Dispensing Management (e.g., Spraying) Patents (Class 700/283)
  • Patent number: 12075729
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a chassis, and a work implement movably coupled to the chassis, the work implement configured to perform a field-engaging function. The work vehicle also includes an actuator coupled to the work implement and configured to adjust a position of the work implement relative to a ground surface, and a controller in communication with a communication module. The controller is configured to monitor a location of the work machine via the communication module, and load a field map that identifies spatial information about a corresponding field, and a characteristic of the actuator associated with the spatial information. The controller is further configured to partition the spatial information into at least one pass traversable by the work machine. The controller is also configured to create an adjustment event to adjust the actuator in response to the location of the work machine moving within the at least one pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Austin J. Karst
  • Patent number: 12036956
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for cleaning at least two sensors/transmitters for a motor vehicle, the system comprising at least one first device for projecting a cleaning fluid onto at least one first sensor/transmitter, at least one second device for projecting a cleaning fluid onto at least one second sensor/transmitter, at least one reservoir, at least one circuit for distribution of the cleaning fluid, connecting the reservoir to the first and second projection devices, at least one electronic pump, and at least one control unit, characterized in that the control unit is configured to receive information on a request for activation of the first and/or second projection device(s) in order to determine a theoretical value of at least one operating parameter of a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Frederic Giraud, Alexandre Filloux
  • Patent number: 11965278
    Abstract: Disclosed is a detergent additive box. The detergent additive box is a closed box structure having a cavity inside. The detergent additive box is provided with a one-way ventilation valve and a liquid outlet. An on-off valve is arranged on the liquid outlet. A suction device is arranged in the detergent additive box. An inlet of the suction device is communicated with the cavity, and an outlet of the suction device is communicated with an inlet of the on-off valve. The detergent additive box of the present disclosure cooperates with a switching mechanism of a washing machine and a feeding pipeline of the washing machine to realize automatic drainage and multi-time drainage, so that the detergent additive box does not need to be mounted at each time of washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: CHONGQING HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Baozhen Cheng, Tao Huang
  • Patent number: 11944087
    Abstract: An agricultural applicator, that applies material to an agricultural field, includes an on-board, real-time image sensor that senses targets for the material to be applied. A controller controls applicators, such as nozzles or other applicators, to apply the material to the sensed targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Akira Mizushima, Michael P. Schlax, Tucker J. Schoff, Steven Rees, Richard A. Humpal
  • Patent number: 11931935
    Abstract: A method of filling a microcavity with layers of a polymer material includes the following steps: (A) estimating a current vertical position of a bottom of the microcavity (current bottom position); (B) lowering the capillary tube into the microcavity towards the current bottom position; (C) dispensing a polymer composition from a tube outlet of the capillary tube under a dispensing applied pressure until the polymer composition substantially fills the microcavity; (D) curing a work piece including the microcavity and the polymer composition in the microcavity to obtain a current layer of the polymer material; and (E) repeatedly executing steps (A), (B), (C), and (D), until the layers of the polymer material have substantially filled the microcavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: XTPL S.A.
    Inventors: Jolanta Gadzalińska, Łukasz Witczak, Aneta Wiatrowska, Karolina Fia̧zyk, Piotr Kowalczewski, Filip Granek
  • Patent number: 11929518
    Abstract: A traction battery for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of battery cells which are electrically connected to one another, a battery housing which houses the battery cells, several degassing elements for conducting gas away out of the battery housing in the case of a cell outgassing, a sensing system for localizing the cell outgassing, and a control unit which, in the case of a cell outgassing, actuates the degassing elements such that the degassing element situated nearest the cell outgassing remains closed and one or more of the degassing elements that are farther away from the cell outgassing is/are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Savo Asanin, Felix Laasch, Alexander Mueller
  • Patent number: 11877531
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a plurality of data files, by: displaying a field map corresponding to an agricultural field through a graphical user interface, selecting multiple locations on the field map, identifying, for each selected location, a corresponding data file, generating and displaying a geographic region comprising locations in the identified corresponding data files, and updating the graphical user interface to include a data panel corresponding to the geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: CLIMATE LLC
    Inventor: Kyle Plattner
  • Patent number: 11832551
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer includes a spray boom supported by a frame, a spraying system comprising a set of spray nozzles spaced along the spray boom, and a control system configured to control the spraying system to spray a liquid based on a target application to an agricultural field, generate a spray performance metric indicative of performance of the spraying system relative to the target application, and generate a control signal to control the agricultural sprayer based on the spray performance metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Tarik Loukili, Brandon Wellman
  • Patent number: 11696576
    Abstract: A pest monitoring system and associated method includes pest monitoring devices for placement at a site and generating a signal upon detection of a pest, and a pesticide dispensing unit including a reservoir housing a diluent and a pesticide module housing a pesticide. A computer device remotely disposed to the pest monitoring devices receives generated signals therefrom, analyzes environmental and historical factor data for the site to determine an amount and placement location of the pest monitoring devices for monitoring the site, and directs deployment of the pest control monitoring devices according to the analysis. The computer device also receives data from the pesticide dispensing unit including an amount or rate of the pesticide substance dispensed from the pesticide module, to form treatment having a concentration of the pesticide substance in the diluent, the treatment being dispensed from the pesticide dispensing unit to treat a detected pest at the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Byron Reid, Volker Gutsmann, Gaelle Fages, Michael Zimmermann, Chris Pienaar, Peter Jardine
  • Patent number: 11679244
    Abstract: A medical fluid suspension generating apparatus for performing medical procedures includes a Venturi-agitating tip assembly composed of a multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end thereof and a tip at a distal second end thereof. The apparatus also includes a compressed medical fluid unit fluidly connected to the multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end of the Venturi-agitating tip assembly and a medical solution fluidly connected to the multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end of the Venturi-agitating tip assembly. Pressurized gas, from the compressed medical fluid unit, and the medical solution are combined within the Venturi-agitating tip assembly in a manner generating an enriched medical suspension that is ultimately dispensed from the suspension delivery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventors: Frank Levy, Kimberley Levy
  • Patent number: 11633557
    Abstract: A non-combustion type flavor inhaler comprising: an atomizer atomizing an aerosol source without burning; and a controller controlling a power output to the atomizer, wherein the controller is configured to start supply of a power output to the atomizer before start of a user's puffing action, and is configured to stop supply of a power output to the atomizer during a user's puffing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Katayama, Akihiko Suzuki, Manabu Takeuchi, Takuma Nakano, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11590296
    Abstract: A system includes a converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and to a heating element of a vaporizer atomizer. The converter can be further configured to receive a first voltage from the power source and provide a second voltage to the heating element. The converter can be a direct-current to direct-current converter. A power monitor configured to electrically couple to the heating element, measure a current through the heating element, measure a voltage over the heating element, calculate a power and/or resistance, and output a control signal to the converter. The converter can be configured to be controlled by the control signal to vary the second voltage to maintain a target power or a target temperature over the heating element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Hatton, Val Valentine
  • Patent number: 11577109
    Abstract: A system to mitigate false trips of a valve that supplies water to a piping system in a fire suppression system includes at least one edge device, a control circuit, and at least one user device. The at least one edge device monitors a parameter corresponding to at least one of a corrosion, a presence of water, a differential pressure across the valve, and a temperature in the piping system of the fire suppression system. The control circuit includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control circuit to receive an indication of the parameter monitored by the at least one edge device, predict whether a valve tripping event is expected to occur based on the received indication, and in response to predicting that the valve tripping event is expected to occur, provide the prediction that the valve tripping event can occur for remedial action. The at least one user device presents display data regarding the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Chad A. Goyette, Zachary L. Magnone, Cassandra Lyn Denunzio, Jeremy Tyler Cogswell
  • Patent number: 11494069
    Abstract: An emergency incident system is disclosed. The emergency incident system has an emergency incident module, comprising computer-executable code stored in non-volatile memory, a computing device, a sensor assembly, and one or more user devices. The emergency incident module, the computing device, the sensor assembly, and the one or more user devices are configured to sense data of environmental conditions, receive input of a first parameter data from one or more users, determine at least one fluid throw based on the sensed data and the first parameter data, display the at least one fluid throw to the one or more users, receive input of a second parameter data from the one or more users, and update the at least one fluid throw based on the sensed data and the second parameter data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Aztek Securities, LLC
    Inventors: Nitin Kamath, Aparna Kamath, Sachin Kamath
  • Patent number: 11266180
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette (“e-Cig”) may include functionality for monitoring and controlling the thermal properties of the e-Cig. The system and method described herein may monitor a temperature based on a resistor (i.e. hot wire) near the wick and model the thermal cycle of an e-Cig. The model can be used for controlling the temperature of the e-Cig and preventing burning. The temperature control may dictate optimal conditions for atomization and smoke generation in an e-Cig while avoiding hotspots and burning to the atomizer or cartomizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Eyal Peleg, David Cohen, Harold Brooks, Dorron Levy
  • Patent number: 11253005
    Abstract: A control device of an aerosol inhaler includes a load heating an aerosol generation source, in which a temperature and an electric resistance value of the load are correlated. The control device includes: a voltage sensor configured to output a voltage value applied to the load; a constant current circuit configured to output a constant current to the load; and a control circuit configured to acquire the electric resistance value of the load or the temperature of the load based on output of the voltage sensor and the constant current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Keiji Marubashi
  • Patent number: 11240006
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for secure communication for a key replacement. An embodiment includes a processing resource, memory having a first operator's key, and a vehicular communication component. The vehicular communication component can be configured to provide, to a server, a public key generated along with a private key and decrypt, in response to receipt of a second operator's key (e.g., received in response to providing the public key to the server) encrypted using the public key, the second operator's key using the private key. The vehicular communication component can be configured to replace, in response to decrypting the encrypted second operator's key, the first operator's key with the second operator's key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonino Mondello, Alberto Troia
  • Patent number: 11197407
    Abstract: An agricultural implement having a row unit and a material throw monitoring system. The row unit includes a ground engaging tool configured to engage with a ground at a ground engaging point to form a trench, and a conduit configured to deposit an agricultural product in the trench. The material throw monitoring system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is oriented toward the ground engaging point and configured to provide feedback to the controller based at least in part on material displaced by the ground engaging tool. The controller is configured to determine a throw distance of the material relative to the ground engaging tool based on the feedback from the sensor, determine an action to adjust operation of the agricultural implement based on a comparison of the throw distance with a threshold, and communicate the action with a controller coupled to the agricultural implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Trevor Lawrence Kowalchuk
  • Patent number: 11163276
    Abstract: A method for operating a fluid dispenser is provided. The method includes receiving, by the fluid dispenser, an interrogation signal from a remote electronic device, and in response to receiving the interrogation signal, transmitting, by the fluid dispenser and to the remote electronic device, an identification of a fluid type of the fluid stored within the fluid dispenser. The method further includes dispensing fluid from the fluid dispenser in response to an actuation request and based upon a fluid-specific setting received from the remote electronic device. A method for programming a fluid dispenser is also provided. The method includes detecting, by a remote electronic device, a fluid type of a fluid stored within the fluid dispenser, and transmitting one of a first fluid-specific setting and a second fluid-specific setting to the fluid dispenser based upon a detected fluid type of fluid stored within the fluid dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jackson W. Wegelin
  • Patent number: 11154018
    Abstract: A computer unit calculates an operating parameter for a machine for application of agricultural material to a field using data concerning a plant growth affecting property of the location to be supplied with the material and data concerning the property and/or an operating parameter of the machine derived therefrom for an adjacent location in the field in the sense of an optimization of a horticultural result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Valentin Gresch, Martin Kremmer
  • Patent number: 11104587
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling the treatment of water systems comprises multiple feeders for separately feeding treatment products, in the form of concentrated, non-hazardous, liquids with a single active ingredient, to a water system to treat various issues, such as corrosion and biofilms. A sensor verifies delivery of the treatment product to the water system. A controller controls activation of each feeder to control a feed rate according to programmed functions. The controller receives signals from sensors, which can be used as inputs in calculating feed rates or feeder activation times according to the programed functions and can alter treatment product feed rates based on real time data regarding water system chemistry or flow rates. The controller can send and receive data, signals, alerts, alarms or changes in programming to or from remote users, remote computers, or a water system controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: NCH Corporation
    Inventors: Marta Drewniak, Lyle H. Steimel, James Victor List, Cory J. Holder, Scott M. Boyette
  • Patent number: 10940275
    Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to reduce the disadvantages in currently available Vaporizers by providing a method and system of controlling the output voltage of the Battery such that the electrical current within and the temperature of the heating element and Extract are controllable. The present invention discloses the Battery that operates by supplying voltage that varies with time and provides various automatically or manually selectable voltage-time profiles. The voltage is controlled by an integrated controller that is able to vary the battery output voltage via voltage modulation and is able to continuously vary the output voltage. The voltage is modulated using pulse width modulation. The integrated controller is capable of storing and executing an embedded program for voltage modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Vuber Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David Crowe
  • Patent number: 10942940
    Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing device capable of properly controlling a smell presentation device by matching a using state. The information processing device acquires information on the using state of the smell presentation device that presents a smell to a user, and causes the smell presentation device to present a smell in a mode determined in accordance with the acquired information on the using state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Shinichi Hirata, Yoichi Nishimaki, Hiroshi Osawa, Kyoko Furumura, Takeshi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10918131
    Abstract: A laser heater assembly for a vaporizer includes a power source, a laser source, a lens, and a reaction chamber. The lens is disposed within the optical path. During operation, the laser source emits light, the light propagating along an optical path during operation of the light source. The lens receives the emitted light from the laser source, and outputs a modified light having an energy profile that is substantially spatially uniform. The modified light traverses at least a portion of an opening of the reaction chamber and vaporizes a vaporization substance (e.g., a dry plant material) received within the reaction chamber. The emitted light can be collimated light, and the modified light can be a homogeneous line profile beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: LUMENARY, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Scott Schneider
  • Patent number: 10782173
    Abstract: According to one or more aspects, systems and techniques for hydrogen fueling with integrity checks are provided herein. Communicated parameters measured by on-board sensors of a vehicle may be cross-referenced against calculated parameters measured by sensors of a fueling station. For example, communicated parameters relating to a compressed hydrogen storage system (CHSS) tank of a vehicle to be fueled may be received at different time intervals. Calculated parameters may be calculated based on a mass of hydrogen fuel dispensed by a hydrogen fueling station from a reference point to one of the time intervals and densities of the CHSS tank of the vehicle at respective time intervals. An error may be calculated between the communicated parameters and the calculated parameters. A fueling mode, such as a conservative fueling mode or a non-conservative fueling mode, may be determined based on the calculated error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven R. Mathison
  • Patent number: 10778777
    Abstract: Intelligent system (1) for monitoring a reference environment, suitable for multisensorial interaction with a user, comprising: at least one multiprotocol control unit (2), provided with at least one internal wireless modem (16), a power supply connector (71), a microprocessing unit (15), RAM memory means (13), program memory means (12) and data memory means (14); at least one modem, respectively a modem-router, external (30) with respect to the control unit (2) and operatively connected to the same; wherein said system (1) further comprises: sensor means, internal with respect to the control unit (2); a plurality of actuator means external (20) with respect to the control unit (2); sensor means external with respect the control unit (2); wherein: said sensor means internal with respect to the control unit (2) which are, individually or in combination, at least a microphonic sensor (3), a relative humidity sensor (4), a temperature sensor (5), respectively an atmospheric pressure sensor (6) or the like
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Tera Srl
    Inventor: Antonio Sacchetti
  • Patent number: 10778009
    Abstract: A fuel dispenser includes a power distribution system having an alternating current (AC) power supply and an AC to direct current (DC) power converter configured to convert a portion of the AC power to DC power for one or more DC peripheral components associated with the fuel dispenser. The power distribution system also includes processing circuitry configured to power down at least one of the DC peripheral components in response to an actuator, cause an indicator to be activated indicating that the DC peripheral components are de-energized and the AC power supply is active, power up the at least one direct current peripheral component in response to the actuator when the direct current peripherals are de-energized, and cause the indicator to be activated to indicate that both the DC peripheral components and the AC power supply are active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Carapelli, Joseph Long, Wayne McNinch
  • Patent number: 10709919
    Abstract: Fire suppression systems (10) for vehicles and industrial applications including arrangements of an input bus (24) and output bus (26) coupled to a centralized controller (20) to provide for automatic and manual detection of a fire (H) and manual and automatic system actuation in response to the fire. The arrangements further provide for system information regarding the status and operation of the system components. Additionally, the arrangement of system components provide for expandability and programmability to configure the system for the protection of multiple and variable hazards (H) using customized or programmed detection and/or actuation. The systems include configured connectors (25) and colour coded schemes to facilitate system installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Derek M. Sandahl, Brian L. Counts, Marvin B. Fernstrum, Chad Ryczek, Saul Escalante-Ortiz, John T. Werth, Gregory J. Lilley, David R. Strehlow, Anthony J. Kreft, Thomas John Myers, John S. Bushert, Richard J. Hackl, Marvin D. Thorell
  • Patent number: 10710107
    Abstract: A filling apparatus (110, 210) for a hermetically sealed bottle (200) is created by means of a dual bottle adapter (210), at least indirectly connected to the bottle (200), for an input of liquid from a storage container (100) provided with a dual container adapter (110) and at least partially filled with liquid, wherein between a liquid exit port (111) of the dual container adapter (110) and a liquid entry port (211) of the dual bottle adapter (210) a sealed-off liquid communication connection is present, and between a gas entry port (112) of the dual container adapter (110) and a gas exit port (212) of the dual bottle adapter (210) a sealed-off gas communication connection is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Andrzej Sokolowski
  • Patent number: 10656066
    Abstract: Optical imaging systems and methods are disclosed herein for investigating and analyzing one or more characteristics of a spray, including spray front velocity, spray sheet length, spray break-up dynamics, drift potential, and drop-size distribution. Optical imaging systems disclosed herein include an image acquisition device, one or more illumination source, a processor for processing and analyzing image data, a background, and a spray system that includes at least a nozzle. The image acquisition device and illumination sources are positioned on the same side of the spray. The processor has a first algorithm to generate a feedback correction factor and a second algorithm to identify droplets and develop a drop-size distribution for the spray. Optical imaging methods for determining spray characteristics are also disclosed and generally include the steps of providing an imaging system, capturing images of the spray with the imaging system, processing the images, and analyzing the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ISP Investments LLC
    Inventors: Sounak Sarkar, Surya Kamin
  • Patent number: 10535030
    Abstract: A method of automated remote terminal benchmarking includes providing a computing system including a processor having an associated memory which implements a benchmarking algorithm. The benchmarking algorithm implements receiving raw data associated with a plurality of Key Performance Indicator (KPIs) including real-time data from different bulk liquid terminals spanning sites across a plurality of continents, and calculating a global target benchmark value or global target benchmark range for at least a first of the plurality of KPIs from the raw data. Responsive to a user' request at a selected first of the different bulk liquid terminal (first terminal), a benchmark report is generated which benchmarks a KPI performance of the first terminal including for the first KPI by a comparison to the global target benchmark value or global target benchmark range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ramesh Murugan Natarajan
  • Patent number: 10446390
    Abstract: A device and method for dispensing liquid spin-on glass (SOG) onto semiconductor wafers. The method includes dispensing liquid SOG through a dispenser nozzle, detecting liquid SOG outside of the dispenser nozzle, indicating the presence of liquid SOG in an abnormal length relative to the dispenser nozzle and adjusting a suck back (SB) valve to withdraw liquid SOG from the abnormal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yung-Tsun Liu
  • Patent number: 10401879
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for determining topological connectivity between stations of a fluid-delivery pipeline network. An example method includes receiving temporal sensor measurements of the fluid-delivery pipeline network, that include a series of sensor measurements from each respective station of the fluid-delivery pipeline network. The method also includes generating a causality graph of the fluid-delivery pipeline network based on the temporal sensor measurements, where the causality graph includes a set of nodes and a set of links, where the nodes are representative of the stations, and a pair of nodes is connected by a link in response to the pair of stations being temporally dependent. The method also includes determining a topological network of the stations based on the causality graph, where the topological network identifies one or more destination stations for a supply station in the fluid-delivery pipeline network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Utopus Insights, Inc.
    Inventors: Harsh Chaudhary, Younghun Kim, Tarun Kumar, Abhishek Raman, Rui Zhang
  • Patent number: 10208423
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a detergent insert door rotatably provided on a front surface of a detergent container receiving portion to open or close the detergent container receiving portion, wherein the detergent insert door includes a bracket coupled to the front opening portion to allow a detergent inlet formed on a front surface thereof to communicate with the front opening portion, and including a hinge receiving portion; a cover inserted into the hinge receiving portion and coupled to the bracket; a shaft damper coupled to a hinge shaft at one side of the bracket; and an elastic member supported by the bracket and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungwoon Jung, Hunjun Jang
  • Patent number: 10189220
    Abstract: A calculation system (1) for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens. A set of calculation modules (M1, M2, M3, M4) is associated to partial calculation in relation with manufacturing process of said ophthalmic lens. A managing unit (MU) is configured to: receive input data, and calculate output data through one or several iteration(s) of: determining one or several calculation module(s) to be activated, determining an order of activation of the one or several calculation module(s), and activating the determined one or several calculation module(s), in accordance with the determined order of activation. The managing unit transmits an indication that the output data have been calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Laurent Marcepoil, Sebastien Maurice, Luc Martin, Benoît Holvoet Vermaut
  • Patent number: 10149468
    Abstract: A robotic orchard spraying system having autonomous delivery vehicles (ADV), each autonomously delivering an amount of a premixed solution over a non-overlapping path verified by a forward-looking sensor, video, or both. Also, a mobile control center, configured to wirelessly inform the autonomous delivery vehicle of the path within the areas and to confirm that the autonomous delivery vehicle is following the path within the area. Additionally, a mapper vehicle generates the path within the area, the mapper vehicle being configured to communicate information about the path and the area to the command center. The mapper vehicle senses the path with a forward-looking LiDAR sensor, and senses the area with a GPS sensor. Moreover, a nurse truck has a reservoir of premixed solution for replenishing a tank of the ADV. ADVs and the control center communicate over a radio network, which may be a mesh network, a cellular network, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Crinklaw Farm Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David Curtis Crinklaw, Chase Schapansky, Richard Vaccari, Jeremy Bischel, Ryan Johnson
  • Patent number: 10024114
    Abstract: A method for dust suppression for an autonomous drilling machine operating at a work site. The method comprises of generating by a perception module perception data of the work site, receiving at least one machine parameter from a machine sensor of the autonomous drilling machine, predicting by a controller a dust level for the autonomous drilling machine at the work site based on one of the perception data or the machine parameter, determining a fluid discharge rate for a fluid discharge unit based on the predicted dust level, and adjusting the fluid discharge rate based on dust level detected during the drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas François-Xavier Christophe Vandapel, Michael Karl Wilhelm Happold, Meenal Patel
  • Patent number: 9894849
    Abstract: Prescribing a drip line for use in a field includes: accessing soil conditions data that includes vertical transect data relating to at least one vertical transect of soil in a field; based on a plant type and a length of time between a first watering and a second watering of a plant via the drip line, determining, a desired plant available water content of a portion of the soil within the at least one vertical transect to be substantially achieved as a result of the first watering; and based on the vertical transect data, the determined desired plant available water content, climate conditions data and geographical conditions data, determining perforation spacing and flow rate for a set of emitters for the drip line such that the desired plant available water is substantially achieved in the portion of the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel James Rooney, David Fitzpatrick, Robert Wample
  • Patent number: 9826733
    Abstract: The present application relates to the manipulation and handling of biological materials and, in one form, provides an apparatus for micromanipulation of biological material, including a channel for accommodating biological material and allowing for passage of liquid treatment solutions. The apparatus may include a two part construction wherein two portions of the apparatus are adapted to be heat sealed with a secondary material intermediate the two portions prior to a vitrification process step. A system for vitrification of a biological specimen is also provided including a software operable means for controlling the temperature environment, a software operable means for controlling fluid dispense volume and velocity and aspiration volume and velocity for the application of liquid treatment solutions to the biological specimen, and a software operable means for controlling protocol time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Genea IP Holdings Pty Limited
    Inventors: Eduardo Vom, Tammie Kim Roy, Craig Matthews Lewis, Benjamin Rawlingson Hobbs, Simon James Hobbs
  • Patent number: 9610467
    Abstract: A fire suppression and control system includes a unique fire pump controller which uses advanced technologies in a manner consistent with the need for high reliability in the fire protection industry. A preferred controller includes three PIC chips including a control PIC for controlling operation of the water pump, a power monitor PIC for receiving all voltage and current inputs to the controller, and a data recorder PIC for collection and storage of data relevant to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Master Control Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William Stelter
  • Patent number: 9553455
    Abstract: A utility network powered by a power source has a plurality of substations enabled to power electrical equipment in a participant site. At least one substation is disconnected from the utility network and is to be reconnected via a substation with a power constraint. A processor determines how much power should be shed in a participant site of the substation with the power constraint to allow reconnection of the substation that is disconnected. The processor initiates a Demand Response signal to power consuming equipment in the participant site of the substation with the power constraint to shed power. After shedding power based on the Demand Response signal, the substation that was disconnected is connected to the utility network by closing a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Horsfield
  • Patent number: 9510525
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer (1) with a pump (20), a plurality of nozzles, a valve arrangement (28) associated with the nozzles and a feed conduit (25). The valve arrangement (28) selectively connects the feed conduit (25) to a bypass conduit (26) or to the nozzles. A return conduit (32) branches off from the feed conduit (25). A regulation valve (30) applies a variable degree of throttling to the fluid flowing through the return conduit. A pressure sensor (41) provides a signal for fluid delivered to the valve arrangement. A flow sensor (42) provides a signal representing the flow in the feed conduit (25). A controller (50) is in receipt of the sensor signals, receives instructions from an operator and controls the regulation valve (30) using the instructions from the operator and available measured signals using feedback control loops combined with a feed forward signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SA Exel Industries
    Inventor: Bjarne Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9307694
    Abstract: An agricultural communication system is provided that enables sensor-to-sensor link communications of peripheral farming devices (planters, fertilizer or pesticide applicators, etc.) so as to enhance diagnostics for locating system faults and blockages. The system also provides a means to operate with single-faults present with real-time diagnostics to the operator. The point-to-point communications also facilitates simplified installation by automatically determining the sensor addressing based on the physical connection of the sensors. Since the sensor-to-sensor daisy chain bus system is self-configuring there is no dependency on the sensor manufacturing data or sequential installation procedure to define the sensor address as required in other prior art systems. A dual power supply from each end of the looped bus with independent switching provides operation in the presence of single-faults, and a diagnostic mode combined with sensor power supply voltage measurements provides fault location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DICKEY-JOHN CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Kuhnel, Gregry C. Miller
  • Patent number: 9265853
    Abstract: A fragrance dispensing device includes a housing, a fragrance assembly, a cover panel, a fan, and a drive assembly. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion, which moves relative to the first portion. The housing includes an intake opening and an exhaust opening. The fragrance assembly rotates within the housing's interior cavity and defines a plurality of receptacles for receiving fragrance inserts. The cover panel substantially seals one or more receptacles and defines an opening. The fan is coupled to the housing's second portion. The drive assembly rotates the fragrance assembly such that at least a portion of a user-selected fragrance insert is aligned with the cover panel's opening. The fan moves air from the housing's intake opening, across the cover panel's opening, and out the housing's exhaust opening, thereby releasing a fragrance into an environment. The drive assembly may include a shaft with helical threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Innovaci Inc.
    Inventors: J. Henry Scott, Michael Gordon
  • Patent number: 9228853
    Abstract: A method of accounting for the quantity of water or other distributed resource in a distribution system utilizing automated meter reading and reporting. Missing readings are identified and estimated to allow the quantity of unaccounted for water always to be computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NEPTUNE TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
    Inventor: William J. Brennan
  • Patent number: 9077183
    Abstract: A distributed wireless monitoring system with a cloud server and low-power remote sensors includes data encoding/compression at sensors to reduce power use from transmission and storage, event activated operation/data logging triggered by configurable thresholds, remote configuration via the cloud server of event triggering thresholds and correlation templates, distributed processing capabilities, and sensor clock synchronization from a network time service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: Portland State University, Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan A. Thomas, Michael E. Fleming, William K Spiller, Chun Kit Chan, Zdenek Zumr
  • Patent number: 9048177
    Abstract: A translucent member 41 that has been trial-coated with a resin 8 for measurement of a light emission characteristic is placed on a translucent member placement portion 53, an excitation light that excites a phosphor is emitted from a light source unit 42 disposed above, the resin 8 coated on the translucent member 41 is irradiated with the excitation light from above, a deviation between a measurement result obtained by measuring the light emission characteristic of the light emitted from the resin 8, and a light emission characteristic specified in advance is obtained, and an appropriate resin coating amount of the resin to be coated on the LED element for actual production is derived on the basis of the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seikou Abe, Masaru Nonomura
  • Patent number: 9043036
    Abstract: The invention is a centralized server-based system containing a database with relevant information regarding features, parameters, and characteristics of a particular irrigation system, which utilizes proprietary irrigation software to control a plurality of field modules, at one or more remote locations, via a network bridge adapter. An irrigation system may comprise a single server, or multiple servers that may be configured so that control of the entire system is centralized, and control of one or multiple irrigation locations may be accomplished remotely by wirelessly accessing, monitoring and controlling a location's field module matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: American Pipe and Fitting, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Joseph Fekete
  • Patent number: 9037304
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fluid delivery machine configured to deliver fluid on a worksite is disclosed. In the method, operation of a power source of the fluid delivery machine is controlled with a control module. Fluid delivery on the worksite is also controlled by the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Peter William Anderton, Khanh Tu Ngo, Apostolis Kouvelis, Marcin Domink Blaszkowski
  • Publication number: 20150127177
    Abstract: A simulated rain enclosure includes a ceiling supporting a tightly packed two dimensional array of water ejecting ceiling tiles having a direct presence detector associated with each ceiling tile. Detection of one or more persons under one or more said water tiles by the direct presence detectors turns off water flow from each associated ceiling tile and to a defined region of the ceiling tiles adjacent to each associated ceiling tiles. Water flow is returned from any ceiling tile previously turned off but not currently in a defined region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Keith H. Rothman