Patents Examined by Ronnie Mancho
-
Patent number: 8930020Abstract: A robot control apparatus includes a scenario acquiring unit acquiring a scenario in which a plurality of instructions, each occupying at least one entity that performs an operation, the at least one entity of a plurality of resources containing a plurality of entities that perform operations as different resources, are arranged in a serial execution order; an instruction queue generating unit generating an instruction queue for each resource, the instruction queue in which the instructions which have not been executed yet and occupy the resource are arranged in the execution order described in the scenario; and an instruction executing unit making a robot execute the plurality of instructions in parallel, the instructions each being first in the execution order in the instruction queues corresponding to all of the resources to be occupied.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Makoto Ouchi
-
Patent number: 8924149Abstract: An outdoor-to-indoor (and vise versa) navigation system guides a traveler (30) to an interior point of interest (POI, 28) inside a three-dimensional structure (16) using a navigation device (10). When the traveler (30) reaches the destination (16) address, a 3D model of the destination object (16) is rendered on a display screen (12) and subsequent navigation assistance is rendered in relation to attributed features associated with the 3D model. Initial directional cues (33) associated with the 3D model guide the traveler (30) in relation to externally discernable POIs and toward an exterior portal POI (24). When the current position of the navigation device (10) generally coincides with the exterior portal POI (24), a set of final directional cues (35) are rendered which lead the traveler (30) in relation to internally discernable POIs to an interior feature POI (28). 3D navigation attributes may be associated with various POIs and used in the 3D portion of the navigation routing program.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: TomTom Belgium N.V.Inventor: Sven Coppens
-
Patent number: 8924009Abstract: A haptic device for telerobotic surgery, including a base; a linkage system having first and second linkage members coupled to the base; a motor that provides a motor force; a transmission including first and second driving pulleys arranged such that their faces form an angle and their axes form a plane, first and second idler pulleys offset from the plane and arranged between the first and second driving pulleys such that their axes divide the angle between the first and second driving pulleys, and a cable that traverses the first and second driving pulleys and the set of idler pulleys and transfers the motor force to the linkage system; an end effector coupled to distal ends of the first and second linkage members and maneuverable relative to the base; and a controller that modulates the motor force to simulate a body part at a point portion of the end effector.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Sandia CorporationInventors: Curt Salisbury, J. Kenneth Salisbury, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8924049Abstract: A method includes determining an operational parameter of a first vehicle traveling with a plurality of vehicles in a transportation network and/or a route in the transportation network, identifying a failure condition of the first vehicle and/or the route based on the operational parameter, obtaining plural different sets of remedial actions that dictate operations to be taken based on the operational parameter, simulating travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network based on implementation of the different sets of remedial actions, determining potential consequences on travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network when the different sets of remedial actions are implemented in the travel that is simulated, and based on the potential consequences, receiving a selection of at least one of the different sets of remedial actions to be implemented in actual travel of the plurality of vehicles in the transportation network.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Paul K. Houpt, Stephen S. Mathe, Paul M. Julich, Jeffrey Kisak, Glenn Shaffer, Scott D. Nelson, Wolfgang Daum
-
Patent number: 8918278Abstract: A method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with the oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of the variety of sources; (d) calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value for each oriented road section of said oriented road section network using the prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each source, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each source; (e) fusing the partial current traffic situation picture associated with each source, for generating a single coType: GrantFiled: November 8, 2005Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Inrix Global Services LimitedInventors: Israel Feldman, Arie Trinker, Yochai Meltzer, Allon Eshpar, Amnon Lotem
-
Patent number: 8914223Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for controlling a vehicle with a hybrid drive, wherein during the driving mode an internal combustion engine (1) and a second drive unit (12) contribute individually or in tandem to the drive torque of the vehicle. In a method for controlling a vehicle with a hybrid drive, according to which the toxic emissions are kept to the minimum level possible, the control and regulation behaviour of the internal combustion engine (1) is set in accordance with the operating mode of the second drive unit (12).Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Markus Hernier, Andreas Greis
-
Patent number: 8914235Abstract: A system and method for location detection is disclosed. The system and method may derive estimates of a user's location by interfacing with other sources of location data. In one aspect of the invention, a client device may determine the user's location by using locally configured location services. The client device may also query a remote server that contains recent geolocation data of the user. Both the local and remote estimates may be presented to a user. The user may also be allowed to select the location that most accurately represents the user's current location.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Olga Wichrowska, Aleksandr V. Kennberg
-
Patent number: 8909426Abstract: A vehicle has a trailer backup steering input apparatus, a trailer backup assist control module coupled to the a trailer backup steering input apparatus, and an electric power assist steering system coupled to the trailer backup assist control module and. The trailer backup steering input apparatus is configured for outputting a trailer path curvature signal approximating a desired curvature for a path of travel of a trailer towably coupled to the vehicle. The trailer backup assist control module is configured for determining vehicle steering information as a function of the trailer path curvature signa. The electric power assist steering system is configured for controlling steering of steered wheels of the vehicle as a function of the vehicle steering information.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, The Regents of The University of MichiganInventors: Douglas Scott Rhode, David Dean Smit, Erick Michael Lavoie, Martin Fitzpatrick Frey, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Taehyun Shim, Matt Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley
-
Patent number: 8909376Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling a robot hand similar to a hand of a human being such that the robot hand naturally and safely grasps an object. The robot hand, including fingers and a palm, is capable of naturally and safely grasping an object, by the tip of each finger performing impedance control while following the optimal path on a Cartesian coordinate system, although the robot hand cannot reach a position ideal to grasp the object due to sensor errors or shape information of the object to be grasped is not correctly recognized. Also, the robot hand is capable of stably grasping the object even when moving or manipulating the object.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kyung Won Moon, Hyun Kyu Kim, Jong Do Choi
-
Patent number: 8892356Abstract: A method and system for representing traffic control signals in a road network database is provided. The database may include lane-level modeling, intersection modeling, and traffic signal modeling of a road network. An individual traffic signal is represented in the database with data indicating the traffic signal's geographic location and other attributes of the traffic signal such as an arrangement of lenses in the signal, an indication as to whether the signal is vertically or horizontally oriented, a height of the traffic signal over the roadway, and others. The database can be used by a system in a vehicle that provides convenience features to the vehicle's driver. The system may attempt to warn or control a vehicle that is determined to be at imminent risk of violating a traffic signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Inventors: Michael Weiland, Gregory Nyczak, William McDonough, Michael Tsengouras, David Shuman, Paul Ford
-
Patent number: 8888046Abstract: A computer implemented fuel management method and system for monitoring and minimizing a fuel consumption of an aircraft. The fuel management system and method determines, on the basis of model assumptions, a theoretical value relating to the quantity of fuel that is necessary for travelling along at least one sector of a flight route. Furthermore, the fuel management system and method determine a practical value relating to a quantity of fuel that is necessary for travelling along the same sector of the flight route, taking into account actual measured values. Moreover, the system and method compare the theoretical value with the practical value and to provide at least one measure in order to save fuel during a flight when the practical value differs from the theoretical value by a predeterminable amount.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbHInventor: Joerg Cremers
-
Patent number: 8892360Abstract: A method of generating a suggested navigation route with a portable electronic device includes presenting a map to a user on a touch-sensitive screen of the portable electronic device, and receiving touch input from a user stroking the touch-sensitive screen from a touch-down location corresponding to a starting point on the map to a release location corresponding to an ending point on the map for indicating a location of a preferred route, the preferred route beginning with the starting point and finishing with the ending point. The method further includes generating the suggested navigation route by selecting streets for the suggested navigation route according to the preferred route in order to closely approximate the preferred route, presenting the suggested navigation route to the user on the touch-sensitive screen, and providing navigation assistance to the user for guiding the user along the suggested navigation route.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Mitac International Corp.Inventor: Takuya Otani
-
Patent number: 8886403Abstract: A suspension system and a method for controlling a suspension system for a muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicle having a damper device with a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber coupled with one another via a controllable damping valve. A sensor is provided for capturing data about a current operational state. An electric control device and a data storage device for controlling the damper device are provided, such that at least one damping characteristic of the damper device can be influenced by a signal from the control device. The control device is configured and organized to provide a teaching mode in which route-related data are stored in the memory. The control device is furthermore configured and organized to provide a repeat mode in which the damper device is controlled according to the route-related data stored in the memory device.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: DT Swiss, Inc.Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Gernot Elsensohn, Jürgen Pösel
-
Patent number: 8886428Abstract: An unlocking controller is provided for an irreversible rotary transmission system having the irreversible rotary transmission system having an irreversible rotation transmission element arranged between an input shaft and an output shaft. The unlocking controller includes an input shaft rotation direction determination section and an unlocking torque setting section. The input shaft rotation direction determination section determines whether an input shaft rotational direction is the same as, or opposite to, a direction of the load torque of the output shaft. The unlocking torque setting section conducts an unlocking torque control that sets the unlocking torque a higher value when the input shaft rotational direction and the direction of the load torque of the output shaft are the same as while the lock is released, than when the input shaft rotational direction is opposite to the direction of the direction of the load torque of the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Mori, Yutaka Kaneko
-
Patent number: 8874268Abstract: Provided is a robot cleaner, and more particularly to a robot cleaner which detest whether a foreign material storage unit is separated. The robot cleaner includes a main body including a suction motor, a foreign material storage unit separably disposed within the main body, the foreign material storage unit storing foreign materials contained in sucked air, a foreign material cover for selectively shielding one side of the foreign material storage unit, and a detection unit for detecting whether the foreign material cover is opened.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2009Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Bong-Ju Kim, In-Bo Shim, Ji-Hoon Sung, Byung-Doo Yim, Sung-Guen Kim
-
Patent number: 8874258Abstract: A method of transporting a substrate with a substrate support, the method includes defining a frictional breakaway force between the substrate and the substrate support in a horizontal plane, moving the substrate in the horizontal plane along a horizontal trajectory, moving the substrate in a vertical direction along a vertical trajectory simultaneously while moving the substrate in the horizontal plane, and wherein the horizontal trajectory is determined based on the acceleration profile of the vertical trajectory and wherein the horizontal trajectory prevents the moving of the substrate from overcoming the coefficient of friction in the horizontal plane.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Persimmon Technologies CorporationInventor: Martin Hosek
-
Patent number: 8874261Abstract: A method and a system for operating a mobile robot comprise a range finder for collecting range data of one or more objects in an environment around the robot. A discriminator identifies uniquely identifiable ones of the objects as navigation landmarks. A data storage device stores a reference map of the navigation landmarks based on the collected range data. A data processor establishes a list or sequence of way points for the robot to visit. Each way point is defined with reference to one or more landmarks. A reader reads an optical message at or near one or more way points. A task manager manages a task based on the read optical message.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas Kent Hein, Karl-Heinz O. Mertins, Daniel W. Mairet
-
Patent number: 8874334Abstract: A shift control system of a hybrid vehicle with an automatic transmission may include a fuzzy function calculator that receives an accel position sensor (APS) signal that may be an input variable, and outputs a severity value by determining a driver's driving severity value through a plurality of fuzzy rules including a fuzzy function for the APS signal, a sporty degree calculator that may be electrically connected with the fuzzy function calculator and determines a sporty degree corresponding to the severity value, and a mode determiner that may be electrically connected with the sporty degree calculator and determines whether an engine operates in accordance with the sporty degree.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Byeongwook Jeon, Heeyong Lee
-
Patent number: 8868322Abstract: An airspace complexity reducing system is provided. The airspace complexity reducing system has a data storage device including data describing a multivariable model of an airspace complexity, the airspace complexity being a cumulative effect of factors that influence a system user's ability to manage aircraft in an associated airspace. The airspace complexity reducing system also has a selecting module configured to select a variable from a plurality of variables of the multivariable model and determine an amount by which to modify the selected variable to achieve a predetermined airspace complexity value. In addition, the airspace complexity reducing system has a suggestion module configured to determine a modification to the airspace that results in the determined variable modification and transmit the determined course of action to the system user.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2009Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Jessica Chang, Pratik Jha
-
Patent number: 8868336Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a position information allocation unit for allocating position information to plural spots on a deformed map; and an interpolation unit for interpolating position information of each spot on the deformed map on the basis of the position information allocated to the plural spots and locations of the plural spots on the deformed map.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Satoshi Suzuno