Supervisory Control Patents (Class 700/9)
  • Patent number: 7353193
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system of a machine capable of efficiently feeding fuel, where a time of feeding fuel to a construction machine is estimated based on operation information of the construction machine. Based on position information of the construction machine acquired by position information acquiring means and estimated time of feeding fuel, a delivery schedule, which has a short moving distance and capable of delivering and feeding fuel efficiently in a short period of time, is formed. The delivery schedule is notified to a controller of the construction machine. The delivery schedule is reconstructed by a set input of a change in the delivery schedule from the controller. A specified form for requesting expense of feeding fuel is automatically formed from a fuel feeding amount after fuel has been delivered and fed by the formed delivery schedule and confirming to feed fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Komatsu, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetada Fukushima, Yutaka Kamada, Takao Nagai
  • Publication number: 20080059087
    Abstract: A method of identifying an electrical fault in an electrical system may include coupling an electronic service tool to an electronic control module. The method may also include instructing the electronic control module to disable an enable condition and modify a trip condition set by the electronic control module. The method may further include monitoring the electrical system as a user wiggles a component of the electrical system. The method may further include providing the electronic control module with electrical system data, and generating a fault code when the electrical system data fulfills the modified trip condition. The method may further include communicating the fault code to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: James A. Roal, Mark J. Hilbert
  • Patent number: 7337028
    Abstract: The invention relates to the organization of network-wide applications to indicate a possible way by which future requirements of decentralized control systems connected together via a network can be implemented simply and cost-efficiently with high efficiency. A system and a computer program which, in order to provide consistent support to the organization of a process having at least one processing device for carrying out predefinable subprocesses, permit subprocess-specific process structure information to be registered and stored on the basis of the process to be organized in such a way that said information can be used on the basis of predefinable subprocesses or on the basis of a respective organization phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Johannes Kalhoff
  • Patent number: 7337013
    Abstract: A uniform resource locator (URL) is embedded in computerized or digital documentation for a physical and/or a software process control element existing within a process control environment to thereby provide an automatic link to documentation or other applications that exist in other processing or data environments, such as in a word processing environment or in a data manipulation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Dove, Larry O. Jundt, Trevor D. Schleiss
  • Patent number: 7337015
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a digital electronic product, using a control signal transmitter and a signal receiver combined with a gate system for controlling a digital home appliance, such that a system activation/inactivation control mechanism is established. The on/off status of the gate system is remotely controlled by the control signal transmitter. In the process of switching off the gate system, a basic input/output system (BIOS) for executing switching on/off is used to detect whether the external connecting port is connected to a signal receiver. When the system is in the off status, the electric connection to the signal receiver is maintained, such that the activation control signal from the control signal transmitter can be received any time. Thereby, the signal status of the signal receiver can be changed to automatically switch on the gate system, and the control signal transmitter can thus remotely control operation of the digital home appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Topseed Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chung-Ping Chi
  • Publication number: 20080027565
    Abstract: In allocating processing units of a computer system to generate simulated diffraction signals used in optical metrology, a request for a job to generate simulated diffraction signals using multiple processing units is obtained. A number of processing units requested for the job to generate simulated diffraction signals is then determined. A number of available processing units is determined. When the number of processing units requested is greater than the number of available processing units, a number of processing units is assigned to generate the simulated diffraction signals that is less than the number of processing units requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hemalatha Erva, Hong Qiu, Junwei Bao, Vi Vuong
  • Patent number: 7321800
    Abstract: A control system for injection molding machines comprises a central control unit (26) for executing cyclical machine program sequences. Further, a visualization means (24, 25) is connected with the central control unit (26). The central control unit (26) has connected therewith, via an input/output means (16), an injection molding machine (18). According to the invention, an additional control unit (28) for cycle-independent processing of time-critical control steps is arranged independently of the central control unit (26) and is adapted for reducing the error-proneness. The additional control unit (28) is in particular an FPGA control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: DR. BOY GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Josef Ludwig
  • Patent number: 7321799
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a motion signal to a motion platform comprising a plurality of actuators. The apparatus comprises a formatting unit receiving a motion signal indication of a motion to perform on the motion platform and formatting the motion signal and a synchronizing unit receiving the formatted signal and providing a synchronized and formatted motion signal to the motion platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: D-Box Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Bruno Paillard
  • Patent number: 7317972
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods in which an irrigation management system reduces high peak water use values by utilizing a microprocessor (220) disposed in an irrigation controller (100) to receive peak water use information from a water supplier receive water use information at a consumer site and automatically derive a new irrigation schedule that is at least partly based on the information received. The new irrigation schedule, derived by the microprocessor (220), may include a modification in a default irrigation frequency, a modification in a default irrigation start time(s), a reduction in a default irrigation application duration, the use of a rolling-average in the determination of the new irrigation application duration and other changes or modifications to the default irrigation schedule that will provide for the reduction in high peak water use values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Aqua Conserve, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Addink, Sylvan Addink
  • Publication number: 20080004720
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-usable medium for determining unimportant probe locations by examination of byte code by identifying trivial methods according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a management application identifies a first candidate location in byte code to instrument with a monitoring probe. The management application determines that the first candidate location links to a method of trivial importance and eliminates the first candidate location as a byte location to instrument. The management application identifies a second candidate location in byte code to instrument with a monitoring probe. The management application determines that the second candidate location links to a method of importance and instruments the second candidate location with the monitoring probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Howard M. Mckinney, Kirk M. Sexton
  • Publication number: 20070295830
    Abstract: A modular boiler system includes a boiler control, a first boiler in operative connection with the boiler control, and a temperature sensor in operative connection with the first boiler. The system also features at least one secondary boiler in operative connection with the master boiler. The boiler control is operatively connected to only the first boiler and it enables the first boiler to control a boiler parameter of the first boiler and the at least one secondary boiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: WESTCAST, INC.
    Inventors: KENNETH W. COHEN, RICHARD OSIENSKI, BRIAN HANNIGAN, MARK RAWSON, NATHANIEL DEWEY, JOHN WILSON
  • Patent number: 7313447
    Abstract: A system for monitoring an industrial process and taking action based on the results of process monitoring. Actions taken may include process control, paging, voicemail, and input for e-enterprise systems. The system includes an input module for receiving a plurality of parameters from a process for manufacture of a substance or object. The system also includes a library module. The library module includes a plurality of computer aided processes. Any one of the computer aided processes is capable of using each of the plurality of parameters to compare at least two of the plurality of parameters against a training set of parameters. The training set of parameters is generally predetermined. The computer aided process is also capable of determining if the at least two of the plurality of parameters are within a predetermined range of the training set of parameters. Additionally, the system includes an output module for outputting a result based upon the training set and the plurality of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Inc.
    Inventors: Chang-Meng B. Hsiung, Bethsabeth Munoz, Ajoy Kumar Roy, Michael Gregory Steinthal, Steven A. Sunshine, Michael Allen Vicic, Shou-Hua Zhang
  • Patent number: 7308337
    Abstract: A crane installation, especially a container crane, for moving a load, especially a container, includes a first stored-programmable control unit which, if required, receives signals resulting in a safety-related control command to one or several electric or electro-mechanical operational elements, and a second stored-programmable control unit which is configured in such a way that it can at least partially monitor the control operation of the first control unit on the basis of safety-related signals transmitted to the second control unit. If the safety-related control command of the first control unit is improper, the second control unit is able to issue its own control command to an operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst Sparenborg, Jorg Meyer, Uwe Meyer
  • Patent number: 7293148
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a microcontroller in a control unit in a motor vehicle, having a processor core, at least one read-only memory area and at least one rewritable memory area, at least one control program which is intended to be processed by the processor core being stored in the rewritable memory area. In order to provide a method for controlling a microcontroller in a control unit that better protects the verification of memories of the microcontroller against unauthorized intervention, a verification program is stored in a write-once memory area of the rewritable memory area and a service program is stored in the read-only memory area. The verification program is called by the control program via the service program at regular intervals and verifies at least part of the rewritable memory area. In addition, the service program resets a counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Schneider, Axel Aue
  • Patent number: 7292898
    Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring and/or controlling a pool or spa. The remote control can utilize a microprocessor-based data acquisition and processing system, along with a network interface, to provide remote access to the pool or spa parameters, including but not limited to: temperature, pH, and ORP levels; and the status and control of pumps, heaters, ozone apparatus, and filters. The information is presentable via the Internet, a private or other networks, and can be accessed through known browsers or other convenient interfaces, allowing for operation across all computing platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Balboa Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Clark, Stephen J. Scherer, Paul A. Rosenau
  • Patent number: 7289968
    Abstract: A method of forecasting the demand for components used to manufacture a plurality of different devices is presented. The method determines a production quantity of each of the devices planned to be manufactured, analyzes each of the devices to produce exploded lists of components required to manufacture each of the devices and device assemblies, multiplies the list of components required for each device by each the production quantity to determine a total volume of each component required to manufacture the devices, identifies components as ones having a level of supply insufficient to meet demand and having no available substitute components, and calculates a volume of each critical component required to manufacture the devices based on the total volume of each component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony V. Ferreri, Barun Gupta, George W. Reiche
  • Patent number: 7289994
    Abstract: A process control system includes multiple zones containing process control network communicatively interconnected to exchange information necessary to monitor the system and to perform process control. Each zone may include an inter-zone server that controls the exchange of information between the zones via communication links. In addition to controlling the routing of information between the zones, the inter-zone servers may perform additional processing on the information being exchanged, such as security monitoring, language translation and version control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Robert Havekost, Ken Beoughter
  • Patent number: 7283272
    Abstract: A printer connected to a network prints documents transmitted as portions of E-mail messages sent to the printer from computer systems through a print server. The printing process is controlled by administrative settings stored within the printer and further by keyword-value pairs recorded in the subject lines of the E-mail messages. The printer preferably also acts as a web page server to client systems connected to the network, with administrative settings being updated through the network following recognition of a password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: InfoPrint Solutions Company
    Inventors: Charles D. Johnson, Devayani R. Talukdar
  • Patent number: 7283935
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring grid-based computing resources are disclosed. Example embodiments provide for the determination and display of a variety of metrics. Data related to processor utilization by a plurality of applications is accumulated, aggregated, and normalized. At least one metric related to the use of the grid by the plurality of applications is assayed or otherwise determined from the aggregated, normalized data. An archive database for archival storage of at least some of the data can also be provided. In some embodiments, a Web server displays metrics via a Web page. In addition, provision can be made to verify the service level agreement (SLA) compliance of the various resources on the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: David Pritchard, Michael S. Goodman
  • Patent number: 7283936
    Abstract: A building control system, such as an HVAC system, has a field unit incorporating a control panel (a field panel) with a local user interface allowing user selected parameters for collecting trend information when the system detects a change of value for a point in the system or a timed instruction in the memory of the field panel to begin collecting trend data for a point. The resulting trend data collected by the field panel can be uploaded to a workstation in the building control system, where the trend data can be formatted into a report, and then digitally authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine M. Brindac, John M. Skowron, Nellie Martin
  • Publication number: 20070219755
    Abstract: A self-healing power grid control system includes a power grid having a plurality of network islands with a plurality of linear and non-linear loads. A plurality of control sensors communicate with the power grid to monitor the electrical characteristics of the power grid. A plurality of controlled relays are in electrical communication with the plurality of non-linear loads. A battery energy storage system (ESS) is in electrical communication with a main power source and a network island. A first restoration controller is in electrical communication with the control sensors, the controlled relays, and with the battery ESS. The first restoration controller receives control signals from the control sensors, and in response to detecting an irregularity in the power grid, automatically actuates the battery ESS to stabilize power to the linear loads, and disconnects selected controlled relays to disconnect power to a calculated percentage of the non-linear loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicants: VRB Power Systems Inc., PacifiCorp
    Inventors: Bradley R. Williams, Timothy David John Hennessy
  • Patent number: 7272456
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling machine operations in an automated industrial facility including at least one machine, the method for restricting machine operation when a wireless information device associated with a facility user is within a restricted facility location and comprising the steps providing at least one wireless information device, determining if the at least one wireless information device is within a restricted facility location and, where the at least one wireless information device is within a restricted facility location, regulating operation of the at least one machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Farchmin, David D. Brandt, David Alan Vasko
  • Patent number: 7263413
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic control system for aggregates which generate compressed air or vacuums. The inventive system comprises programmable electronic circuits for controlling, regulating and monitoring the technical functions of aggregates of this type, especially the functions of the compressed air generator or the vacuum pump and the corresponding drive mechanisms, and air treatment. The aim of the invention is to provide a control system which will simplify construction (design), production, assembly, commissioning, maintenance, checks for defects and repairs despite the variety of different types of aggregates and the different conditions of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Kaeser Kompressoren GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhold Hofmann
  • Patent number: 7263598
    Abstract: The computer system is comprised of three main components: the core processing trait, the software rules/protocols, and the system architecture. The complete system consists of a number of distributed core processing units distributed in a hierarchical architecture. Core processing units at the top of the hierarchy and at all intermediate levels perform supervisory control, monitoring, and message passing functions. Core processors at terminating points in the hierarchical structure: control and/or monitor devices, machines, and instruments; or execute applications and perform computational functions. Because of the inherent flexibility of the computer system, it can be structured to accomplish any computational task including industrial control and monitoring, data acquisition, instrument control, embedded control, process control and monitoring, general purpose computing and virtually any other computing task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Jack Robert Ambuel
  • Patent number: 7260437
    Abstract: In a network system, each ECU transmits a start control frame when to start, and is started when it receives the start control frame from any other ECU during the stop of its operation. Besides, each ECU transmits a stop control frame cyclically during its operation, and continues its operation in spite of being capable of stopping its operation, while it is receiving the stop control frame from any other ECU. In transmitting each of the frames, each ECU affixes cause information expressive of a start cause or an operation stop incapability cause to the frame. In stopping a network, a supervisory device specifies the start ECU and the start cause thereof from the start control frame and stores them in a nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Senoo, Tomohisa Kishigami, Hajime Kikkawa
  • Patent number: 7257454
    Abstract: A system and method that prioritizes product lots for fabrication and dispatching to manufacturing equipment establishes priorities for dispatching product lots based on a criticality factor and establishes a priority for dispatching product lots to manufacturing equipment based on processing capability and the efficiency of manufacturing equipment. A computer integrated manufacturing system executes a program process that functions as a lot dispatcher and a priority factor calculator. The lot dispatcher is in communication with an order entry system to receive requests for fabrication and with a process information system to receive procedures defining which manufacturing equipment is required. A manufacturing information system provides the lot dispatcher with a criticality factor and a queue level for each piece of manufacturing equipment. Then the current group of pieces of manufacturing equipment is followed with a balanced loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Chi Chien
  • Patent number: 7257501
    Abstract: A method includes identifying a signal and a disturbance using historical data associated with one or more process variables. The method also includes decomposing the signal and the disturbance at a plurality of resolution levels. The method further includes identifying a plurality of points associated with the decomposed signal using the decomposed signal and the decomposed disturbance. In addition, the method includes selecting at least some of the points and extracting a plurality of data segments from the signal, where the data segments are associated with the selected points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Q. Zhan, Joseph Z. Lu
  • Patent number: 7250859
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically uploading the configuration of a security system to a central station automation system via telephonic lines, long-range radio (e.g., cellular), or Internet. The end result is that the automation system has sufficient information regarding the type and configuration of the system installed at the protected premises to properly handle alarms reports from that system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Martin, Richard H. Hinkson, Narine Boodoosingh, Kevin G. Piel
  • Patent number: 7245978
    Abstract: Assisting-work management apparatus and an assisting-work management program for performing the assisting work in a substrate work machine system efficiently by a plurality of workers. A worker determining section (140) determines a worker to perform an objective work obtained according to assisting work occurrence information acquired by an assisting work occurrence information acquiring section (110) and a work informing section (180) informs the determined worker of the objective work. The workers determining section (140) can determine the worker of the objective work appropriately based on set worker information, current worker information, the worker intension, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seigo Kodama, Hiroyuki Haneda
  • Patent number: 7236835
    Abstract: A failure code indicating a failure content in a communication terminal device is automatically notified to a center device. The center device automatically makes a call to a user of the communication terminal device with the failure. When a trouble generates in the communication terminal device, the user of the communication terminal device can communicate with an operator of the center device in accordance with an operation of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 7233830
    Abstract: The subject invention provides systems and methods that facilitate accessing and management of information (e.g., instructions, executables, classes, objects . . . ) associated with a control system. The systems and methods enable a control system entity the ability to leverage functionality of another control system entity, for example, to employ a service and/or execute an application within an execution environment of the other control system entity. Other capabilities include, but are not limited to, installing and uninstalling, registering and deregistering, loading and/or unloading instructions, commencing, pausing and terminating instruction execution, passing parameters and variables to instructions, modifying, overriding instructions and removing instructions, reliable messages, files, executables, classes, data structures, schema, objects, services, notifications, behaviors, alerts, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Callaghan, Brian A. Batke
  • Patent number: 7231041
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for sending an encrypted command message from a remote keyless entry device to a receiver in a motor vehicle. The method comprises defining a key generating key within the remote keyless entry device, and using that key generating key to generate a working key. The working key is transmitted from the remote keyless entry device to the receiver during a training session without transmitting the key generating key. The working key is modified each time the remote keyless entry device is placed in the training mode. After the training session, a message encrypted with the working key can be transmitted from the remote keyless entry device to the motor vehicle receiver where the encrypted message is decrypted with the working key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Forest, Thomas E. Utter
  • Patent number: 7228199
    Abstract: A system and method for remote monitoring of material storage levels for dry bulk goods, wherein an independent entity, such as a transportation carrier, can continuously monitor raw material supply levels at a remote manufacturing plant, and, based on projected usage rates, place timely orders on behalf of the plant, with preselected vendors, to replenish depleted raw materials. The transportation carrier can then coordinate material shipments from the vendor to the manufacturing site using its own trucks. In this manner, the task of maintaining sufficient on site raw material storage levels is completely removed from the manufacturing plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: J.P. Donmoyer, Inc
    Inventor: David B. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7228204
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fan unit used for forced air cooling, a motherboard with predetermined wiring formed as a wiring pattern, disposed on the rear face of an equipment, and an electronic equipment provided with the fan unit and the motherboard. It is an object of the present invention to reliably maintain appropriate forced air cooling at low cost. For this purpose, the fan unit of the present invention measures temperatures of predetermined places in parallel, processes each of combinations of these temperatures, outputs the processing result via lines whose number is equal to the number of the combinations, and maintains the revolving speed of fans at a value suitable for the processing result obtained via these lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Iino, Naoya Yamazaki, Takashi Shirakami, Yoshiaki Tada
  • Patent number: 7228186
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a field-mountable process device that receives digital information from one or more process devices, and provides an associated analog output. Embodiments of the present invention include providing a wireless interface to the field-mounted process device such that configuration and/or diagnostic information can be communicated between the field-mounted process device and one or more additional devices. In some embodiments, the field-mounted process device can be completely powered by the digital process communication loop to which it is coupled. Finally, embodiments of the present invention also include generating and storing within the field-mounted process device a mapping between one or more field devices communicating in accordance with a digital process communication protocol and an analog output of the field-mounted process device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Karschnia, Marcos Peluso
  • Patent number: 7225039
    Abstract: A control system for a semiconductor processing apparatus comprises a control server connected to a semiconductor processing apparatus, a verification server connected to the control server, and a database connected to the verification server. The verification server evaluates input parameter values stored in the semiconductor processing apparatus against verification data stored in the database. The results of the evaluation are used to determine whether a process will be performed by the semiconductor processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Woo Chung, Jong-Hwan Weon, Hyo-Sang Jung, Myung-Kill Kim, Tae-Ha Jeon, Kyung-Bo Sim
  • Patent number: 7225248
    Abstract: An enterprise server for communication between data centers, control centers and remote devices, including server software, a server interface to receive client request. a configurable protocol interface is in communication with the configurable server software. A configurable connection interface is used for connecting the AES to the RTU. A configurable publish interface is integrated in the AES, wherein the configurable publish interface includes a first option to reformat the status and the measurement data to be compatible with a second software system. The interface includes a second option to publish data to a specific file format, location specific database, location specific message queue, data stream on the world wide network, a file format at an internet URL, a specific database at an internet URL, a message queue at an internet URL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: DJ Inventions, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas C. Osburn, III
  • Patent number: 7225273
    Abstract: In an interface apparatus provided between a first remote control system of polling communication system and a second remote control system of contention communication system, a control section executes at least one processing of the following processings based on mapping information of addresses. A first control processing is to transmit a transmission signal for controlling a second load unit to a second node unit responsive to a transmission signal which represents reception of a first input signal and is transmitted from a first terminal unit, thereby controlling the second load unit based on the first input signal. A second control processing is to transmit a transmission signal for controlling a first load unit to the first load unit responsive to a transmission signal which represents reception of the second input signal and is transmitted from the second node unit, thereby controlling the first load unit based on the second input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronic Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Hatemata
  • Patent number: 7216007
    Abstract: A controller includes an execution environment capable of executing an application for controlling a process element in a processing environment. The controller also includes a web server capable of being executed in the execution environment. The web server is also capable of providing direct web access to the controller by providing information associated with at least one of the controller and the process element over a network for display on a web browser. The information could be provided in the form of graphical images embedded in web pages or using a web service, a web form, or a smart client application. Also, the web server could be executed as a background task in the execution environment, the execution environment could represent a deterministic execution environment, and the application could represent a real-time application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7206643
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for performing automation is disclosed. An apparatus configured to control an automation function includes one or more automation modules connectable into an assembly. The automation modules include a data interface for exchanging data with other automation modules and a processor coupled to the data interface. A functional component is operable by the processor for performing an independent automation task. The data interfaces of the automation modules are coupled to exchange data communications for coordinating the respective functional components of the automation modules to perform the automation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jussi Ruutu, Ville Ruutu
  • Patent number: 7203562
    Abstract: A system for a monitoring lithography lasers at integrated circuit fabrication plants. Each laser at each fabrication plant has associated with it a terminal server. With respect to each fabrication plant a central control server unit is in communication with each of the lasers through a local area network. Information from the lasers is collected by the central control server unit and the information is used to provide summary information which is made available in a web site format to interested parties having access authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Cymer, Inc.
    Inventors: Parthiv S. Patel, Joseph E. Conway, Muljadi Tantra, Jeffrey W. Moen, Jason R. Carlesi, Roger L. Green, Tom A. Watson, Christopher G. Rowan
  • Patent number: 7203555
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adjusting control signal values for use in controlling a plant to conform a system parameter to a set-point are disclosed. To adjust control signal values, a reference trajectory for the set-point is generated based on a set-point tracking tuning parameter. A current disturbance value for the system parameter is estimated based on a robustness tuning parameter, a model prediction value resulting from a control signal value associated with the system parameter, and an actual system value associated with the system parameter. A future disturbance value is predicted based on the estimated current disturbance value and a disturbance rejection tuning parameter. The control signal value associated with the system parameter is then adjusted based on the reference trajectory, the model prediction value, the future disturbance value, and an aggressiveness tuning parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Babatunde A. Ogunnaike, Kapil Mukati
  • Patent number: 7203370
    Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus includes two JPEG codecs. A plurality of frames of image signals periodically input from a multiplexer are individually compressed by the two JPEG codecs, and the compressed image signals are recorded on a hard disk by an HDD. Furthermore, the plurality of frames of the compressed image signals reproduced from the hard disk are individually expanded by the two JPEG codecs, and the expanded image signals are output to a monitor. Herein, each of the JPEG codecs selectively executes individual compression of the plurality of frames of the image signals and individual expansion of the plurality of frames of the compressed image signals. A CPU makes the JPEG codecs perform the compression process prior to the expansion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Toguchi, Satoshi Tanaka, Yukio Sugimura, Tetsuro Yabumoto
  • Patent number: 7200447
    Abstract: An electronic control system for cycles, for use with a set of sensors, a set of actuators, and a set of control members associated to a cycle. The system having a first processor unit for processing and displaying information; a second processor unit for communication and for interfacing with said set of control members; and a third processor unit for interfacing with said set of sensors and said set of actuators. The first processor unit, the second processor unit, and the third processor unit are connected together via asynchronous bi-directional communication channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Campagnolo, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Valentino Campagnolo, Gianfranco Guderzo
  • Patent number: 7197418
    Abstract: A system and method for online configuration of a measurement device for a measurement system. The user accesses a server with a client computer over a network and specifies a desired measurement task. If the user lacks the hardware required to perform the task, hardware specifications and configuration software and/or data specific to the user's application, i.e., to perform the task, are sent to a manufacturer, who pre-configures the hardware with the configuration software and/or data to perform the task and sends the pre-configured hardware to the user. The hardware may be re-configurable hardware, such as a programmable hardware element or processor/memory based device. Configuration software and/or data for configuring the user's measurement system hardware (and/or software) to perform the desired task may also be sent to the user. The configuration software sent to the user may comprise a graphical program usable by the measurement system to perform the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Fuller, III, Michael L. Santori, Brian Sierer, Ganesh Ranganathan, John Pasquarette, Joseph E. Peck, Matthew Novacek, Hugo A. Andrade, Newton Petersen
  • Patent number: 7197364
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a communication component, an integral display operatively connected to the communication component, an operator input component operatively connected to the display and a processing component operatively connected to the communication component, to the display and to the operator input component. The communication component communicates with external electronic devices via a common software interface to send data to and receive data from the devices and to send control signals to the devices to control the operation of the devices. The processing component processes an operator's input to the operator input component and data received by the communication component to formulate the control signals. A method of controlling external electrical components is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian B. Chernoff, Kevin G. Kolpasky
  • Patent number: 7194318
    Abstract: A modular formulation of model predictive controller is proposed by this invention (400). The modular formulation offers a robust model predictive controller with unified method of tuning. Explicit use of material and energy balance provides stable and robust performance (412). Use of economic based tuning offers a unified tuning method (411). The unified tuning method establishes consistency of control actions resulting from the steady state optimization and the dynamic control (400). Further, a method for formulating and tuning integrated optimization and control using multiple modular model predictive controllers is presented in this invention (100). The method incorporates a direct and explicit method of integration of a number of modular model predictive controllers. The integration of the modular controllers is achieved seamlessly without requiring any further tuning adjustments (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Fakhruddin T Attarwala
  • Patent number: 7188004
    Abstract: Quick recovery or recovery support of a faulty power generating facility by real time diagnoses such as facility failure diagnosis, supervision for failure symptoms, facility diagnosis by evaluation of performance using databases between the power generating facilities and an operation control system. The operation control system transfers information on operating status and secular characteristic changes of apparatus from power generating facilities or information from operators of selected power generating facilities. The level of a failure of a power generating facility which has a failure is evaluated and repairing information (e.g. recovery procedures, processes, required parts, inventory of the parts, possible failure causes, etc.) is automatically created from repairing information prepared in advance for each evaluation condition. The repairing information is then sent to the operation supporting section of the power generating facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nagafuchi, Yasushi Iwai, Hiraku Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7187986
    Abstract: An Internet based home communications system for allowing a homeowner to monitor and control various features of their home. The system comprises a plurality of control devices positioned within a home, a control unit in communication with the plurality of control devices wherein the control unit is connected to a global computer network, and a data center connected to the global computer network and in communication with the control unit. The homeowner is capable of monitoring and controlling the control device within the home by accessing a web page displayed by the data center through a web browser on a computer. The homeowner can view, monitor and control features of their home through the web page. In addition, the control unit may notify the appropriate supplier when propane or food becomes low within the home through the global computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Johnson, Dan Schulz, Thor Iverson, Dan Malmstrom
  • Patent number: 7184844
    Abstract: There is provided a central site system for communicating with at least one remote site equipment monitor, the at least one remote site equipment monitor collecting operational data concerning remote site equipment. The central site system includes a data transfer system adapted for receiving the operational data from the at least one remote site equipment monitor. The central site system also includes an operational data access system which receives the operational data from the data transfer system and stores the operational data in a data storage unit of the operational data access system. The central site system also includes a notification distribution system which receives data based on the operational data and distributes the data based on the operational data to a destination according to a predefined schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Dausch, Mark D. Osborn