Paceco Corp.

Hki Systems and Service LLC

Other

Applied Core Technologies, Inc.

Applied Core Technology, Inc.

Hki Systems and Services LLC

Toru Takehara

Henry S King

Sun Huan Huang

Philip Alexander Tam

Hans G Vosskamp

Kinya Ichimura

Maxwell W King

Shinichi Takada

Chingyei Chung

Thomas Ng

Tatsushi Takahara

Chingyel Chung

Hans C Vosskamp

A mechanism and method for making status reporting devices for container handlers, including: providing a micro-controller module, and installing a program system into memory accessed by a computer directing the micro-controller module. The micro-controller module communicatively couples with means for wirelessly communicating and for sensing a state of the container handler. Means for wirelessly communicating may include means for wirelessly determining container handler location. The micro-controller module may be communicatively coupled to a separate means for determining location. An apparatus making the devices may include a second program system directing the invention's method through a second computer, which may control an assembly device in creating the micro-controller, coupled with the means for sensing and for wirelessly communicating.

Method and apparatus for making status reporting devices for container handlers

Methods and several apparatus embodiments are disclosed operating Optical Characteristic Systems (OCS) in a container storage and/or transfer yard supporting the automated recognition of container codes displayed on various sides of the containers being stored and/or transferred. At least one processor may initiate an operational process by an OCS mounted on a container handler to create an operational result, select the operational process based upon an operational schedule and communicate with at least one OCS to receive an image of a container being handled by the container handler to at least partly create a container code estimate for a container inventory management system. A program system directing at least one computer implementing these operations, and may reside in computer readable memory, an installation package and/or a download server. The computer readable memory may or may not be accessibly coupled to the computer.

Method and apparatus for operating, interfacing and/or managing for at least one optical characteristic system for container handlers in a container yard

A safety device is disclosed for a gantry crane configured to lift containers from a truck driven chassis. The safety device estimates truck movement when the gantry crane lifts the container and sends an alert to avert lifting the truck when the container fails to decouple from the chassis. Motion sensors are disclosed that are configured to coupled to a trolley of a gantry crane and used to create an estimate of the front or back region near a container being lifted. A processor may use the motion sensor signals to avert lifting the truck and/or to avert an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system reporting a container identification failure when a hatch cover is lifted off of a ship. In various embodiments, the processor may be included in the safety device and/or in the OCR system.

Crane safety device for preventing truck jostling and/or hatch cover detection

A processor is disclosed that may be configured to receive a status report for a vehicle in a container yard and/or a status reporting device configured to monitor the vehicle. The processor may respond to the received status report by creating a system action request and/or a system log. The system action request may include a fault condition problem report and/or a maintenance schedule request for the vehicle and/or the status reporting device. The processor automates generating responses to the received status reports, providing a fundamental tool to reduce down time for vehicles and improve their support of container transfer operations in the container yard. The system action request, system log and/or system action may be products of the processor's operation. A computer readable memory and/or a server may be configured to deliver a report, program system and/or an installation package to the end user.

Equipment maintenance and monitoring for container yards

Methods for measuring insulation resistance in a photovoltaic (PV) array may include partitioning the PV array into groups of PV panels, isolating a group of PV panels selected for an insulation resistance measurement from other groups of panels by setting bypass selectors on each PV panel in the PV array, and making an insulation resistance measurement for the selected group. If a measured value of insulation resistance for a selected group corresponds to an insulation problem in a PV array component, a separate measurement of insulation resistance may be made for each PV panel in the selected group. Insulation resistance measurements may be made accurately and rapidly for large PV arrays without disconnecting and reconnecting cables between panels. Measurements may be made at frequent, regular intervals to permit changes in insulation resistance to be detected before damage from dielectric breakdown occurs.

Measurement of insulation resistance of configurable photovoltaic panels in a photovoltaic array

An optical characteristic system configured to couple to a container handler for transferring a container to/from a rail car. A server interface configured to receive from at least one container handler. An optical characteristic system configured to couple to a front end loader. A container handler configured to transfer at least one container to/from a rail car and to report its container image, optical characteristic, container code estimate of the container, a rail car identifier estimate and/or a container chassis identifier estimate. A rail kiosk configured to receive the container image, etc from at least one container handler to create the optical characteristic, the container code estimate, manifest for the rail car, confirmation of the manifest and/or an insurance record for the container. A method operating at least one of the server interface, the rail kiosk and a container inventory management system and the products of those operations.

Method and apparatus processing container images and/or identifying codes for front end loaders or container handlers servicing rail cars

A cargo container handling cart and system comprises a plurality of cargo container handling carts, each cart comprising a framesupported on wheels, the frame having two support surfacesand at least one centrally disposed container guide, each support surface having two cart pins, and a cart end edge, the support surfacebounded by the container guideand the cart end edgefor supporting the end of a cargo container, wherein the support surfacehas a width substantially equivalent to a standard cargo container, the container guideabuts a container end resting on one of the support surfaces, and the cart pinsextend upwardly from the support surfacebetween the container guideand the cart end edgefor engaging with the corner casting holes of the corner fittings of the container end for holding the container end on the support surfaceagainst the container guide

Cargo container handling cart and system using same

Embodiments of a network topology for monitoring and controlling an array of solar panels include an intelligent node adapted to send and receive data and commands by at least two redundant means of communication. An intelligent node includes a solar panel, a node controller, a photovoltaic module, a bypass relay, a bypass bus, PLC and wireless communication interfaces for redundant means of communication, and sensor and actuator interfaces for monitoring and controlling the intelligent node. A PV module in the intelligent node may selectively be bypassed without interrupting network communications. Some embodiments include a plurality of intelligent nodes electrically connected serially into a chain of nodes and further connected to a gateway. Other embodiments include a plurality of chains of nodes connected to an inverter and a transformer, thereby defining an area. Additional embodiments further include a central server in communication with a plurality of areas.

Network topology for monitoring and controlling a solar panel array

A photovoltaic (PV) panel monitoring apparatus includes a monitoring module for measuring parameter values related to PV panel output, comparing measured values against minimum and maximum values saved in the monitoring module, and outputting an alarm signal when a measured value is outside a range defined by the minimum and maximum values. An alarm signal causes a visual indicator to activate and an audible indicator to sound, thereby assisting maintenance personnel in locating a PV panel with an out-of-range parameter value. The monitoring module further includes a PV panel identification memory for saving an identification code for each PV panel in a PV array. The identification code is transmitted with time, date, and parameter data when the monitoring module detects an out-of-range parameter value. Data may optionally be transmitted from the monitoring module through a communications input/output port or through a wireless transmitter to an external monitoring and control system.

Growing community of inventors

Foster City, CA, United States of America

Toru Takehara