Position Responsive Patents (Class 700/13)
  • Patent number: 11810803
    Abstract: A linear gauge includes a contact member having a lower tip to be positioned facing a workpiece; an air slider including a cylinder surrounding the contact member with a clearance left between them, and configured to eject air such that the contact member is supported movably in a vertical direction; a scale that detects a height position of the contact member; a casing accommodating therein the contact member, the air slider, and the scale; an evacuation portion formed in an upper portion of the cylinder such that the ejected air is evacuated into the casing; and a communication channel communicating an inlet, which is formed in an upper portion of the contact member, and an outlet, which is formed in the lower tip of the contact member, with each other inside the contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazufumi Chishima, Takatoshi Urayama
  • Patent number: 11622150
    Abstract: This application is directed to changing a TV operating mode based on a potential relationship among viewers of a connected TV. In some implementations, a method includes: determining viewer identities and identifying the potential relationship among the viewers or a subset of the viewers; in accordance with a determination that the potential relationship allows the viewers to share private information, placing or maintaining the connected TV in or into a first operating mode that is unrelated to media content being displayed and allows personal information to be displayed on the connected TV; and in accordance with a determination that the potential relationship does not allow the viewers to share private information, placing or maintaining the connected TV in or into a second operating mode that is unrelated to the media content and does not allow personal information to be displayed on the connected TV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Alok Chandel, Eric H C Liu, Pierre-Yves Laligand, Justin Koh
  • Patent number: 11561519
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to selecting among devices room to interact with. It also relates operating a smart phone with reduced power consumption. It further relates to gesturally interacting with devices that lack gestural responsiveness. The technology disclosed also relates to distinguishing control gestures from proximate non-control gestures in a pervasive three dimensional (3D) sensory space. The technology disclosed further relates to selecting among virtual interaction modalities to interact with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ultrahaptics IP Two Limited
    Inventors: Robert Samuel Gordon, Paul Alan Durdik, Maxwell Sills
  • Patent number: 11373530
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing automatic lighting control includes receiving a selection of a lighting control, identifying an electric light, causing the electric light to perform an action; and displaying a response message to the user via the lighting control application. An automatic lighting control system includes a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to receive a selection of a lighting control, identify an electric light, cause the electric light to perform an action; and display a response message to the user via the lighting control application. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes program instructions that when executed, cause a computer to receive a selection of a lighting control, identify an electric light, cause the electric light to perform an action; and display a response message to the user via the lighting control application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CDW LLC
    Inventors: Colin R. Vallance, Michael Alan Robinson, Forrest Weinberg, Sankar Nair
  • Patent number: 11365790
    Abstract: A linear actuator and an identification method thereof are characterized in that a memory unit of the embedding device stores the parameter data of the linear actuator, such as the parameters and the axial position of the elongated shaft, and the microprocessor determines whether the sensing device is activated, and through the process of parameter analysis, data transmission, and algorithm calculation, the calculation control device performs an instantaneous calculation to determine the state of the linear actuator, thereby improving the disadvantage of a single function of the conventional technology, avoiding the problem that the unidentified linear actuator causes the abnormality of the sensing device, and effectively finding the problem of abnormal function of the linear actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Ming-Ru Tsai, Szu-Wei Yu, Chi-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11348433
    Abstract: A wearable safety device is provided. The wearable safety device is adapted to detect wearer fall events and shock events and transmit automated notifications if such events have been detected. The wearable safety device utilizes an accelerometer or equivalent components to determine a rate of fall associated with a fall event and determine a magnitude of shock associated with a shock event. The accelerometer, transmission component and a microprocessor coupled to both is dimensioned and adapted to be woven between two layers of fabric by conductive thread, thereby enabling an ever present, wearable device to detect when the wearer has dangerously fallen and proactively request assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Jeff Daniel Grammer
  • Patent number: 11269363
    Abstract: A pressure regulator includes an outlet pressure sensor, loading and unloading electromagnetic valves, and a regulator control circuit operatively connected to the loading and unloading electromagnetic valves and configured to pilot the loading and unloading electromagnetic valves to cancel an error signal given by a difference between an inlet signal corresponding to a desired outlet pressure and a feedback signal provided by the outlet pressure sensor. The pressure regulator includes an engaging current analysis circuit to detect and store reference characteristics of the engaging current of the solenoid of the loading electromagnetic valve in a stable inlet pressure condition, monitor the engaging current to detect any variation of its characteristics with respect to the corresponding reference characteristics, and, in the event of variation, provide a pilot modulation signal to at least one of the loading or unloading electromagnetic valves or a pressure variation signal to the regulator control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CAMOZZI AUTOMATION S.P.A.
    Inventors: Dario Ferrarini, Andrea Camisani
  • Patent number: 10921010
    Abstract: A method for controlling energy usage of one or more building devices associated with a building space including determining, by the one or more processing circuits based on a simulation, penalties associated with the one or more varied operating values of the one or more building devices, wherein the penalties indicate user behavior that causes energy inefficiency of the one or more building devices, and selecting, by the one or more processing circuits, one or more optimal operating values from the varied one or more operating values based on one or more future environmental conditions and a number of the penalties associated with each of the one or more varied operating values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Youngchoon Park, Sudhi R. Sinha
  • Patent number: 10916115
    Abstract: A wearable safety device is provided. The wearable safety device is adapted to detect wearer fall events and shock events and transmit automated notifications if such events have been detected. The wearable safety device utilizes an accelerometer or equivalent components to determine a rate of fall associated with a fall event and determine a magnitude of shock associated with a shock event. The accelerometer, transmission component and a microprocessor coupled to both is dimensioned and adapted to be woven between two layers of fabric by conductive thread, thereby enabling an ever present, wearable device to detect when the wearer has dangerously fallen and proactively request assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: Jeff Daniel Grammer
  • Patent number: 10915095
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for controlling accessories with dynamic groups in control systems (the “technology”). A dynamic group is first created as a copy of a user's predefined group of control elements. Dynamic groups allow for nondestructive subgroupings to be made on-the-fly without changing predefined groups. This duplication of groups is significant since predefined groups continue to be useful beyond the lifespan of groupings temporarily created for a specific situation. Also, the coexistence of a dynamic group and its predefined counterpart naturally leads to a new concept called equilibrium, which defines the ‘natural state of rest’ for the dynamic group as mirroring the predefined group. Imparting a control system with knowledge of equilibrium allows for users to instantly revert a dynamic group to its original predefined state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: Brentt Blakkan
  • Patent number: 10798539
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for determining locations of a plurality of electronic devices within a home. In one aspect, a method is performed at a computing system having one or more processors and memory. The method includes: (1) obtaining device identification information for a plurality of electronic devices; (2) broadcasting, via a standard wireless communication protocol, a request based on the device identification information that a particular electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices be enabled to transmit or reflect location information using a radar technique; (3) receiving a signal from the particular electronic device, the signal indicating a location of the particular electronic device using a radar technique; and (4) determining the location of the particular electronic device based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Eric Marschalkowski, Brian Silverstein, Eden Sherry, Andrew Goldenson
  • Patent number: 10782794
    Abstract: A haptic operating element for a household appliance includes a display field which is at least partially configured as a touch-sensitive screen. The household appliance includes at least one haptic operating element and an additional screen fixed relative to the device. The household appliance has, in particular, a control device for operating the display field of the operating element and the screen fixed relative to the device. The haptic operating element can be particularly advantageously used in cooking devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Eric Beliveau, Tobias Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10761884
    Abstract: A control device includes at least a first task that has a first priority including processing execution performed by a program execution part and a command calculation part, a second task that has a second priority, lower than the first priority, including processing execution performed by a parsing part, and a third task that has a third priority including execution of a processing content different from the first task and the second task are set in a scheduler. The control device further includes a priority changing part monitoring a processing state of the parsing part, and when the processing state of the parsing part meets a predetermined condition, changing the second priority set to the second task corresponding to the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Shimamura, Tetsushi Jakunen, Tomonori Shimamura, Eiji Yamamoto, Masahiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 10686674
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes, a memory that stores location information of a plurality of objects to be arranged within a three-dimensional space, and a processor. The processor performs a process. The process includes, generating first image data of the plurality of objects based on the location information, outputting the first image data to a display, determining a display plane including a location corresponding to one point of the first image, generating second image data which includes a display plane image and installation candidate marks, outputting the second image data to the display, determining whether a surface corresponding to any one of the installation candidate marks has been selected according to an inputted selection instruction, and determining the installation location of the wireless device based on the location corresponding to one point of the first image, and a location of the selected surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiromasa Yamauchi, Teruhisa Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 10429861
    Abstract: An economizer controller system having a plug and play recognition approach with an automatic user interface population mechanism. A check may be made for sensors connected to the controller. The control type of the sensors may be determined. The menu structure may be repopulated based on the control type. The user interface may then be updated. This approach may be repeated as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Grabinger, Miroslav Mikulica, Todd Kreft, Adrienne Thomle
  • Patent number: 10295964
    Abstract: A building management system includes a plurality of devices of building equipment and a control engine configured to, for at least one space of one or more spaces, associate the space with a group of the plurality of devices. The control engine is also configured to select a first space profile of a plurality of space profiles associated with a first type of space. The first space profile includes a plurality of modes each corresponding to a different functional state of the space. The control engine is also configured to select a mode of the plurality of modes of the first space profile, determine a setting of the set of settings of the first space profile based on the selected mode, and control the one or more devices that serve the space in accordance with the settings defined by the first space profile and the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Beth A. Ray, Sheri L. Meyer, Radu M. Dorneanu, Gregory B. Cebasek, Donald A. Gottschalk, Rachel D. M. Ellerman
  • Patent number: 10120960
    Abstract: A device arrangement rule generation unit generates device arrangement rules each including a past installation space of devices and relative direction information indicating a relative direction between devices that were arranged in the past installation space. An input unit inputs information on a new installation space and devices to be arranged in the new installation space. A device arrangement rule extraction unit extracts device arrangement rules each including the devices to be arranged in the new installation space input by the input unit. A device arrangement calculation unit calculates an arrangement position of the devices to be arranged in the new installation space based on relative direction information included in one of the device arrangement rules extracted by the device arrangement rule extraction unit and based on dimensions of the devices to be arranged in the new installation space input by the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Reiko Inoue, Takaharu Matsui, Shinji Tanaka, Kenji Kondo
  • Patent number: 10047578
    Abstract: A method of controlling pressure in a wellbore can include determining a desired position for a choke, the determining being based on a Cv curve for the choke, and adjusting the choke to the desired position, thereby producing a desired backpressure. A wellbore drilling system can include a choke which variably restricts flow of fluid from the wellbore, and a control system which compares actual and desired wellbore pressures and, in response to a difference between the actual and desired wellbore pressures, adjusts the choke to a predetermined position which corresponds to a desired Cv of the choke. A method of controlling pressure in a wellbore can include comparing an actual wellbore pressure to a desired wellbore pressure and, in response to a difference between the actual and desired wellbore pressures, adjusting a choke to a predetermined position, the predetermined position corresponding to a desired Cv of the choke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Lovorn, Nancy S. Davis, Cody N. Butler
  • Patent number: 9965427
    Abstract: A method for assigning addresses to nodes of a bus system, and installation, bus nodes being furnished with an identical delivery address, where (i) an assigning entity, particularly a central computer, start-up computer or bus node sends information to the delivery address via the bus system, (ii) the information includes a first address, (iii) an action is performed whose effect is detected by a first bus node, (iv) the first bus node accepts the first address, (v) the first bus node sends a response to the assigning entity, and (vi) steps (i) through (v) are repeated, each time with a further address for a further bus node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Olaf Simon
  • Patent number: 9904277
    Abstract: A numerical controller configured for operation based on tabular data identifies a control command, calculates an operating time to achieve a target state for the control command, determines a time, an axis position, or a spindle position, which serves as a reference for the start of the operation, and starts the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kanemaru, Yasushi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9772613
    Abstract: This document presents a system and method for defining and controlling moods and experiences associated with one or more spaces within a residential or commercial property. Moods and experiences may be defined by the user to present specified settings for audio, lighting, security, or other parameters that contribute to a mood for a given space. Timing and triggers may be created and saved with the moods and experiences to permit automatic, delayed, and cascading ambiance settings for one or more spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: David Webster, Ryan Corbin, Manjiri Kshirsagar, John Anderson
  • Patent number: 9766931
    Abstract: A method of determining schedulability of tasks for uniprocessor execution includes defining a well-formed, non-preemptive task set having a plurality of tasks, each task having at least one subtask. A determination of whether the task set is schedulable is made, such that a near-optimal amount of temporal resources required to execute the task set is estimated. Further, a method of determining schedulability of a subtask for uniprocessor execution includes defining a well-formed, non-preemptive task set having a plurality of tasks, each task having at least one subtask. A determination of whether a subtask in the task set is schedulable at a specific time is made in polynomial time. Systems for implementing such methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Julie Ann Shah, Matthew Craig Gombolay
  • Patent number: 9769165
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for determining an electromagnetic signature for authenticating a device, a user, and/or a location. In exemplary embodiments, a magnetometer captures an electromagnetic signature which is then compared with one or more authorized electromagnetic signatures. If the electromagnetic signature matches an authorized electromagnetic signature, then access is granted. The magnetometer is integrated into a communication device having a processor and a logic. The magnetometer captures an electromagnetic signature of a surrounding environment and detects motion of the communication device through the captured electromagnetic signature. The logic on the communication device locks or unlocks features of the device based upon the captured electromagnetic signature. In further embodiments of the subject disclosure, the magnetometer is in communication with a server which authenticates a user or communication device to provide access to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Varshavsky, Kevin Ansia Li
  • Patent number: 9684299
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for managing machine tool information for heterogeneous numerical control devices, and more particularly, to a system and a method for managing machine tool information for heterogeneous numerical control devices which may manage data of heterogeneous numerical control devices by a mobile device through a network, such as a wide area Internet or local WiFi, and monitor an operational state of the machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Doosan Machine Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Hyuk Chung, Jang Nam Han, Jong Tae Kim, Jong Myoung Park, Joo Sik Lee
  • Patent number: 9658608
    Abstract: A servo control apparatus includes: a model-response calculating unit; a motor-end-movement-amount-during-stopping measuring unit that measures a motor end movement amount during stopping, which is a displacement amount of a detection value of a motor end position in a period from when the calculated value of the machine end position changes to zero until the calculated value changes to a value other than zero; and an error-correction-amount calculating unit that calculates an error correction amount on the basis of a parameter in which a maximum change amount of a deviation between the machine end position and the motor end position during moving direction reversal is set in advance, the calculated value of the machine end position, and the motor end movement amount. The servo control unit sets the detection value of the machine end position and the detection value of the motor end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kotaro Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 9600003
    Abstract: A cooperative voltage sensor (CVS) issues a target voltage change request when a voltage moving average at an end thereof deviates from a proper voltage upper or lower limit value. A cooperative voltage controller (CVC) also can issue a target voltage change request when a voltage moving average at an end thereof deviates from the proper voltage upper or lower limit value. The target voltage change request issued by the cooperative voltage sensor (CVS) or the cooperative voltage controller (CVC) is transferred between cooperative voltage controllers (CVCs) via a communication network and notified to all the cooperative voltage controllers (CVCs), and a cooperative operation of voltage control is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Itaya
  • Patent number: 9530060
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring buildings (including houses and office buildings) by performing video content analysis based on two-dimensional image data and depth data are disclosed. Occupation and use of such buildings may be monitored with higher accuracy to provide higher energy efficiency usage, to control operation of components therein, and/or provide better security. Height data may be obtained from depth data to provide greater reliability in object detection, object classification and/or event detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: AVIGILON FORTRESS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhong Zhang, Gary W. Myers, Peter L. Venetianer
  • Patent number: 9503273
    Abstract: A control device, which handles a network system in which electronic devices installed in each of multiple rooms are connected via a communication network and each electronic device can perform communication via the communication network, includes: a control unit to selectively set a first control mode in which operation control according to operation input is performed as to a particular single electronic device, a second control mode in which operation control according to operation input is performed in common as to electronic devices installed in the same room, and a third control mode in which operation control according to operation input is performed in common as to electronic devices connected to the communication network, as an operation control mode according to predetermined operation input, and to generate a control command; and a transmission unit to transmit a control command that the control unit has generated according to the control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Sato, Yoshimasa Utsumi, Kazuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9082202
    Abstract: Occupancy detection for building environmental control is disclosed. One apparatus includes at least one image sensor and a controller, wherein the controller is operative to obtain a plurality of images from the at least one image sensor, determine a color difference image of a color difference between consecutive images of the plurality of images, determining an area of the color difference image wherein the color difference is greater than a threshold, create an occupancy candidate based on filtering of the determined area if the determined area is less than light change threshold, generate one or more centroids that represent areas of the occupancy candidate that are greater than a second threshold, track the one or more centroids over a period of time, detect occupancy if one or more of the centroids is detected to have moved more than a movement threshold over the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: enLighted, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Dominic Kovesi, Evan Danny Petridis, Tanuj Mohan
  • Patent number: 9041337
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a constraint-based, time-optimal motion profile for controlling the trajectory of a point-to-point move in a motion control system. A profile generator can calculate an ST-curve motion profile that includes a jerk reference that varies continuously over time for at least one of the motion profile segments, thereby producing a smooth, time-optimal trajectory. The profile generator can create the motion profile to conform to a set of motion constraints provided by the user. The profile generator also supports calculation of time-optimal motion profiles having segments that align to the sample time of the motion control system. In some embodiments, the profile generator can efficiently generate the motion profile by performing reference calculations only for those segments that will be used in the final motion profile for a given point-to-point move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: LINESTREAM TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Gang Tian
  • Publication number: 20150120000
    Abstract: A LED based illumination source with integrated communications and processing functions, which can communicate via wireless communications to a mobile phone, smart phone, smart pad, notebook, tablet, desktop or other computing device. The LED based illumination source is programmed to operate autonomously, and is able to alter its behavior, based on the proximity of a controlling element. The communications and processing functions can also be integrated into other household and commercial electrical devices, such as wall outlets, light switches, plug in timers, appliances, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Smartbotics Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly COFFEY, Ian CRAYFORD, Speros KOULOURAS
  • Patent number: 8972032
    Abstract: A method for detecting a mechanical overload condition of an energized linear actuator to prevent commanding an activation signal to the linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator includes monitoring feedback variation of a movable element associated with the linear actuator including monitoring a present feedback signal of the movable element, monitoring a previous feedback signal of the movable element, comparing the present feedback signal and the previous feedback signal and determining the feedback variation based on the comparing. The feedback variation is compared to a feedback variation threshold. An input signal associated with the activation signal for controlling the linear actuator is monitored and the input signal compared to an input signal threshold. The electrical overload condition is detected when the feedback variation is less than the feedback variation threshold and the input signal is greater than the input signal threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Xiujie Gao, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Patent number: 8965555
    Abstract: A method dresses a polishing member with a diamond dresser having diamond particles arranged on a surface thereof. The method includes determining dressing conditions by performing a simulation of a distribution of a sliding distance of the diamond dresser on a surface of the polishing member, and dressing the polishing member with the diamond dresser under the determined dressing conditions. The simulation includes calculating the sliding distance corrected in accordance with a depth of the diamond particles thrusting into the polishing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Fukuda, Yoshihiro Mochizuki, Yutaka Wada, Yoichi Shiokawa, Hirokuni Hiyama
  • Patent number: 8952635
    Abstract: A method for use in controlling a free piston Stirling machine having a cold end and a warm end and driven by a linear motor having an armature winding to which a drive voltage is applied. The method comprises (a) sensing internal mechanical collisions; (b) repeatedly sensing the temperature of the cold end, the temperature of the warm end and the drive voltage; (c) storing, as associated data, a value representing drive voltage, the temperature of the cold end and the temperature of the warm end at the time of sensed collisions; and (d) limiting the drive voltage to less than the drive voltage that was sensed at a collision and is stored in association with stored warm end and cold end temperatures that are proximate currently sensed warm end and cold end temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Global Cooling, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongrak Kwon, Robert Lee Mash, II
  • Patent number: 8896255
    Abstract: A servo controller, capable of controlling the motion of a movable body with high accuracy, without depending on the position of the movable body which is moved on a ball screw. The servo controller has a position command generating part which generates a position command value; a velocity command generating part which generates a velocity command value based on the position command value and a position detection value; a torque command generating part which generates a torque command value based on the velocity command value and a velocity detection value; and a position compensation calculating part which calculates an amount of expansion/contraction of the ball screw based on a distance from the servomotor to a nut threadably engaged with the ball screw and the torque command value, and calculates a position compensation based on the amount of expansion/contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Kenichi Takayama, Satoshi Ikai
  • Publication number: 20140309752
    Abstract: A device control system includes a positioning apparatus and a control apparatus connected to the positioning apparatus through a network. The positioning apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive detection data from an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor that are carried by a person; a position identifying unit configured to identify a position of the person in a control target area based on the detection data; an action-state detecting unit configured to detect an action state of the person based on the detection data; and a transmitter configured to transmit the identified position and the detected action state to the control apparatus. The control apparatus includes a device control unit configured to control a device arranged in the control target area based on the position and the action state of the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Hajime Yuzurihara, Takeo Tsukamoto, Takanori Inadome, Hideaki Aratani
  • Patent number: 8825182
    Abstract: A position control system to control the position of a movable object, including a position measurement system configured to determine an actual position related quantity of the movable object; a set-point generator to provide a position related set-point signal of the movable object; a comparator to provide an error signal on the basis of a comparison of the actual position related quantity and the position related set-point signal, a controller to provide a control signal on the basis of the error signal, a feed-forward device to provide a feed-forward signal on the basis of the position related set-point signal, and one or more actuators to act on the movable object on the basis of the control signal and the feed-forward signal, wherein the feed-forward device includes a disturbance force correction table including estimations of disturbance forces exerted on the movable object in dependence of a position of the movable object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Franciscus Johannes Simons, Norbertus Josephus Martinus Van Den Nieuwelaar, Marcel François Heertjes, Joost Jozef Hendrik Gielis, Ferdinand Bernardus Johannus Wilhelmus Maria Hendriks
  • Patent number: 8750824
    Abstract: A global mobility system and method for providing a global mobility framework. The system includes a mobility data collection unit, a mobility data management unit, and a device management unit. The data collection unit acquires real-time mobility data relating to a user and associated mobile and stationary devices. The data management unit manages mobility data and applies data to the devices in use. The device management unit activates and controls the operation of the devices based on available device and environmental data, and the mobility services subscribed by the user. The data management unit configures a device using the collected mobile data and prepares the device for operation in a respective environment. The device management unit prepares device work flows, activates and deactivates the devices, and controls the device operations based on the collected mobility data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Ravi Kumar Kanamatareddy
  • Patent number: 8744603
    Abstract: A method for executing mechanical overload protection to prevent commanding a control signal to a linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator when an overload condition of the linear actuator is detected, the linear actuator utilized for controlling a movable element associated with the linear actuator responsive to the control signal, includes monitoring an overload condition based on position change of the movable element associated with the linear actuator during an integration period and excess energy during the integration period, de-energizing the linear actuator when an overload condition has been detected, monitoring an overload retry counter based on the number of cycles the overload condition is detected, comparing the overload retry counter to an overload retry threshold, an reenergizing the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is less than the overload retry threshold and maintaining de-energizing of the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is at least
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xiujie Gao, Lei Hao, Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Derek L. Patterson, Mark A. Voss
  • Patent number: 8706264
    Abstract: A method for use in a part tracking system including a camera and a motion controller, the method comprising the steps of time synchronizing the motion controller and the camera at a trigger time when it is anticipated that a part is within the field of view of the camera, causing the camera to obtain an image, using the obtained image to determine an actual location of the part at the trigger time, comparing the actual location and the anticipated location of the part to identify a position difference and at the motion controller, using the position difference at the trigger time to adjust at least one operating characteristic of the automated system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventor: Dale Peterson
  • Patent number: 8682486
    Abstract: A robotic system that includes a mobile robot linked to a plurality of remote stations. One of the remote stations includes an arbitrator that controls access to the robot. Each remote station may be assigned a priority that is used by the arbitrator to determine which station has access to the robot. The arbitrator may include notification and call back mechanisms for sending messages relating to an access request and a granting of access for a remote station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Keith Phillip Laby, Jonathan Southard
  • Patent number: 8671292
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems provide processing capabilities while utilizing power received via an Ethernet. A computing device has an Ethernet connector for receiving power and data, internal power supply circuitry for extracting power from the Ethernet connector, and a Central Processing Unit (CPU) for receiving the power. A housing may encompass the components of the computing device and be configured for installation in an electrical wall box. The housing may include a display or connectors for peripherals. A system includes at least two computing devices. Each device has an Ethernet connector for receiving power and communicating with other devices and are installed within a housing within an electrical wall box. One device has a display for receiving user input instructions for transmittal to another device, while another device has a peripheral connector for controlling a peripheral according to the instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: American Megatrends, Inc.
    Inventor: Clas Gerhard Sivertsen
  • Patent number: 8670844
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device, particularly a machine tool device, having at least one computer (10), at least one transmitter (12) for transmitting a transmission signal (S1, S2), at least one receiver (14) for receiving at least one receiving signal (E1, E2, E3, E4) excited by the transmission signal (S1, S2), and at least one analysis unit (16) which is provided to calculate at least one parameter (P1, P2, P3, P4) by means of the receiving signal (E1, E2, E3, E4). The invention provides that the computer unit (10) is provided to compare the parameter (P1, P2, P3, P4) to at least one comparison parameter (V1, V2, V3, V4) calculated by means of at least one model (M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Krapf, Heiko Braun, Michael Mahler, Alexander Werner Hees
  • Patent number: 8655478
    Abstract: A method dresses a polishing member with a diamond dresser having diamond particles arranged on a surface thereof. The method includes determining dressing conditions by performing a simulation of a distribution of a sliding distance of the diamond dresser on a surface of the polishing member, and dressing the polishing member with the diamond dresser under the determined dressing conditions. The simulation includes calculating the sliding distance corrected in accordance with a depth of the diamond particles thrusting into the polishing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Fukuda, Yoshihiro Mochizuki, Yutaka Wada, Yoichi Shiokawa, Hirokuni Hiyama
  • Patent number: 8634863
    Abstract: There are obtained a mobile terminal device and a data transfer control program that, even in the case where a plurality of data that become a target of transfer exist, can simply carry out an operation to select data to be transferred from them and to start transfer itself without a mistake. An acceleration sensor 118 fixedly provided in the device is activated at a state where the data to be transferred are displayed on a first liquid crystal display 104 and selected by an operation section 112. A control section 121 starts the transfer of the data using an infrared communication section 105 at the time when to become a posture of a specific angle range continuously more than once. Since a predetermined melody comes out from a speaker 110 during the transfer of the data, it is possible to know that the transfer is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Motoyoshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8606373
    Abstract: A firefighting monitor system includes a monitor, a controller selectively generating signals to the monitor for controlling the monitor, and a computer. The computer is configured to receive input from a user relative to the monitor or the controller. The computer generates an output based on the input, and the output is transmitted to the controller for controlling the monitor or the controller in accordance with the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd B. Lozier, James M. Trapp, Lee R. Jones, Eric N. Combs
  • Patent number: 8595400
    Abstract: A programmable controller includes a master unit and a plurality of slave units connected to a system bus in a daisy chain. The master unit transmits a batch of transmission frames addressed to different slave units consecutively a predetermined plurality of times, without waiting to receive the response from the slave units. Thus, the transmission frames can be transmitted reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8594852
    Abstract: A device for controlling the motion of a fluid actuator which includes an electrically operated control valve that controls the flow of a pressurized fluid to and from the fluid actuator in response to signals generated by an actuator controller which uses an on-board, user programmable microprocessor where the user can download various control algorithms into the microprocessor for controlling the motion of the actuator based on such parameters as fluid pressure and flow rates and actuator displacement. Various external sensors can be connected to the controller for monitoring and control purposes using various signal interfaces such as an analog to digital converter or an SSI interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Eric Alstrin, Peter Lauer, Bert Robb
  • Patent number: 8588434
    Abstract: Various aspects of this disclosure are directed to determining an orientation of a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may include a first microphone-speaker system and a second microphone-speaker system that can each provide microphone and speaker capabilities. The first microphone-speaker system may be enabled to operate as a speaker device. The enabling of the first microphone-speaker system may include allowing the first microphone-speaker system to provide audio output and disallowing the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the first microphone-speaker system. The second microphone-speaker system may be enabled to operate as a microphone. Enabling the second microphone-speaker system may include allowing the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the second microphone-speaker system and disallowing the second microphone-speaker system to provide audio output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Lawrence Morrill
  • Patent number: 8576071
    Abstract: An automatic lock and automatic unlock method for a computer system and the associated computer system are provided. The method includes steps of detecting whether a user is in a predetermined range when a computer system is in an unlock status and recording a duration during which the user is not in the predetermined range, controlling the computer system to enter a lock status when the duration is greater than a predetermined time, determining whether the user has an effective authority when the computer system is in the lock status and the user is detected in the predetermined range, and controlling the computer system to enter the unlock status when the user has the effective authority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Chih Lo, Feng-Jian Chou, Chih-Yuan Hsieh, Wei Chang