Machine Condition Patents (Class 340/679)
  • Patent number: 11960272
    Abstract: A production line monitoring system for monitoring a production line including a plurality of production devices is provided. The production line monitoring system includes: a plurality of terminals attached to a plurality of workers; and a server configured to communicate with the plurality of terminals via a wireless network. The server performs processing of receiving operation information about the production device and generating event information based on the operation information, processing of transmitting the event information to a first terminal and a second terminal of the plurality of terminals, and processing of transmitting event stop information to the second terminal when receiving response information transmitted from the first terminal after performing the processing of transmitting the event information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazufumi Kato, Atsushi Imai, Tomonori Ishii, Koichi Saito, Manabu Saito
  • Patent number: 11899424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking a time-discrete signal value of a sensor for freedom from errors, wherein the signal value of the sensor is converted into a first measured value and a second measured value by two different evaluating devices of an electronic system, wherein the first and second measured values are transmitted to a control system by the electronic system, and the control system calculates a first control signal from the first measured value and, in parallel thereto, a second control signal from the second measured value, wherein the control system comprises a comparator which compares the first control signal and second control signal to verify the identity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ebm-papst Landshut GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Kutschbach, Franz Riedmueller, Stephan Wald, Markus Weingart, Anton Berghammer, Robert Goldner, Erich Greiner, Volker Kleine
  • Patent number: 11859470
    Abstract: Examples of techniques for extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir based on an artificial lift plan are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method includes performing, by a processing device, an evaluation of an artificial lift approach that can be operated at a well having a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, the evaluation being based at least in part on a static factor associated with operating the artificial lift approach in the well and a dynamic factor associated with operating the artificial lift approach at a operating condition. The method further includes generating, by the processing device, an artificial lift plan based at least in part on the evaluation. The method further includes extracting the hydrocarbons from the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir based on the artificial lift plan by operating, at the well, the artificial lift approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy Daniel Van Dam
  • Patent number: 11792623
    Abstract: The present invention may provide a method of managing, by a vehicle, a sensor. Herein, a method of managing, by a vehicle, a sensor may include: monitoring state information of a first sensor of a first vehicle; when the first sensor is abnormal, determining whether or not a second sensor performs the function of the first sensor; when the second sensor performs the function of the first sensor, reporting information representing that second sensor performs the function of the first sensor; and receiving sensing data from the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Young Jin Na, Joon Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11788258
    Abstract: A method for determining implement load characteristics of a load carrying mobile machine includes receiving at least pressure data and position data associated with a payload received by the implement. The method also includes determining a locational value associated with the payload within the implement. The method further includes updating the locational value based on movement of the payload in the implement, the updated locational value being based at least on the pressure data, the position data, and predetermined physical parameters of the machine. The method further includes using the updated locational value to determine operational parameters of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Shaun D. Currier
  • Patent number: 11745035
    Abstract: A connector for a fall protection compliance system includes a frame having an opening and a connection area configured for receiving a connection structure therein and a connection sensor assembly associated with the frame. The connection sensor assembly includes at least one permanent magnet configured for generating a magnetic field within at least a portion of the connection area, at least one magnetometer configured for detecting a presence or an absence of a disturbance in the magnetic field, and a control device having at least one processor programmed or configured to receive connection data from the at least one magnetometer, determine a connection status of the connector based on detecting the presence or the absence of the disturbance in the magnetic field, and perform at least one action based on the connection status. A method for detecting connection of a connector to a connection structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Sepe, Jeffrey F. Harding, Mitcham C. Tuell, Robert Craig Campbell, Christopher M. Stygar, Peter I. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 11751374
    Abstract: An automated replacement device moves in a right-left direction along a front surface of production line including multiple machines. The automated replacement device moves to a front side of an instructed machine among the multiple machines to perform an automated replacement operation on the machine. A periphery monitoring device monitors a safety area set in a periphery of the automated replacement device to stop an operation of the automated replacement device in an emergency manner when a person or an obstacle is detected in the safety area and alarm device sounds an alarm to notify that the automated replacement device is moving, in which the periphery monitoring device is switched such that a range of the safety area during the movement of the automated replacement device is smaller than a range of the safety area during the automated replacement operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sota Mizuno, Masashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11694534
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a smart hook, a safety harness module, and associated electronic components that detect a safety state of a user by monitoring various parameters at the smart hook and safety harness module and determining whether the user is using proper safety protocol at extreme heights and/or whether the user has experienced a height-related accident. In an illustrative example, the user may don a safety harness that may include a module that contains sensors that monitor an acceleration/velocity/position of the user and/or ambient air pressure around the user. The module may receive wireless signals from at least one rebar hook having sensors that monitor the acceleration/velocity/position and gate position of the rebar hooks. A controller included with the safety harness module may use these sensors to advantageously determine the safety state of the user and generate alert/warning signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Frank Lin, Wei Zhang, Jennifer Shen, Anbo Sun, Zhiqiang Liu, Pinghua Jiang
  • Patent number: 11605011
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for predicting performance of building equipment. The system comprises one or more sensors in communication with the building equipment, and the sensors are operable to detect characteristics from the building equipment. The system further comprises a computing device in communication with the sensors and in the same geographic location as the sensors. The computing device comprises one or more memory devices configured to store instructions that, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive data from the sensors, the data based on the detected characteristics. The one or more processors also generate, based on a machine learning model and the data, a predicted performance of the building equipment when the machine learning model comprises a prior data substantially similar to the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Sajjad Pourmohammad, Kelsey Carle Schuster, Christopher J. Verink
  • Patent number: 11568567
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing performance of a machine vision system are disclosed herein. An example method includes obtaining one or more first and second images of a target object, where each of the one or more first and second images include a pass indication and a fail indication, respectively. The example method further includes conducting, by a feasibility setup tool, a feasibility setup analysis by (i) performing machine vision techniques on each of the one or more first and second images and (ii) generating a respective updated result indication for each of the one or more first and second images. The example method further includes comparing the respective updated result indication to the respective pass indications and fail indications for the one or more first and second images, respectively; and based on the comparing, generating one or more suggestions to optimize the performance of the machine vision system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James Matthew Witherspoon, David D. Landron, Ankan Basak, Matthew Lawrence Horner
  • Patent number: 11533342
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and modifying the security configurations of multiple devices is disclosed. The method includes monitoring multiple devices for security triggers and taking action in response to the triggers. The triggers include changes in security configurations, known security issues and pending updates. The devices may be any connected devices, including Internet of Things devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Arthur Quentin Smith
  • Patent number: 11499946
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process determines, based on bearing fault frequencies, optimum values for the maximum frequency (Fmax) and the number of lines of resolution (Nlines) to be used in collecting machine vibration data so as to adequately distinguish between spectral peaks for identifying faults in machine bearings. The process can be extended to any other types of fault frequencies that a machine may exhibit, such as motor fault frequencies, pump/fan fault frequencies, and gear mesh fault frequencies. Embodiments of the process also ensure that the time needed to acquire the waveform is optimized. This is particularly useful when collecting data using portable vibration monitoring devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Computational Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Hayzen, Jim W. Walker
  • Patent number: 11393313
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a smart hook, a safety harness module (125), and associated electronic components that detect a safety state of a user by monitoring various parameters at the smart hook and safety harness module (125) and determining whether the user is using proper safety protocol at extreme heights and/or whether the user has experienced a height-related accident. In an illustrative example, the user may don a safety harness (115) that may include a module (125) that contains sensors that monitor an acceleration/velocity/position of the user and/or ambient air pressure around the user. The module (125) may receive wireless signals from at least one rebar hook (120a, 120b) having sensors that monitor the acceleration/velocity/position and gate position of the rebar hooks (120a, 120b). A controller included with the safety harness module (125) may use these sensors to advantageously determine the safety state of the user and generate alert/warning signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Frank Lin, Wei Zhang, Jennifer Shen, Anbo Sun, Zhiqiang Liu, Pinghua Jiang
  • Patent number: 11377229
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating maintenance recommendation for an auxiliary power unit (APU). One system may include collecting APU data, applying an algorithm that may analyze the APU data using one or more tuning parameters to capture elements of the APU data that indicate an APU health concern, and transmitting the captured elements indicating the APU health concern to a cloud-based health monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Qixiang Li, Timothy Griffith, Sapan N Shah
  • Patent number: 11371347
    Abstract: A method for real-time presentation of information to an operator of a mining operation, the information relating to at least a first stone block to be removed from an exploitation site, the method comprising capturing with a camera a video stream of the mining operation of the first block, recognizing the first block in the video stream; extracting image data of the first block from the video stream; determining, based on the image data, at least one parameter of the first block, obtaining, based on the parameter, information related to the mining operation; and visualizing the video stream in real time to the operator on a display, the video stream comprising an image of the first block, wherein visualizing the video stream comprises using augmented reality techniques to visualize the image of the first block in an accentuated manner, and overlay the video stream with the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MY VIRTUAL REALITY SOFTWARE AS
    Inventor: Urban Mäder
  • Patent number: 11358813
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment, such as in response to a trailer approaching and docking at a docking station, are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide scanning devices and scanning operations which assist with, for example, properly aligning a trailer at a docking station and/or checking an interior area in front of the dock door for obstructions. The systems and methods can also transmit messages between components of the system and/or to users of the system regarding the status of components of the systems and/or the status of the overall docking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems AB
    Inventors: Brett A. Walford, Eric Breen
  • Patent number: 11346349
    Abstract: A vacuum pump includes: a rotating portion and a stator portion between which an internal flow path is formed; an exhaust mechanism which sends gas from a suction port toward an outlet port through the internal flow path; and a main sensor for detecting that a deposited material has reached a prescribed thickness at a detection object position of the internal flow path, wherein the main sensor includes at least a pair of electrodes disposed in the internal flow path at an interval corresponding to the prescribed thickness, and a capacitance detection circuit which is connected to the pair of electrodes and which detects a capacitance between the pair of electrodes, and the capacitance detection circuit detects that a deposited material in the internal flow path has reached the prescribed thickness on the basis of a drop in an increase rate of the capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Kabasawa
  • Patent number: 11347213
    Abstract: Methods, mediums, and systems include use of a system manger application in a data processing system for fault detection a building automation system using deep learning, to receive point data for a hardware being analyzed, where the received point data is contaminated data, train a deep learning model for the hardware being analyzed, generate predicted data based on the deep learning model, analyze the predicted data and the received point data, identify a fault in the hardware being analyzed according to the received point data and the predicted data, and produce a fault report according to the identified fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Qinpeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11330318
    Abstract: A method for managing a device able to communicate with at least one terminal of a user. The terminal is able to process and render data associated with the device via a rendering application. The method includes the following steps on the device: transmitting, to the terminal, a command to activate the data rendering application; and transmitting the data to the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ORANGE
    Inventors: Laurent Jean Brunel, Isabelle Athias
  • Patent number: 11317816
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for creating a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) value, the method comprises receiving one or more photoplethysmography (PPG) signals for SpO2 detection from one or more PPG sensors; receiving one or more PPG signals for characterizing a heart rate from the one or more PPG sensors; using the one or more PPG signals for SpO2 detection, forming one or more SpO2 datasets wherein the SpO2 datasets respectively comprise one or more noise components; removing the one or more noise components from the one or more SpO2 datasets that are inconsistent with a feature of the one or more PPG signals characterizing the heart rate to produce one or more filtered SpO2 datasets; and using the one or more filtered SpO2 datasets, creating and storing the SpO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Anjian Wu, Chris H. Sarantos, Peter W. Richards, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 11302669
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are disclosed for performing a semiconductor processing operation. In some embodiments this includes configuring a wire bonding machine to perform customized movements with a capillary tool of the wire bonding machine, etching bulk contaminants over one or more locations of a semiconductor device with the capillary tool, and applying plasma to the semiconductor device to remove residual contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Aldrin Quinones Garing, Miguel Camargo Soto
  • Patent number: 11286141
    Abstract: The articulated self-propelled work machine (1), such as, for example, an articulated telescopic handler or the like, comprises: a front frame (11), provided with a pair of front wheels (111); a lift arm (2), adapted to support a load, hinged to the front frame (11) and mobile with respect thereto by means of at least one actuator (21, 22); a rear frame (12), provided with a pair of rear wheels (121) and articulated to the front frame (11); detecting means (51, 53, 54) for detecting an angular parameter relative to a steering angle between the front frame (11) and the rear frame (12); and electronic processing means (6) configured to control the operation of the actuator (21, 22) on the basis of the angular parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: MANITOU ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Marco Iotti
  • Patent number: 11272948
    Abstract: A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing, a first motor disposed within the handle housing, a shaft portion extending distally from the handle housing, an articulation shaft operably coupled to the first motor and disposed within the shaft portion, and a position sensor associated with the articulation shaft. The articulation shaft is configured to axially move within the shaft portion to articulate an end effector, and the position sensor is configured to determine an articulation position of the articulation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Patent number: 11222524
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to dual safety touch button systems for generating machine operation commands, according to predetermined safety guidelines, from status information received via an intercommunications link (ICL) operably connecting the dual safety touch buttons (STBs). In an illustrative example, each of a pair of STBs includes a processor configured to receive, via an intercommunications link port, status information from the other STB. In response to the received information and predetermined safety guidelines, the STBs may generate machine operation commands that operate a pair of relay switches. In some embodiments, each STB may be activated within a substantially simultaneous period (e.g., less than 0.5 seconds) to actuate corresponding relay switches for operating a potentially dangerous machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: BANNER ENGINEERING CORP
    Inventor: Tom McMonagle
  • Patent number: 11194379
    Abstract: A wake-up circuit and method are provided for detecting and preventing false positive wake-up events in an electronic device in a sleep mode. Methodology entails producing first, second, and third sensor signals at successive first, second, and third instants in time in response to a physical stimulus detected by a sensor of the wake-up circuit. The first sensor signal is selected to be a reference value. A first difference value is determined between the second sensor signal land the reference value, a second difference value is determined between the third sensor signal and the reference value, and communication of a wake-up signal to the electronic device is prevented when at least one of the first and second difference values fails to exceed a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Volker Dietmar Wahl, Philippe Bernard Roland Lance, Jacques Trichet
  • Patent number: 11175334
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for counting faults of household appliances and belongs to the field of fault processing of household appliances. The method includes: acquiring operating parameter information of a plurality of household appliances, where the plurality of household appliances being equipped with preset parts; acquiring fault information of at least one faulty household appliance in the plurality of household appliances, where the fault information includes fault codes; and determining a fault of the faulty household appliance and a fault rate of the plurality of household appliances corresponding to the fault according to the operating parameter information and the fault codes. In addition, the present disclosure further provides a device for counting faults of household appliances. The method or the device according to the present disclosure can be adopted to count the fault rates of the plurality of household appliances equipped with preset parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Qingdao Haier Air Conditioner General Corp., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Chen, Yongfu Cheng, Li Guo, Pengan Li, Xiaofei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11170459
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for receiving a ride request from a user of a user device and utilizing an imaging system located in a vehicle of a ride service to capture an image of a seating area of the vehicle. The image is processed by a processor to identify a seat occupancy status and generate a seat availability diagram based on the seat occupancy status. The seat availability diagram is transmitted to the user device, and the user is prompted to either select a seat by using the seat availability diagram or to allow the system to assign any seat in the vehicle. If a seat selection is made, the system responds by reserving the selected seat and may further provide instructions to the user for entering the vehicle through a specific door located closest to the selected seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Romil Shah, Sakthi Narayanan Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 11084582
    Abstract: The present approach relates to the inspection of assets, such as assets having parts that move during operation. As discussed herein, operational data for the asset may be incorporated into planning or adapting the flight plan and/or operational commands may be issued to asset in accordance with the flight plan to facilitate acquisition of the inspection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: William Borea Noto
  • Patent number: 11039771
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining data from a plurality of sensors at a first point in time, analyzing the data to identify a first level of alertness of a user, predicting a second level of alertness that is required by the user to operate a machine at a second point in time that is subsequent to the first point in time, comparing the first level of alertness to the second level of alertness to generate a first comparison result, identifying a first type of a first notification based on the first comparison result, identifying a third point in time to provide the first notification based on the first comparison result, wherein the third point in time is subsequent to the first point in time and prior to the second point in time, and providing the first notification at the third point in time. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Pratt, Nigel Bradley, Eric Zavesky
  • Patent number: 11037320
    Abstract: A method including detecting an object in a line of sight of at least one sensor; adjusting a current path of the robot to include a detour path around the object, instructing the robot to resume along the current path after avoiding the object, discarding at least some data collected by sensors of the robot in overlapping areas covered, inferring previously visited areas and unvisited areas, generating a planar representation of a workspace of the robot by stitching data collected by at least some sensors of the robot at overlapping points, and presenting at least the planar representation and coverage statistics on an application of a communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Soroush Mehrnia
  • Patent number: 11022954
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a provisioning server for providing a secured control parameter for multi-channel control of a machine using a plurality of distributed controls that output single-channel control parameters. The provisioning server includes a first communication interface configured to receive a plurality of single-channel control parameters from the plurality of distributed controls, a processor configured to compare the received single-channel control parameters and output one of the received control parameters as the secured control parameter if a threshold number of the single-channel control parameters are in agreement, and a second communication interface configured to send the secured control parameter to the machine via a communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karsten Meyer-Graefe
  • Patent number: 11024153
    Abstract: A fall detection/fall indicator device that automatically senses when a user of fall protection equipment, such as a fall harness, has experienced an arrested fall, the fall harness having an electrical circuit that is a closed circuit in a first state and an open circuit in a second state after an arrested fall, and an alert device that is automatically responsive to the open circuit to emit an alert/alarm to other personnel that an arrested fall has been experienced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Hai Pham, Steve Huseth, Gina Marie Theisen, Steven James McPherson
  • Patent number: 11023695
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a skew level of a movable control surface in an aircraft. A position of an inboard and outboard side of the movable control surface are determined by RFID readers and RFID tags. As the tags move past the readers, the positioning of each side of the movable control surface may be compared to determine the skew level. Actions can be taken if the skew level exceeds predetermined threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Airbus Canada Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Carl Chaumont
  • Patent number: 11006812
    Abstract: A handle assembly for an appliance door includes a handle frame mounted over a handle aperture defined in the appliance door. The handle frame defines a pocket recess for receiving a pocket handle, which is spaced apart from the handle frame to define an illumination gap for receiving a status indicator, such as a light pipe which may transmit light without directing that light into the pocket recess. The light pipe is illuminated by a lighting assembly including a light board having a plurality of light sources mounted thereon and positioned at a rear of the light pipe, wherein at least two of the light sources illuminate in different colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley Duane Ford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11001992
    Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body turnably mounted on the lower traveling body, a cab mounted on the upper turning body, an attachment including a working part configured to perform work, and a display device provided in the cab. The display device is configured to display information related to the time of the last adjustment of the information of the working part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takaaki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10990090
    Abstract: An occurrence of a predetermined event is detected within a stream of data and a classification for the event is determined. A message is sent to an application when the predetermined event is detected. The message is received at the application and the message is visualized to a user of the application. The stream of data from the industrial machine to the transceiver circuit, to the control circuit, and to the application occurs in real-time without substantial interruption allowing the user of the application to make decisions and determine insights concerning the industrial machine in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Veera Kishore Reddipalli, Vamshi Gandrapu
  • Patent number: 10991169
    Abstract: A method for determining a mean time to failure of an electrical device, and a method for adjusting a predetermined mean time to failure of an electrical power supply and for evaluating the adjusted mean time to failure. The method determines the mean time to failure by taking into account both operating conditions and operational load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Richard Tonet, Pierre Gohl
  • Patent number: 10983028
    Abstract: In a planetary gear arrangement with a planetary gear which includes a rotating part and a non-rotating part, and with a sensor module for sensing properties of the planetary gear, the sensor module includes a sensor as well as a first sending/receiving unit and a second sending/receiving unit, wherein the sensor and the first sending/receiving unit are coupled and arranged at the rotating part, and wherein the second sending/receiving unit is arranged at the non-rotating part, wherein the first sending/receiving unit and the second sending/receiving unit are configured for being inductively coupled, wherein the first sending/receiving unit includes an energy storage, wherein the energy storage is configured for being charged during each turn of the rotating part for powering the sensor via the first sending/receiving unit in order to perform measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Michael Eller, Luk Geens, Michael Gierling, Jens Graf, Charlotte Olivier, Johannes Schaefer, Kris Smolders, Georg Tenckhoff, Andre Tubbesing
  • Patent number: 10944879
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; and an operating portion including a display screen which includes at least numeric keys, a start key configured to cause the image forming portion to start image formation, and a stop key configured to stop the image formation by the image forming portion, and including a hardware key provided on a back side of the display screen and configured to start a maintenance mode of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirohisa Sawada
  • Patent number: 10914811
    Abstract: A source of a sound is located by two or more computing devices (e.g., A/V recording and communication devices) using microphones and radio frequency communication among the computing devices. The location of the source is determined based on at least a time difference between a time that a notification from a first computing device regarding the sound arrives at a second computing device, and a time of detecting the sound at the second computing device. Additional data may be collected and/or other actions may be taken in response to locating the source of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Wild
  • Patent number: 10907288
    Abstract: A household appliance for performing a cycle of operation on an article according to a cycle of operation. The household appliance includes a cabinet defining a treating chamber that is configured to receive the article. The cabinet also includes at least one consumable, a controller, a user interface, and a luminary communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Scott E. Carpenter, Marcus R. Fischer, Joli A. Fytczyk, Richard L. Hammond
  • Patent number: 10878386
    Abstract: An automatic dock servicing system can monitor status of dock stations and/or dock station components, analyze the status to determine whether it satisfies a service condition for one or more service actions and, when service conditions are satisfied, cause the corresponding service actions to be performed. In some embodiments, a control panel can track a number of trailer loading/unloading cycles at the dock station. When the number of cycles reaches a threshold for performing a service on the dock station, the control panel can automatically initiate the service action. Some service actions that can be initiated by placing a maintenance or part request, sending control signals to a control panel or to dock station components, and/or sending messages or providing remote controls to other personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems AB
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoofard, Daryl Day
  • Patent number: 10875143
    Abstract: An apparatus for CMP includes a platen, a wafer carrier retaining a semiconductor wafer during a polishing operation, a dresser configured to recondition a polishing pad disposed on the platen during the polishing operation, and a vibration-monitoring system configured to detect vibrations during the polishing operation. The vibration-monitoring system includes a first vibration sensor configured to generate a plurality of first vibration signals. An end point is triggered to the polishing when a change between the plurality of vibration signals reaches a value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: James Jeng-Jyi Hwang, Jiann Lih Wu, He Hui Peng, Chi-Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 10855328
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for transmitting and receiving radar signals from a radar source while minimizing interference with other radar sources are presented. A transmit signal comprising a first chirp sequence is generated according to a set of waveform parameters, with least one waveform parameter being varied for one or more chirps in the first chirp sequence. Additionally, each chirp of the first chirp sequence can be phase-modulated. A receive signal comprising a second chirp sequence and corresponding to the transmit signal reflected off an object in a surrounding environment is then sampled to determine one or more attributes of the object. In some embodiments, the attributes include distance and speed values calculated using Discrete Fourier Transforms (DFTs). Other attributes that can be calculated from the receive signal include azimuth angle and elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Kapil Gulati, Junyi Li, Jayakrishnan Unnikrishnan, Sundar Subramanian
  • Patent number: 10793371
    Abstract: A conveyor belt management system is capable of determining in detail the state of a conveyor belt, more reliably preventing the conveyor belt becoming unusable, determining a suitable replacement period, and lowing the running costs of the conveyor belt. A state of the conveyor belt is monitored by a calculation unit and an expected service life before use is calculated based on data of an indicator indicating a status of a belt conveyor device and an indicator indicating a use environment of the conveyor belt; at least one data from an amount of wear, an impact force, a tensile force, a state of a core, and an indicator indicating a state of an endless portion; and a belt specification database and a tolerance range database in which a tolerance range for each of the input items in input in advance per belt specification stored in a storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Patent number: 10796577
    Abstract: Onboard terminal device includes its own vehicle information acquisition section, a vehicle-to-vehicle communication section, and a collision risk determination section. The vehicle information acquisition section acquires the vehicle information including position information of an own vehicle. The vehicle-to-vehicle communication section performs wireless communications with another vehicle to communicate one's vehicle information to another vehicle and to receive the another vehicle's information, which includes position information of the another vehicle, from the another vehicle. The collision risk determination section determines a risk of collision between the one vehicle and the another vehicle by using a predetermined determination algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiya Katou, Hiroshi Watanabe, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 10787047
    Abstract: A method for pairing a measurement module with a wheel of a motor vehicle. The method is implemented by a computer and includes, for each received measured signal, determining the power of the measured signal, determining the angular orientation of each wheel and identifying, in a plurality of tables, a row and column pair including the determined power and the angular orientation of each wheel. The pairing being performed when, for a number of determined columns of each table higher than a first minimum threshold, the number of row and column pairs identified in one table is lower than a predetermined maximum threshold and the number of row and column pairs identified in the other tables is higher than a second minimum threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Nicolas Guinart, Antoine Richard, Sylvain Godet
  • Patent number: 10754721
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods related to assets and asset operating conditions. In particular, examples involve defining and using a predictive model that is configured to output an indication of whether at least one failure type from the group of possible failure types is likely to occur at an asset within the given period of time in the future.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: UPTAKE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Horrell, John Ciasulli, Sheng Zhong, Jason Kolb
  • Patent number: 10735617
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a second detection unit configured to detect whether there is a decrease in reflectance of a reflection unit for light, based on a second output value which is output by an output unit based on light which is received by a light receiving unit in a state in which, after a first output value is controlled to become a prescribed value, a light emitting unit is radiating light and it is detected by a first detection unit that a predetermined object is present in a path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10723183
    Abstract: A method whereby a central unit carried on board a motor vehicle can identify the wheels of a motor vehicle, by locating a radiofrequency black spot for transmissions between a wheel unit with which a wheel of a motor vehicle is equipped and a wheel-monitoring central control unit carried on board the vehicle, a wheel angle encoding independent of the transmission being in any case performed in order to measure the true rotation of the wheel at a given instant. A string of successive frames providing full angular coverage of the wheel is transmitted from the wheel unit, a receive rate for the frames being established and analyzed in order to detect at least one spot of poorer reception corresponding to the at least one black spot, the angle encoding providing an angle of rotation of the wheel at the instant of detection of the at least one black spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Sylvain Godet, Stéphane Billy