the sequence of trigger events. A determination is made that the events match a first scenario of the scenarios. In response to determining that the events detected by the multiple devices match the first scenario, a first action specified by the first scenario is initiated. A determination is made that a combination of one or more of the events detected by the multiple devices and the first action matches a second scenario. In response, a second action specified by the second scenario is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Thomas Short, Mary Elizabeth Hamilton, Grace T. Cheng, Michael E. Simanek, Andrew Albert Nat, III, Amir M. Khan, Joseph Pollock, Fadi Mahmoud, Michael Baroody
  • Patent number: 11457559
    Abstract: A control device includes: an image acquiring section that acquires image data of an image of a work target of the work machine; a feature recognizing section that recognizes a feature about at least one of (i) a type of the work target of the work machine, (ii) a number or density of the work target, (iii) a shape of the work target and (iv) an appearance of the work target after work, based on the image data acquired by the image acquiring section; and a control parameter deciding section that decides at least either (i) a parameter for controlling travel of the work machine or (ii) a parameter for controlling work of the work machine, based on the feature recognized by the feature recognizing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Haneda, Takamasa Udagawa, Makoto Yamamura, Masato Fujiwara, Ryuichi Kimata, Satoshi Onodera, Yutaka Tsuji, Hiroyuki Isegawa
  • Patent number: 11434518
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a monitoring device comprising a test composition, a test element comprising a test portion to which the test composition is releasably adhered, a detection reagent, and a container comprising a first end with an opening and a second end opposite the first end. The test composition comprises a predetermined quantity of tracer analyte. The container is configured to receive the test portion and configured to be operationally coupled to an analytical instrument. The tracer analyte and the detection reagent each are capable of participating in one or more chemical reaction that results in the formation of a detectable product. A method of using the monitoring device to assess the efficacy of a washing process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: G. Marco Bommarito, Ting Liu, Timothy J. Nies
  • Patent number: 11428360
    Abstract: A vertical barrel of an internal diameter to receive a pig having a selected uncompressible diameter, a reducer to compress the pig to a compressed diameter and a fluid system to introduce fluid pressure into the upper end of the barrel to drive the pig through the reducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: R.W. LYALL & COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: William DeKeyser
  • Patent number: 11419476
    Abstract: A method for controlling a domestic appliance includes the following steps: determining conventional operating parameters when the domestic appliance is in operation; determining a correlation of the operating parameters with respect to external information; and determining a proposal for operating the domestic appliance with the modified operating parameters if the external information deviates from a conventional value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Georg Rosenbauer, Volker Thaens, Sebastian Von Kummer
  • Patent number: 11390981
    Abstract: A dosing device or system for dispensing tablets, which can include at least one active ingredient for an automatic washing process, into an automatic washing machine, wherein the dosing device or system is for dispensing one or more, but not all, of the tablets at once into the automatic washing machine, and wherein the dosing device or system can be for dispensing only one tablet at once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: RECKITT BENCKISER FINISH B.V.
    Inventors: Henry Matthew Lawrence Fletcher, Max William Middleton, Joerg Peter Pflug, Kai Werner Heppert
  • Patent number: 11363929
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for training and operating of robotic appliances. Robotic appliance may be operable to clean user premises. The user may train the appliance to perform cleaning operations in constrained areas. The appliance may be configured to clean other area of the premises automatically. The appliance may perform premises exploration and/or determine map of the premises. The appliance may be provided priority information associated with areas of the premises. The appliance may perform cleaning operations in order of the priority. Robotic vacuum cleaner appliance may be configured for safe cable operation wherein the controller may determine one or more potential obstructions (e.g., a cable) along operating trajectory. Upon approaching the cable, the controller may temporarily disable brushing mechanism in order to prevent cable damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Brain Corporation
    Inventors: Botond Szatmary, Vadim Polonichko
  • Patent number: 11361979
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate holding portion which holds a substrate W. The substrate holding portion includes two movable holding pins and two fixed holding pins which sandwich the substrate. The substrate processing apparatus includes two support pins which support the substrate W held by the substrate holding portion from below. Each of the support pins has an inner portion which overlaps the substrate held by the substrate holding portion in a vertical direction. An upper end of the support pin is on a side below an overlapping portion of the substrate which overlaps the inner portion in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nishida, Nobuaki Okita
  • Patent number: 11357374
    Abstract: A cleaning device and a method therefor are provided. The cleaning device includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting container and a docking station to which the dust collecting container is coupled. The docking station includes a suction device configured to move air from the dust collecting container to inside of the docking station, a collector configured to collect a foreign substance that is moved together with the air by driving of the suction device, a suction flow path along which air moves inside the docking station, a flow adjusting device configured to open or close the suction flow path, and at least one processor configured to control the suction device to operate based on the dust collecting container being coupled to the docking station, and control the flow adjusting device to periodically open and close the suction flow path in a state in which the suction device operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoonkyung Cho, Seehyun Kim, Jongsoon Kim, Gihyeong Lee, Seongu Lee, Ahyoung Lee, Jaeshik Jeong, Seungryong Cha
  • Patent number: 11342202
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: spinning a wafer around an axis of rotation at a center of the wafer; applying a first stream of liquid along a line starting from an initial point on the wafer adjacent to the center of the wafer, through the center of the wafer, and ending at an edge of the wafer; applying a second stream of liquid to an inner third of the line starting at the initial point and ending at a boundary point; applying a third stream of liquid to a middle third of the line starting at the boundary point; applying a fourth stream of liquid to an outer third of the line ending at the edge of the wafer; applying a fifth stream of liquid along the line starting from the initial point and ending at the edge of the wafer; and applying a stream of gas along the line starting from the initial point and ending at the edge of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Yu Lee, Sen-Yeo Peng, Chui-Ya Peng
  • Patent number: 11342167
    Abstract: A time period for cleaning performed to remove a deposit formed within a chamber main body can be reduced. A plasma processing method including the cleaning of an inside of the chamber main body of a plasma processing apparatus is provided. The method includes etching including a main etching of etching an etching target film of a processing target object placed on a stage in a low temperature by generating plasma of a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and/or a hydrofluorocarbon gas; carrying-out the processing target object from a chamber; and cleaning the inside of the chamber main body by generating plasma of a cleaning gas in a state that a temperature of an electrostatic chuck is set to be high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jin Kudo, Taku Gohira
  • Patent number: 11330959
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller opens a water supply valve to provide a flow of water into the sump and monitors the sump pressure using the pressure sensor. The controller determines when the water has reached the transition fill level corresponding to a known transition fill volume. The controller determines a fill flow rate based on the amount of time needed to reach the transition fill volume and uses the fill flow rate to determine a remaining fill time needed to reach a target volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Nasib Alhaffar, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Patent number: 11322346
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate may include preparing the substrate, polishing the substrate, and cleaning the substrate using a double nozzle, which is configured to provide a spray and a chemical solution onto the substrate. The spray may include a deionized water, and the chemical solution may be diluted with the deionized water. The chemical solution and the spray may be spaced apart from each other by a distance of 7 cm to 12 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yeongbong Park, Jisu Kim, Byoungho Kwon
  • Patent number: 11311172
    Abstract: A household dishwasher includes a dishwasher cavity for accommodating items to be washed, a controller apparatus configured to perform one wash program from a number of wash programs for washing the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity, an optical sensor configured to capture an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity, and an evaluating unit configured to ascertain a loading state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the captured optical sensor signal of the items to be washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Maria Terrádez Alemany, Kai Paintner, Matthias Heckes, Daniel Hitzler
  • Patent number: 11310993
    Abstract: The present invention provides an autonomous cleaning robot device for cleaning in the animal husbandry environment. The cleaning robot is composed of a master machine (autonomous moving controller) and a slave machine (self-propelled cleaning head). The master machine and the slave machine are connected by a robotic arm and a traction hose. The robotic arm can adapt to the movement of the cleaning slave machine to reduce the resistance and secondary pollution or damage caused by friction between the traction cable and the ground during the movement. The traction hose combined with the robotic arm allows slave machine to enter and exit the fence without opening and closing the door to improve efficiency. In the treatment of dirt, the excrement is collected by a suction driving device, and is centrally collected in a storage tank, and then is compacted into blocks by the excrement compression device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chung-Hsien Kuo, Yu-Cheng Kuo
  • Patent number: 11315820
    Abstract: A substrate processing device is provided. A chamber has a side wall part and a top wall part and contains a substrate holding part. A first gas supply part is disposed in the top wall part and supplies a first gas toward a side on which the substrate holding part is positioned. A second gas supply part is contained in the chamber and supplies a second gas to an inside of the chamber. A control unit controls the first and second gas supply part. The second gas is a gas different from oxygen and an allotrope of oxygen. The second gas supply part has an air feeding port part which is positioned on an upward side of a holding position of a substrate by the substrate holding part in a vertical direction and is positioned on an outward side of the substrate holding part in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ito, Noriyuki Kikumoto, Kazuki Inoue, Kunio Yamada
  • Patent number: 11287832
    Abstract: Provided is a robot-implemented, real-time, process to plan a coverage path, the process including: obtaining environment-sensor data indicating distances from the robot to surfaces in a portion of a working environment; obtaining odometry-sensor data; based on the environment-sensor data and the odometry-sensor data, determining at least a part of a coverage path of the robot through the working environment; and commanding an electric-motor driver to move the robot along the at least part of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11285862
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular lighting device (1) attached to a motorbike (100) that is capable of traveling around corners due to the vehicle body being tilted toward the direction for turning, wherein the vehicular lighting device (1) comprises at least two lamps and a sensor (7) for detecting the surrounding environment toward the rear of the vehicle. The vehicular lighting device (1) comprises a left lighting unit (2L) and a right lighting unit (2R) as the at least two lamps. The sensor (7) is disposed between the left lighting unit (2L) and the right lighting unit (2R) as viewed from rearward of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACIURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Harada, Keisuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 11253131
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dishwasher for washing the dishes or the cooking utensils by spraying washing water and steam and a controlling method therefor. The method of controlling a dishwasher includes: a steam supply step of supplying washing water to the sump from an external water source; and a steam generation step of maintaining a water level of the washing water existing inside the washing pump at a certain water level or higher and heating the washing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yongtae Kwon
  • Patent number: 11256180
    Abstract: A method includes transferring a wafer into a first processing chamber by using a robot arm mechanism, and applying a photoresist on the wafer in a first processing chamber. The wafer is transferred from the first processing chamber into a second processing chamber by using the robot arm mechanism, and the photoresist is exposed to a pattern of light in the second processing chamber. The method includes transferring the wafer from the second processing chamber into a third processing chamber by using the robot arm mechanism, and developing the exposed wafer in the third processing chamber. The method includes cleaning the robot arm mechanism in a dummy chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Chun Hsieh, Pei-Yi Su, Chih-Che Lin
  • Patent number: 11247246
    Abstract: A process of using a chemical gel cleaning formulation to clean a cooling tower fill, comprising the steps of applying a pre-rinse fluid to the fill; applying the chemical gel cleaning formulation to the fill, wherein the chemical gel cleaning formulation includes glycerin, at least one polysaccharide, at least one corrosion inhibitor, at least one surfactant, and at least one acid; applying a descaling fluid to the fill; applying a neutralizer solution to the fill to neutralize the pH of residual fluid on the fill surface; and rinsing the fill with a rinsing fluid to remove residual chemical gel cleaning formulation and descaling fluid, residual neutralizer solution, and dissolved deposits from the fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Rothenhausen