Heating Patents (Class 700/207)
  • Patent number: 11874381
    Abstract: In a method for accurately estimating gait characteristics of a user, first parameters indicative of user movement, including a GNSS-derived speed and step count, are monitored. Values of the first parameters are processed to determine values of second parameters indicative of movement of the user. The processing includes using values of at least one monitored parameter to generate one or more inputs to an estimator (e.g., Kalman filter) having the second parameters as estimator states. At least two of the second parameters are collectively indicative of a mapping between step frequency and step length of the user. A graphical user interface may display values of at least one of the second parameters, and/or at least one parameter derived from one or more of the second parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Frank Van Diggelen, Ke Xiao, Gustavo Moura, Wyatt Riley
  • Patent number: 11789459
    Abstract: Systems and methods for vehicle controllers for agricultural and industrial applications are described. For example, a method includes accessing a map data structure storing a map representing locations of physical objects in a geographic area; accessing current point cloud data captured using a distance sensor connected to a vehicle; detecting a crop row based on the current point cloud data; matching the detected crop row with a crop row represented in the map; determining an estimate of a current location of the vehicle based on a current position in relation to the detected crop row; and controlling one or more actuators to cause the vehicle to move from the current location of the vehicle to a target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Bear Flag Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Bertucci, Igino C. Cafiero, Aubrey C. Donnellan, Thuy T. Nguyen, Vaibhav K. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 11672193
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a self-propelled agricultural working machine has at least one working element and a driver assistance system for generating control actions within the working machine. A sensor arrangement for generating surroundings information is provided, and the driver assistance system generates the control actions based on the surroundings information. The sensor arrangement comprises a camera-based sensor system and a laser-based sensor system, each of which generates sensor information regarding a predetermined, relevant surroundings area of the working machine. The sensor information of the camera-based sensor system is present as starting camera images. The starting camera images are segmented into image segments by an image processing system according to a segmentation rule, and the segmented camera images are combined by a sensor fusion module with the sensor information from the laser-based sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: CLAAS E-SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Dennis Neitemeier, Boris Kettelhoit, Andreas Skiba, Thilo Krause
  • Patent number: 11470760
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle monitoring system includes one or more noncontact sensors configured to sense multiple objects along a scanline. A comparative vehicle monitor is in communication with the one or more noncontact sensors. The comparative vehicle monitor is configured to provide a specified row width and to identify one or more crop rows from the scan line and determine one or more lengths of scan line segments between identified crop rows. The comparative vehicle monitor is further configured to determine a vehicle position including one or more of a vehicle angle or a vehicle location according to the specified row width and the one or more determined lengths of scan line segments between the identified crop rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Raven Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Van Roekel, Alex John Weidenbach, John D. Preheim, Drew John Waltner, Joel Quentin Quanbeck
  • Patent number: 11464166
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, particularly a combine harvester or a forage harvester, has a supporting frame, a cutting mechanism, an inclined conveyor and a driver's cab. The cutting mechanism is arranged at the supporting frame by the inclined conveyor. The driver's cab is arranged at the supporting frame with the intermediary of at least one damper unit. At least one camera is arranged in an interior of the driver's cab. The camera is oriented to the cutting mechanism and/or to the inclined conveyor through a front windshield of the driver's cab. The camera is arranged in an operative area of a cleaning device of the front windshield so that a detection area of the camera can be optically acquired at least through a portion of the operative area of the cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Neitemeier, Marvin Barther, Frédéric Fischer, Boris Kettelhoit
  • Patent number: 11351673
    Abstract: A robotic sled-enhanced food preparation system includes a robotic kitchen assistant operable to determine and to perform food preparation steps, and an autonomous mobile sled operable to supply the robotic kitchen assistant with ingredients and supplies. The robotic kitchen assistant includes a scheduling engine to evaluate food inventory levels and automatically determine when to replenish the food inventories using the sled if the food inventory levels are insufficient to complete the food preparation steps. Related methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Miso Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: David Zito, Ryan W. Sinnet, Robert Anderson, Grant Stafford, Sean Olson
  • Patent number: 11187463
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the concentration of oxygen in a heating furnace according to one embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a first oxygen concentration bias setting unit for receiving a set first oxygen concentration bias; a second oxygen concentration bias calculation unit for, when a measured value of carbon monoxide in exhaust gas is out of an allowable carbon monoxide range, calculating a second oxygen concentration bias by using the measured value of carbon monoxide and the concentration of oxygen measured in the exhaust gas; an oxygen concentration bias providing unit for providing an oxygen concentration bias by using the first oxygen concentration bias and the second oxygen concentration bias; and an oxygen concentration set value correction unit for correcting a set value of the concentration of oxygen by using the oxygen concentration bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: POSCO, RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Young-Il Kim
  • Patent number: 10936276
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device, an indication to provide output; identifying that the output comprises confidential information; determining, using a processor, that the output may be heard by at least one other user; and altering, responsive to the determining, the output to conceal the confidential information. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Wayne Beck, Ryan Charles Knudson, Russell Speight VanBlon, Roderick Echols
  • Patent number: 10613542
    Abstract: This document relates to an agricultural implement with hydraulic functions and a method of controlling an agricultural implement comprising receiving a speed signal which represents the advancing speed of the agricultural implement, receiving a control signal from a first user interface, allowing, if the speed fulfils a predetermined criterion, the activation of a first actuator function and of a second actuator function based on a control signal, and, if the speed does not fulfil the criterion, restricting the possibility of activating the first actuator function based on a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Vaderstad Holding AB
    Inventor: Stefan Valberg
  • Patent number: 10292321
    Abstract: An agricultural work machine configured to avoid anomalies is disclosed. Agricultural work machines may encounter anomalies, such as obstacles (e.g., tires) or irregularities in the crop (e.g., weeds), which can reduce the quality of the harvested crop. Manually steering the agricultural work machine requires the constant attention of the vehicle operator. Thus, the agricultural work machine is configured to include sensors to generate one or more images (such as images of various regions of the agricultural work machine), an image processing system to process the images and a control unit to avoid the anomalies (e.g., avoid the identified anomalies, to drive in tracks, and/or to stop the agricultural work machine).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Neitemeier, Thilo Krause, Timo Korthals, Andreas Skiba, Boris Kettelhoit
  • Patent number: 10174698
    Abstract: A heater control device for an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine and including a sensor element having a plurality of cells, and a heater heating the sensor element includes: a heater power control unit configured to execute a temp rising control, in which an impedance of one cell to be measured, of the plurality of cells, is detected and a temperature of the sensor element is raised until the impedance of the one cell reaches a target impedance by setting a power control value of the heater as a heating power control value. The heater power control unit continues the temp rising control until an extension period elapses that is needed for the other cell other than the one cell to reach an activation temperature after the impedance of the one cell reaches the target impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sakashita, Yukihiro Yamashita, Ryozo Kayama
  • Patent number: 9841768
    Abstract: In the prior art, detection sensitivity was fixed for an obstacle detection means provided to an autonomous travelling service vehicle; therefore, in the present invention an autonomous travelling service vehicle is provided with a position calculation means that determines the position of the chassis using a satellite positioning system, and with a control device that automatically drives the vehicle along a set travel route and causes the vehicle to execute the service, wherein an obstacle sensor that acts as an obstacle detection means for detecting whether or not an obstacle is present around the autonomous travelling service vehicle and a sensitivity adjustment means for adjusting the sensitivity of the obstacle sensor are provided, and the sensitivity of the obstacle sensor is adjusted by the sensitivity adjustment means so as to be high within a set work area and low outside the set work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Hiramatsu, Hideaki Aoki, Kouhei Ogura
  • Patent number: 9826673
    Abstract: A method for controlling an agricultural vehicle includes receiving, via a processor, a first signal from a user interface indicative of a value of at least one parameter. The method also includes determining, via the processor, a path of the agricultural vehicle toward a guidance swath based at least in part on the at least one parameter. In addition, the method includes outputting, via the processor, a second signal to a display of the user interface indicative of instructions to present a graphical representation of the path of the agricultural vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes controlling the agricultural vehicle, via the processor, based at least in part on the at least one parameter upon receiving at least a third signal from the user interface indicative of acceptance of the value of the at least one parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Robert Ray, Brett Carson McClelland, Peter John Dix, Nathan Eric Bunderson
  • Patent number: 9508047
    Abstract: A rework system for a vehicle having an inconsistency on a component of the vehicle. A rework assessor is configured to examine a rework parameter array to ascertain whether a rework procedure is to be performed. The rework parameter array defines at least volumetric dimensions of the component, a type of the inconsistency, and location coordinates of the inconsistency with respect to the component or the vehicle. A rework interrogator is in communication with the rework assessor. The rework interrogator is configured to, when a rework is to be performed, identify a candidate for addressing the inconsistency. The candidate selected from the group that includes: a candidate part, a candidate rework procedure, and both the candidate part and the candidate rework procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Keith L. McIver, Russell Lee Keller, Cong Nghiep Duong, Nicolette P. Yovanof, Myles Leonard Baker, Scott Michael Young, Kevin Michael Roughen, Kelly M. Greene
  • Patent number: 9302345
    Abstract: A calibration method is disclosed. The method includes locating a focal point of a laser relative to at least one reference datum of a workspace, the focal point being where the laser produces machining. The method also includes machining at least one reference mark onto a work piece via the laser machining at the focal point and measuring an offset between a reference point on the work piece and the at least one reference mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaoli Hu, Chunfu Cliff Huang, Justin Lee Koch
  • Patent number: 9271336
    Abstract: A method is provided for estimating a temperature distribution history in the case of line-heating flat-plate steel by high frequency induction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignees: JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION, OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Tango, Morinobu Ishiyama, Naoki Osawa, Kiyoshi Hashimoto, Junji Sawamura
  • Patent number: 8809747
    Abstract: A method of operating a heating plate for a substrate support assembly used to support a semiconductor substrate in a semiconductor processing apparatus, wherein the heating plate comprises power supply lines and power return lines and respective heater zone connected between every pair of power supply line and power return line. The method reduces maximum currents carried by the power supply lines and power return lines by temporally spreading current pulses for powering the heater zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: John Pease, Neil Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20140207274
    Abstract: A system and method for making adjustments to output effort from a spindle driver using a multi-stage nested control loop of an active controller to provide constant power to a friction stir zone during a friction stir operation. Providing constant power facilitates temperature control within the friction stir zone and thereby improves the result of the operation such as a weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Brigham Young University
    Inventor: Brigham Young University
  • Publication number: 20140195033
    Abstract: A method for achieving an etch rate is described. The method includes receiving a calculated variable associated with processing a work piece in a plasma chamber. The method further includes propagating the calculated variable through a model to generate a value of the calculated variable at an output of the model, identifying a calculated processing rate associated with the value, and identifying based on the calculated processing rate a pre-determined processing rate. The method also includes identifying a pre-determined variable to be achieved at the output based on the pre-determined processing rate and identifying a characteristics associated with a real and imaginary portions of the pre-determined variable. The method includes controlling variable circuit components to achieve the characteristics to further achieve the pre-determined variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bradford J. Lyndaker, John C. Valcore, JR., Alexei Marakhtanov, Seyed Jafar Jafarian-Tehrani, Zhigang Chen
  • Patent number: 8725284
    Abstract: An electromagnetic field tuning and detection apparatus generates in to a material space and in at least two different directions radio frequency electromagnetic fields adapted to resonate in different directions at a different frequency on the basis of a material insertable into the material space; and a signal processing unit configured to determine a moisture content of the material on the basis of a resonance frequency of each electromagnetic field and quality of each resonance in different directions. While controlling a process, a control system comprises a measurement chamber and an electromagnetic field tuning and detection apparatus placed on each material feed line of the process. A controller may control the process on the basis of each determined moisture content on each feed line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Senfit Oy
    Inventors: Pekka Jakkula, Markku Seppänen, Mikko Vuolteenaho
  • Publication number: 20140088756
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method of forming a concrete structure or object. The method comprises detecting the temperature of a quantity of curing concrete and selectively adding heat to the curing concrete, so that the temperature of the curing concrete follows a predetermined temperature profile during at least a portion of the concrete curing process. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Romeo Ilarian Ciuperca
  • Patent number: 8600543
    Abstract: When a temperature of a semiconductor wafer is controlled to be a target temperature by raising the temperature of the semiconductor wafer, switching is performed so that a high-temperature circulating liquid at a temperature higher than the target temperature in a high-temperature tank is supplied into an inside-stage flow channel, and respective thermoelectric elements in a plurality of zones in a stage are controlled; and then, the temperature of the semiconductor wafer matches the target temperature and a desired in-plane temperature distribution of the semiconductor wafer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Kelk Ltd., Tohoku University
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takechi, Norio Takahashi, Wataru Kiyosawa, Shigenao Maruyama, Atsuki Komiya
  • Patent number: 8532817
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the location of a mobile robot within a data storage library and to a library including such systems and utilizing such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Spectra Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Edward Bacom, Christopher Bancroft Brooks, Nicholas Aldo Nespeca
  • Patent number: 8463423
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring various process parameters, primarily in connection with processes for the sterilization of particulate foods in a continuous thermal process, make use of application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) that provide process-related data for batch or continuous thermal treatment when the circuit is embedded in a particle subjected to such treatment. The preferred methods are described in connection with process design, and with at least near real-time process control using process data provided by such circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Campbell Soup Company
    Inventors: Ediz Batmaz, Rasheed Mohammed, Khalid Abdelrahim, Mohammed Karkache
  • Patent number: 8392016
    Abstract: The invention discloses adaptive method for manufacturing of parts of the similar complex shape by using hot isostatic pressing of powder materials and irreversibly deformable capsules and inserts utilized as adaptation tools. The method is based on creation of a virtual part by mathematical computer modeling of densification and shrinkage; manufacturing of a test part; determination of discrepancies between manufactured test part and virtual test part; adaptation of mathematical model by virtual iterations so that discrepancies between manufactured and virtual and parts are minimized; manufacturing of every complex shape part of the given group by using adoptive method skipping the step of manufacturing a test part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: LNT PM Inc.
    Inventors: Viktor Samarov, Dmitry Seliverstov, Evgeny Khomyakov, Igor Troitski, Roman Haykin
  • Patent number: 8374737
    Abstract: A low visibility landing system is provided for guiding aircraft on landing approaches. The low visibility landing system may aid a pilot during landing in low visibility conditions such that an aircraft may descend to lower altitudes without visual contact with the runway than is possible with other landing systems. The system may use various navigational systems to produce a hybrid signal that may be more stable than individual signals of those navigational systems. The hybrid signal is compared to a predetermined landing approach plan to determine the deviation of the aircraft from the landing approach plan and to provide guidance to the pilot to get the aircraft back onto the landing approach plan. The system may also use multiple navigational systems to perform checks on an operation of a primary navigational system to ensure that the primary navigational system is operating accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Takacs, Gary M. Freeman, Glenn L. Connor
  • Patent number: 8253077
    Abstract: A processing temperature of thermal processing is corrected based on measurement of a first dimension of a resist pattern on a substrate from a previously obtained relation between a dimension of a resist pattern and a temperature of thermal processing, a second dimension of the resist pattern after thermal processing is performed at the corrected processing temperature is measured, a distribution within the substrate of the second dimension is classified into a linear component expressed by an approximated curved surface and a nonlinear component, a processing condition of exposure processing is corrected based on the linear component from a previously obtained relation between a dimension of a resist pattern and a processing condition of exposure processing, and thermal processing at the processing temperature corrected in a temperature correcting step and exposure processing under the processing condition corrected in an exposure condition correcting step are performed to form a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kunie Ogata, Masahide Tadokoro, Tsuyoshi Shibata, Shinichi Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 8173188
    Abstract: In a method of controlling a heating cooking apparatus, when a generated steam volume at a forced finish time Tn?1 determined based on a minimum volume-minimum steam curve does not reach a minimum steam volume B1 determined based on a slowly rising maximum volume-maximum steam curve, the generated steam volume is smaller than in the case of a food having a maximum weight. Therefore, it can be judged that heating is performed in a no-load condition with an exceedingly small generated steam volume, and the operation of the heating cooking apparatus is forcedly stopped. When a generated steam volume at a maximum detection time Tm+1 does not reach a standard steam volume A determined based on the maximum volume-maximum steam curve, it is judged that a large amount of food exceeding a maximum amount is being heated and the operation of the heating cooking apparatus is forcedly stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yumiko Suetsugu
  • Patent number: 8145457
    Abstract: Hot embossing may be more advantageous than other polymer microfabrication processes. An example embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and corresponding apparatus for developing a computationally inexpensive viscoelastic model for the hot embossing of complex patterns. These developed models may help engineers refine their selection of processing parameters based upon successive simulations of the embossing process. The example embodiment models deformation of a deformable body embossed with a stamp as a function of convolving a point-load-time response and a contact pressure distribution. In order to generate the point-load-time response, a time-dependent response of a surface of the thermoplastic to system inputs applied to an elemental region of the surface of the thermoplastic may be employed. The example embodiment generates an estimate of the contact pressure distribution as a function of the point-load-time response and an average pressure applied to the stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Hayden Kingsley Taylor, Duane S. Boning
  • Patent number: 8112174
    Abstract: A processor including a microarchitecture adapted for invalidating mapping of at least one logical address to at least one absolute address, includes: at least one translation lookaside buffer (TLB) and a plurality of copies thereof; logic for independent indexing of each copy of the TLB; a plurality of comparators, each comparator associated with a respective output of each TLB set output for each TLB port, wherein each of the comparators is adapted for identifying mappings for invalidation; and logic for invalidating each identified mapping. A method and a computer program product are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Hsieh, Chung-Lung Kevin Shum, Charles F. Webb
  • Patent number: 8014895
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to perform temperature setting of a heating plate so that a wafer is uniformly heated in an actual heat processing time. The temperature of a wafer is measured during a heat processing period from immediately after a temperature measuring wafer is mounted on the heating plate to the time when the actual heat processing time elapses. Whether the uniformity in temperature within the wafer is allowable or not is determined from the temperature of the wafer in the heat processing period, and if the determination result is negative, a correction value for a temperature setting parameter of the heating plate is calculated using a correction value calculation model from the measurement result, and the temperature setting parameter is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shuji Iwanaga, Nobuyuki Sata
  • Patent number: 8010227
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing geographic data to end users' mobile units from a remotely located navigation services provider so that navigation functions can be provided locally on the mobile units. The navigation services provider determines one or more map tile exit points along the route and sends the tile exit points and a set of map tiles to the mobile unit. The mobile unit calculates a route from its current position to the farthest map tile exit point for which map tile data has been received from the navigations services provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Navteq North America, LLC
    Inventor: Bryce Elliott
  • Publication number: 20110202168
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a database, preferably with a DBMS, and preferably embedded. The welding-type system includes a source of power, and a controller connected to the source of power. The DBMS may be part of the welding controller. A method of monitoring a welding-type system is also disclosed, and includes monitoring data and storing the data in an embedded database. The database may include data organized in a plurality of columns and rows, and the date may relate to one or more welding processes, data relating to welding parameters, including one or more of commanded welding voltages, welding current, wire feed speed, data relating to one or more welding sequences, and/or one or more fedback welding parameters such as current, voltage, welding time, ramp rates and wire feed speed. The data may be located in a file in an operating system, in a file on a personal computer, and/or in a file networked to the welding-type system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Casner, L. Thomas Hayes
  • Patent number: 7959988
    Abstract: A coating film forming apparatus includes a process section including one or more coating units and one or more thermally processing units; a pre-coating cleaning unit configured to perform cleaning on a back surface and an edge portion of a substrate; and a pre-coating check unit configured to check a state of a back surface and an edge portion of the substrate. A control section is configured to realize a sequence of cleaning the substrate by the pre-coating cleaning unit, checking the substrate by the pre-coating check unit, making a judgment based on a check result thus obtained of whether or not a state of particles on a back surface and an edge portion of the substrate is within an acceptable range, and permitting transfer of the substrate into the process section where the state of particles is within the acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Taro Yamamoto, Yasushi Takiguchi, Akihiro Fujimoto, Hideharu Kyouda, Junichi Kitano, Osamu Miyahara, Kenji Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20110125310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting heating to prevent explosions in a gaseous environment containing an industrial control system are described. A method may include controlling heating in an electrical circuit component in response to a circuit failure so as to avoid reaching a temperature at or above a flash point of a gaseous component of the gaseous environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: KURT J. OTTO
  • Patent number: 7930059
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing method includes a determination of, when the heater is controlled using a first output control pattern, an output amount by differential operation, and an output amount by a proportional operation such that a temperature detected by the first thermometer becomes a target temperature from a temperature at a ramp-up start time, patterning a part of an operation amount of the heater by using a first heat amount to determine a second output control pattern, the second heat amount being determined based on a temperature detected by the second thermometer and being defined at a period from the ramp-up start time to a time of maximum temperature, the operation amount of the heater being defined at the period, and a processing of the substrate while controlling the heater by using the second output control pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Sugishita, Masaaki Ueno
  • Publication number: 20110054652
    Abstract: A method of building construction includes designing a building with software for execution on a computer such that an envelope of the building principally comprises expanded polystyrene foam panels, and the software is used to automatically generate a plan with reference numbers that identify substantially all the component pieces of the building. The software and computer are coupled to a computer aided design (CAD) program for generating computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling commands for expanded polystyrene foam panels, and a cut-list for steel reinforcing studs to fit into matching slots milled into the expanded polystyrene foam panels. At least the expanded polystyrene foam panels and matching steel reinforcing studs are marked with identifying numbers corresponding to the reference numbers. The expanded polystyrene foam panels are milled with a CNC machine and panel cutter according to CNC milling commands from the CAD program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Duane A. Heil
  • Patent number: 7848845
    Abstract: A remotely programmable food product holding system includes a hand held computer and a food product holding apparatus. The computer includes a processor, touch screen display, and a first communication interface. Data is entered into the hand held computer and transmitted to the food product holding apparatus. The holding apparatus includes a second communication interface, a timer system, and a temperature control system. The timer and temperature control systems are programmed by data transmitted from the hand held computer. A method of remotely programming a food product holding apparatus includes the steps of coupling a hand held computer to a food product holding apparatus, downloading data from the food product holding apparatus, comparing the downloaded data with a file stored in the computer, displaying differences found in the comparison, updating the downloaded data in accordance with the stored file, and uploading the updated data to the food product holding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Mark Salerno
  • Patent number: 7835816
    Abstract: In a vertical-type heat processing apparatus, it is intended to stabilize the temperature of an inner wall of the reaction vessel upon loading as well as to reduce particle contamination, for example, by suppressing peeling of films attached to the inner wall. An inner wall temperature sensor is attached, in advance, to the inner wall of the reaction vessel, so as to obtain each time series data of detection values of the inner wall temperature sensor and a command value of power to be supplied to heating means. The inner wall temperature is predicted from the command value of the power obtained just before, based on the data, during an initial time of loading, so as to use the predicted value of the inner wall temperature as an object to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yuki Kataoka, Tojo Yukio
  • Patent number: 7809465
    Abstract: Soldering can be performed in a state where the temperature in an object zone is stable, regardless of the heat capacity of a soldering object. A soldering device includes: a position calculation unit which calculates the position of a heated object according to operational information of a conveyer which sequentially transfers the heated object into a plurality of zones for heat processing communicated with each other; a heat capacity calculation unit which calculates the heat capacity of the heated object; and a temperature management unit which controls the temperature in an object zone into which the heated object is carried, upon receiving positional information from the position calculation unit. The temperature management unit feedforward-controls the temperature in the object zone by adjusting the heat capacity of the object zone according to the heat capacity calculated by the heat capacity calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignees: Tamura Corporation, Tamura Fa System Corporation
    Inventors: Takahito Yamaguchi, Kiyoshi Dohzono
  • Publication number: 20100084059
    Abstract: A system and method for producing locally austempered ductile iron includes a computer program for closely controlling the heating and cooling of an iron part or workpiece. The process allows for the austempering of a relatively low cost iron workpiece to produce significantly higher quality end products. The locally austempered regions may be formed to a substantial controlled depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: George D. Pfaffman, John R. Keough, Robert J. Madeira, Christopher Allen Bixler
  • Patent number: 7676298
    Abstract: A method of precision surface re-profiling of a composite polymeric component comprising a region capable of being re-profiled, comprising the steps of locating the polymeric composite component with a formable surface relative to a supporting fixture, the thickness of component comprising the formable surface being greater than the desired final thickness in a region to be re-profiled, moving a forming head into position into contact with the formable surface of the composite component with the aid of precision location or measurement sensors, causing the formable surface of the component to flow under the tool and creating a precisely defined local thickness or profile of component under the forming tool, and moving the forming head along the region of the component to be re-profiled, while maintaining the forming tool at a predetermined height profile or while leaving the re-profiled component with a predetermined thickness profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: CRC for Advanced Composite Structures Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Beehag
  • Patent number: 7577493
    Abstract: A temperature regulating method in a thermal processing system includes controlling a heating means by performing integral operation, differential operation and proportional operation by means of a heating control section in a manner a detection temperature by a temperature detecting means becomes a predetermined target temperature, determining a first output control pattern by patterning a first operation amount for the heating control section to control the heating means depending upon a detection temperature detected by a first temperature detecting means, in controlling the heating means controlling the heating means by means of the heating control section depending upon the first output control pattern determined, and determining a second output control pattern by patterning at least a part of a second operation amount for the heating control section to control the heating means depending upon a detection temperature detected by a second temperature detecting means, in controlling the heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Sugishita, Masaaki Ueno
  • Publication number: 20090105873
    Abstract: The present invention generally comprises a method for dynamically controlling the temperature of a solar cell substrate during microcrystalline silicon deposition. In amorphous silicon/microcrystalline tandem solar cells, microcrystalline silicon may be deposited using a higher power density and to a greater thickness than amorphous silicon. The higher the power density applied, the faster the deposition may occur, but the temperature of the deposition may also increase. At high temperatures, the likelihood of dopant diffusing into the intrinsic layer of the solar cell and damaging the cell is greater. By dynamically controlling the temperature of the susceptor, the substrate and hence, the dopant can be maintained at a substantially constant temperature below the value at which the dopant may diffuse into the intrinsic layer. The dynamic temperature control permits the microcrystalline silicon to be deposited at a high power density without damaging the solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: YONG KEE CHAE, SOO YOUNG CHOI
  • Publication number: 20090092723
    Abstract: A system for controlling the process of cooking a variety of food items at a single cooking apparatus which includes a cooking computer for controlling the operation of the apparatus. A database is operatively connected to the computer recipes for controlling the cooking of each food item are stored in the database. The apparatus has a plurality of product keys. Each key activates the cooking computer to perform a recipe. The association of a respective recipe to a designated product key is stored in the database. At least one time period is associated with each recipe corresponding to a time when the recipe is associated with a product key. The association is stored in the database and the cooking computer causes the recipe to be associated product key when the real time corresponds to the time period associated with the product key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Technology Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Flynn, JR., Joshua T. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 7515986
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling and adjusting heat distribution over a part bed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a technique for providing a calibrated heat distribution over a part bed includes determining the temperature distribution within a part bed, generating a zone heat distribution for a plurality of heat zones from the temperature distribution, analyzing the zone heat distribution to create an adjustment command to calibrate a heater for providing a substantially consistent temperature distribution within the part bed, and adjusting the heater based on the adjustment command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Christopher S. Huskamp
  • Publication number: 20090008381
    Abstract: Temperature setting of a thermal plate is performed so that the line width of a resist pattern is uniformly formed within a wafer. The thermal plate of a PEB unit is divided into a plurality of thermal plate regions so that the temperature can be set for each of the thermal plate regions. A temperature correction value for adjusting the temperature within the wafer mounted on the thermal plate is set for each of the thermal plate regions of the thermal plate. The temperature correction value for each of the thermal plate regions of the thermal plate is set after calculation by a calculation model created from a correlation between a line width of the resist pattern formed by thermal processing on the thermal plate and the temperature correction value. The calculation model M calculates the temperature correction value to make the line width uniform within the wafer, based on a line width measured value of the resist pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Megumi Jyousaka, Hiroshi Tomita, Masahide Tadokoro
  • Publication number: 20080274240
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling efficacy of a food processing system. The method includes, responsive to receiving set points from an automatic expert system, operating an adaptive controller to perform steps including comparing the set points from the automatic expert system to process variables for the food processing system. The steps also include generating an error signal indicating a difference between the compared process variables and the set points and adjusting control settings for the food processing system using the error signal and one or more control parameters. The adaptive controller is configured to automatically modify the control parameters in response to a detected change in at least one of the set points and the process variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Omar Germouni, James T.C. Yuan, Joseph E. Paganessi
  • Patent number: RE43527
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and software program for validation of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and quality assurance process are described and disclosed herein. Consequently, the methods provide a means to perform validation on an integrated level whereby the quality control unit can ensure data and product integrity and minimize cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: SMP Logic Systems LLC
    Inventor: Shane M. Popp
  • Patent number: RE47055
    Abstract: A raster-based system for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) guidance includes a vehicle-mounted GNSS antenna and receiver. A processor provides guidance and/or autosteering commands based on GNSS-defined pixels forming a grid representing an area to be treated, such as a field. Specific guidance and chemical application methods are provided based on the pixel-defined treatment areas and preprogrammed chemical application prescription maps, which can include variable chemical application rates and dynamic control of the individual nozzles of a sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: John A. McClure, Dennis M. Collins