Patents Examined by John Nguyen
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Patent number: 8060262Abstract: An airport lighting aid simulation system comprises a data storage unit configured to store lighting aid data relating to a plurality of airports. The lighting aid data indicates a type and a location of an airport lighting aid at a runway at each airport. The system also includes a display unit and a processing unit operatively connected to both the data storage device and the display unit. The processing unit is configured to receive an input signal indicative of a target runway, to retrieve a sub-set of the lighting aid data from the data storage unit, the sub-set being indicative of a target runway lighting aid, and to control the display unit to display a target runway description. The system enables a pilot to determine whether a visible runway is the target runway by comparing a view from an aircraft as the aircraft approaches the visible runway with the target runway description.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Roger W. Burgin, Blake Wilson
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Patent number: 8060289Abstract: A vehicle driving assist system is provided that calculates the risk potential of the host vehicle with respect to a preceding object existing in front of a host vehicle. A first driving assistance control system controls at least one of an actuation reaction force exerted by a driver-operated driving operation device and a braking/driving force exerted against the host vehicle based on the calculated risk potential. A second driving assistance control system configured to control the braking/driving force of the host vehicle such that at least one of a host vehicle speed and a headway distance between the host vehicle and the obstacle is maintained. An operating state reporting section reports an operating state of the first driving assistance control system based on an operating state of the second driving assistance control system, the risk potential, and an accelerator pedal actuation state.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhiko Takae, Akira Onozuka
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Patent number: 8055444Abstract: A user interface for navigating and viewing content is described. In one example, the apparatus includes display logic for displaying at least two content properties, wherein each of the content properties is associated with additional content (e.g., an application, service, media object, or combinations thereof). Further, the apparatus includes selection logic for displaying the content associated with the content properties in response to selections thereof, and the content associated with each content property is displayed in a common (or reusable) display space of the interface. As different content properties are selected, the content displayed within the display space is replaced (e.g., through animation) according to the associated content of the newly selected content properties.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2006Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Brian Salay, Tapan V. Bhat, Brian F. Buschmann, Keara Fallon, Hillman Curtis
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Patent number: 8055382Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and medium for estimating a pose of a moving robot using a particle filter.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyeon Myeong, Seok-won Bang, Dong-geon Kong, Su-jinn Lee
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Patent number: 8050817Abstract: In one example, a network device stores a mapping of application operation modes to vehicle conditions such as a first condition of the vehicle powered but not moving and a second condition of the vehicle moving. The network device receives a wirelessly transmitted request for a particular application to utilize an interface powered by the vehicle. The network device compares an application identifier specified by the received request to the mapping. The network device then identifies a portion of the vehicle interface according to the comparison and signals control software on the vehicle to grant the particular application access to only the identified portion of the vehicle interface itself. The application can reside on the mobile device and utilize the vehicle interface as an extended interface, or the application can reside on the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Airbiquity Inc.Inventors: Kamyar Moinzadeh, Leon L. Hong, Lee Zhao
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Patent number: 8050858Abstract: In a vehicle-mounted navigation system, an operating unit that operates the driver's seat side image and an operating unit that operates the passenger's seat side image had to be provided separately, which increased the number of operation buttons and the size of the navigation system device. In a vehicle-mounted navigation system that displays images in multiple directions, an operating direction detector detects which direction an operation was performed from, and a controller controls the vehicle-mounted navigation system based on a detection result of the operating direction detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Mashitani, Hideyuki Kanayama
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Patent number: 8050807Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vertical motion detection of objects, such as aircraft. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving altitude data for an object, determining a residual of a lag function, wherein the lag function comprises a moving average of the altitude data for the object, and wherein the residual corresponds to a difference between a value for the lag function and the object altitude data at a given time such that the residual grows in magnitude over time in response to the object transitioning from level flight to vertical motion, detecting vertical motion of the object by comparing a sum of data derived from the residuals against a threshold value, and outputting a vertical motion indicator after detecting the vertical motion of the object.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Dan Varon
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Patent number: 8050815Abstract: A method for selectively monitoring one or more vehicle systems is disclosed. The method includes recognizing, at the vehicle, an activation device that is configured to trigger predetermined setting(s) for the one or more vehicle systems. The telematics unit transmits to a secure server a signal indicative of the fact that the activation device is in use. Access to the secure server for monitoring the one or more vehicle systems via an Internet-enabled program is selectively enabled. A system for monitoring one or more vehicle systems is also disclosed. Further, a method for controlling vehicle system parameters is disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignees: General Motors LLC, GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jeffrey W. Perry, Anne Ginn
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Patent number: 8046102Abstract: A synchronous high speed motion stop for a series of multi-top loaders residing on ānā controllers on one rail achieves effective detection of the servo-error status and shut off of the trailing controller's servo power within 3 ITP time. The control method reduces the unnecessary error recovery because it only shuts off its immediate trailing controller without aborting its leading controller, allowing the leading controller to complete the cycle tasks. The cascade control method produces a synchronous high-speed motion stop for the robots across the controllers and effectively prevents the collision between the robots.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Fanuc Robotics America, Inc.Inventors: Jianming Tao, H. Dean McGee, Chi-Keng Tsai, Ho Cheung Wong, Ian Orr, Richard Motley
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Patent number: 8044624Abstract: A load control apparatus outputs a PWM signal to a switching element to control a load. The switching element is connected between a power supply and a grand in series with the load. An abnormal increase detecting unit outputs an abnormal increase detection signal when detecting abnormal increase in applied voltage, which is applied to the load, relative to target voltage. An abnormal decrease detecting unit outputs an abnormal decrease detection signal when detecting abnormal decrease in the applied voltage relative to the target voltage. An operating state monitoring unit outputs a normally operating signal when the load normally operates. A signal combining unit generates a combined signal by combining the abnormal increase detection signal, the abnormal decrease detection signal, and the normally operating signal and outputs the combined signal via a common signal output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yosuke Matsuo, Shigeru Takeuchi, Taketoshi Sato
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Patent number: 8046124Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a road surface condition detection portion, a slip determination portion, a torque reduction device, and a voltage control device. The electric vehicle includes a motor that generates drive power for the electric vehicle, and a drive device that drives the motor. The road surface condition detection portion detects the condition of a road surface on which the electric vehicle is driven. The slip determination portion determines whether the electric vehicle is slipping. The torque reduction device reduces the torque of the motor when the slip determination portion determines that the electric vehicle is slipping. The voltage control device controls a voltage input to the drive device to reduce the voltage when the road surface condition detection portion determines that the road surface has a friction coefficient lower than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Koichiro Muta, Ippei Nagao
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Patent number: 8019530Abstract: A method of judging the load distribution of a vehicle without providing a specific load sensor on a vehicle is characterized in that the load distribution by the every wheel of a vehicle or the load distribution by every axle is judged by comparing the result of comparing the calculation value of the rotational speeds of wheels in the predetermined two combinations of wheels with the result of comparing the calculation value of the rotational speeds of wheels in the fore-mentioned predetermined two combinations of wheels at a predetermined load when the vehicle is under brakeage.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2005Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Masashi Kitano
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Patent number: 8013724Abstract: A tire-pressure control apparatus includes time calculation means for calculating an up time over which the tire pressure of each wheel increases from a lower limit set value to an upper limit set value and a down time over which the tire pressure of the wheel decreases from the upper limit set value to the lower limit set value, on the basis of the detection value of a corresponding pressure sensor; average-rotational-speed calculation means for calculating an average rotational speed of the wheel during the up time on the basis of the detection value of a corresponding wheel speed sensor; first-pump-supplied-air-quantity calculation means (403) for calculating a first pump-supplied air quantity Qvw* of a corresponding air pressure generation unit in a single generation and non-generation cycle on the basis of the up time and the average rotational speed; second-pump-supplied-air-quantity calculation means (404) for calculating a second pump-supplied air quantity Qp* of the air pressure generation unit in aType: GrantFiled: August 10, 2007Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Isono
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Patent number: 8000874Abstract: A vehicle headway maintenance assist system is configured to perform a haptic notification control of an accelerator to prompt the driver to release the accelerator when the accelerator is being operated and to perform a deceleration control of the vehicle based on headway distance when the accelerator is being operated as long as the headway distance from a preceding vehicle is less than a prescribed headway distance threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Tange, Kenichi Egawa, Yosuke Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7053710Abstract: A vacuum tube amplifier is formed of a vacuum tube having a cathode, a plate, a grid, and a heater to radiate electrons from the cathode. An input signal is supplied to the plate, an output signal is obtained at the grid, and a predetermined low voltage is supplied to the heater. The voltage supplied to the heater can be low, thereby significantly decreasing an overall consumption of electric power for the vacuum tube amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Korg, Inc.Inventor: Fumio Mieda
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Patent number: 7038606Abstract: An audio signal reproduction device of the invention has a seventh-order delta-sigma modulation circuit that receives a PCM signal and that performs delta-sigma modulation on the PCM signal, a PWM circuit that performs pulse width modulation on the signal outputted from the seventh-order delta-sigma modulation circuit to produce a one-bit digital signal, a switching amplifier that converts the one-bit digital signal into an analog signal and that then amplifies it, and a low-pass filter that eliminates high-frequency components of the analog signal. This configuration permits size and weight reduction.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsunehiko Hongoh, Hirotoshi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7026973Abstract: An electronic device with multiple buttons includes a first resistor combination, a second resistor combination, N buttons, and an output node. A first end of the first resistor combination is connected to a high voltage. A second end of the first resistor combination is connected to a third end of the second resistor combination. A fourth end of the second resistor combination is connected to a low voltage. The first resistor combination has p serially connected resistors, and the second resistor combination has q serially connected resistors. The sum of p and q equals M, a positive integer equal to or large than 3. Each button is connected in parallel with at least one resistor. The output node is deposited between the first and the second resistor combinations. The output node outputs an analog signal whose voltage corresponds to the states of the buttons.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Benq CorporationInventor: Yao-Wen Chu
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Patent number: 7023363Abstract: An encoder system includes an encoding medium having a plurality of encoder target portions alternating with a plurality of encoder window portions. A sensor is movable in relation to the encoding medium. A signal source provides an electronic drive signal to the sensor and sensor electronics coupled to the sensor sense an electrical characteristic of the code strip to determine whether the sensor is next to an encoder target portion or is next to an encoder window portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Inventors: Saiful Bahari Saidan, Seela Raj Rajaiah
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Patent number: 6933863Abstract: A process for transmitting data on a bus, minimizing the switching activity, involves converting the data between a first format and a second format used for transmission of the data. The conversion between said first format and said second format entails the swapping of position of respective bits within a cluster comprising a given number of bits, the swap operation being implementable according to different variants, the maximum number of said variants being equal to the factorial of the aforesaid given number. Each of said variants is identified by a respective pattern. Among the aforesaid patterns, an optimal pattern is selected which minimizes the switching activity at the moment of transmission of data on the bus. The data are then transmitted on the bus using the second format generated using said optimal pattern.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Giuseppe Visalli, Francesco Pappalardo
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Patent number: 6836225Abstract: A fast search method for searching for an optimum codeword for nearest neighbor vector quantization. An upper boundary value and a lower boundary value between which an optimum codeword will exist in a codebook are calculated using a distortion of a designated element in an input vector and an experimentally determined threshold. Further, a start point and an end point for codebook search are determined using a binary search method from a codebook rearranged in descending order, and a full search scheme is applied only within a search range calculated by the determined start point and end point, thereby determining an optimum codeword for nearest neighbor vector quantization.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2003Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nam-Il Lee, Yong-Serk Kim, Seong-Kyu Hwang, Sang-Won Kang, Sang-Hyun Chi