Operator Interface (e.g., Display With Control) Patents (Class 700/17)
  • Patent number: 8533233
    Abstract: An extensible, object-oriented framework describes various generic elements of legacy automation systems. That framework is used as a basis for porting one or more of those elements to another (“target”) automation system. Objects in the framework, known as “extensions,” adapt information from the legacy system to a corresponding, generic representation. Compilers express those representations in the target system. The framework thus translates the “old” automation configuration for use in a “new” automation system. The scheme can be extended to accommodate arbitrary control systems (i.e., other manufacturers and product lines), new sub-domains within the automation domain (e.g. operator interfaces, batch control etc.) and new target systems without altering the core framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Deininger, Michael S. Horn, Jung Min Oh, Michael Hogan, William F. Raines
  • Patent number: 8532794
    Abstract: A building control system incorporating an external calendar service, having a schedule subsystem, a schedule synchronization subsystem connected to the schedule subsystem, and an external calendar configuration subsystem connected to the schedule synchronization subsystem. The schedule subsystem may have a schedule object, a building schedule mechanism for activating different subsystems in a building based on a configuration of a building schedule, and a schedule change mechanism for creating, configuring and/or changing the building schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Kiran Hegde, Cuong Huynh, Patrick Brisbine, Stuart Donaldson
  • Patent number: 8532797
    Abstract: A mechanism for constructing generic control logic with versions of the logic automatically generated and stored for one or more protocols. The complexity of the one or more protocols may be hidden under a hood of the mechanism from the view of engineers, programmers and users so as to improve their productivity relative to control logic designs and applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Stalin Gutha, Janaki Krishnaswamy, Lavanya Bhadriraju, Ankur Jhawar, Kevin B. Moore
  • Patent number: 8525813
    Abstract: A graphical model is displayed. A location of a portion of a user in relation to the displayed graphical model is sensed to obtain a sensed location of the portion of the user. A movement of the portion of the user in relation to the displayed graphical model and the sensed location of the portion of the user is sensed to obtain a sensed movement. The displayed graphical model is adjusted in response to the sensed movement of the portion of the user to obtain a displayed adjusted graphical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Smith, Arvind S. Hosagrahara
  • Publication number: 20130226316
    Abstract: A home automation installation includes several sensors, several pieces of controlled home automation equipment, and a control unit communicating with the sensors and the controlled home automation equipment. To control this installation, it is provided to select a control scenario by the control unit for at least one parameterized sensor from among the sensors, at a current moment belonging to a periodic time range from among one or more time ranges associated with the parameterized sensor, and as a function of at least one current value of the signal coming from the parameterized sensor, then to send, by the control unit to at least one of the pieces of controlled home automation equipment, at least one order depending on the selected control scenario.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Somfy SAS
    Inventor: Somfy SAS
  • Patent number: 8521335
    Abstract: Instead of disposing gray water with sewage water, a gray water recycling apparatus uses a series of sensors and determines the acceptability of chemical concentrations and temperature of the gray water for use in irrigation purposes so as to ensure the recycled gray water is safe for irrigation. If it is, a three-way valve is positioned to direct the gray water to an irrigation pipe; otherwise, the three-way valve is positioned to direct the water to a public sewage system or septic tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Magdalena M. Gutierrez-Wolf, Charles A. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8519979
    Abstract: A computer-implemented graphical modeling system comprising: a graphical modeling environment to generate a graphical model; a display to display the graphical model; an interface to receive an input from a user for manipulating the displayed graphical model based on an interaction between the user and the display; wherein the interaction is one of one finger on one hand of the user interacting with the display; one finger on one hand of the user interacting with the display and one finger on another hand of the user of the user interacting with the display; a plurality of fingers on one hand of the user interacting with the display; one finger on one hand of the user interacting with the display and a plurality of fingers on another hand of the user interacting with the display; or a plurality of fingers on one hand of the user interacting with the display and a plurality of fingers on another hand of the user interacting with the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Smith, Arvind S. Hosagrahara
  • Patent number: 8520015
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for intermixing graphics layers and graphics applications using a display intermix server. A method is provided for intermixing a first graphics application having a first graphics layer and a second graphics application having a second graphics layer. The method comprises streaming a first graphics command from the first graphics application to a first memory location, where the first graphics command corresponds to the first graphics layer. The method also comprises streaming a second graphics command from the second graphics application to a second memory location, where the second graphics command corresponds to the second graphics layer. The method further comprises ordering the first graphics command and the second graphics command based on a priority scheme for the first graphics layer and the second graphics layer. The method further comprises providing ordered graphics commands to a rendering interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Kiran Gopala Krishna, Satyanarayan Kar, Vamsi Agasthyaraju, Shashidhara Ganganna, Bincicil Mathew, William Ray Hancock, Dan Lopez
  • Publication number: 20130218302
    Abstract: A device including a controller; and a communication interface coupled to the controller and configured to be coupled to a control system including a plurality of control system components where each control system component configured to include an associated configuration. The controller is configured to identify a configuration of the control system through the communication interface, and the configuration of the control system includes the configurations associated with the control system components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Leinen, David E. Burgess, Scott Alexander Anderson
  • Publication number: 20130218303
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for training, maintenance, trouble-shooting and repair of machinery and equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Intellischematic, LLC
    Inventor: Intellischematic, LLC
  • Patent number: 8515561
    Abstract: This present provides a control and protection equipment system suitable for synthesis converter operation test, relates to power system automation equipment field. This system includes human-machine interface element, synchronization element, signal acquisition element, data aggregation element, conditioning element, protecting element, wave form recording element, wave form monitor element, on-off input element, on-off output element, vale based element (VBE), high direct current supply power system controller, high voltage supply system controller, current surge circuit controller, impulse circuit controller, test converter valve water cooling controller and test equipment water cooling system controller. This system can control converter samples and auxiliary valves on set trigging timing, produce various operation tests need heat, voltage and current of the converter samples and carry through operation tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventors: Guangfu Tang, Xingang Zhang, Kunpeng Zha, Zheng Lv, Zhiyuan He
  • Patent number: 8512554
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine includes at least one pump, a logic implementer storing a plurality of therapy prescriptions by which to operate the at least one pump, each therapy prescription pre-approved for a particular patient, and an input device operating with the logic implementer to allow the patient to select one of the therapy prescriptions for a particular therapy. In another embodiment, the input device operating with the logic implementer allows a doctor/clinician to select or approve one of the therapy prescriptions to be run on the APD machine. In a further embodiment, the logic implementer is programmed to select or suggest one of the therapy prescriptions to be run on the APD machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Anping Yu, Robert W. Childers, Borut Cizman
  • Publication number: 20130211549
    Abstract: A controller for distributing logical control plane data to other controllers is described. The controller includes an interface for receiving user inputs to define logical datapath sets. The controller includes a translator for translating the user inputs to output logical control plane data. The logical control plane data is for subsequent translation into logical forwarding plane data by several other controllers. The controller includes a scheduler for (1) storing the output logical control plane data in a plurality of storage structures, each storage structure corresponding to one of the other controllers and (2) sending the output logical control plane data to the other controllers from the corresponding storage structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventor: NICIRA, INC.
  • Patent number: 8509922
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit for collecting external information or transmitting recommended operation information to a home appliance, and a controller for generating the recommended operation information for the home appliance based on the collected external information. The mobile terminal may provide customized recommended operation information for each home appliance without separately including a device for controlling one or more home appliances provided in a home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kwanho Yum, Sangoh Kim, Bongmun Jang
  • Publication number: 20130204401
    Abstract: A mobile device and a display apparatus are caused to cooperate. A user is instructed to do a predetermined action and the user holds and moves the mobile device. A motion of the mobile device is detected by the mobile device and the motion of the user is detected by the display apparatus. A pair of the mobile device and the display apparatus that detect the same action at the same time is caused to cooperate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8504921
    Abstract: A home automation system and method are disclosed for configuring a device state including but not limited to receiving an input from the client device at the server, configuring the device state in the database at the server in accordance with the input, and sending the configured device state from the server to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Brian B. Wilson, Carlton L. Brown, Jeffrey Multach, Mark B. Hubscher
  • Patent number: 8494681
    Abstract: A system is provided for controlling at least one climate control apparatus for conditioning a space. The system includes a controller mountable to a climate control apparatus that is segregated from the space to be conditioned. The controller has a plurality of selectable setting parameters for configuring the controller to operate at least one of a plurality of climate control apparatus, and a plurality of visual indicators for visually indicating the selection of at least one selectable setting parameter. A user interface is adapted for installation in the space, and has a display for displaying selectable setting parameters for configuring the controller. The user interface includes user input controls for enabling selection of at least one displayed selectable setting parameter, where the controller responsively activates at least one visual indicator for indicating the selection of at least one selectable setting parameter by the user-interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: John M. Sartain, James P. Garozzo, Anil Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8494663
    Abstract: An interactive switch system for a stowage compartment system for a mobile platform (for example, commercial aircraft) is provided. The switch system is mounted to a moveable structure, such as an overhead stowage bin, and is responsive to a local input from a user, as well as to a remote input from an external control/monitoring panel. The switch system has at least one indicator surface responsive to the local input and the remote input to display indicator data. The indicator surface has a portion that forms at least one user input device for enabling the local input. The switch system further comprises a control system disposed behind the indicator surface. The control system is responsive to the local input and the remote input to transmit the indicator data to the indicator surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bret L. Lamoree, Dennis C. Lin, Heidi J. Kneller, Henry V. Fletcher, Brock J. Prince, Phillip J. Ayoub
  • Patent number: 8489209
    Abstract: A method is provided for analyzing and diagnosing a large scale process automation control system having a plurality of control loops. Assessments for pre-defined key performance indicators (KPIs) are automatically generated for control, process and signal sections of each control loop. The automatically generated assessments of the pre-defined KPIs may be displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer. A user may change the automatically generated assessments of the pre-defined KPIs. Different data views may also be displayed in the GUI. The data views include time series trends for measured process variable, controller output, controller set point and error, as well as controller parameter clustering views in two-dimensional and three-dimensional plots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Dale Starr, Timothy Andrew Mast, Robert Trent Garverick
  • Patent number: 8489243
    Abstract: A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers, David Sloo, Michael J. Matas, Michael Plitkins
  • Patent number: 8483850
    Abstract: An HVAC controller, a method determining a location of a HVAC unit with respect to a site where the HVAC unit is installed and a HVAC system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive location data indicating a position of said HVAC unit with respect to the earth, (2) a memory coupled to said interface and configured to store said location data and a processor configured to retrieve said location data from said memory, wherein said retrieved location data is employed to determine a location of said HVAC unit with respect to a site where said HVAC unit is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Stachler
  • Patent number: 8483851
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a control device (2) for operating an electrically controllable technical device (1), in particular a machine, an installation, a device or a technical process. A control panel (4) with input means (6) for issuing control commands to the technical device (1) and for inputting data into the control device (T) by an operator (7) is provided in this case. This control panel (4) also comprises a graphics-enabled output means (8) for displaying subsets of information which is available overall for an operator (7). The important factor here is to provide at least one second screen layout, which is designed to display a second subset of information on the graphics-enabled output means (8) and is intended to be viewed from a relatively great distance, in particular from outside an immediate control range (9) of the control panel (4) or the technical device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Keba AG
    Inventors: Heinz Stummer, Guenter Lasinger
  • Patent number: 8483852
    Abstract: A method can include providing a geological time data structure configured to link objects of a reservoir model to geological times; linking one of the objects of the reservoir model to one of the geological times; generating simulation results for the reservoir model; and, based at least in part on the geological time data structure, outputting at least some of the simulation results along a geological time axis. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Kurtenbach, Martin Neumaier, Stefan Steden, Nicola Tessen
  • Patent number: 8473917
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that dynamically render permissive status information on a human-machine interface (HMI) to inform an operator of conditions that are preventing an issued control command from executing. A status display generator deployed on the HMI can be associated with a control action to be initiated in a control program via the HMI. The control action can have one or more programmed conditions or permissives that must be satisfied before the control action can be initiated. Operators wishing to review the states of the various conditions can invoke the status display generator, which reads the conditions and their respective statuses from the control program and generates a permissive summary display listing the conditions together with their respective “ready” or “not ready” states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman A. Weatherhead, Mark K. Matheson, Hui Xu
  • Patent number: 8468461
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for defining the processes in a processing plant are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system uses input forms to allow a user to define the processes, chemicals, process streams, and sampling points in the plant in a way that requires no programming code to be written by the person defining the plant. In one embodiment, the electronic form-based user-configurable system can be used to configure and manage multiple plants belonging to one organization. The plant definition can be used to log information about the plant. The logged information can be used to generate reports or charts. Logging, reporting, and charting can be managed using input forms and without the user needing to write any computer code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: FLOWatch LLC
    Inventors: Kapaleeswar Madireddi, Bruno Bernard Levine
  • Patent number: 8467887
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting control system including: a switching means for selecting one of a plurality of scenarios; a gateway for matching at least one of on/off control signals, color temperature control signals, color control signals, or dimming control signals for a plurality of lamps with the plurality of scenarios, storing a resultant data, and outputting control signals matched with the scenario selected from the switching means; and a lighting device for receiving the control signals outputted from the gateway, and according to the received control signals, turning on/off each of the lamps, adjusting a color temperature or a color of each of the lamps, or a dimming level of each of the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Sun Jung, Chang Seob Kim, Dong Won Lee, Ho Chan Cho
  • Patent number: 8468065
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system of managing a laundry room. In the method, identification information including an ID (identifier) is received through a communicator. Then, information about the rate and operating conditions is set through the communicator. A predetermined operation allowed by the setting is performed according to a received payment after receiving information about insertion of the payment from the payment device. While performing, operating information is recorded. Then, the recorded operating information is transmitted in response to a request of the communicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In-Hee Han, Kang-Mo Choi, Ji-An Jeong, Nam-Yeong Heo
  • Patent number: 8463409
    Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Enpulz, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James D. Bennett, Christopher C. Winslade
  • Patent number: 8452194
    Abstract: A system having an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus includes setting whether the status of the image forming apparatus is immediately confirmed by a user, transmitting a file containing a status log based on the status change of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus to an external file server, and displaying a list of the image forming apparatus to be contained in the system on a screen in the information processing apparatus, wherein with respect to the image forming apparatus as to which a setting is made to immediately confirm the status, a button to instruct confirmation of the status of the apparatus is displayed in the list, and wherein when an instruction to confirm the status is executed from the list, status of the image forming apparatus is displayed based on the status log to be contained in the file transmitted from the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isamu Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20130123945
    Abstract: A machine vision system program editing environment includes near real time context generation. Rather than requiring execution of all preceding instructions of a part program in order to generate a realistic context for subsequent edits, surrogate data operations using previously saved data replace execution of certain sets of instructions. The surrogate data may be saved during the actual execution of operations that are recorded in a part program. An edit mode of execution substitutes that data as a surrogate for executing the operations that would otherwise generate that data. Significant time savings may be achieved for context generation, such that editing occurs within an operating context which may be repeatedly refreshed for accuracy in near real time. This supports convenient program modification by relatively unskilled users, using the native user interface of the machine vision system, rather than difficult to use text-based or graphical object-based editing environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barry Saylor, Dahai Yu, Ryan Northrup, Gyokubu Cho, Akira Takada
  • Patent number: 8434060
    Abstract: Optional components are delivered to a software platform as a database load. A component is deployed to an application server of a first system. The component comprises at least a portion of the software to be delivered as a database load to a second system that implements the software platform. A component export tool in the first system identifies database table structures and database table entries created by the deployment of the component. The component export tool generates a load delivery package based on the identified database table structures and database table entries and then exports the load delivery package to the second system. A component load tool in the second system generates application tables based on the identified database table structures in the shipment package. The database table entries are then imported into the generated application packages in the load delivery package so that the component can be loaded into the software platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Volker Driesen, Peter Eberlein
  • Patent number: 8433425
    Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments of a method of configuring rules for SCADA data of a wind farm are described. One embodiment comprises receiving supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) data for a wind farm comprised of one or more wind turbines. The SCADA data includes parameters for the wind farm. At least a portion of the SCADA data for a selected group of the wind farm parameters is dynamically configured using a graphical user interface (GUI) that interfaces with a rules engine. The SCADA data is configured using one or more operators. At least a portion of the dynamically configured data is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Asha Vasudevarao, Sandeep Kumar Vidiyala, Savitha Bk
  • Patent number: 8428752
    Abstract: An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Enpulz, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James D. Bennett, Christopher C. Winslade
  • Patent number: 8428754
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for controlling an electrical device are provided. At least one image of at least one moving entity is processed to determine when the moving entity (or entities) is at least one of entering and exiting a monitored area, and to determine when the moving entity (or entities) comprises at least one triggering shape. When the moving entity (or entities), comprising at least one triggering shape, is at least one of entering and exiting the monitored area, control of the electrical device is triggered and a counter for counting triggering shapes present in the monitored area is triggered. When the moving entity (or entities), comprising at least one triggering shape, exits the monitored area, the counter decrements by the number of triggering shapes and the electrical device is triggered to a state different from a present state when the counter falls below a threshold number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Larry Wong
  • Patent number: 8420984
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a household appliance for performing a housekeeping task. The household appliance comprises a data input device (16) adapted to remotely sense a property in a sensing area (18), and a controller (22) coupled to the data input device and adapted to control an operation of the household appliance in accordance with the sensed property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Kersten Kaiser, Alwin Neukamm, Claudio Cenedese
  • Patent number: 8423163
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and device control method for the same are disclosed. The device control method for a mobile terminal having a touch screen, includes: downloading, during registration of a device capable of short-range wireless communication operating in a short-range communication mode, a user interface (UI) of the device; finding a list of registered devices, displaying the found list, selecting a device from the displayed list, calling the selected device, and connecting to the selected device; and displaying a device UI of the connected device on the touch screen, and controlling the connected device through the displayed device UI according to a touch operation. Electronic devices within a range can be easily and accurately controlled using a mobile terminal having a touch screen. In particular, the use of a user interface downloaded from an electronic device enables easy control of full functions of the device, enhancing user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bum Sun Park
  • Publication number: 20130090746
    Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate home automation via a receiving device. In one embodiment, a home device manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The home device manager is configured to discover home devices and to obtain device control information from the discovered devices. The home device manager is further configured to, based on the obtained device control information, present a user interface operable by a user to specify commands for controlling a home device, receive a specified command, and control the home device by transmitting the specified command to the home device. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: ELDON TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Eldon Technology Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8417357
    Abstract: A method for providing an improved engineering interface for configuring, maintenance or monitoring an industrial control system. The system includes a computer and a plurality of process graphics including software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by the control system. A display of a process graphic is automatically generated in a window or designated view including a tab. The process graphic is selected dependent on one or more logical groupings, or hierarchical positions in a structure, in which control system software objects representing the control objects, the real world objects, belong or are arranged. A view of a structure group including a selected object is automatically displayed including tabs, each of which tab being linked to another structure group in a structure view that also contains an instance of the selected object. An engineer or other user can easily find and navigate to all instances of a selected object when configuring etc a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Kristoffer Husoy, Torgeir Enkerud
  • Patent number: 8412362
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for electronically controlling the movement of a pin assembly used in a valve gate mechanism of an injection molding machine. The system of the present invention includes at least one valve which is part of an injection molding machine, as well as a graphical user interface which is operable for controlling the injection molding machine and the valve. Additionally, the present invention also includes controlling the injection molding machine electronically for improving the control over the opening and closing of the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Plastic Engineering & Technical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorne Yeager, Lance Roman
  • Patent number: 8412353
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a computer-assisted arithmetic process in a technical system, which is designed for interactive network-based use such that data is input by means of an interactive network-based operation. Said data is processed at least in part during the computer-assisted arithmetic process while the interactive operations is prevented from actively influencing the computer-assisted arithmetic process and vice versa by dissociating the interactive network-based operation and the computer-assisted arithmetic process. Also disclosed is a device for controlling a computer-aided arithmetic process in a technical system, which is designed for interactive network-based use. Said device comprises a client, a server, a data memory, as controller, and an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ulrich Kunze
  • Publication number: 20130073059
    Abstract: A resource consumption user interface is disclosed comprising one or more user input features for selecting a start date and an end date for defining a selected time range over which to determine resource consumption associated with at least one resource consumption task from a plurality of resource consumption tasks that contribute to a total resource consumption in a given environment. The plurality of resource consumption tasks are associated with one or more appliances that operate in the given environment. The start date and the end date are selectable for any desired time range over a given time duration. The resource consumption user interface also comprises one or more user output features for presenting information associated with the at least one resource consumption task, wherein the presented information represents accumulated information beginning at a time on the selected start date and ending at a time on the selected end date.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph Mark Brian, David C. Bingham, Rich Merwarth
  • Patent number: 8401675
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for training, maintenance, trouble-shooting and repair of machinery and equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Intellischematic, LLC
    Inventors: Brad E. Jensen, Shane W. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8386059
    Abstract: A prog analysis and execution system and method. The system includes a computer control system, an interface engine in communication with the computer control system, the interface engine being configured to receive prog information, and an action item development engine in communication with the control system, the action item development engine being configured to analyze received prog information and to determine corresponding action items. The system further includes a sensor engine in communication with the computer control system, the sensor engine being configured to receive input from at least one sensor for use in controlling a well drilling operation, and an operational equipment engine in communication with the computer control system, the operational equipment engine being configured to receive input from the computer control system and to control the well drilling operation in accordance with the determined action items in the prog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Scott G. Boone
  • Publication number: 20130041479
    Abstract: A computerized method of offering a comprehensive control system for varied kinds of manufactures, including: providing a computer graphical user interface having the static model of hardware systems, information and status of the control system and context of the automation procedure commands; providing a hardware database containing 1) port database including all ports of a controller connecting to devices, 2) a device database including information, operation methods, events of all devices connected to the controller, 3) a system database including information and configuration of all systems that controller controls; providing a dictionary containing word pairs that define operations and status of every device; providing a background worker responsible for refreshing data from port database. Computer systems configured to perform the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Shuo Zhang, Chandra Sekhar Inturi, Christopher LaBello, Alan M. Ganz
  • Publication number: 20130030552
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a front projection system operatively mounted as part of an appliance and configured to optically project a virtual user interface; an optics system operatively mounted as part of the appliance and configured to direct the virtual user interface optically projected by the front projection system onto a given surface; a user input system operatively mounted as part of the appliance and configured to receive one or more input selections made by a user in correspondence with one or more features that are part of the virtual user interface optically projected by the front projection system on the given surface via the optics system; and a controller operatively coupled to the front projection system and the user input system, and configured to control operation of one or more components of the appliance in response to the one or more input selections made by the user in correspondence with the one or more features that are part of the virtual user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Bryan James Beckley, Daniel Vincent Brosnan, Brian Michael Schork, Steven David Paul, Richard DeVos, Christopher David Hunter, John P. Ouseph, Geoffrey Lee Ranard
  • Publication number: 20130024012
    Abstract: An architecture for creating a plasma-processing-related application is provided. The architecture includes a foundation layer having a plurality of framework components, wherein the framework components including at least one of security component, data management component and user interface (UI) component. The architecture also includes an analysis view layer having a set of views, wherein the set of views are generated utilizing components from the foundation layer. The architecture further includes an analysis module layer having a plurality of analysis modules, wherein each analysis module of the plurality of analysis modules is assembled from one or more view of the set of views. The architecture moreover includes an application layer having a plurality of applications, wherein each application of the plurality of applications is assembled from one or more analysis module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Paul Ballintine, Jamie Sarmiento, Duane Smith, Chad R. Weetman
  • Publication number: 20130018486
    Abstract: A controller equipped with a user interface having multiple-day programming capabilities, including methods of programming such devices, are disclosed. The user interface may include one or more menus or screens that can be used to program a schedule for one or more selected days during the week. An illustrative method of programming the controller may include the steps of entering a scheduling routine, selecting multiple days for schedule modification, changing the schedule parameters for one or more periods during the selected days, and then exiting the scheduling routine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel A. Bergman, Eugene J. Takach, Marcus D. Stoner, John B. Amundson, Philip O. Readio, Paul G. Schwendinger, James A. Wolfbauer, Jeff D. Boll, Ian Thomson, Colin T. Ferguson, George J. McLeod
  • Patent number: 8355826
    Abstract: A household appliance system and method include an appliance control system having a common appliance interface provided on an appliance and a demand side management module connected to the common appliance interface. The module corresponds to one select utility of a plurality of utilities and is adapted to communicate with the one select utility of the plurality of utilities. The appliance control system operates the appliance based on communications with the one select utility through the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric K. Watson, John K. Besore, Michael Thomas Beyerle, David C. Bingham, Darin Franks, Byron Guernsey, Darko Ilickovic, Mallika Ravindra Patel, Brian Michael Schork
  • Patent number: 8352524
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates organizing and presenting data within a database. A data store can store a portion of data accessible to a user. A real time monitor component can dynamically track an amount of access for the portion of data within the data store. A display engine can render a multi-scaled view of the portion of data, wherein the multi-scaled view is based on the amount of access in which a size representation of the data is correlated with the amount of access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Flake, Blaise Aguera y Arcas, Brett D. Brewer, Anthony T. Chor, Steven Drucker, Karim Farouki, Stephen L. Lawler, Ariel J. Lazier, Donald James Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8340787
    Abstract: In a monitoring and control device for use in a remote monitoring and control system, a device housing has a socket located behind a display panel and an external storage medium including a rewritable memory is removably mounted in the socket. The device housing is attached in an attachment hole formed in a wall in a state that the external storage medium is mounted in the socket. A control unit performs a setting operation for a graphic image displayed on the display panel and for the load control in accordance with setting information stored in the external storage medium. The external storage medium is inserted in the socket through an insertion slot formed in a side portion of the device housing, at least a portion of the insertion slot being received in the attachment hole in a state that the device housing is attached to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Yoshikawa, Tomoaki Sasaki, Katsuhiko Kimura, Kei Miura, Akihiro Hiroishi, Satoshi Kitamura, Yulchiro Naoi, Mototsugu Kawamata, Yuichi Yoshimura