Generic Control System, Apparatus Or Process Patents (Class 700/1)
  • Patent number: 7865266
    Abstract: Improved robotic surgical systems, devices, and methods include selectably associatable master/slave pairs, often having more manipulator arms than will be moved simultaneously by the two hands of a surgeon. Four manipulator arms can support an image capture device, a left hand tissue manipulation tool, a right hand tissue manipulation tool, and a fourth surgical instrument, particularly for stabilizing, retracting, tool change, or other functions benefiting from intermittent movement. The four or more arms may sequentially be controlled by left and right master input control devices. The fourth arm may be used to support another image capture device, and control of some or all of the arms may be transferred back-and-forth between the operator and an assistant. Two or more robotic systems each having master controls and slave manipulators may be coupled to enable cooperative surgery between two or more operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic H. Moll, David J. Rosa, Andris D. Ramans, Steven J. Blumenkranz, Gary S. Guthart, Gunter D. Niemeyer, William C. Nowlin, J. Kenneth Salisbury, Jr., Michael J. Tierney
  • Patent number: 7862231
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing temperature includes a plurality of thermocouples, a plurality of relays, a ground circuit, a compensation circuit, a power supply circuit, a switch circuit, and an MPU. The thermo-couples samples temperatures at different locations in a CNC machine, each thermo-couple is connected to a corresponding relay and selectively connected to the switch circuit by turning on or off the corresponding relay, the compensation circuit includes a cold junction compensator and a first relay, the ground circuit includes a ground terminal and a second relay, the power circuit includes a power supply and a third relay. The first, second, and third relays selectively turn on or off to connect the cold junction compensator, the ground terminal, or the power supply to the switch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsing-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 7865313
    Abstract: Methods and systems of extracting extensible motifs from a sequence include assigning a significance to extensible motifs within the sequence based upon a syntactic and statistical analysis, and identifying extensible motifs having a significance that exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto Apostolico, Matteo Comin, Laxmi Priya Parida
  • Patent number: 7860582
    Abstract: A compact modular embedded device. A base module includes a processor, a memory medium operable to store a bootloader for executing graphical programs, a bus, and a power input coupled to the processor, memory medium, and bus, for receiving power from a power source and providing the received power to the processor, memory medium, and bus. The base module can couple to a host computer via a transmission medium, receive a program from the host computer, and store the program in the memory medium. The base module may couple to extension modules via the bus in a stacked fashion, where the base module and the extension modules each include a respective substantially planar circuit board that when stacked are substantially parallel. Each extension module provides respective functionality for the device. The base module can execute the program to perform a function in conjunction with the extension modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Marius Ghercioiu, Horea Hedesiu, Silviu Folea, Gratian I. Crisan, Ciprian Ceteras, Ioan Monoses
  • Patent number: 7852835
    Abstract: Provided is a time switch capable of allowing a user to readily set up or change a schedule. For this purpose, a chassis 30 of the time switch 10 has same size (i.e., two-row-module size) as that obtained by arranging two three-module sized implanted type wiring devices in two lines along a minor width direction, and installation frame pieces 38 are protruded from both of upper and lower side walls. In addition, each installation frame piece 38 has a long hole 38a for inserting a box screw fastened to the implanted type box (not shown) implanted on the installation surface or a fastener hole combined with a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mototsugu Kawamata
  • Patent number: 7853334
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus which is capable of executing applications includes first control means for controlling a system of the information processing apparatus and second control means for controlling the execution of the applications, and the second control means has state transition control means for defining states of application not dependent on the system and controlling transitions of the defined states and conversion means for converting a command into a format which can be recognized by the system when the command instructing a state transition to the state transition control means is issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shimon Sakai, Naoki Ode, Tomohiro Taira, Yuji Ishimura
  • Patent number: 7840284
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus performs a monitor processing based on sensor data. A first sensor obtains sensor data of a first format, the first format being video. A second sensor obtains sensor data of a second format, the second format being different from the first format. Surveilled features of an object are extracted from the sensor data obtained and compared to determination parameters in order to determine whether a surveillance event has occurred. When a surveillance event is determined to have occurred, message data reports the surveillance event to a further information processing apparatus. A decision signal is received from the further information processing apparatus, and a switch individually turns ON or OFF each of the first and second sensors according to the decision signal based on an instruction transmitted from the further information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Naoki Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Fujimori, Yasuaki Takahashi, Koji Ohta, Naoki Takeda
  • Patent number: 7840285
    Abstract: A sequence of events (SOE) recorder facility in a process control network environment is described herein. The SOE recorder facility is hosted by a networked node that receives digital signal status change (event) data from a networked controller. The sequence of events recorder facility receives a configured set of digital data signals from the controller, temporarily buffers the events in chronological order according to timestamps assigned to the events by their sources (e.g., fieldbus modules). The data is thereafter copied/removed from the buffer and provided to multiple destinations including: a process database that maintains an archival copy of the received event data for rendering event reports, and an SOE client user interface for rendering event logs to printers and/or graphical user interface displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Irvine William Wilson, Erna Renate Heinzelmann
  • Patent number: 7833487
    Abstract: A solution filling apparatus fills a capillary with solution of a substance to be introduced into a cell. A capillary holding unit holds the capillary. An injection-tube holding unit holds an injection tube to be injected into the capillary. A solution ejecting unit ejects the solution from the injection tube into the capillary. A guiding unit guides the injection tube into the capillary. A capillary oscillating unit oscillates the injection-tube holding unit and the solution ejecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Jun Sasaki, Kazuo Tamamushi
  • Patent number: 7831314
    Abstract: A driving assisting for calculating risk potential by considering a response delay by the driver and transmitting information related to the risk potential to the operator in a haptic manner. A controller is provided to estimate the response delay based on an operation performed by the operator. Based on the estimated response delay, the controller calculates a future position at which the risk potential is to be calculated. The longer the response delay, the remoter the future position is. The shorter the response delay, the nearer the future position is. The calculated risk potential at the future position may be transmitted to the operator via a pressing force from one of right and left side portions of a driver's seat occupied by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Egami
  • Patent number: 7814433
    Abstract: A heterogeneous content channel manager is provided for content management and collaboration within and across interactive workspaces. A content channel bar, available on each of the displays in the workspace(s), contains two or more unique representations of respectively two or more different channels available in the interactive workspace(s). Within the set of available channels on each channel bar two or more different channel types are represented. Furthermore, each one of the unique representations in the content channel bar represents different and unique content supported by their respective channels and their types. Channel selection on the channel bar initiates display, on the display where the channel selection was made, of the content represented by the selected representation and channel in a manner appropriate for the channel's type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tidebreak, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Johanson, Andrew J. Milne, Michael Eggers, Armando Fox
  • Patent number: 7813813
    Abstract: Safety units 1d to 1f for executing a safety function processing are connected to a non-safety controller constituted by connecting a plurality of units 1b, 1c including CPU units 1a. A CPU bus 10 to be connected with the CPU units and a safety dedicated bus 11 for mutually connecting the safety units are provided to the safety units. Since the safety dedicated bus is isolated from the non-safety system, reliability of the safety function can be secured. The CPU unit can read out data through the CPU bus irrespective of the safety unit and the non-safety unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Muneta, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Teruyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20100252790
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated jacking system for a motor vehicle that includes: a motorized jack; a rail system, where the rail system provides a means of movement for the motorized jack; and a control means, where the control means controls the movement of the motorized jack about the rail system. In one exemplary embodiment, the control means includes a control panel where the control panel includes at least four control buttons and each button coincides with a position of the motorized jack. During use, the rail system installs to the under carriage of a vehicle and includes a format that enables the motorized jack to position adjacent to a wheel of the vehicle. The present invention also includes a method of installing an automated jacking system to a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: NATHANIEL TUFF, LEROY TUFF
  • Patent number: 7804038
    Abstract: A control system for controlling and synchronizing a plurality of medium-voltage vacuum contactors comprises a two-level network structure. A dedicated network includes a plurality of servant control units operably coupled to the vacuum contactors and configured to ascertain a plurality of different data and conditions thereof. In addition, the dedicated network includes a master control unit in serial communication with the servant control units and configured to send and receive communications therewith. The master control unit is operably coupled to a control network including a plurality of various control devices. The master control unit is configured to send predetermined data received from the servant control units to the control network. The two-level network structure enables relatively jitter free communication on the dedicated network while not overwhelming the control network with unnecessary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Bortolus, Reginald A. Drake, F. Michael Frayne, David S. MacLennan
  • Patent number: 7803321
    Abstract: A system and method for formulating a chemical solution using both volumetric and weight based measurements of components of the chemical solution is disclosed. The components of the chemical solution include water and at least one other component, which may take any form, such as, without limitation, liquid, solid, powder or gaseous form. Formulation of the chemical solution is administered by combining water with the one or more other components at an output port, from which this combination is dispensed to a solution storage tank. In response to a user's request to formulate a specified amount of the chemical solution, the volume of water provided to the output port is monitored by a flow meter and the weight of the other component(s) provided to the output port is monitored by one or more load cells. Based on such monitoring, appropriate amounts of water and the other component(s) are combined together to formulate the specified amount of the chemical solution in the solution storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Mitchell Lark, Darren Jahnke, Eric Willman, Warren Pannkuk
  • Patent number: 7801700
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that generates a simulated vibration pattern in a computer subsystem. During operation, a vibration pattern is monitored at a location in the computer subsystem, wherein the vibration pattern is monitored while the computer subsystem is incorporated into the computer system and the computer system is operating. Then, the vibrations of the computer subsystem are mimicked by generating the simulated vibration pattern at the same location in the computer subsystem based on the monitored vibration pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Anton A. Bougaev, Aleksey M. Urmanov
  • Patent number: 7800622
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selective control of display data sequencing in a mobile computing device is disclosed. The method may include storing a plurality of display data sequencing instruction sets in a memory of the mobile computing device, each of the display data sequencing instruction sets being usable for transferring data in accordance with a different sequencing of display data than other ones of the display data sequencing instruction sets, receiving an indication of a particular type of display data sequencing to be used, selecting one of the display data sequencing instruction sets based on the received indication of the particular type of display data sequencing to be used, transferring data for display based on the selected one of the display data sequencing instruction sets, and controlling the transfer of data to the display device in order to synchronize the data transfer with the data and timing requirements of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Schindler, Irfan Nasir
  • Patent number: 7795491
    Abstract: Surgical sponges and other articles are provided with machine-readable information which provides a serial number or other unique identification of the sponge. In addition, the machine-readable information will provide the type of article and/or a characteristic visual motif associated with the article. That way, by scanning in the machine-readable information from the sponges or other articles prior to a procedure, the computer or other digital processor can determine which articles may be missing after the procedure and alert the surgical team as to the type and/or characteristic visual motif of the missing article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Patient Safety Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Stewart, Nicolas Soichet
  • Patent number: 7797369
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission of image data from an image source to an image display device is disclosed, wherein the method includes transmitting the image data from the image source to the image display device, receiving the image data in a buffer on the image display device, reading at least some of the image data out of the buffer for processing by the image display device, monitoring an amount of unprocessed image data in the buffer, transmitting a value representing an amount of unprocessed image data in the buffer from the image display device to the image source, and adjusting the transmission of the image data to the image display device by the image source if the value representing the amount of unprocessed image data meets a preselected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff Glickman
  • Patent number: 7788476
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system, which can comprise a module communicatively coupled to a programmable logic controller (PLC). The module can comprise a transmission circuit and/or a receiving circuit. The module can be adapted to communicate with the PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames. A frame of the 8B/10B encoded frames can comprise a plurality of ordered fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. McNutt, Mark Steven Boggs, Temple L. Fulton
  • Patent number: 7788043
    Abstract: Methods, software arrangements and systems are provided which can utilize an exemplary embodiment of a procedure which can enable an efficient alignment of DNA sequences using piecewise-linear gap penalties that closely approximate general and biologically meaningful gap-functions. Accordingly, an exemplary process, software arrangement and system can be provided for obtaining data associated with an alignment between at least two data strings having a plurality of positions in the data strings. For example, at least one characteristic of an alignment can be provided between the data strings using a particular function. The particular function is capable of evaluating gaps between the strings in the alignment based on a non-affine gap-penalty function. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides process, software arrangement and system for obtaining data associated with an alignment between at least two data strings having a plurality of positions in the data strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Ofer Gill, Yi Zhou, Bhubaneswar Mishra
  • Patent number: 7783369
    Abstract: A remote maintenance system 1 is provided with a linear motor apparatus 2, a motor driver 3 for controlling a motor of the linear motion apparatus 2, and a user terminal 4. The motor driver 3 includes a memory which stores parameters relating to motor control. The user terminal 4 acquires the parameters from the motor driver 3, and sends the parameters to a maintenance server 5. Then, the user terminal 4 receives the parameters adjusted by the maintenance servers from the maintenance server 5, and writes the parameter into the memory of the motor driver 3. Thus, the parameters of the linear motion apparatus can be adjusted from remote locations at a high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Shoda, Yuki Nomura, Yoshifumi Nagato
  • Patent number: 7774089
    Abstract: A motor control host includes a plurality of ports, a memory, and a processing device. The memory is operable to store an enable mask defining an enablement state for each of the ports. The processing device is operable to send a first message over those selected ports having an affirmative enablement state to maintain a communication link over the selected ports and inhibit the first message for those ports having a negative enablement state. A method for configuring a motor control system including a motor control host having a plurality of ports includes storing an enable mask defining an enablement state for each of the ports. A first message is sent over those selected ports having an affirmative enablement state to maintain a communication link over the selected ports. The first message is inhibited for those ports having a negative enablement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Rustad, Scott D. Braun, Neil W. Knutsen, Gregory W. Mears, John H. Stuedemann, James B. Vitrano
  • Patent number: 7774516
    Abstract: A communicating system suitable for a repeater and communicating method thereof are described. The communicating system comprises a receiving unit, a delay module, a transmitting unit and a control unit. The receiving unit transmits a first signal based on a KB/MS input signal. The delay module is coupled to the receiving unit and delays the first signal from the receiving unit in order to generate a second signal. The second signal has a first phase difference in comparison with the first signal. The transmitting unit is coupled to the delay module and the control unit. The transmitting unit transmits a KB/MS output signal based on the second signal while the control unit controls the transmitting unit via a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Aten International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-tao Hsieh, Fu-Chin Shen, Chi-Hung Kao
  • Publication number: 20100199282
    Abstract: A low processing overhead resource manager for a control system uses control system state as a proxy for processing resource capacity, making judgments about execution of asynchronous services based on empirically derived data linked to the states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: John C. Richter, Joseph B. Lail, Jason J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20100191869
    Abstract: A redundant I/O module includes: a control I/O module that communicates with a controller and that comprises a first IOM setting information holding section for storing IOM setting information downloaded from a high-level apparatus, and a standby I/O module that communicates with the controller and that comprises a second IOM setting information holding section for storing IOM setting information downloaded from the high-level apparatus, wherein the controller includes: an IOM status generation section that detects a status of replacement of the standby I/O module; an IOM setting information acquisition section that makes an access to the first IOM setting information holding section of the control I/O module; an IOM setting information generation section that generates IOM setting information about the standby I/O module; and an IOM download section that downloads the generated IOM setting information into the second IOM setting information holding section of the standby I/O module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriko Kase
  • Patent number: 7765070
    Abstract: I describe several techniques for characterizing molecules based on the shapes of their fields. In particular, I describe a way to automatically break molecules into a series of fragments by using an ellipsoidal Gaussian decomposition. These fragments can then be analyzed by a shape metric technique, and the parameters of the decomposition can be used in creating, characterizing, and searching databases of molecules based on field similarity. The ellipsoidal Gaussian representations can also be used to describe binding or active sites on macromolecules, thereby providing a template for searching for complementary molecules in a database. The most immediate application of these techniques is to pharmaceutical drug discovery and design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: OpenEye Scientific Software, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Nicholls
  • Patent number: 7765016
    Abstract: The brush control system in a washing brush installation for vehicles comprises a first means (5) of control of the rotation speed and torque of a first actuation motor (2) for the rotation of at least one brush (1) of said installation, directly or indirectly connected with a second means (6) of control of the brush position in relation to the vehicle to be washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ceccato S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pierangelo Pillon
  • Patent number: 7761192
    Abstract: A complex signal processing system for multiple fans is used to control the rotation of a first fan and a second fan. The speed signals of the first fan and the second fan are processed through an XOR operation to obtain a complex speed signal. In response to the complex speed signal, the speed and the operational status of the first fan and the second fan can be evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Tyan Computer Corp.
    Inventor: Ching-Yu Lo
  • Patent number: 7761241
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer programmed to carry out a method for reducing directional error in scanned intensity values. The method includes scanning some rows of a substrate in a first direction, and some rows of the substrate in a second, different, direction, in order to obtain intensity values exhibited by various regions of the various rows. The intensity values from rows scanned in the first direction are analyzed, and the intensity values from rows scanned in the second direction are analyzed, in order to determine the directional error. The intensity values from rows scanned in the first direction and the intensity values from rows scanned in the second direction are then adjusted to reduce the directional error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Corson
  • Patent number: 7751906
    Abstract: The object is to provide a method for operating and/or observing at least one field device in the simplest possible manner. A first central control device which executes the automation engineering software generates a first command to control the at least one field device and transmits the first command to the at least one field device. At least a second central control device which executes the automation engineering software generates a similar second command for controlling the at least one field device and transmits the second command to the at least one field device. The at least one field device receives the transmitted first and second commands and executes at least one of the received commands. An automation system for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventor: Klaus Arzig
  • Patent number: 7751983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a table of botanical ingredients useful for blending combinations that produce a pleasing, desired organoleptic effect. The botanical ingredients are, for example, essential oils or herbs and spices. The table includes different groups of cells of the table. Each group includes ingredients that possess varying degrees of similarity in one or more characteristics. Each cell corresponds to a single ingredient. The groups are arranged such that adjacent cells in the same or different groups correspond to ingredients that possess the closest similarities in one or more characteristics. The invention further relates to methods of preparing the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: 4mula, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Joseph Bahash
  • Patent number: 7747480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing data assets in an enterprise computing environment are provided. Data assets associated with a plurality of source systems operating within the enterprise computing environment may be registered with an asset repository hub. The asset repository hub receives a registration request from a source system for a particular data asset and determines whether the data asset is unique within the enterprise computing environment. If the data asset is unique, then the data asset is stored at the asset repository hub and a unique enterprise identifier is associated with the data asset. In determining whether the asset is unique, the asset repository hub may cleanse the data asset against a set of business rules; generate a plurality of match codes that describe the content of the data asset; and cluster the generated match codes against clusters of previously generated match codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Jeffrey Agresta, Scott Aron Gidley, Brian Carl Rineer, Alexander A. Novozhilov
  • Patent number: 7747246
    Abstract: Included are embodiments of a method for communicating user preferences to at least one environment. At least one embodiment includes receiving a request from an environment for preference information related to a user and receiving a user identifier from the environment, the user identifier obtained via a portable user device. Other embodiments include determining at least one user preference related to the user, determining capabilities related to the environment, and communicating at least one user preference to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Douglas O'Neil
  • Patent number: 7739934
    Abstract: Power tool includes a movable blade and a detection system for detecting contact between the blade and an object. Detection system includes an excitation plate capacitively coupling the drive signal to the movable blade. A circuit generates an in phase component signal and a quadrature component signal from a blade current signal indicative of the instantaneous current drawn by the movable blade and calculates an energy of the blade current signal considering the in-phase and the quadrature components. The circuit compares the energy of the blade current signal to an adaptive trigger threshold to detect contact between the blade and the object based on whether the energy of the blade current signal is greater than the adaptive trigger threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Power Tool Institute
    Inventors: Vladimir Tetelbaum, Darius Mostowfi, Richard Surprenant
  • Publication number: 20100154051
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a machine includes a machine-sided control computer. The machine-sided control computer includes computer readable media on which a virtual computer is stored, and the virtual computer includes one or more computer programs selected from the group consisting of a machine operating computer program, a communication network connection computer program, and a communication network encryption computer program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Bauer
  • Patent number: 7738975
    Abstract: A process control system integrates the collection and analysis of process control data used to perform certain computationally expensive process control functions, like adaptive model generation and tuning parameter generation, in the same control device in which one or more of the process control routines are implemented, to thereby provide for faster and more efficient support of the process control routines. This system replaces a layered approach using multiple processing devices by integrating an analytical server which performs computationally expensive analyses used by one or more control routines directly into the real-time control device in which the one or more control routines are located. This integration provides the ability to analyze large quantities of data for multiple process loops controlled by a particular device in a fast and efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Denison, Marty J. Lewis, Peter Wojsznis, Ashish Mehta
  • Patent number: 7738971
    Abstract: A surgical instrument with a programmable control unit and methods for programming the control unit while the surgical instrument is in a sterile container. The method may comprise packaging the surgical instrument in the container and then sterilizing the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container. The method may further comprise programming the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container with a programming device positioned outside of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Publication number: 20100140364
    Abstract: A user interface for a building appliance controller that may include a control panel and one or more option cards. The user interface may allow a user or technician to program, modify, and/or view one or more parameters of the control panel and/or the one or more option cards. In some cases, the control panel may be configured to send one or more messages to a selected option card that indicate an input at the user interface, and in response, the selected option card may send one or more messages to the control panel that indicate display information for display on the user interface of the control panel. In some embodiments, such as when the user interface includes a segmented display, the display information may include the on/off state of the various segments of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nordberg, Nathan Longen
  • Patent number: 7729864
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products and systems for identifying cellular constituents in a secondary tissue that serve as surrogate markers for a target gene expressed in a primary tissue of a species are provided. A classifier is constructed using cellular constituent abundances of cellular constituents in a first plurality of cellular constituents measured in the secondary tissue in a population. This population comprises a first and second subgroup. The classifier is based on a second plurality of cellular constituents that comprises all or a portion of the first plurality of cellular constituents. Abundance levels of each cellular constituent in the second plurality of cellular constituents varies between the first and second subgroup. All or portion of the population is classified into a plurality of subtypes using the classifier. Then, one or more cellular constituents that can discriminate members of the population between a first subtype and a second subtype in the plurality of subtypes are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventor: Eric E. Schadt
  • Patent number: 7729807
    Abstract: A sensor-transmitter (20) intended to be fastened to a mobile structure (11, 13, 14) and to transmit a security signal in a home automation installation (10), comprising, in a casing (22, 23): an autonomous power source (36), a vibration sensor (33), a wireless transmitter (35) and a processing logic unit (34) analyzing the signals obtained from the vibration sensor to decide whether to transmit the security signal by the wireless transmitter, which comprises means (27, 32) of detecting the mechanical state of the casing, the sensor-transmitter being: in an operational state when the casing is closed and fastened to the mobile structure, the transmission of a security signal being enabled in this operational state, and in a disabled state otherwise, the transmission of a security signal being prohibited in this disabled state, whereas the transmission of other signals remains possible, or the transmission of a security signal being enabled in this disabled state, the security signal being disabled by a di
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Somfy SAS
    Inventors: Eric André Georges Guillemot, Bernard Grehant
  • Patent number: 7720551
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for service and/or business for coordinating tasks of performance management and application placement management in a dynamic fashion. An example process is dynamic in the face of fluctuations in the request load to the distributed computer system and the periodic adjustments to the placement of applications onto servers in said distributed computer system. There are two opposite functional flows in said process: a demand estimation function and a capacity adjustment function. The coordination system involves two subsystems: a demand estimator and a capacity adjuster, along with appropriate interfaces to of the performance manager and the application placement manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Asser N. Tantawi, Giovanni Pacifici, Michael Spreitzer, Malgorzata Steinder
  • Patent number: 7720611
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for processing a data set representing an amplification curve having a baseline portion and a growth portion. Peak objects are generated by taking a derivative of the data set. The first peak object having a value greater than a threshold is identified. An end of the baseline portion from a beginning of the first peak object is estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lerner
  • Patent number: 7715928
    Abstract: Techniques and sensor networks based on distributed wavelet transform algorithms for efficient sensor networks. Wireless multihop sensor networks can implement the described techniques to exploit the data flow direction in the network to perform partial computations to approximate the wavelet coefficients using the available data that arrives at each sensor. Non-multihop sensor networks may use inter-sensor communications and the distributed wavelet transform algorithms to decorrelate the data and thus improve the energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Alexandre Ciancio, Antonio Ortega
  • Patent number: 7715932
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling safety-critical processes, such as the monitoring of protective doors, emergency stop switches, light curtains and the like. A control unit is connected to a plurality of I/O units via a data transmission link. The I/O units transmit process data to the control unit, with the process data being protected against transmission errors by means of a diversitary multiple transmission. The process data are encoded using a variable keyword in order to generate variably encoded process data. The variably encoded process data are transmitted to the control unit as part of the diversitary multiple transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Dietmar Seizinger
  • Patent number: 7706799
    Abstract: Replay counter cache reduction mechanisms are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sanjay Bakshi, Jesse R. Walker
  • Publication number: 20100097186
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a system for controlling a process, where the process is implemented by a machine system. The system includes a user interface device and a first transceiver coupled to the user interface device. The first transceiver is configured to receive communications from the user interface device and transfer the communications. The system also includes a second transceiver in communication with the first transceiver and configured to transfer power to the first transceiver, receive the communications from the first transceiver, and transfer the communications to control the process implemented by the machine system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne H. Wielebski, Michael L. Gasperi, David L. Jensen, David D. Brandt
  • Patent number: 7701600
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an information processor that is controlled by a general-purpose operating system, and an image processor. The information processor performs a function in a category different from an image processing function performed in the image processor. As a result, a general purpose application program can be used as software for making effective use of the image processing function. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate development of the software to allow the image processing apparatus to perform the function in a category different from the image processing function performed in the image processor, in addition to the image processing function as a basic function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takezo Fujishige, Kiyoshi Kasatani, Hiroshi Terui, Yohichi Utaka
  • Patent number: 7698000
    Abstract: An optical system and method are presented for use in a multi-photon microscope. The system comprises an imaging lens arrangement, and a pulse manipulator arrangement. The pulse manipulator arrangement comprises a temporal pulse manipulator unit which is accommodated in an optical path of an input pulse of an initial profile, and is configured to affect trajectories of light components of the input pulse impinging thereon so as to direct the light components towards an optical axis of the lens arrangement along different optical paths, said temporal light manipulator unit being accommodated in a front focal plane of the imaging lens arrangement, thereby enabling to restore the input pulse profile at an imaging plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Yeda Research & Development Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yaron Silberberg, Dan Oron
  • Patent number: 7689365
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for analyzing gene expressions is presented. An operation is performed for determining a gene expression pattern for a condition, wherein the gene expression pattern comprises a gene expression. Next, a spatial-expression pattern is formed by selecting a chromosomal region having an exon; and associating the gene expression within the gene expression pattern with its corresponding exon. A further operation may be performed, where in the forming of the spatial-expression pattern, a spatial-expression pattern signal is created as a representation of the spatial-expression pattern. The magnitude of the spatial-expression pattern signal at any point is determined by an expression level of the corresponding exon. Spatial patterns may be identified in the signal by means of various signal processing techniques such as Fourier or Wavelet transforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Soheil Shams