Generic Control System, Apparatus Or Process Patents (Class 700/1)
  • Patent number: 7689632
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for storing configuration data for use in configuring a device while a program utilizing the configuration data is undergoing a revision at the device. The method includes a first step of providing a data structure indicating a manner in which configuration data is to be stored, and storing the data structure and current configuration data according to the data structure. Then, a revised software program in the device may identify the data structure and access a particular configuration data, along with its format; and, apply a conversion function that translates the stored current configuration data to a format compatible for use by the revised software. This is accomplished in a manner such that no configuration data is corrupted. The data structure includes data self describing the stored current configuration data, such that a conversion function can easily access the self describing information and render the stored configuration data platform independent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: David Hogg
  • Patent number: 7680545
    Abstract: This Invention provides for a method and system for speed measurement verification. The method comprises the step of automatically measuring the speed of a vehicle traveling on a surface which includes a fixed marker at a predetermined distance from a point where the speed of the vehicle is measured. The measured speed is automatically compared to a predetermined speed limit and if the speed limit is exceeded, the next step involves automatically calculating a time delay, which time delay is calculated according to the measured speed and the predetermined distance so as to predict when the vehicle, if traveling at the measured speed, will reach the marker. An image is then captured with a camera directed at the marker after expiration of the time delay so that, if the measured speed is accurate, the vehicle will be positioned proximate the marker so that the captured image showing the vehicle relative to the marker is able to serve as verification of the accuracy of the measured speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Rudiger Heinz Gebert
  • Patent number: 7680621
    Abstract: A test instrument network for testing a plurality of DUTs includes a plurality of communicating script processors, the script processors being adapted to execute computer code; and a plurality of measurement resources controllable by the script processors in response to executed computer code, the measurement resources being adapted to test the DUTs. Each script processor and measurement resource may be arbitrarily assigned by the controller to one of at least two groups, only one script processor being assigned to be a master script processor, any other script processor being a slave script processor and any group not including the master script processor being a remote group. The master script processor is exclusively authorized to initiate code execution on any script processor in a remote group. Any slave script processor is only able to initiate operation of measurement resources in it own group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Keithley Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd A. Hayes
  • Patent number: 7680556
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a new data collection method employed by a middle layer between the host and the equipment, which improves the speed and consistency of data collection. The middle layer incorporated with the proposed data collection method functions as a data format converter as well as a data processor/classifier, which helps to filter and format messages before delivering data to the host or equipment. The proposed data collection method enables the middle layer to perform local reply, local data sampling, and group data polling, thus relieving processing resources of both the equipment and the host. This allows implementation of APC on older wafer fabrication processes using old equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Boon Hong Sim, Ping Zhou
  • Patent number: 7676277
    Abstract: A data receiving apparatus and control method are provided. The apparatus includes a determining part determining whether a clock signal and a data signal are respectively in a high state and/or in a low state based on a predetermined value of a standard level, when the clock signal and the data signal are received from an external apparatus; and a controller determining a data communicating state corresponding to the high state and/or the low state of the clock signal and the data signal determined in the determining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gyeong-ho Yu
  • Patent number: 7676287
    Abstract: A system for gathering data associated with a process plant, in which parameters are generated by a plurality of signal processing data collection blocks, automatically determines parameters to be monitored. The signal processing data collection blocks may generate data such as statistical data, frequency analysis data, auto regression data, wavelets data, etc. Then, the system monitors the determined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Evren Eryurek, Kadir Kavaklioglu, John P. Miller
  • Patent number: 7672737
    Abstract: An industrial automation device comprises a data storage component that retains at least a portion of a schema, the schema facilitates usage of a hierarchically structured data model by the industrial automation device. A processor is communicatively coupled to the data storage component and facilitates at least one of receipt, execution, and creation of an object that conforms to the hierarchically structured data model. In another example, the industrial automation device can be employed to execute a workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavan W. Hood, Ralph Kappelhoff, Kenwood H. Hall
  • Patent number: 7660677
    Abstract: The present invention provides a means of economically, quickly and efficiently designing a physiologically active peptide to a target protein. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of designing a physiologically active peptide characterized in that, to design a physiologically active peptide capable of binding to a target site comprising a consecutive or non-consecutive amino acid sequence in a target protein, a computerized processing is carried out for extracting a preferable amino acid sequence by calculating intermolecular energy etc.; an apparatus therefor; a program for executing the above-described processing by a computer; and a computer-readable recording medium containing the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventors: Sei-ichi Tanuma, Atsushi Yoshimori
  • Patent number: 7659109
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermal cycling including a pasting edge heater. The pasting edge heater can provide substantial temperature uniformity throughout the retaining elements during thermal cycling by a thermoelectric module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: Hon Siu Shin, Hock Lai Khoo
  • Patent number: 7657327
    Abstract: A control device for operating electronic equipment having a generally elongated body and rotatable selection portion that is rotatable to any one of a plurality of operation mode positions. A display unit displays information associated with each mode, and a single common actuator activates the selected mode. The display unit may include a curved window that extends at least 180 degrees around the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: Sony EMCS (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kok Eng Yeap, Hiroshi Kimoto
  • Patent number: 7657841
    Abstract: A display device for a construction machine has a display switching means, output control means, operation detecting means, and display prohibiting means. The display switching means switches information displayed on a monitor placed in an operation cabin, where the switching is made to prevent display of unnecessary information on the monitor while the construction machine is performing work. The output control means selects display information recorded in information recording means and outputs the selected information to the monitor. The operation detecting means detects whether or not the construction machine is in a working state. When the operation detecting means detects that the construction machine is in the working state, display switching operation of the monitor is performed by the display switching means, and the display prohibiting means prohibits the display of specific information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shibamori, Keiichiro Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Sakyo, Kazunori Nakamura, Tadatoshi Shimamura, Genroku Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7653443
    Abstract: Methods of controlling activation of electrical appliances can include reducing overlapping activation time of different electrical appliances located at a single customer location of an electrical service provider during at least one time interval during a day. Related systems, circuits, and computer program products are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel Flohr
  • Patent number: 7653491
    Abstract: A method for identifying a quantitative trait loci for a complex trait that is exhibited by a plurality of organisms in a population. The population is divided into a plurality of sub-populations using a classification scheme. Depending on what is known about the population, either a supervised or unsupervised classification is used. The classification scheme is derived from a plurality of cellular constituent measurements obtained from each organism in the population. For each sub-population in the plurality of sub-populations, a quantitative genetic analysis is performed on the sub-population in order to identify one or more quantitative trait loci for the complex trait.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Schadt, Stephanie A. Monks
  • Patent number: 7650299
    Abstract: A method of marketing component products to producers engaged in the production of composite products utilizing such component products, and the sale of such composite products to end users, generally consisting of distributing software to such producers, functional to design the composite products and including advertisements soliciting the sale of component products; receiving electronically over the internet from the producers, orders for the purchase of selected ones of the component products; transmitting electronically over the internet to selected ones of a set of vendors, orders for the purchase of component products corresponding to the selected ones of the component products ordered by the producers with instructions to ship the ordered component products to the producers; receiving invoices from the vendors of component products shipped to the producers responsive to purchase orders received by the vendors, and remitting payment thereof to the vendors; and invoicing the producers upon confirmation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Publication number: 20100007511
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for controlling a controller without physically touching the controller. A hand or other object interacts with a field surrounding the controller, altering the field. A change in characteristic of the altered field causes a corresponding movement of the controller that, in turn, corresponds to an amount of change in a parameter of a target device being controlled by the controller. The parameter of the target device is controlled by the controller while a user has no physical contact with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Ina, William O. Camp, JR.
  • Patent number: 7647125
    Abstract: A time-based controller provides control for a controlled system including a plant having an integration response. The time-based controller includes a comparator that detects a polarity change in a comparison of a sensed signal from the plant and a reference signal while a control signal is in a first state, time calculation logic that, responsive to detection of the change in the comparison, determines a time at which to change a state of a control signal supplied to the plant, and a modulator that, at the determined time, changes the state of the control signal supplied to the plant from the first state to a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Melanson
  • Patent number: 7643889
    Abstract: A circuit for outputting temperature data of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a temperature detecting circuit that generates a temperature voltage corresponding to a change in temperature and outputs the temperature voltage, an A/D converter that converts the temperature voltage into a first temperature code and outputs it, and a temperature data correcting unit that outputs a second temperature code obtained by correcting an error of the first temperature code using a correction code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Seok Jeong, Kang-Seol Lee
  • Patent number: 7643888
    Abstract: A control apparatus which generates control information on the basis of control target information from a control target, controls the control target by using the generated control information, and transmits the control information to an off-system control apparatus, includes a single common memory which stores both the control target information from the control target, and the transmitted control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhide Ashida, Akira Nojima
  • Patent number: 7636606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for process control, wherein at least one process device to be controlled is controlled by at least one process module and at least one safety module in that process signals of the process module not relevant to safety and safety signals of the safety module relating to process safety are logically linked to one another and at least one local safety signal of a local safety sensor is supplied directly to at least one control output of a local control unit associated with the process device while bypassing this logical linking operation in order to effect a fast change in state at the process device to be controlled which is connected to the control output, wherein the fast switching path includes a fast switching function with which the result of the logical linking operation and the local safety signal are evaluated together and wherein a fast change in state at the process device to be controlled effected via the fast changing path is changed again, and is in partic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Franz Dold, Irina Hippenmeyer
  • Patent number: 7634363
    Abstract: Methods for genotyping polymorphisms using allele specific probes are disclosed. A training set is used to generate a model for each polymorphism to be interrogated. The training set is used to obtain an estimate of the asymmetry between an intensity measurement for a first allele and an intensity measurement for a second allele of the same polymorphism. The intensity measurement obtained for a test sample is adjusted using the estimate of asymmetry prior to using the intensity measurements to make a genotyping call. In preferred embodiments the adjustment is applied to polymorphisms that have a likelihood of being heterozygous that is above a specified threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing Huang, Keith W. Jones
  • Patent number: 7633251
    Abstract: System, method, and apparatus for commutating and controlling a multi-phase motor using one output rotor sensor and circuitry that measures time between rotor pole-to-pole transitions is disclosed. The exemplary system, method, and apparatus may utilize the polarity of the single-output rotor sensor and the measured time between the polarity transitions detected by the single-output rotor sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: IntelaSense, LLC
    Inventor: Mark E. Collins
  • Publication number: 20090307480
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of control units starts the control unit with one of a first start method and a second start. When a first control unit among the control units starts with a second start method, the first control unit instructs a second control unit among the control units to start with the second start method. Thus, all the control units are started with the same start method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Katoh
  • Patent number: 7627456
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for dynamically tasking one or more surveillance resources includes a first logical layer identifying a collection requirement (CR) and a second logical layer identifying one or more surveillance resources in the CR. Each of the surveillance resources includes one or more sensors. The system also includes a third logical layer specifying how each of the sensors in the surveillance resources in the CR should carry out surveillance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Eric L. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7627385
    Abstract: A distributed historian framework is provided where historical data is collected in accordance with an organizational model of a hierarchical system that is distributed across various elements of an enterprise. A directory service operates with the organizational model to enable configuration of historian components within the organization and to enable data to be located within the organization. In one aspect, an industrial automation system is provided. The system includes at least one historian component to archive data within an organization. A common data model then exposes functionality and data of the organization to the historian component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. McGreevy, Deborah A. Sadowski, Robert J. Herbst, Justin R. Hartman
  • Publication number: 20090292372
    Abstract: A device with controllable mechanical characteristics makes available a list of controllable characteristics for use by a controller or host computer. The list may include not only controllable characteristics but also the available range for each control, the impact of each adjustment, or both. The host computer can evaluate an operating state of the computer or electronic device and determine how best to set the device for compatible operation with the operating state. When controllable characteristics have multiple effects and/or interact with other controllable characteristics, macros may be developed to perform multiple settings as a group to achieve the desired outcome. The list may also be downloaded from a web service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Burg, Vlad Sadovsky
  • Publication number: 20090292373
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fieldbus communication system, comprising: a field device to transmit data; a receiving device to receive the transmitted data; and a data management apparatus which is connectable to a communication system in which the field device and the receiving device are connected to a fieldbus, wherein the receiving device comprises a processing section to perform a transmission request regarding the transmitted data to the data management apparatus, and wherein the data management apparatus comprises: a transmitting/receiving section which is connectable to the fieldbus; a storage section to store the data transmitted from the field device; and a control section to read the stored data corresponding to the transmission request, from the storage section so as to transmit the read data to the receiving device, when the transmission request is received from the receiving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyata, Yukiyo Akisada, Masahito Endo, Hiroki Endo, Kensuke Hosoya
  • Publication number: 20090287317
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the embodiment, a display control apparatus includes a storage unit storing a plurality of connection information each of which is associated at least with one property information, an extraction unit extracting connection information from the plurality of connection information, the extracted connection information including property information which partially correspond with each other, and a display unit performing display control to distinguish the extracted connection information extracted by the extraction unit from the other connection information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Kumagai, Junko Taira, Toshiro Okada
  • Patent number: 7620459
    Abstract: A system for operating and controlling technical processes having at least one component fashioned as a measuring instrument and a control device, which is connected by electrical lines to sensor and actuators of processes, and having a control program, a measurement and control unit, an operating and observation component, optionally a database, optionally a process printer and further components of a process automation, as appropriate, which are connected to one another via data channels and a control program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Renner
  • Patent number: 7613526
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a control system of the reciprocating object comprising a microprocessor (01), a reciprocating mode control circuit (02), a reciprocating travel control circuit (03), a power supply circuit (04) and a motor driving circuit (05), with the microprocessor (01) provided with matrix type on-off signal input-outputs. The reciprocating mode control circuit (02) consists of matrix column branches and matrix row branches, allowing the limited number of the on-off signal ports of the microprocessor (01) to be connected to a plurality of on-off controlling elements thereby realizing a multiple of control modes and diversifying the control modes. The circuit construction according to the present invention is relatively simple, which is helpful to a tidy wiring and layout of the elements and therefore the circuit is easy for manufacturing, assembling, trouble shooting and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Chichun Wu
  • Patent number: 7613525
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk device and a method of controlling the device which is capable of suppressing peak current, even for serial communication, that is required when initiating rotation of a spindle motor down to a level equivalent to that of parallel communication, without prolonging elapsed time before reaching the steady rotation speed. In one embodiment, an HDD includes a serial communication circuit which executes serial communication with a host, an SPM which rotates a disk, an HDC/MPU which controls the SPM and the serial communication circuit. The HDC/MPU, after shutting down the serial communication circuit once, starts up the serial communication circuit again when rotation speed of the SPM reached the specified standard value, and establishes serial communication with the host by means of the serial communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kenji Ogasawara, Hirofumi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7613572
    Abstract: Apparatus for building a stochastic model of a spatially related data sequence, the data sequence comprising symbols selected from a finite symbol set, the apparatus comprising: an input for receiving said data sequence, a tree builder for expressing said symbols as a series of counters within nodes, each node having a counter for each symbol, each node having a position within said tree, said position expressing a symbol sequence and each counter indicating a number of its corresponding symbol which follows a symbol sequence of its respective node, and a tree reducer for reducing said tree to an irreducible set of conditional probabilities of relationships between symbols in said input data sequence. The tree may then be used to carry out a comparison with a new data sequence to determine a statistical distance between the old and the new data sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Context-Based 4 Casting (C-B4) Ltd.
    Inventors: Irad Ben-Gal, Armin Shmilovici, Gail Morag, Gonen Zinger
  • Patent number: 7603201
    Abstract: Systems and methods allowing for the automatic control and scheduling of a staining apparatus for biological samples on slides present within the apparatus. In some embodiments, the actions of a robot coupled to the staining apparatus, which performs some of the staining tasks on the individual slides in accordance with their respective protocols, may be prioritized and scheduled. In some embodiments, the scheduling may result in increasing or maximizing the throughput of slides. In some embodiments, robot scheduling ensures that the individual slides are processed substantially within the tolerances specified by their respective protocols. In some embodiments, the robot scheduler may respond to spontaneous user actions and adaptively schedule or re-schedule robot actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Dako Denmark A/S
    Inventors: Gordon Alan Feingold, James B. Gilmartin, Mark Richard Holbrook, John A. Favuzzi, Marc E. Key
  • Patent number: 7603180
    Abstract: A method for the orthogonalization of initially overlapping vectors, the uses for which include the re-encoding and decoding of representations triggered by sensory arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Evolved Machines, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20090248178
    Abstract: A mobile computing device comprises a memory, a processor and a transceiver. The memory is configured to store at least one type of position assist data. The processor is configured to provide a position fix based on the position assist data. The transceiver is configured for wireless communication. The memory is configured to store updated position assist data for the type of position assist data. The processor is operable in a first operating mode in which the type of position assist data is not updated and operable in a second operating mode in which the type of position assist data is updated in response to at least one triggering event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Janell Paulson, Isabel Ge Mahe, Craig C. Hamilton, Sachin S. Kansal, Gurunath Ramaswamy, Dante Russo, Cherif Jazra, Vivek Shah
  • Patent number: 7596416
    Abstract: A system for managing a project that includes multiple tasks and a plurality of workers. Input information includes characterizations based upon a human model, a team model and a product model. Periodic reports, such as a monthly report, a task plan report, a budget report and a risk management report, are generated and made available for display or further analysis. An extensible database allows searching for information based upon context and upon content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: David A. Maluf, Yuri O. Gawdiak, David G. Bell, Mohana M. Gurram
  • Patent number: 7593802
    Abstract: A lead-lag input filter is connected ahead of a positioner feedback loop having one or more valve accessories, such as a volume booster or a QEV, to overcome slow dynamics experienced by the accessories when receiving low amplitude change control or set point signals. A user interface is connected to the lead-lag input filter and enables an operator or other control personnel to view and change the operating characteristics of the lead-lag input filter to thereby provide the control loop with any of a number of desired response characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Junk, Annette L. Latwesen
  • Patent number: 7593832
    Abstract: A system and method for meeting performance goals in an electronic system in an energy efficient manner. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise operating an electrical circuit at a current level of performance and a current level of energy efficiency by providing the electrical circuit with electrical power characterized by a current set of power characteristics (e.g., utilizing a power control module). The current level of performance may be determined (e.g., by a performance monitor) and compared to a desired level of performance (e.g., by the power control module). If the current level of performance is higher than the desired level of performance, then the electrical circuit may be operated at a next (e.g., lower) level of performance and a next (e.g., higher) level of energy efficiency by providing the electrical circuit with electrical power characterized by a next set of power characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Pieter Vorenkamp, Neil Y. Kim
  • Patent number: 7587249
    Abstract: An electric appliance 1 has a code correspondence data table that accommodates the correspondence among the control signals of the remote control units belonging to recording medium drive apparatuses 2-1 to 2-m and signal reception apparatuses 3-1 to 3-n and a code correspondence data table that accommodates the correspondence between those control signals and the various operations performed by the electric appliance 1 to select contents. With reference to these code correspondence data tables, contents are selected and reproduced according to control signals transmitted from any remote control unit 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Maehara, Toru Ueda, Kazuya Oyama
  • Patent number: 7584019
    Abstract: Systems and methods allowing for the automatic control and scheduling of a staining apparatus for biological samples on slides present within the apparatus. In some embodiments, the actions of a robot coupled to the staining apparatus, which performs some of the staining tasks on the individual slides in accordance with their respective protocols, may be prioritized and scheduled. In some embodiments, the scheduling may result in increasing or maximizing the throughput of slides. In some embodiments, robot scheduling ensures that the individual slides are processed substantially within the tolerances specified by their respective protocols. In some embodiments, the robot scheduler may respond to spontaneous user actions and adaptively schedule or re-schedule robot actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Dako Denmark A/S
    Inventors: Gordon Alan Feingold, James B. Gilmartin, Mark Richard Holbrook, John A. Favuzzi, Marc E. Key
  • Patent number: 7581706
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) system suitable for use in any number of environments, including but not limited to latching and unlatching vehicle seat tracks. The system including any number of configurations to support any number of operations, including but not limited to push-push, pull-pull, push-pull, and pull-push operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Kennedy, H. Winston Maue, John F. Nathan
  • Patent number: 7580997
    Abstract: A method of recovering the state of a system, which system comprises at least one counter, which counter represents an instantaneous state of an entity in a system. The counter will increase in value in response to an increment request and decrease in value in response to a decrement request, wherein each increment request is paired with a decrement request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Jacobs Rimell Limited
    Inventors: Keith Sterling, Richard Hughes, Allan Jenkins, William Box, Ian Middleton
  • Patent number: 7580759
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for burnishing a recording head in-situ in a magnetic recording disk drive. The burnishing process generates a tribocurrent, which is electricity generated by the rubbing of dissimilar materials. Different materials exhibit widely different tribocurrent characteristics while in sliding contact. The tribocurrent thus acts as an indicator of the particular materials of the recording head making contact with the magnetic recording media during different stages of the burnishing process. The tribocurrent is thus monitored to determine when it reaches a threshold value. The threshold value indicates that the burnishing has exposed a particular material of the recording head. Thus, the burnishing process may be stopped upon the tribocurrent reaching the threshold value so that the read sensor of the recording head is not burnished and inadvertently damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Bruno Marchon, Charles M. Mate, Bernhard E. Knigge, Kurt Rubin
  • Patent number: 7574512
    Abstract: A method for encapsulating HTTP messages within a MODBUS message is described in the present invention. This MODBUS message can be encoded and sent using either MODBUS/TCP or serial MODBUS. Within MODBUS, the encapsulation is built using the MODBUS Encapsulation Interface (MEI). The HTTP message may contain HTML, XML, XHTML, or SGML.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Schneider Automation SAS
    Inventor: Dennis Joseph Wilfrid Dube
  • Patent number: 7574268
    Abstract: A modular control system, which is constructed from terminal modules and function modules to fit these, for use in industrial automation in particular is provided. With the known embodiments, which comprise different terminal modules for different functionalities, subsequent system extensions can often only be achieved with significant outlay. With the inventive modular control system this problem is resolved by the use of novel terminal modules of identical structure, with the different functionalities being provided by additional function units. Additional advantages, in addition to simpler modification of the system configuration, are lower planning and assembly outlays, simpler and error-free pre-assembly of the standard terminal modules, simpler stocking of spare parts, clear transparency in respect of the supply of supply voltages, potential forwarding and separation and specialist functions such as simple and transparent handling during gradual commissioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Bräunlich, Frank-Günter Meier
  • Patent number: 7574267
    Abstract: A controller for a machine tool or production machine includes a computer with a software program that is not executable in real-time, an interpreter implemented in the non-real-time software program, and a storage medium storing an executable macro loadable into the interpreter for execution by the interpreter. The interpreter determines parameters for parameterizing the controller and stores the parameters in a memory area of the computer. A method for parameterizing a controller or a closed-loop controller is also described. The controller and method can be used to parameterize a controller of a machine tool or production machine. A macro can be used to during startup or reset of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Feuerbach, Gerhard Heinemann, Henning Höhnert, Eckart Krebber, Karl Luber
  • Publication number: 20090198347
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container for an access-controlled storage system comprising a plurality of compartments, each compartment designed to contain an article, and a control means to control the accessibility of said compartments, wherein said control means is capable of granting access to the article of only one compartment at a time without moving said article, wherein said control means comprises a rotary belt with a cut-out directed by deflection pulleys. Another aspect of the present invention is an access-controlled storage system comprising at least two containers according to the present invention, a housing, and an actuating means capable of actuating the control means of said container, wherein said actuating means grants access only to a defined compartment within said container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Hannes Kirzinger
  • Publication number: 20090185040
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling an electronic device and an authentication method for controlled electronic device resources; the method for controlling an electronic device includes the following steps: receiving the electronic device control information from the client, by the streaming media server, wherein, the electronic device control information is included in the initial line, header field, message body in the network control protocol, or an combo including the initial line, header field, and message body; parsing out the electronic device control information from the initial line, header field, message body, or the combo including any combination of the initial line, header field, and message body, by the streaming media server; controlling the electronic device according to the control information. The streaming media server includes a receiving unit, a parsing unit, and a control unit, or it includes a receiving unit, a parsing unit, and an authenticating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Yang, Guoqiao Chen
  • Patent number: 7565210
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of, computer programs for and apparatus for control and/or observation of a device with communication capabilities by a controller device with hypertext or hypermedia communication capabilities. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to methods of, computer programs for and apparatus for control and observation of a consumer electronics device with communications capability from a mobile controller device with hypertext or hypermedia communications capability over a proximity bearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronic Srl.
    Inventors: Janko Mrsic-Flogel, Derek Martin Reynolds, Zorislav Sojat, Marco Bianchessi, Stefano Sala
  • Patent number: 7561925
    Abstract: A motor vehicle control device is provided with first and second partial devices. The first partial device houses sensors and/or associated functions of the control unit that are identical for all vehicle models in a series. The second partial device houses the sensors and/or functions of the control unit that are additionally required for an individual vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Baur, Helmut Rauh, Jan Urbahn, Marcus Weidner, Klaus Achatz
  • Patent number: 7562135
    Abstract: Enhanced Fieldbus device alerts enable Fieldbus devices within a process control system to report alarm or alert conditions that are detected within the devices to a system user or operator using a plurality of independently reportable device alarm parameters, each of which corresponds to a different level of severity and each of which may require a different type of response by the system user or operator. The independently reportable device alarm parameters include a parameter associated with a failure of a Fieldbus device, a parameter associated with maintenance needed by a Fieldbus device and an advisable action in connection with a Fieldbus device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Evren Eryurek, Ram Ramachandran, Cindy Alsup Scott, Trevor Duncan Schleiss