Feed-forward (e.g., Predictive) Patents (Class 700/44)
  • Patent number: 8571691
    Abstract: Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also applies to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection controllers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventor: Zhiqiang Gao
  • Patent number: 8571696
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to predict process quality in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving process control information relating to a process at a first time including a first value associated with a first measured variable and a second value associated with a second measured variable, determining if a variation based on the received process control information associated with the process exceeds a threshold, if the variation exceeds the threshold, calculating a first contribution value based on a contribution of the first measured variable to the variation and a second contribution value based on a contribution of the second measured variable to the variation, determining at least one corrective action based on the first contribution value, the second contribution value, the first value, or the second value, and calculating a predicted process quality based on the at least one corrective action at a time after the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence Lynn Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Mark Nixon, Paul Richard Muston, Christopher Worek, Randolf Reiss
  • Publication number: 20130274898
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes an industrial controller configured to control and obtain current parameter data from one or more components of an industrial system. Further, a storage is included and is configured to store historical data comprising parameter data from the one or more components. The system also includes a prediction controller configured to receive the current parameter data from the industrial controller, receive the historical data from the storage, and to generate an overall predictive score based at least in part upon the current parameter data and the historical data. The overall predictive score represents a likelihood of a fault within the industrial process control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravi Kanth Sai Thatikonda, Subhash Nemani
  • Patent number: 8543247
    Abstract: A power profile management method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor input data associated with a user of power consumption devices at a specified location. The computer processor retrieves power consumption data comprising power consumption levels for the power consumption devices. The computer processor generates and transmits a mobile usage portfolio associated said user and the power consumption devices. The computer processor generates a load usage prediction report associated with the user and the power consumption devices. The load usage prediction report is generated based on the mobile usage portfolio and said power consumption data. The computer processor transmits the load usage prediction report to a power provider utility for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Jensen Boss, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Julianne Frances Haugh, Anne R. Sand
  • Patent number: 8538660
    Abstract: With the use of a model expression (FIG. 9C), of which inputs include a desired value of an in-cylinder air amount that is a controlled object of a system and predetermined parameters, such as engine speed (ne), a desired throttle opening degree (?ref) required to control the in-cylinder air amount to the desired value is calculated. In this model expression, parameters, such as the engine speed (ne), that oscillate at a relatively high frequency are excluded from subjects of differentiation, and the desired in-cylinder air amount value only is included in the subjects of differentiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Sakayanagi
  • Patent number: 8532795
    Abstract: A method of offline code validation and a process control system are provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors each configured to generate a sensor output value representative of a respective sensed parameter in a process plant, at least one process controller configured to receive one or more of the sensor output values and to generate a controller output value using the one or more of the sensor output values and a control algorithm associated with the at least one process controller, a plurality of controlled components configured to receive an associated controller output value, and an offline computing environment including a selectable model controller configurable to represent the at least one process controller, the model controller selectable by a user from code representing the at least one process controller and displayed on a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Visweswara Prasad Adavi, Raja Balasubramaniam
  • Patent number: 8515582
    Abstract: A control system for controlling operation of a fossil fuel fired power generating unit. The control system including both a combustion optimization system and an oxygen optimization system. Both the combustion optimization system and oxygen optimization system each including a model for predicting values of controlled variables and an optimizer for determining optimal setpoint values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: NeuCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianhu Jia, Stephen Piche, W. Hardey Beaver
  • Patent number: 8478434
    Abstract: Provided are an output feedback frequency control device and a speed governor using the same. The output feedback frequency control device includes an integral control unit configured to generate an integral control signal by using a predetermined integral control constant (KI) and an integral quantity of an angular velocity deviation (??) of an external device, a differential control unit configured to generate a differential control signal by using a predetermined differential control constant (KD), the angular velocity deviation (??) of the external device, and the mechanical power (?Pm) of the external device, and a proportional control unit configured to generate a control input (u) for control of an operation speed of the external device by using the angular velocity deviation of the external device, the integral control signal generated by the integral control unit, the differential control signal generated by the differential control unit, and a predetermined control constant (R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventors: Young Hyun Moon, Chi Hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 8473124
    Abstract: A flight control system is configured for controlling the flight of an aircraft utilizing a three control loop design to robustly increase system performance. An inner loop comprises an improved linear quadratic regulator (LQR) search method, and an outer loop comprises a classic feedback summary gain design. A third loop comprises a steady state trim search method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John J. Shillings
  • Patent number: 8463411
    Abstract: One or more techniques are provided for the sharing of variable trajectories between multiple controllers in a control system. In general, the present technique is based upon the sharing of predicted desired variable trajectories between multiple controllers requiring a common input variable. In one embodiment, a common input variable is shared between two controllers, wherein one controller is tuned to have dominant control with regard to the shared variable. Each controller determines and communicates their own desired trajectory for the shared variable to the other controller and in doing so, the constraints associated with each controller are shared and honored by the other controller. Based on the communicated trajectories, the dominant controller may exercise control over the shared variable, thus improving overall process control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kent Stephenson, Lina M. Rueda Velandia
  • Patent number: 8452424
    Abstract: In a case where a position command path for a control position of a load 5 that is equivalent to a moving object is set by issuing a position command Rc(z), a gain for one of a high-frequency component, a specified frequency, and a specified frequency width is constrained. This means that a resonant frequency can be constrained, and that after the position command Rc(z) arrives at a target position, a position detection signal Y(z) can also arrive at the target position in a set number of steps. It is therefore possible to perform positioning at high speed and with high precision by constraining a resonance mode of a mechanism that includes the moving object, and a feed-forward control can be performed that meets target positioning times that are set for various types of operating patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: National Univeristy Corporation Nagoya Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Noriaki Hirose, Hiromu Hirai, Kenta Seki
  • Patent number: 8452425
    Abstract: A position control device for suppressing occurrence of stick-slip during a feed operation performed in a very low speed region is provided. Adders add an output obtained by multiplying actual speed deviation by a proportional gain, an integral component of actual speed deviation obtained by inputting actual speed deviation to an integral compensator, an output obtained by multiplying motor speed deviation by a proportional gain, and an integral component of the motor speed deviation obtained by inputting motor speed deviation to an integral compensator. The result is output as a torque feedback command. Each integral compensator has a coefficient changer capable of changing a coefficient from 0 to 1 to adjust integral gains in accordance with a speed feedforward command or a speed command. Large integral gain increases the response speed of switching from static to kinetic friction torque in a very low speed region thereby suppressing occurrence of stick-slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Kawazu, Tomohisa Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8447570
    Abstract: A predictive sensor readout is suitable for coupling to a sensor. The predictive sensor readout includes a sampling circuit, a predictor, and a preset circuit. The sampling circuit is configured to receive and over-sample previously digitized samples of signals previously input from the sensor. The predictor is coupled to the sampling circuit and is configured to receive the over-sampled digitized samples into a signal history and to generate a predicted input from the sensor based on the signal history. The preset circuit is coupled to the predictor and the sampling circuit and is configured to present the sampling circuit to receive the predicted input from the sensor prior to sampling an actual input from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 8432119
    Abstract: Disclosed are various systems and methods for assessing and improving the capability of a machine tool. The disclosure applies to machine tools having at least one slide configured to move along a motion axis. Various patterns of dynamic excitation commands are employed to drive the one or more slides, typically involving repetitive short distance displacements. A quantification of a measurable merit of machine tool response to the one or more patterns of dynamic excitation commands is typically derived for the machine tool. Examples of measurable merits of machine tool performance include workpiece surface finish, and the ability to generate chips of the desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12, LLC
    Inventors: William E. Barkman, Edwin F. Babelay, Jr., Kevin Scott Smith, Thomas S. Assaid, Justin T. McFarland, David A. Tursky, Bethany Woody, David Adams
  • Patent number: 8417362
    Abstract: A computer comprising a recordable medium on which is stored instructions for at least one model-based, run-to-run controller routine is provided. The computer includes instructions to receive a first dataset regarding a first wafer after a first process, to determine a process parameter for the first process for a second wafer using the first dataset; and to determine a second process parameter for a second process for the first wafer using the first dataset. In an embodiment, the first process is an etch process. In an embodiment, the second process is a planarization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsueh Chi Shen, Chun-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 8417361
    Abstract: Control system and method for controlling an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant are provided. The system may include a controller coupled to a dynamic model of the plant to process a prediction of plant performance and determine a control strategy for the IGCC plant over a time horizon subject to plant constraints. The control strategy may include control functionality to meet a tracking objective and control functionality to meet an optimization objective. The control strategy may be configured to prioritize the tracking objective over the optimization objective based on a coordinate transformation, such as an orthogonal or quasi-orthogonal projection. A plurality of plant control knobs may be set in accordance with the control strategy to generate a sequence of coordinated multivariable control inputs to meet the tracking objective and the optimization objective subject to the prioritization resulting from the coordinate transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aditya Kumar, Ruijie Shi, Rajeeva Kumar, Mustafa Dokucu
  • Patent number: 8406905
    Abstract: Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also applies to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection controllers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventor: Zhiqiang Gao
  • Patent number: 8401676
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling a plant is provided. A reference signal is received at a signal transformation loop of a feedback controller. The signal transformation loop causes the reference signal to include a disturbance signal and a nominal signal. Also, the reference signal is received at a feed-forward controller, and the feed-forward controller recreates the disturbance signal that was caused by the signal transformation loop. The output of the feedback controller is input into a plant. The output of the feed-forward controller is input into the plant such that the disturbance signal is removed from the output of the feedback controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Angeliki Pantazi, Abu Sebastian, Tomas Tuma
  • Patent number: 8401737
    Abstract: A vehicle control device calculates an operation amount and a motion state amount for varying an operation amount necessary for a real vehicle's operation based on a dynamic vehicle model modeling the motion state of a vehicle running in accordance with running targets such as a target path and a speed pattern and determines whether the calculated operation amount and the motion state amount satisfy prescribed running requirements. The operation amount and the motion state amount determined to satisfy the running requirements are a feed-forward (FF) operation amount and a target state amount in a state feedback (FB) control, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Aso
  • Patent number: 8392003
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product to control position of an error control module in a lithography apparatus using a servo control loop is described herein. The system comprises a filter, a servo controller coupled to the filter and configured to receive a control signal and an actuator coupled to the servo controller and configured to control the position of the error control module. The filter is configured to filter the control signal by modulating the amplitude and phase of the control signal in a desired frequency range, prior to the servo control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventor: Roberto B. Wiener
  • Patent number: 8392010
    Abstract: A critical dimension controlling method in a semiconductor production process includes determining whether a model is to undergo a discontinuous production process when a run is inserted in a semiconductor manufacturing line, applying an offset for said model or a common offset for a model group including said model according to the determination, executing a production process in dependence upon a process variation along with the offset for the model or the common offset for the model group, and measuring an actual critical dimension in the production process. The offset for the model is calculated based on a previously measured actual critical dimension, and the calculated offset for the model is applied to the calculation of the common offset for the model group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eugene Kang, Won-Hyouk Jang, Joo-Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 8359293
    Abstract: The present invention provides a processing procedure management device which can determine a process procedure by adapting to a performance change of a function engine used for information processing at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Arikuma, Nobuhisa Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8352048
    Abstract: A method and an electronic device for compensation of the hysteresis of a pneumatically driven fitting having an electropneumatic valve. The electropneumatic valve is driven by a position regulator and is used in a closed control loop for position regulation of a switching element of an pneumatic actuating drive for operation of the fitting. Hysteresis of the pneumatically driven fitting is compensated for by the position regulator via at least one hysteresis correction factor. The control-engineering compensation for the hysteresis is carried out separately for a first basic case of starting or reversing a switching element and for a second basic case of continuous movement of the switching element, such that a dominant static friction is compensated for in the first basic case and the dominant sliding friction is compensated for in the second basic case, and the pneumatic actuating drive operates the switching element matched thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Heiko Kresse
  • Patent number: 8352086
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a vibration isolation system, and an active vibration isolation system for vibration-isolated support of lithographic devices, wafer handling systems, and/or scanning microscopes. For this purpose the following are provided: a number of vibration transducers for supplying sensor signals which are representative of vibrations; a number of actuators for vibration compensation which may be controlled by supplying actuator control signals; a control device which is designed for processing the supplied sensor signals to form the actuator control signals, wherein the vibration transducers have at least one geophone sensor as a first acceleration sensor for detecting vibrations in a first frequency range, and at least one second acceleration sensor, which is different from the first acceleration sensor, for detecting vibrations in a second frequency range which extends the first frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Integrated Dynamics Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Heiland
  • Patent number: 8321108
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automobile clutch in an automated transmission system with a CMPC control is disclosed having application to vehicle clutch control in an AMT system. The driver's request is translated in terms of sliding velocity ?sl. Constraints on the engine and clutch actuators are defined to respect their operating limits, and driving quality constraints are defined to guarantee comfort during the clutch engagement phase. In order to meet these quality constraints, a reference trajectory is defined for ?sl as a function of the clutch engagement time. An analytical expression allowing real-time calculation of a set of control trajectories with a CMPC control law is then defined from the expression of this reference trajectory. The trajectory respecting the constraints on the actuators is selected from among all these control trajectories. Finally, the clutch is controlled with the selected control trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: IFP
    Inventors: Paolino Tona, Rachid Amari, Mazen Alamir
  • Patent number: 8311653
    Abstract: One method includes obtaining a preliminary model associated with a system to be controlled and constructing a weighted model using one or more weighting factors. The method also includes identifying a final model of the system using the preliminary and weighted models, where the final model has a stability margin that is greater than an uncertainty associated with the final model. The method further includes controlling the system using a controller designed based on the final model. Another method includes identifying a first model associated with a system to be controlled, performing model order reduction to identify a second model, and controlling the system using a controller designed based on the second model. Performing the model order reduction includes reducing a weighted coprime factor model uncertainty between the first and second models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Q. Zhan, Sachindra K. Dash, J. Ward MacArthur, Konstantinos Tsakalis
  • Patent number: 8301275
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling a process variable based upon a set point is disclosed. A process variable is measured, and a proportional term is assigned to a manipulated variable that is based upon a product of a proportional gain coefficient and an error magnitude between the process variable and the set point. An integral term is added to the manipulated variable under a first set of conditions, and a derivative term is added to the manipulated variable under a second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions. The sum of the proportional term, the integral term, and the derivative term is output, resulting in the process variable being responsively adjusted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: STI srl
    Inventors: Flavio Tondolo, Roberto Valoti
  • Patent number: 8280533
    Abstract: An adaptive process controller performs continuously scheduled process model parameter interpolation to determine a particular set of process model parameters which are used to develop controller tuning parameters for controller tuning. More particularly, a state-based, adaptive PID controller described herein uses a new technique to determine an appropriate process model to be used to perform adaptive tuning over the various operating regions of the plant, and in particular, uses a process model parameter determination technique that enables continuously scheduled process model parameter update over the various plant operating regions or points. The use of this continuously scheduled process model parameter update method provides for smoother transitions between tuning parameters used in the PID controller during adaptive tuning procedures which are implemented based on changes in the operating region or the operating point of the process, thereby providing for better overall control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Wojsznis, Terrence Lynn Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis
  • Patent number: 8274252
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a sub-controller including a two-degree-of-freedom repetitive compensator and a shaping filter. The two-degree-of-freedom repetitive compensator includes a forward delay placed in a forward route of a loop and a feedback delay placed in a feedback route thereof and is configured so that a total delay time provided by the forward delay and the feedback delay is equal to the cycle of a target command or a disturbance. The shaping filter is configured so that the product of the pulse transfer function of the two-degree-of-freedom repetitive compensator and the complementary sensitivity function of a general-purpose control system has a low-pass characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Wennong Zhang, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8271104
    Abstract: Enables minimization of steady-state objective function P(z?), subject to a set of constraints zmin?z??zmax, and under the assumption that the values of the state vector, z, at different points in time related via a model expressed in dynamic open equation format Q(z?, zk, zk-1, zk-2, . . . , zk-n)=0, where z? is predicted final value of state vector, z, and zk, zk-1, zk-2, . . . , zk-n are current and previous values of state vector, z. Determines optimum operation of an industrial process having steady-state objective function P(z?), including: receiving outputs from the process; minimizing steady-state objective function P(z?) subject to set of constraints zmin?z??zmax; wherein values of state vector at different times are related via model of form Q(z?, zk, zk-1, zk-2, . . . , zk-n)=0; to minimize objective function P(z?). Industrial process to be optimised may include measured and unmeasured process variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Terndrup Consult & Associates BV
    Inventor: Henrik Terndrup
  • Publication number: 20120232679
    Abstract: A system evaluates reliability, performance and/or safety by automatically assessing the targeted system's requirements. A cost metric quantifies the impact of failures as a function of failure cost per unit of time. The metrics or measurements may render real-time (or near real-time) outcomes by initiating active response against one or more high ranked threats. The system may support or may be executed in many domains including physical domains, cyber security domains, cyber-physical domains, infrastructure domains, etc. or any other domains that are subject to a threat or a loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Robert K. Abercrombie, Frederick Sheldon, Erik M. Ferragut
  • Patent number: 8255066
    Abstract: In tuning a PID controller for a process in a feedback control system, a method is provided for bringing the system into symmetric self-excited oscillations for measuring the frequency and the amplitude of the oscillations, and tuning the controller in dependence on the measurements obtained. A control algorithm referred to as the modified relay feedback test is introduced into a system in series with a process to generate self-excited oscillations. Tuning includes the steps of selecting a desired gain margin or phase margin, generating oscillations with the algorithm parameter corresponding to a selected gain or phase margin, measurements of the amplitude and the frequency of these oscillations, and computing PID controller tuning parameters. Data and formulas are given for the computation of the specific parameter of the modified relay feedback test and for tuning the parameters of the PID controller. An apparatus for performing the method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: IMB Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Boiko, Mikhail Boiko, Natalia Boiko, Alexander Boiko
  • Patent number: 8244385
    Abstract: A control device includes an iterative learning control circuit that includes first and second learning filters to which a synchronization error is input and is configured to feed forward a control input to a first control target based on an output of the first learning filter and to feed forward a control input to a second control target based on an output of the second learning filter. Each of the first and second learning filters includes transfer functions of the first and second control targets and transfer functions of controllers of the first and second control circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 8219249
    Abstract: Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The controllers also include communication interfaces for receiving climate data. In certain embodiments, the controllers govern operation of the HVAC systems based at least in part on the climate data. Further, the controllers may display information and alerts related to the climate data. The controllers also may govern operation of air treatment devices within the HVAC systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gregory Ralph Harrod, Bradley A. Beers, Grant E. Carmichael, Jedidiah O. Bentz
  • Publication number: 20120173005
    Abstract: A control system for a machine may include a processor configured to communicate with a power source. The processor may also be configured to communicate with a transmission assembly. The processor may be configured to determine whether the power source is in a potential stall condition based at least in part on an actual speed of the power source and a requested speed of the power source. If the power source is in the potential stall condition, the processor may be configured to request that fuel be supplied to the power source although the fuel is not currently required by the power source, in anticipation of an increase in load on the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Grant S. Peterson, Randall T. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8200346
    Abstract: An MPC controller technique integrates feedback control performance better than methods commonly used today in MPC type controllers, resulting in an MPC controller that performs better than traditional MPC techniques in the presence of process model mismatch. In particular, MPC controller performance is enhanced by adding a tunable integration block to the MPC controller that develops an integral component indicative of the prediction or other control error, and adds this component to the output of an MPC controller algorithm to provide for faster or better control in the presence of model mismatch, which is the ultimate reason for the prediction error in the first place. This technique enables the MPC controller to react more quickly and to provide better set point change and load disturbance performance in the presence of model mismatch, without decreasing the robustness of the MPC controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk Thiele
  • Patent number: 8195345
    Abstract: The method for generating an integrated guidance law for aerodynamic missiles uses a strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm (SPEA)-based approach for generating an integrated fuzzy guidance law, which includes three separate fuzzy controllers. Each of these fuzzy controllers is activated in a unique region of missile interception. The distribution of membership functions and the associated rules are obtained by solving a nonlinear constrained multi-objective optimization problem in which final time, energy consumption, and miss distance are treated as competing objectives. A Tabu search is utilized to build a library of initial feasible solutions for the multi-objective optimization algorithm. Additionally, a hierarchical clustering technique is utilized to provide the decision maker with a representative and manageable Pareto-optimal set without destroying the characteristics of the trade-off front. A fuzzy-based system is employed to extract the best compromise solution over the trade-off curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
    Inventors: Hanafy M. Omar, Mohammad A. Abido
  • Patent number: 8180464
    Abstract: Multiple designs, systems, methods and processes for controlling a system or plant using an extended active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) based controller are presented. The extended ADRC controller accepts sensor information from the plant. The sensor information is used in conjunction with an extended state observer in combination with a predictor that estimates and predicts the current state of the plant and a co-joined estimate of the system disturbances and system dynamics. The extended state observer estimates and predictions are used in conjunction with a control law that generates an input to the system based in part on the extended state observer estimates and predictions as well as a desired trajectory for the plant to follow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Cleveland State University
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Gao, Gang Tian
  • Patent number: 8170841
    Abstract: Models are generated using a variety of tools and features of a model generation platform. For example, in connection with a project in which a user generates a predictive model based on historical data about a system being modeled, the user is provided through a graphical user interface a structured sequence of model generation activities to be followed, the sequence including dimension reduction, model generation, model process validation, and model re-generation. In connection with a project in which a user generates a predictive model based on historical data about a system being modeled, the user is enabled to validate the model development process with cross-validation between at least two subsets of the historical data; the validated model development process is enabled to be reapplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: KnowledgeBase Marketing, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen K. Pinto, Richard Mansfield, Marc Jacobs, Donald Rubin
  • Patent number: 8165853
    Abstract: Models are generated using a variety of tools and features of a model generation platform. For example, in connection with a project in which a user generates a predictive model based on historical data about a system being modeled, the user is provided through a graphical user interface a structured sequence of model generation activities to be followed, the sequence including dimension reduction, model generation, model process validation, and model re-generation. Historical multi-dimensional data is received representing multiple variables to be used as an input to a predictive model of a commercial system variables are pruned for which the data is sparse or missing, and the population of variables is adjusted to represent main effects exhibited by the data and interaction and non-linear effects exhibited by the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: KnowledgeBase Marketing, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen K. Pinto, Richard Mansfield, Donald Rubin
  • Patent number: 8155764
    Abstract: A multivariable model predictive controller (MPC) for controlling a coalbed methane (CBM) production process. The MPC includes input ports for receiving a plurality of measurement signals including measured process parameters from CBM wells in a well field. A control loop includes a mathematical model that controls the CBM gas production. The model includes individual production characteristics for each CBM well that predicts its behavior for controlled variables (CVs) with respect to changes in manipulated variables (MVs) and disturbance variables (DVs). The control loop calculates future set points for the MVs based on the model and the measured process parameters for CBM production to achieve at least one control objective for the well field. A plurality of output ports provide control signals for implementing the future set points which when coupled to physical process equipment at the plurality of CBM wells control the physical equipment to reach the future set points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Antony Castelijns, Giovanni Luca Colpo
  • Patent number: 8155839
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering apparatus is provided with: a steering-angle feedforward-control-value setting unit arranged to set a steering angle value that corresponds to a steering state; a vehicle-behavior-stabilization controlling unit including a steering-angle feedback-control-value setting unit arranged to set a steering-angle correction value that corresponds to vehicle behavior; and a feedback-gain changing unit arranged to decrease a gain of the steering-angle feedback-control-value setting unit to a value less than at a normal time, when the steering-angle correction value is equal to or less than a predetermined value, during vehicle-behavior stabilizing control by the vehicle-behavior-stabilization controlling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Nakano, Masaya Segawa
  • Patent number: 8145329
    Abstract: A method and system for combining a feedback control and a feedforward control in a linear MPC to minimize effect of model uncertainty. An externally computed feedforward signal, which is more accurate and reliable, can be utilized in association with the MPC, A steady state relation between system parameters can be determined in order to compute the feedforward signal for a set of actuators associated with a non-linear system. A feedback MPC controller can then be designed. A state observer can be configured as an unknown input observer to estimate the effect of the feedforward signal. A strategy for manipulating the constraints of the MPC feedback signal can be implemented. A resulting control action for the actuators can be provided as a sum of corresponding feedback and feedforward signal while ensuring the constraints satisfaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jaroslav Pekar, Greg Strewart, Dejan Kihas, Francesco Borrelli
  • Patent number: 8126575
    Abstract: A method for building robust model predictive controller universally applicable is presented based on the innate process characteristics independent of the method of control actuation. The method of universal MPC design permits proper configuration of requisite regulatory control loops for measured and unmeasured disturbance rejections consistent with the underlying innate process characteristics and their embedding within the overall process unit model predictive controller. The method of universal MPC design requires that manipulated variables process value based model (PV-based models) be used in control and optimization in place of the customary set point based models (SP-based models) or control output based models (OP-based models). The PV-based models are devoid of the manipulated variables regulatory controllers response and tuning. Based on the PV-based models, an alternate method of MPC called PV-based MPC is presented that is most robust and adaptable of possible three types of MPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fakhruddin T Attarwala
    Inventor: Fakhruddin T Attarwala
  • Patent number: 8121817
    Abstract: Process control system for detecting abnormal events in a process having one or more independent variables and one or more dependent variables. The system includes a device for measuring values of the one or more independent and dependent variables, a process controller having a predictive model for calculating predicted values of the one or more dependent variables from the measured values of the one or more independent variables, a calculator for calculating residual values for the one or more dependent variables from the difference between the predicted and measured values of the one or more dependent variables, and an analyzer for performing a principal component analysis on the residual values. The process controller is a multivariable predictive control means and the principal component analysis results in the output of one or more scores values, T2 values and Q values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: BP Oil International Limited
    Inventors: Keith Landells, Zaid Rawi
  • Patent number: 8099180
    Abstract: A device is described for ascertaining state variables and/or parameters of a mathematical energy accumulator model, in particular a battery model, that describes the electrical properties of the energy accumulator on the basis of various state variables and parameters, the mathematical energy accumulator model having correction equations by which the state variables and/or the parameters are corrected and adjusted to the actual operating performance of the energy accumulator. A particularly rapid and accurate compensation of the energy accumulator model may be achieved if the error between a measured battery performance quantity and the battery performance quantity calculated by the energy accumulator model, a differentiated component of the error and an integrated component of the error are calculated, the individual components are each weighted using a weighting factor and the weighted error components are taken into account in correction of a state variable and/or a parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Schoch
  • Patent number: 8099199
    Abstract: There is provided a digital controller which can generate no oscillation even if sensing a load side and enables control of supplying a desired voltage to the load. In an power amplifier which supplies an output voltage vo to the load connected via a load connecting line, a load voltage vL and the output voltage vo are periodically sampled to calculate a manipulating variable ?1 from the output voltage vo, the load voltage vL and an arbitrary target value r. Based on the manipulating variable ?1 calculated, a control signal is output to the power amplifier. As a result, when connecting an LC filter with a load device 9 of the power amplifier intended for a control target and besides the load connecting line is long, a robust digital controller without generating oscillation even if sensing the load side is performed can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: TDK-Lameda Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Takegami, Kazushi Watanabe, Satoshi Tomioka, Kouji Higuchi, Kazushi Nakano, Tatsuyoshi Kajikawa
  • Patent number: 8095227
    Abstract: A method for controlling a process, wherein the process has an input and an output, and including controlling the input to the process; predicting the output of the process based on a first set of operating parameters; predicting the output of the process based on a second set of operating parameters; updating the first set of operating parameters when a result from predicting the output from the first set of parameters differs from the output of the process by more than a predetermined amount, wherein the predetermined amount is a function the output predicted by the second set of parameters. The invention also includes apparatuses and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventor: Birger Erik Ydstie
  • Publication number: 20110307082
    Abstract: A method for axis correction in a processing machine, in particular a shaftless printing machine, has at least one axis for processing and/or transporting a material, at least one detection device for detecting a processing parameter and at least one controller device for calculating a controller output variable for axis correction of the at least one axis using the detected processing parameter. The method is implemented iteratively, with the result that feedforward control output values for the feedforward control of the axis correction are determined during an (n+1)-th change in rotation speed of the at least one axis using observation of the controller output variable and/or the processing parameter during an n-th change in rotation speed of the at least one axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Schultze, Holger Schnabel, Joachim Thurner
  • Patent number: 8078335
    Abstract: A storage system includes a housing, a cooling unit cooling the interior of the housing, and a plurality of control units adapted to control the cooling unit. The control units each include a mount state acquisition unit acquiring a mount state of the control unit in the housing, an operation state acquisition unit acquiring an operation state of the cooling unit, and a determining unit determining a provisional main control unit, from among the plurality of control units, that is operable to control the entire cooling unit based on information acquired from the mount state acquisition unit and the operation state acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Matsuda, Takanori Ishii