Fuzzy Inference Processing Patents (Class 706/8)
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Publication number: 20030187697Abstract: A process for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies is described. Based on the similarity to previous insurance applications, a decision on the current request for underwriting may be made. This decision-making process represents an analogical approach to the placement of an insurance application to an underwriting category, whereby a given insurance application request is compared to previous requests.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Piero Patrone Bonissone, Richard Paul Messmer, Dan Yang, Marc Pavese, Angela Neff Patterson, Antonio Mogro-Campero, Anil Varma, William Michael Durham, Diane Marie Russell, Rajesh Venkat Subbu
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Publication number: 20030187699Abstract: A system for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies is described. Various rules are created, along with a degree of satisfaction for each rule. Rules may be directed toward various insurance underwriting components (e.g., cholesterol levels, blood pressure, etc.). Based on the degree of satisfaction for each rule, a component may be assigned to a category. Based on the category for each component, the insurance application may be assigned an underwriting category.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Piero Patrone Bonissone, Richard Paul Messmer, William Michael Durham, Dan Yang, Marc Pavese, Diane Marie Russell
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Publication number: 20030187700Abstract: A process for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies is described. Various rules are created, along with a degree of satisfaction for each rule. Rules may be directed toward various insurance underwriting components (e.g., cholesterol levels, blood pressure, etc.). Based on the degree of satisfaction for each rule, a component may be assigned to a category. Based on the category for each component, the insurance application may be assigned an underwriting category.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Piero Patrone Bonissone, Richard Paul Messmer, William Michael Durham, Dan Yang, Marc Pavese, Diane Marie Russell
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Publication number: 20030187696Abstract: A system for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies is described. based on the similarity to previous insurance applications, a decision on the current request for underwriting may be made this decision-making process represents an analogical approach to the placement of an insurance application to an underwriting category, whereby a given insurance application request is compared to previous requests.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Piero Patrone Bonissone, Richard Paul Messmer, Dan Yang, Marc Pavese, Angela Neff Patterson, Antonio Mogro-Campero, Anil Varma, William Michael Durham, Diane Marie Russell, Rajesh Venkat Subbu
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Publication number: 20030187701Abstract: A robust process for automating the tuning and maintenance of decision-making systems is described. A configurable multi-stage mutation-based evolutionary algorithm optimally tunes the decision thresholds and internal parameters of fuzzy rule-based and case-based systems that decide the risk categories of insurance applications. The tunable parameters have a critical impact on the coverage and accuracy of decision-making, and a reliable method to optimally tune these parameters is critical to the quality of decision-making and maintainability of these systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Piero Patrone Bonissone, Richard Paul Messmer, Angela Neff Patterson, Dan Yang, Marc Pavese, Rajesh Venkat Subbu, Kareem Sherif Aggour
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Publication number: 20030182159Abstract: A process to structure and summarize the key information required by automated decision-making systems for insurance underwriting is described. The automated underwriting system may be based on rules corresponding to underwriting components, wherein based on the degree of satisfaction of each rule, a component may be assigned to a category, and based on the category for each component, the insurance application may be assigned an underwriting category, or the automated underwriting system may be based on an evaluation of the similarity of a given application to previous application requests, to decide an underwriting category. Most of the key information required for automated insurance underwriting is structured and standardized, except for the Attending Physician Statement (APS), which is almost as unique as each individual physician.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2002Publication date: September 25, 2003Inventors: Piero Patrone Bonissone, Richard Paul Messmer, Angela Neff Patterson, Diane Marie Russell, William Michael Durham, Dan Yang, Marc Pavese, David Hjalmar Coburn, Antonio Mogro-Campero, Valerie Annette Merchant, John Anthony Orlando
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Patent number: 6625308Abstract: Embodiments of a fuzzy distinction based thresholding technique for image segmentation are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one signal value level of the image is determined along which to divide a fuzzy histogram, the histogram being based, at least in part, on the image. The signal value represents a value which produces a divided fuzzy histogram with an extreme value of one of distinctiveness and fuzziness based on a measure of multidimensional distance between measurement distributions and their respective complements. The image is then segmented using the at least one signal value.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1999Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tinku Acharya, Ajay K. Ray, A. K. V. Subba Rao
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Patent number: 6597957Abstract: A system for consolidating and sorting event data include a computing platform communicatively coupled to a computer readable medium and a network. The computer readable medium may store an application that includes at least one node mapped into a tree. The at least one node may have a data element reference including a pointer to a data element that includes event data received via the network. In addition, the node may have a row indicator node count, a least child reference, a greatest child reference, a lesser sibling reference, a greatest sibling reference, a parent reference, and a status manager reference.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1999Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan G. Beakley
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Publication number: 20030130968Abstract: An image production method has steps of:Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Hiroshi Kutsumi, Jun Ozawa, Kouji Miura, Satoshi Matsuura, Takeshi Imanaka
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Publication number: 20030126100Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for refining an approximate location of a mobile device using fuzzy logic reasoning. An approximate location of a device is determined. A rule based that comprises an ordered collection of rules is then read read into memory, or loaded from a database. A set of imprecise inputs are captured for processing in the rules. However, prior to processing the inputs in the rules, the inputs are processed to determine a magnitude of participation of the input in the rules. The rules are then applied to the imprecise inputs based on the magnitude of participation to produce a logical product. A refined location is then computed based on the logical product.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2001Publication date: July 3, 2003Applicant: Autodesk, Inc.Inventor: Nemmara Chithambaram
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Patent number: 6578017Abstract: The invention uses fuzzy logic and/or probability distributions to automatically calculate and display the effects of contextual information on the confidence that an object in an image is an object of interest. The goal is to assist in determining the location and type of target objects of interest in that imagery. The imagery can come from any kind of imaging sensor or can be non-sensor imagery (e.g., two-and three-dimensional maps), and can be live or archived imagery. The locations of context objects can be provided by a human or a computer. The resulting set of data, including the original imagery, the locations of context objects, any results from AOD, and predictions about target object type and location, can be combined into a display that helps a human better understand where target object appears in the imagery.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2000Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Information Decision Technologies, LLCInventors: John Franklin Ebersole, John Franklin Ebersole, Jr.
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Patent number: 6571224Abstract: A fuzzy logic based digital color transition improvement method and apparatus for increasing color sharpness by replacing the slow transition color edges with edges that have steeper rising and falling times. Fuzzy logic used here to decide where the transition happens and how to enhance the signal when transition happens. Based on the results of fuzzy logic inference, through weighting among input digital color signal, its N-pixel delayed signal and 2N-pixel delayed signal, the output signal has steep and smooth color edges without ringing.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: NDSP CorporationInventors: Lei He, Hong Min Zhang
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Patent number: 6567795Abstract: Power industry boiler tube failures are a major cause of utility forced outages in the United States, with approximately 41,000 tube failures occurring every year at a cost of $5 billion a year. Accordingly, early tube leak detection and isolation is highly desirable. Early detection allows scheduling of a repair rather than suffering a forced outage, and significantly increases the chance of preventing damage to adjacent tubes. The instant detection scheme starts with identification of boiler tube leak process variables which are divided into universal sensitive variables, local leak sensitive variables, group leak sensitive variables, and subgroup leak sensitive variables, and which may be automatically be obtained using a data driven approach and a leak sensitivity function. One embodiment uses artificial neural networks (ANN) to learn the map between appropriate leak sensitive variables and the leak behavior.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2000Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignees: Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee Valley AuthorityInventors: Ali T. Alouani, Peter S. Chang
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Publication number: 20030078899Abstract: A text categorizer classifies a text object into one or more classes. The text categorizer includes a pre-processing module, a knowledge base, and an approximate reasoning module. The pre-processing module performs feature extraction, feature reduction, and fuzzy set generation to represent an unlabelled text object in terms of one or more fuzzy sets. The approximate reasoning module uses a measured degree of match between the one or more fuzzy set and categories represented by fuzzy rules in the knowledge base to assign labels of those categories that satisfy a selected decision making rule.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2001Publication date: April 24, 2003Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventor: James G. Shanahan
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Patent number: 6553300Abstract: A control system for a harvester or similar implement includes a supervisory controller, a set of low-level controllers and a neuro-fuzzy inference system. The supervisory controller employs human expert knowledge and fuzzy logic. The controller monitors the quality of the harvesting process, such as gain loss, dockage, grain damage and the like. Based on the measurements, setpoints for all critical functional elements of the implement are determined. The neuro-fuzzy inference system determines machine settings according to operating conditions and learns from harvester experience. The parameters of the neuro-fuzzy inference system are stored in on-board memory. The neuro-fuzzy system can be used for harvester set-up and as one of the knowledge sources for repeated adjustments during the harvest.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Xinghan Ma, Karl-Heinz Otto Mertins, Folker Beck
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Publication number: 20030074336Abstract: A method is provided for deriving a near-optimal fuzzy automaton for a given separation problem. The method includes the steps of: forming a first generation population (24) of fuzzy automata, where the first generation population of fuzzy automata includes a plurality of fuzzy automata; performing a mutation operation (28) on each fuzzy automaton in the first generation population of fuzzy automata; reproducing the first generation population of fuzzy automata using a survival of the fittest operation (30, 32, 34); and applying a cross-over operator (36) to the reproduced first generation population of fuzzy automata, thereby yielding a next-generation population of fuzzy automata. A near-optimal fuzzy automaton is identified by evaluating the performance (38) of each fuzzy automaton in the next-generation population; otherwise the methodology is repeated until a near-optimal fuzzy automaton is derived for the given separation problem.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2001Publication date: April 17, 2003Inventors: Duong Nguyen, Scott A. Imhoff, Susan R. Kent
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Publication number: 20030061183Abstract: A recommendation system and method are disclosed. In the system and method, the personal schedule of the user is used to modify the recommendation functions of media events. The personal schedule may be entered by the user or determined through monitoring over time. An exemplary recommendation function modification is if a media event ends after the user's bedtime, as indicated by the personal schedule. In this example, the recommendation function of that event will be reduced in value because the user will likely go to bed before the event is over.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2001Publication date: March 27, 2003Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: J. David Schaffer, Karen I. Trovato, Kaushal Kurapati
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Patent number: 6539365Abstract: An image production method has steps of: a detecting one or more descriptive regions exclusive of a background portion of a manuscript; calculating an image characteristic value of said descriptive region; selecting one from a plurality of previously defined layout patterns based on said determined image characteristic value, the layout pattern including information at least about a position of the descriptive region; and producing an image by laying out an image of said manuscript descriptive region or images of an illustration and said manuscript descriptive region according to the decided layout pattern.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1998Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Kutsumi, Jun Ozawa, Kouji Miura, Satoshi Matsuura, Takeshi Imanaka
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Patent number: 6535864Abstract: A method is provided in a computer system executing a repository program and having a storage means for mapping alterations in system state to rules, both of which are part of an object-oriented model resident in a persistent repository. The method includes storing in the persistent storage means the model comprising a set of rules and a set of facts defining event states, both of which are stored as objects. The set of rules and said set of facts comprise an object-oriented representation of the model. Next, a set of commands representing an extensible inference engine are loaded as meta objects into the persistent storage. The method accepts as inputs events representing alterations in the set of facts. All of the events are retained and the events are mapped to the set of rules for deriving a list of affected rules, which are evaluated to determine if they have been qualified. Only those affected rules determined as qualified are saved for further processing.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1999Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Unisys CorporationInventor: Karl Theodore Zahn
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Patent number: 6526394Abstract: A fuzzy controller (130) for use in target detection systems. The fuzzy controller (130) includes a first circuit (132) for determining a number of false alarms in a frame of data. A second circuit (136) determines a desired number of false alarms for the frame of data. A third circuit (134-152) computes a threshold multiplier factor based on the number of false alarms, the desired number of false alarms, and one or more fuzzy rules. In a specific embodiment, the first circuit (132) includes a target detection system for providing addresses of pixels whose values are within a predetermined range relative to a detection threshold. The second circuit (136) includes an input device (136) for accepting the desired number of false alarms as input to the fuzzy controller (130). The third circuit (138-152) includes a fuzzifier input calculation circuit (134) that computes a fuzzifier input value based on the number of false alarms detected in a frame and the desired number of false alarms.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Todd L. Baker, Timothy E. Caber, Hien T. Dang, Thomas K. Lo, Sheldon S. Wald
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Patent number: 6516305Abstract: Inferring statistical models for performing code compression is disclosed. The system reads a set of training data comprising representative code. Tokens from the training data along with context data known when the token is read is saved to a predictor table. The context data comprises potential predictors for the token. When all training data has been read, a decision tree is created which partitions input code into streams that can be compressed based on the frequency distributions present in the decision tree. The decision tree can be used by a modeler component of a code compression system.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2000Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Christopher W. Fraser
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Publication number: 20030018592Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system for training an on-line fuzzy inference network to generate a rule base, and a rule base generated thereby. Tuning and applying a learning rule to the fuzzy rules generated by the fuzzy inference network in such as manner as to divorce the performance of the network from the number of input dimensions allows the present invention to adapt a fuzzy inference network such as a SONFIN to be effective for the classification of high-dimensional data in problems requiring the use of a high number of dimensions such as occupant recognition in vehicles, weather forecasting, and economic forecasting.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2001Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Narayan Srinivasa, Swarup S. Medasani
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Patent number: 6453206Abstract: A neural network for predicting values in non-linear functional mappings having a single hidden layer function generator (12) and an output layer (40). The single hidden layer function generator (12) is operable to receive one or more mapping inputs (x1) and generate a plurality of terms (14) from each mapping input. The plurality of terms generated by the single hidden layer function generator (12) includes at least one trigonometric term selected from the group comprising sin(x1), sin(2x1), sin(3x1), cos(x1), cos(2xl), cos(3xl), cosec(xl), cotan(xl), and being free of Gaussian and Sigmoidal terms.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1999Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: University of StrathclydeInventors: John James Soraghan, Amir Hussain
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Publication number: 20020120592Abstract: A system provides an order-invariant fuzzy commitment scheme. In an exemplary embodiment, the scheme includes receiving a first set of elements and selecting a polynomial for encoding an item under the first set of elements to generate an order-invariant fuzzy commitment of the item. The system utilizes an error-correcting code for decommiting the item if a second set of elements has a specified level of overlap with the first set of elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2001Publication date: August 29, 2002Inventors: Ari Juels, Madhu Sudan
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Patent number: 6430544Abstract: A fuzzy logic controller system comprising a plurality of fuzzy logic controller units cascadably coupled to one another, each controller having a membership processor for receiving a single input signal corresponding to a sensed parameter from a controlled system and performing fuzzy inference operations based on the input signal for outputting an incremental output signal indicative of a requested change in a controlled output from a current level, a permissions processor for scaling the incremental output signal in response to a fulfillment signal from another controller, a processor responsive to the membership processor and to the permissions processor for providing a fulfillment signal to another controller indicative of a permissible range of freedom for scaling the incremental output signal of the another controller in the cascading sequence, an adder for summing each of the incremental output signals from the plurality of controllers and applying the sum to the controlled output for providing a correType: GrantFiled: August 11, 1998Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Inventor: Ronald Childress
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Patent number: 6424958Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coding and storing fuzzy logic rules, and to a circuit architecture for processing such rules. The method provides for at least one inference rule of the IF/THEN type, having a predetermined number of antecedent parts of fuzzy variables and at least one consequent part, to be dismembered and stored into memory words to allow subsequent processing using logic operators of the AND/OR/NOT type. The coding of rules and variables is effected sequentially. Thus, the occupation of memory locations can be minimized. Specifically, the rules are coded through a multi-word description, such that the number of words coding each rule is a varying number dependent on the number of antecedent parts in the rule.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1997Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Francesco Pappalardo, Liliana Arcidiacono, Biagio Giacalone, Dario Di Bella
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Patent number: 6424957Abstract: Method and apparatus of parallel processing of multiple inference rules organized in fuzzy sets or logical functions of multiple fuzzy sets including membership functions defined in a so-called universe of discourse. The inference rules are configured essentially as IF-THEN rules with at least one antecedent preposition and at least one consequent implication. The prepositions have at least one term of comparison between membership functions and a plurality of input data and each term is separated by logical operators. The method associates with the logical operators maximum and minimum operations among two or more elements and calculates exhaustively the overall degree of truth (&OHgr;) of a rule with a maximum or minimum of N partial truth levels. The method is accomplished by a plurality of identical, parallel inferential processors. Each inferential processor determines a preposition or a partial truth level of a preposition.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel MezzogiornoInventors: Vincenzo Matranga, Biagio Giacalone, Massimo Abruzzese
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Publication number: 20020042783Abstract: A method of operating a fuzzy inference system to simplify a mesh capable of producing a high-quality approximate mesh and retaining good characteristics and appearance so that a good visual effect emerges. The invention utilizes a fuzzy inference system to integrate mesh attributes and estimate the cost in removing certain data, which serve as a criteria for mesh simplification. Hence, the invention is suitable for progressive meshes, multiresolution modeling rendering and progressive transmission on a network.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2000Publication date: April 11, 2002Inventors: Chin-Chen Chang, Kai-Shu Yang, Ding-Zhou Duan, Ming-Fen Lin
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Publication number: 20020023061Abstract: An explicit assumption of continuity is used to generate a fuzzy implication operator, which yields an envelope of possibility for the conclusion. A single fuzzy rule A B entails an infinite set of possible hypothese A′ B′ whose degree of consistency with the original rule is a function of the “distance” between A and A′ and the “distance” between B and B′. This distance may be measured geometrically or by set union/intersection. As the distance between A and A′ increases, the possibility distribution B* spreads further outside B somewhat like a bell curve, corresponding to common sense reasoning about a continuous process. The manner in which this spreading occurs is controlled by parameters encoding assumptions about (a) the maximum possible rate of change of B′ with respect to A′(b) the degree of conservatism or speculativeness desired for the reasoning process (c) the degree to which the process is continuous of chaotic.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2000Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventors: Lorna RuthStrobel Stewart, Johanna Maria Daams, Peter Hendriks
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Publication number: 20010047344Abstract: An intelligent air bag system includes a controller communicating with a sensor suite and the air bag. The controller preferably includes a fuzzy inference engine. The sensor suite includes a plurality of sensors such as weight sensors, acceleration sensors, seat belt activation sensors, and the like. The fuzzy inference engine determines deployment by using a rule base including a multiple of parameters. The decision to deploy the air bag and the strength of the air bag deployment is determined by controller using fuzzy logic to more particularly tailor deployment to present conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2001Publication date: November 29, 2001Inventors: Otman Basir, Fakhri Karray
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Patent number: 6282526Abstract: A fuzzy logic information processing system and method are disclosed that may be used not only with known or definite data input but also with uncertain data input. The uncertain data input may be represented by a set of values wherein the possibility of any particular or specific value within the set being the true or accurate value is uncertain. The preferred embodiment of the system provides for an extensor to extend or map a representation of the uncertain data into at least one additional dimension related to dimensions of a set of rules used for making fuzzy logic inferences. The set of rules may be provided effectively in a mapped or graphed form. The set of rules and uncertain data are combined, for instance by locating intersection regions, to produce an output set that may be also be described as a map or plot. In a presently preferred embodiment the uncertain inputs and rules are represented mathematically or symbolically and then operated on to produce an output set.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1999Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Chidambar Ganesh
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Patent number: 6260030Abstract: The present invention relates to the architecture and implementation of real-time knowledge-based fuzzy controller system for general purpose industrial applications. In another aspect the invention relates to the development of an intelligent system which implements fuzzy decision-making procedure which employs selected membership function values such that all signal values present at the input to the fuzzy controller contribute to the controller output at all times thereby simulating dynamical system behavior. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to the development of a fuzzy inference engine which implements an approximate reasoning method based on employing elected membership function values of input signals such that the number of rules which the controller fires is reduced. In this way the fuzzy controller becomes fast and requires less memory than other designs of fuzzy controllers.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1997Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Inventor: Talib Janabi
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Patent number: 6236905Abstract: A method of and apparatus for providing self-learning correction to the error in positioning movement of a platform in a vehicular wheelchair lift or any moving member of machinery or an equipment. The method includes the steps of programming the platform or moving member to stop at a target position, calculating an error between the programmed target position and an actual stop position of the platform or moving member, and deriving a new target position to stop the platform or moving member based on the calculated error to compensate the overshoot or shortcoming of the actual stop position of the platform or moving member. The apparatus implementing this method may include a programmable control mechanism such as a microprocessor having means for performing the programmed sequential operations.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1999Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: Ricon CorporationInventor: Sean J. Whitmarsh
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Patent number: 6212507Abstract: The fuzzy inference circuit includes a sensor sensing a state of a control object, and a charge coupled device storing fuzzy rule function values for at least one fuzzy rule function. The charge coupled device further performs a fuzzy inference on output of the sensor using the fuzzy rule function values to generate a control signal for controlling the control object.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1997Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sung Hoon Hwang
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Patent number: 6205439Abstract: An adaptive run-time controller is used to adjust the run-time of a fabrication and assembly process simulation model based on inputs generated by outside forces. The run-time controller utilizes fuzzy logic to evaluate the outside forces against existing control rules to determine new simulation run-times based upon this evaluation. The run-time controller then analyzes and adjusts the existing control rules based on current, historical and trend data. The new rules are integrated into the run-time controller to accurately reflect the current status of the fabrication and assembly process for subsequent simulation runs. As such, the run-time controller inputs and evaluates outside forces that were impossible or impracticable to integrate in the simulation model.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Chris D. Gardner
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Patent number: 6192352Abstract: Power industry boiler tube failures are a major cause of utility forced outages in the United States, with approximately 41,000 tube failures occurring every year at a cost of $5 billion a year. Accordingly, early tube leak detection and isolation is highly desirable. Early detection allows scheduling of a repair rather than suffering a forced outage, and significantly increases the chance of preventing damage to adjacent tubes. The instant detection scheme starts with identification of boiler tube leak process variables which are divided into universal sensitive variables, local leak sensitive variables, group leak sensitive variables, and subgroup leak sensitive variables, and which may be automatically be obtained using a data driven approach and a leak sensitivity function. One embodiment uses artificial neural networks (ANN) to learn the map between appropriate leak sensitive variables and the leak behavior.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1998Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignees: Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Technological UniversityInventors: Ali Tahar Alouani, Peter Shih-Yung Chang
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Patent number: 6188998Abstract: In a method, according to the invention, of storing one or more natural membership functions of respectively one or more natural variables being each defined within a natural universe of discourse having a lowest natural value and a highest natural value, the natural membership functions are normalized through respective normalization coefficients so that they are defined within the same predetermined absolute universe of discourse having a lowest absolute value and a highest absolute value, thereby obtaining one or more absolute membership functions, respectively, and said absolute membership functions and said normalization coefficients are stored, taking account that identical absolute membership functions are stored only once.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1997Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignees: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel MezzogiornoInventors: Antonino Cuce', Matteo Lo Presti
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Patent number: 6047275Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling tension of a material on a winder by controlling the torque on the winder using a fuzzy logic controller which automatically determines various material and operating characteristics and adjusts torque as a function of the determined characteristics including material density, spindle inertia, material acceleration and diameter of material accumulated on a spindle.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1997Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLCInventors: Todd R. Jaremko, Zhijun Liu
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Patent number: 6011464Abstract: In a method for frequency analysis of a signal of a hazard detector, wavelet transformation is combined with fuzzy logic analysis. In the transformation, based on orthonormal or semi-orthonormal wavelets, an original signal is fed to a multi-stage filter cascade of pairs of high-pass/low-pass filters. From the output of the high-pass filter, wavelet coefficients and values of the original signal, each filter stage produces an association function. The functions are normalized and analyzed further in accordance with fuzzy logic rules. The method is particularly suitable for analyzing signals from flame detectors, noise detectors and the like. As processor code for transformation and analysis is kept short, high speed and accuracy are achieved at low cost.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1998Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Cerberus AGInventor: Marc Pierre Thuillard
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Patent number: 5988848Abstract: In a method and arrangement for adapting a sliding mode fuzzy controller to destabilizing changes, control characteristics of the sliding mode fuzzy controller, a closed control loop, are characterized by linguistic variables and are interpreted using linguistic rules in an adaptation block in the control loop which also employs fuzzy control. The rules are configured such that an optimally fast approach of a momentary state condition to the switching line or switching surface of the sliding controller occurs. For adaptation, supporting points are defined in the characteristic of the sliding mode fuzzy controller and these are shifted for the purpose of a desired control behavior, such as by variation of the output fuzzy sets. A separate fuzzy rule set is thus designed for each individual support point.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Ralph Berstecher, Rainer Palm
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Patent number: 5988844Abstract: A method is disclosed for arranging or adapting a fuzzy controller or of a system of interlinked fuzzy controllers having at least two input variables and an output variable which controller or system has input membership functions with which truth values of linguistic values for the input variables are determined, and has a control mechanism in which truth values for the output variable are determined from the truth values for the input variable and has output membership functions with which the values of the output variable are determined from the truth values for the output variable. Pursuant to the method, value ranges are defined for the input variables and a number of classes are determined over the value ranges. Subsequently, in a learning phase, value combinations of the input variables and of the output variable are recorded data set by data set. The defined classes are altered, removed and/or new classes are generated as a function of the registered value combinations.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Klaus Timm, Ralf Bergholz, Hubert Weisser
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Patent number: 5940814Abstract: A multi-mode oriented polynomial transformation based defuzzification strategy uses a Kalman filter in a parameter leaning procedure defuzzification application where two or more distinct possibility peaks exist in its membership function distribution.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: NEC Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Tao Jiang, Yao Li
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Patent number: 5926802Abstract: A method is provided in which several rules having an identical conditional part and different consequence parts are processed more quickly in that the fuzzification and at least parts of the inference formation are carried out only once, and in which the storage capacity of a knowledge base memory can be reduced, since all identical conditional parts need be stored only once.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1996Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Manfred Menke
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Patent number: 5924085Abstract: An artificial intelligence system is provided which makes use of a dual subroutine to adapt weights. Elastic Fuzzy Logic ("ELF") System is provided in which classical neural network learning techniques are combined with fuzzy logic techniques in order to accomplish artificial intelligence tasks such as pattern recognition, expert cloning and trajectory control. The system may be implemented in a computer provided with multiplier means and storage means for storing a vector of weights to be used as multiplier factors in an apparatus for fuzzy control.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Inventor: Paul J. Werbos
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Patent number: 5918221Abstract: The analog processor can carry out processings independently of the operating temperature and process parameters, in a reliable manner and at high performance levels using fairly simple circuitry. To achieve this independence, the processor is basically implemented and integrated with MOS transistors, has both voltage inputs and outputs, and includes a biasing section which supplies voltage bias signals, of which at least one is substantially the sum of a voltage proportional to the threshold voltage of the MOS transistors and a reference voltage. This reference voltage can be extracted from a reference potential which is stable to temperature and process parameters, for example that produced by a bandgap type of generator. A major feature of the processor according to the invention is the linearity of its input-output characteristic relative to that reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1996Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: STMicroelectronics, S.r.l.Inventors: Nicolo Manaresi, Eleonora Franchi, Dario Bruno, Rinaldo Poluzzi
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Patent number: 5915247Abstract: A method for storing a membership function, include storing a position of a vertex of a triangle that defines the membership function in a universe of discourse and storing a first distance between the position of the vertex a point of intersection between a left side of the triangle and an axis of the universe of discourse. Further, the method includes storing a second distance between the position of the vertex and point of intersection between right side of the triangle and the axis of the universe of discourse. The present invention furthermore relates to a circuit for calculating a grade of membership of an antecedent of a fuzzy rule, and is adapted to fuzzyfy an input variable by adopting the geometric proportions that occur between homologous sides of similar triangles defined by the position of the input value in the universe of discourse.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: June 22, 1999Assignee: Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel MezzogiornoInventors: Francesco Pappalardo, Vincenzo Matranga, Davide Tesi, Dario Di Bella
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Patent number: 5905978Abstract: A memory utilization value indicative of memory utilization associated with a data channel is received. A queue depth value indicative of the queue depth of messages located within a message queue maintained by the data channel is also received. A fuzzy logic design is executed with the memory utilization value in the queue depth value used as input parameters. A crisp value is then generated which corresponds to a window size of the data channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1996Date of Patent: May 18, 1999Assignee: Unisys CorporationInventors: John H. Smith, Gerard O'Brien
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Patent number: 5895458Abstract: In a fuzzy control apparatus in which a rule is capable of being changed during operation, a fuzzy reasoning output which prevails immediately prior to a rule change is stored when a rule change is made, and a fuzzy-control output is generated by combining, after the rule change, the stored fuzzy reasoning output which prevailed immediately prior to the rule change and a fuzzy reasoning output which prevails following the rule change. The ratio of the combination is altered in such a manner that, with the passage of time from the moment at which the rule change is made, there is a gradual decrease in a percentage of the fuzzy reasoning output which prevailed immediately prior to the rule change, and a gradual increase in a percentage of the fuzzy reasoning output which prevails following the rule change, in the fuzzy-control output.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1997Date of Patent: April 20, 1999Assignee: Omron CorporationInventors: Hajime Nishidai, Nobutomo Matsunaga
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Patent number: 5875438Abstract: A method for storing a membership function, include storing a position of a vertex of a triangle that defines the membership function in a universe of discourse and storing a first distance between the position of the vertex a point of intersection between a left side of the triangle and an axis of the universe of discourse. Further, the method includes storing a second distance between the position of the vertex and point of intersection between right side of the triangle and the axis of the universe of discourse. The present invention furthermore relates to a circuit for calculating a grade of membership of an antecedent of a fuzzy rule, and is adapted to fuzzify an input variable by adopting the geometric proportions that occur between homologous sides of similar triangles defined by the position of the input value in the universe of discourse.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1996Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel MezzogiornoInventors: Francesco Pappalardo, Vincenzo Matranga, Davide Tesi, Dario Di Bella
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Patent number: 5826251Abstract: A dual-line system of controlling or monitoring processes or industrial plants employing a dual-line fuzzy unit is presented in which due allowance can be made for both positive and negative rules. These are rules issuing "positive recommendations" and "warnings" or "prohibitions" for the selection of the values of the output variables for the fuzzy unit. The dual-line system enables logical compromises to be made between these "recommendations" and "warnings" or "prohibitions". Along with the possibility of drawing on positive empirical knowledge, use of this dual-line system also creates the possibility of utilizing negative empirical knowledge with the same degree of transparency with which positive empirical knowledge has previously been used in conventional fuzzy units. The warnings serve to protect the plant or resources or to prevent undesirable control behavior. The inclusion of warnings or, more especially, prohibitions is also of interest for warranties of operational reliability.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1995Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Inventor: Harro Kiendl