Distance Or Direction Finding Patents (Class 367/99)
  • Patent number: 11863933
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a MEMS sound transducer, and control circuitry. The control circuitry includes a supply signal provider for providing a high-level supply signal and read-out circuitry for receiving an output signal from the MEMS sound transducer, and a switching arrangement for selectively connecting the MEMS sound transducer to the supply signal provider, and for selectively connecting the MEMS sound transducer to the read-out circuitry based on a control signal. The control circuitry provides the control signal having an ultrasonic actuation pattern to the switching arrangement during a first condition TX of the control signal, wherein the ultrasonic actuation pattern of the control signal triggers the switching arrangement for alternately coupling the high-level supply signal to the MEMS sound transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Niccoló De Milleri, Christian Bretthauer, Alessandro Caspani, Alessandra Fusco
  • Patent number: 11851847
    Abstract: Disclosed are power machines and systems configured to provide autonomous or augmented control of the machines in a localized positioning environment in which GPS navigation is not available. Also disclosed are methods of providing augmented control of a power machine in such an environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DOOSAN BOBCAT NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Yizhe Chang, Robert J. Gonzalez, Jingnan Shi, Sirapatsorn Pongpiriyakarn, Felipe Borja, Chi-Yen Lee, Maxwell Maleno
  • Patent number: 11841423
    Abstract: Disclosed are an object recognition apparatus and method for a vehicle. The object recognition apparatus for a vehicle may include two or more sensors each configured to transmit a signal toward an object and receive signals having a direct path and indirect path and reflected and received from the object, a time of flight (ToF) detector configured to detect ToFs of the direct path and indirect path of each of the two or more sensors using the signals having the direct path and indirect path and received by each of the two or more sensors, and an object recognizer configured to recognize the object using the ToFs of the direct path and indirect path of each of the two or more sensors, detected by the ToF detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yeon Joo Shim, Jin Woo Jung, Sang Won Park, Jun Seop Jeong
  • Patent number: 11835625
    Abstract: A method of performing distance estimation between a first recording device at a first location and a second recording device at a second location includes: estimating acoustic relative transfer function (RTF) between the first recording device and the second recording device for a sound signal, e.g., by applying an improved proportionate normalized least mean square (IPNLMS) filter; and estimating the distance between the first recording device and the second recording device based on the RTF. The at least one acoustic feature extracted from the RTF estimated between the first recording device and the second recording device includes at least one of clarity index, direct-to-reverberant ratio (DRR), and reverberation time. A distributed-gradient-boosting algorithm with regression trees is used in combination with signal-to-reverberation ratio (SRR) and the at least one acoustic feature extracted from the RTF to estimate the distance between the first recording device and the second recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC.
    Inventors: Francesco Nespoli, Patrick Naylor, Daniel Barreda
  • Patent number: 11801828
    Abstract: A parking assistance device includes a recognition part that is configured to acquire recognition information through recognition of surroundings of a host vehicle, a maneuver controller that is configured to perform maneuver control to park the host vehicle in a parking region based on the recognition information, a maintain stop position controller that is configured to keep the host vehicle stationary after the host vehicle is stopped by the maneuver control of the maneuver controller until a predetermined operation is received from a driver, a determination part that is configured to determine a type of the parking region in which the host vehicle is to be parked with the maneuver controller; and a decision part that is configured to determine, in accordance with the type of the parking region that is determined by the determination part, a parking reference location that is used to park the host vehicle in the parking region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Hara, Hiroshi Yamanaka, Yasushi Shoda, Syoichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11774585
    Abstract: A device comprises a processor coupled with an ultrasonic transducer coupled which is configured to emit an ultrasonic pulse and receive returned signals received after a ringdown period of the transducer and corresponding to the emitted ultrasonic pulse. The processor is configured to evaluate the returned signals to find a candidate echo, from an object located in a ringdown blind spot area, in a time window between one and two times the ringdown period; locate multiple echoes from the object of higher order than the candidate echo; validate the candidate echo as at least a secondary echo associated of the object; and determine, based on analysis of the returned signals, an estimated distance from the transducer to the object in the ringdown blind spot area, wherein the ringdown blind spot area is located between the transducer and a closest distance at which objects can be sensed by the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Florence Gris, Agnes Duval
  • Patent number: 11754707
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for estimating wave properties of a body of water. A computer-implemented system obtains measurement data for a duration of time from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) onboard an underwater device, generates model input data based on at least the measurement data obtained at the plurality of time points, and processes the model input data to generate model output data indicating one or more wave properties using a machine-learning model. The system further determines, based on at least the one or more wave properties, whether the device is safe to be deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Swanson, Riva Gulassa
  • Patent number: 11748997
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle and to change a characteristic of the environment of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a proximity sensor configured to detect the characteristic of the environment of the vehicle. The characteristic of the environment is changed by operation of the propulsion unit. The vehicle further includes obstacle detection circuitry configured to determine a presence of an obstacle in the vicinity of the vehicle based on a comparison between the detected characteristic of the environment and a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: The Royal Veterinary College
    Inventors: Richard Bomphrey, Nathan Phillips, Toshiyuki Nakata, Simon Walker
  • Patent number: 11686842
    Abstract: A sonar unit includes: a circuit substrate on which a transducer, electronic components constituting a circuit configured to drive the transducer, and an input-output terminal for the circuit are mounted; and a shield unit. The shield unit includes a plate portion at a position where the plate portion overlaps at least a part of the electronic components when the shield unit is viewed in a thickness direction of the rectangular circuit substrate. The shield unit includes a window portion provided as a through-hole or a notch. The window portion is placed at a position close to the input-output terminal in a longitudinal direction of the rectangular circuit substrate when the window portion is viewed in the thickness direction of the rectangular circuit substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: AISIN CORPORATION, WHETRON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chiaki Sumi, Takaaki Nakamura, Toshihito Nagai, Gaoyang Hong
  • Patent number: 11644555
    Abstract: In an ultrasonic detection system that uses frequency-modulation coding to distinguish emitted bursts from multiple transducers, a receiver associated with a transducer uses dynamic thresholding to discriminate valid echoes from system and environmental noise in multiple envelope signals produced by multiple correlators. The time-varying dynamic thresholds are generated from the mean of noise in a respective envelope derived from the output of a respective correlator. Multiple thresholds can be combined together such that a single time-varying threshold is applied to all correlators' envelopes. Such thresholding has the benefits of a constant false-alarm rate with regard to detection of echoes (as opposed to false triggering from noise), and, owing to finer-resolution and adaptive thresholds, can detect targets or obstacles as further distances and with greater time responsiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lei Ding, Srinath Mathur Ramaswamy, Vaibhav Garg, Anand Gopalan
  • Patent number: 11628857
    Abstract: A method for correcting a position of a vehicle when parking in a parking space. The method includes determining the position of the vehicle on the basis of odometry information, sensing ultrasonic signals from a linear object, carrying out a method for simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) on the basis of the linear object and the ultrasonic signals, and correcting the position of the vehicle A control device for a driving support system of a vehicle is also disclosed, which is designed to receive odometry information of the vehicle, to receive ultrasonic signals from at least one ultrasonic sensor of the driving support system, and to carry out the aforementioned method. A driving support system for a vehicle with an aforementioned control device and with at least one ultrasonic sensor is disclosed. The invention likewise relates to a vehicle with an aforementioned driving support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Bariant, Anto Michael
  • Patent number: 11612382
    Abstract: A female urinary diagnostic device including a urine stream collection container having a discharge opening and a stream collection opening, the stream collection opening being configured to surround and isolate a urethral opening, a probe guide passage configured for interior engagement with a vaginal opening for placement of the stream collection opening relative to the urethral opening, and an internal baffle that defines an interior wall of the urine stream collection container that provides a spillway from the stream collection opening to the discharge opening and cooperates with at least a urine sensing device, where the spillway provides urine passage to the urine sensing device and a collection tank, wherein the internal baffle forms at least a portion of the probe guide passage and defines a sounding probe guide surface that positions a sounding probe within the vaginal opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: GLR Medical Innovations LLC
    Inventors: George Ealovega, Elizabeth Hatz
  • Patent number: 11525674
    Abstract: A measuring system is disclosed. The measuring system includes a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device including a piezoelectric substrate and a first and second electrode disposed on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and a measuring device communicatively coupled to the first electrode via a first probe and the second electrode via a second probe and configured to apply an electrical signal to the first and second electrode to generate an incident bulk acoustic wave within the piezoelectric substrate, detect at least a first reflected bulk acoustic wave and a second reflected bulk acoustic wave at the first and second electrode, and calculate a thickness between a first interface corresponding to the first reflected bulk acoustic wave and a second interface corresponding to the second reflected bulk acoustic wave based on a time elapsed between detecting the first and second reflected bulk acoustic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marco Francesco Aimi, Joseph Alfred Iannotti
  • Patent number: 11507968
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting and presenting rewards for presence are disclosed. Presence of a mobile device within a building is detected based on a plurality of triggers including a degradation of a first signal and a concurrent improvement of a second signal. The triggers are identified by a client-side application of the mobile device or a corresponding server-side processor with which the client-side application is in communication and from which the client-side application is configured to automatically receive available rewards. In response to detecting presence within the building, the server-side processor determines that a user of the mobile device is eligible for a reward, and the reward is provided to the user via the client-side application at the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: shopkick, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyriac Roeding, Aaron T. Emigh
  • Patent number: 11437014
    Abstract: An ultrasonic and optical waveguide apparatus includes a face plate and an ultrasonic waveguide extending through a portion of the face plate. The ultrasonic waveguide has a hollow interior with an interior diameter tapered along an elongate axis of the ultrasonic waveguide. The elongate axis of the ultrasonic waveguide is oriented orthogonal to the face plate. An optical shield extends through at least a portion of the hollow interior of the ultrasonic waveguide. The optical shield prevents transmission of a portion of light through the hollow interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: MAXBOTIX INC.
    Inventor: Robert R. Gross
  • Patent number: 11378687
    Abstract: A distance measurement apparatus including at least one measurement unit, in which the measurement unit includes: a voltage level converter that applies an arbitrary bias to a voltage obtained on the basis of an output from a light receiver to offset a level of the voltage; an amplifier that amplifies a voltage output from the voltage level converter; and a measurement section that measures a timing at which an output from the amplifier reaches a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Koyama, Toyoharu Oohata, Tomoki Ono
  • Patent number: 11378686
    Abstract: An ultrasound detect circuit includes a decimator that decimates a transmit signal to be transmitted through an ultrasonic transducer. The transmit signal is decimated to generate first and second template signals. The decimator uses a different decimation ratio to generate the first template signal than the second template signal. The circuit also includes a first correlator to correlate a signal derived from the ultrasonic transducer with the first template signal, aa second correlator to correlate the signal derived from the ultrasonic transducer with the second template signal, and a Doppler shift determination circuit to determine a Doppler frequency shift based on an output from the first correlator and an output from the second correlator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lei Ding, Srinath Mathur Ramaswamy, Anand Dabak
  • Patent number: 11294043
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic sensor device and a sensing method thereof. The device includes a driving unit for providing a transmission pulse to a transducer which transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives an echo of the ultrasonic wave; an amplifier for amplifying an electrical signal for the echo; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the amplified electrical signal into an original digital signal; a signal processor for performing an envelope extraction processing of the original digital signal to generate an extracted signal; and a control unit for outputting a distance signal with respect to an external object based on the original digital signal and the extracted signal, wherein the control unit includes: a test frequency generator for applying a test frequency signal to the transducer, and an excitation frequency measuring unit for measuring the excitation frequency generated in the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11280902
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes a transmitting portion configured to transmit a transmission wave, a receiving portion configured to receive a reception wave based on the transmission wave which returned, an estimation portion configured to estimate an amount of frequency transition between the transmission wave and the reception wave on the basis of a result of a frequency analysis, a correction portion configured to correct the reception wave to obtain consistency of frequencies with the transmission wave on the basis of an estimation result of the estimation portion, and a detection portion configured to detect information related to the object on the basis of a relation between the transmission wave and the corrected reception wave corrected by the correction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ippei Sugae
  • Patent number: 11221214
    Abstract: A distance sensor (1) for estimating a distance to a surface (OS) of an object (O), the distance sensor including a micro electric mechanical system (MEMS) (5), a detection means (30) and a processing device (40). The MEMS comprises a MEMS device (10) having a surface (12), denoted as MEMS sensor surface, to be arranged opposite the surface (OS) of said object (O) and a MEMS driver (20) for generating an ac driving signal to cause the MEMS sensor surface (12) to vibrate. The detection means (30) is to determine a value of a property of a dynamic behavior of the MEMS (5) and the processing device (40) is to estimate an average distance (h) as a measured distance (D2) between the MEMS sensor surface (12) and the surface (Os) of the object (O) based on the determined value for said property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Hamed Sadeghian Marnani
  • Patent number: 11218985
    Abstract: A node transmits/receives signals over first and second communication channels having non-equal propagation speeds. When node identifies reset signal received over first communication channel, it adjusts internal clock, transmits acknowledgement signal and initiates acknowledgement process. When reset signal not identified, node transmits reset signal over first communication channel and receives response signal from one node. If response signal is acknowledgement signal, acknowledgement process is initiated. If response signal is non-acknowledgement signal, internal clock is adjusted and acknowledgement process is initiated. In acknowledgement process, node determines distance to other nodes by measuring travelling time for signal over second communication channel exchanges distance information with other nodes, and fine tunes internal clock of each node when transmitting over first communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Teade OÜ
    Inventor: Harald Merkel
  • Patent number: 11215709
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to gathering audio data. For example, a system can include a range sensor to determine a location and distance of an object. The system can include a microphone to gather audio data at the location and from within a threshold proximity of the object. The system can include a computing device to determine a portion of audio data outside the threshold proximity of the object to remove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ricky Thomas Burks, Xiang Ma, Alan Man Pan Tam
  • Patent number: 11209542
    Abstract: An object detection device which determines an amplitude Ar of an ultrasonic wave received by a receiving unit, detects a frequency fr of the ultrasonic wave, sweeps a frequency fp of a pulse signal after a predetermined time has elapsed from start of generation of the pulse signal, and determines that the received ultrasonic wave is a reflected wave of the probe wave when the frequency fr after the amplitude Ar becomes a predetermined reference value or more from start of transmission of the probe wave makes the same change as the frequency fp. When an ultrasonic wave received by a receiver is determined to be a reflected wave of the probe wave, the object detection unit calculates a distance to an object based on a time from transmission of the probe wave to reception of the ultrasonic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Taketo Harada, Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Takuya Nomura
  • Patent number: 11182990
    Abstract: A reception device for receiving a radio signal, designed to estimate a time of arrival of the radio signal. The reception device includes a reception module designed to receive the radio signal, and a detection module configured so as to: measure a current supplied by an electric power source to the reception module, detect a current peak measured by the detection module, the current peak being caused by the reception of the radio signal by the reception module, and determine the time of arrival of the radio signal on the basis of the time of detection of the detected current peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Sylvain Godet
  • Patent number: 11159867
    Abstract: A microphone assembly comprises a substrate and an enclosure disposed on the substrate. A port is defined in one of the substrate or the enclosure. An acoustic transducer is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to acoustic activity. The acoustic transducer comprises a membrane separating a front volume from a back volume of the microphone assembly. The front volume is in fluidic communication with the port, and the back volume is filled with a first gas having a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of air. An integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the acoustic transducer and configured to receive the electrical signal from the acoustic transducer. At least a portion of a boundary defining at least one of the front volume or the back volume is configured to have compliance so as to allow pressure equalization. The first gas is different from the second gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Loeppert, Michael Pedersen, Michael Kuntzman
  • Patent number: 11150322
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for dynamic, cognitive hybrid positioning within an indoor environment includes: receiving fingerprinting training data corresponding to the indoor environment, trilateration data corresponding to the indoor environment, triangulation data corresponding to the indoor environment, or a combination of the fingerprinting training data, the trilateration data, and/or the triangulation data; estimating a layout of the indoor environment based at least in part on the fingerprinting training data; classifying at least some areas of the estimated layout according to one of a plurality of predetermined area types; and determining an optimum positioning technique to utilize for each area of the estimated layout, wherein the optimum positioning technique is determined based at least in part on the area type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Divyesh Jadav, Thomas D. Griffin, German H Flores
  • Patent number: 11035939
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses an ultrasonic sensing device, including a first shell portion, a second shell portion and an ultrasonic sensor. The first shell portion has a first through hole. The first through hole includes a first opening and a second opening. The second shell portion has a second through hole. The second through hole includes a third opening and a fourth opening. The ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit is coupled to the first opening. The receiving unit is coupled to the third opening. At least one of the second opening and the fourth opening is elongated. The ultrasonic sensing device greatly reduces the direct transmission of ultrasonic wave from the transmitting unit to the receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Hsin-Han Wu, Li-De Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11027648
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may implement techniques to dynamically adjust a volume and/or frequency of a sound emitted from a vehicle to warn an object (e.g., dynamic object) of a potential conflict with the vehicle. The techniques may include determining a baseline noise level and/or frequencies proximate to the object. The baseline noise level and/or frequencies may be determined based on an identification of one or more noise generating objects in the environment. The vehicle computing system may determine the volume and/or a frequency of the sound based in part on the baseline noise level and/or frequencies, an urgency of the warning, a probability of conflict between the vehicle and the object, a speed of the object, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Avi Harper, Kevin Mark Karol, Michael Moshe Kohen, Forrest Leighton Merrill, Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Jeremy Yi-Xiong Yang
  • Patent number: 10979272
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving transit time and/or phase measurement and/or for synchronization in digital transmission systems. According to the invention, at least one first, particularly digital, piece of information in at least one first analog signal is transmitted in encoded form between two objects by means of the transmission system and at least one first sample value of the at least one first analog signal is used to determine a temporal position and/or phase relationship. The at least one first sample value lies in a rising or falling edge of the at least one first analog signal and/or of the at least one first received analog signal, which can be recognized, for example, from the sample value itself and/or the characteristic of adjacent sample values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Lambda:4 Entwicklungen GmbH
    Inventor: Rönne Reimann
  • Patent number: 10951992
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel configured to display an image and a plurality of vibration generating devices on a rear surface of the display panel, the display panel being at least one of a vibration plate configured to output sound and a vibration plate configured to output a haptic vibration. Each of the plurality of vibration generating devices includes a first electrode under the display panel, a piezoelectric member under the first electrode, a damping member in a periphery the piezoelectric member, and a second electrode under the piezoelectric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YongWoo Lee, Chiwan Kim, Taeheon Kim, Sung-Eui Shin, Kyungyeol Ryu, YuSeon Kho, YongGyoon Jang, Yong-Su Ham, Sungwook Ko
  • Patent number: 10894686
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Patent number: 10801996
    Abstract: An inspection system includes: a sheet material that is attached to a surface of a pipe and has two-dimensional patterns drawn thereon that are arranged on the pipe and indicate positions on the pipe; a reader that is mounted to an ultrasonic probe and reads the two-dimensional patterns; and a calculation unit that acquires position data on the pipe based on the two-dimensional patterns read by the reader. The inspection system associates the position data with a flaw detection result obtained from a detection result based on the ultrasonic probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eisuke Shiina, Toshiaki Hamano, Takuya Shimomura
  • Patent number: 10782407
    Abstract: An object detection device includes: a transducer having a vibrator transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave and configured to transmit a transmission signal encoded to be imparted with identification information and receive the transmission signal reflected by an object as a reception signal; a correlation processing unit acquiring a first correlation value corresponding to a degree of similarity between the identification information of the transmission and reception signals and to determine whether the reception signal to which the identification information having a predetermined level or higher degree of similarity with the identification information of the transmission signal is imparted has been received; and a detection unit detecting information about the object when determined that the reception signal to which the identification information having the predetermined level or higher degree of similarity is imparted has been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Sugae, Hisashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 10634544
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transceiver can detect the presence of nearby moving objects while rejecting signals from stationary targets and from transmitter signal feedthrough. Data corresponding to received ultrasound signals are stored in a digital memory. For each sample in a measurement, a difference is calculated between corresponding samples in the stored data corresponding to received signals for current and previous measurements to estimate a time of flight to a moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CHIRP MICROSYSTEMS
    Inventor: Richard J. Przybyla
  • Patent number: 10598774
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus drives a piezoelectric vibrator to transmit an ultrasonic wave, and receives a reflected wave that is reflected from an object. The object detection apparatus includes the piezoelectric vibrator, a drive circuit that supplies drive power which drives the piezoelectric vibrator, and a resistor section that is connected in parallel with the piezoelectric vibrator and has a resistance value that is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Taketo Harada, Tetsuya Aoyama, Yu Koyama
  • Patent number: 10559188
    Abstract: Techniques for locating and identifying mobile devices are described. According to various embodiments, an ambient sound signal may be detected using a microphone of a mobile device. Thereafter, it may be determined that the ambient sound signal corresponds to a predefined user query for assistance in locating the mobile device. For the, a predefined response sound corresponding to the predefined user query may be emitted, using a speaker of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhil Vijay Thaker, Kamal Zamer, Jeremiah Joseph Akin, Joseph Vernon Paulson, IV, Praveen Nuthulapati, Jayasree Mekala
  • Patent number: 10515654
    Abstract: A system is described that constantly learns the sound characteristics of an indoor environment to detect the presence or absence of humans within that environment. A detection model is constructed and a decision feedback approach is used to constantly learn and update the statistics of the detection features and sound events that are unique to the environment in question. The learning process may not only rely on acoustic signal, but may also make use of signals derived from other sensors such as range sensor, motion sensors, pressure sensors, and video sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Rajeev Conrad Nongpiur
  • Patent number: 10466033
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and device for measuring the size of an object, comprising a depth sensor (2), a sensor bracket (1), a correction assistance apparatus (5), an object placement platform (4) and a computer (3). The correction assistance apparatus (5) is used for assisting in the correction of a plane of the depth sensor (2), comprises a fabric or a printing substance having black-and-white chessboard textures, and comprises a transparent flat plate, the fabric or the printing substance being laid on the object placement platform (4), and the transparent flat plate being pressed against the fabric or the printing substance. The depth sensor (2) is disposed on the sensor bracket (1) and is located in a space above the object placement platform (4). The computer (3) is connected to the depth sensor (2). The device and the method contribute to efficient and accurate calculation of the size of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: BEIJING JINGDONG SHANGKE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BEIJING JINGDONG CENTURY TRADING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gang Zhao, Peng Qiu
  • Patent number: 10467531
    Abstract: In some scenarios, devices may execute applications that are configured to monitor a set of conditions (e.g., geographic coordinates detected by global positioning system (GPS) receivers), and to execute actions upon detecting the fulfillment of the conditions. However, in such architectures, each application may be responsible for polling the sensors of the device to detect condition fulfillment, and it may be difficult to specify rules in a hardware-independent manner involving multiple applications and/or devices. Presented herein are techniques for configuring devices to perform actions by receiving a rule set from a rule server; registering a set of condition tests for respective conditions of a rule with the sensors of the device; upon being notified by the sensor that a condition test has been fulfilled, evaluating the conditions of the rule; and upon determining a fulfillment of the conditions, executing one or more actions (optionally involving multiple devices and/or applications).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Pierre P. N. Greborio, Yogananda Rao
  • Patent number: 10451461
    Abstract: A Venturi air flow sensor and control system includes a Venturi housing comprising with an inlet section, an outlet section, and a reduced diameter horn shaped center section connecting the inlet section to the outlet section with a damper. A high pressure sensor tube with downstream openings extends across the inlet section on the outlet section and a low pressure sensor tube with downstream openings extends across the reduced diameter horn shaped section. The pressure from the low pressure sensor tube and the pressure from the high pressure sensor tube are connected to a controller. From the high pressure and the low pressure the controller determines the air flow and based on air flow operates the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Price Industries Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Nesbitt, James Riese, Jarvis Penner
  • Patent number: 10388303
    Abstract: A system is described that constantly learns the sound characteristics of an indoor environment to detect the presence or absence of humans within that environment. A detection model is constructed and a decision feedback approach is used to constantly learn and update the statistics of the detection features and sound events that are unique to the environment in question. The learning process may not only rely on acoustic signal, but may also make use of signals derived from other sensors such as range sensor, motion sensors, pressure sensors, and video sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Inventor: Rajeev Conrad Nongpiur
  • Patent number: 10371667
    Abstract: A fluidic device includes a base structure, a wall structure, and a cover structure bounding a fluidic passage containing a functionalized active region of at least one bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator structure. One or more of the wall structure, the cover structure, or a portion of the base structure includes multiple features (e.g., protrusions and/or recesses) configured to interact with fluid flowing within the fluidic passage to promote mixing between constituents of the fluid. Methods for fabricating a fluidic device, as well as methods for biological or chemical sensing using a fluidic device, are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: QORVO US, INC.
    Inventor: Rio Rivas
  • Patent number: 10339352
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring dimension and weight is provided. In one implementation, the apparatus comprises a dimensioner, a force sensing device, and a portable control module. The dimensioner, which is mounted on headgear or body wear to be worn on the head or body of a user, is configured to determine dimensions of an object. The force sensing device, which is incorporated into footwear to be worn on at least one foot of the user, is configured to measure a force acting on a bottom portion of the footwear. The portable control unit includes a dimension input module configured to receive signals from the dimensioner indicative of the dimensions of the object and further includes a weight input module configured to receive signals from the force sensing device indicative of the weight of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: H. Sprague Ackley, John Spencer Bandringa, Bruce McKay Morton, Arthur Millican, Rene Martinez
  • Patent number: 10271662
    Abstract: A station for detecting, controlling, checking, and comparing physical parameters of a mattress or a pillow, includes a retention frame for a resting surface, designed to support the mattress or the pillow. The resting surface, at one of its corners, includes respective abutment walls for concurrent side faces of the mattress or the pillow. The frame also supports at least one rangefinder which is aligned with at least one face of the mattress or the pillow that lies opposite the respective faces that rest on the resting surface and against the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: RESTA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Paolo Resta, Roberto Resta
  • Patent number: 10228853
    Abstract: Controllers, interfaces, memory devices, methods and systems are disclosed, including a controller configured to interface with a separate memory device and perform an iterative write operation to program a selected memory cell of the memory device to a target state, wherein each iteration of the write operation is configured to successively change a physical state of the selected memory cell. Other controllers, interfaces, memory device, methods and systems are also described, such as those where either a controller or a memory device can throttle a data communication operation, and/or those that utilize customized programming pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry J. Koudele
  • Patent number: 10225527
    Abstract: A device for communicating including a housing including a camera, a microphone, a speaker, a button, a battery, a sensor, non-volatile memory, a processor, and a wireless communications module, wherein the non-volatile memory stores code operable by the processor for switching the processor from low-power mode to active mode in response to an activation trigger, receiving, from the one of the microphone and the camera, outbound audio and video signals, then sending a signal to a server via the wireless communications module during active mode, the signal including one or more of an alert signal, a signal based on the outbound audio signal, and a signal based on the outbound video signal, receiving from the server an inbound audio signal and outputting a signal based on the inbound audio signal via the speaker, and switching the processor from active mode to low-power mode in response to a deactivation trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Mark Siminoff
  • Patent number: 10205819
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a presence of a mobile device located in a predetermined detection zone within a vehicle may include a plurality of transmitters located within the vehicle, in which each of the plurality of transmitters is configured to transmit an acoustic signal into an acoustic environment within the vehicle, and in which each of the acoustic signals comprises at least one ultrasonic pulse, a mobile device configured to periodically record sounds in the acoustic environment, and a processor configured to determine that a periodically recorded sound by the mobile device comprises each of the acoustic signals transmitted by the plurality of transmitters, determine a location of the mobile device within the vehicle based on the acoustic signals recorded by the mobile device, and determine that the location of the mobile device matches the predetermined detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: DRIVING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Marwan Hannon, Peter Qiang Qu, James W. Allison, Cristian Cesane
  • Patent number: 10126423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stopping distance selection are provided. The method includes displaying an image from a camera facing an area around a vehicle, detecting a selection of an object in the image, determining a stopping distance from the selected object, and performing an operation if the vehicle is within of a threshold distance of the stopping distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Inventors: Bryan Fowler, Mohannad Murad
  • Patent number: 10126406
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for detecting presence of persons or objects within an environment. The apparatus and method may determine a difference in relative position between transmitters having an unknown room position. A transmitter may emit coded signals that may be detected by other transmitters within the room and properties of the coded signal can form a baseline for comparison to new signals after the baseline is established. Through the use of coded signals and relative distance location between transmitters, movement and position of persons or objects within the room may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Nathan Altman
  • Patent number: 10068587
    Abstract: A system is described that constantly learns the sound characteristics of an indoor environment to detect the presence or absence of humans within that environment. A detection model is constructed and a decision feedback approach is used to constantly learn and update the statistics of the detection features and sound events that are unique to the environment in question. The learning process may not only rely on acoustic signal, but may also make use of signals derived from other sensors such as range sensor, motion sensors, pressure sensors, and video sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Rajeev Conrad Nongpiur