Inclinometer Patents (Class 702/154)
  • Patent number: 11952010
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle comprises a chassis, a pair of front wheels rotationally mounted to the chassis, a steering mechanism connected to the front wheels, wherein the steering mechanism is characterized by a steering geometry, a vehicle dynamics prediction module for predicting a vehicle dynamics condition and for generating a control signal based on the vehicle dynamics condition, and a steering geometry adjustment mechanism connected to the steering mechanism for automatically adjusting the steering geometry in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Matthew MacGregor Roy
  • Patent number: 11906333
    Abstract: Data is utilized more efficiently and effectively. A position detection device includes a plurality of scales that each record absolute data embedded with a scale ID for identifying a scale, a detector that detects the absolute data from each of the plurality of scales, and an extractor that extracts, from the detected absolute data, the scale ID and position data representing the position of the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DMG MORI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ishimoto, Kayoko Taniguchi, Chihiro Murayama
  • Patent number: 11858837
    Abstract: A sequencing batch reactor includes a liquid level sensor configured to measure a level of liquid in the vessel and provide an indication of the level of the liquid to a controller and a sludge detector configured to measure a position of an interface between sludge and solids-lean supernatant in the vessel and to provide an indication of the position of the interface to the controller. The controller is configured to perform a comparison between the level of the liquid and the position of the interface and control an amount of solids-lean supernatant removed from the vessel during the decant stage based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Lee Lindemann, Michael Casey Whittier
  • Patent number: 11105627
    Abstract: Technologies for tracking and locating underground assets include a survey instrument having an asset tracking device. The asset tracking device determines a current geographic location of the survey instrument and a heading of a sensor group of the survey instrument when aimed at a target measurement point of an underground asset. The asset tracking device measures the distance between the sensor group and the target measurement point of the underground asset. The asset tracking device also determines the pitch of the sensor group when aimed at the target measurement point of the underground asset. The effective height of the sensor group relative to the elevation at the survey location is also determined. The asset tracking device determines the geographic location and a corresponding depth of the target measurement point on the underground asset based on the determined and measured information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: HOWELL ASSET LOCATOR, LLC
    Inventors: James P. Howell, Matthew B. Sunday, Joseph H. Althaus
  • Patent number: 10952044
    Abstract: A method of determining a position of a mobile device in a vehicle during a drive includes measuring at least one first acceleration magnitude of the mobile device in a gravity direction with at least one sensor of the mobile device, measuring at least one second acceleration magnitude of the mobile device in the gravity direction with the at least one sensor of the mobile device, the at least one second acceleration magnitude separated in time from the at least one first acceleration magnitude, comparing the at least one first acceleration magnitude with the at least one second acceleration magnitude, and based on a result of the comparing, predicting the position of the mobile device in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TRUEMOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Brad Cordova, Joe Adelmann
  • Patent number: 10507886
    Abstract: A bicycle controller controls a motor in accordance with the riding environment of a bicycle. The bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit that is configured to control a motor, which assists pedaling of a bicycle in accordance with a manual driving force. The electronic control unit is further configured to change a response speed of the motor with respect to a change in the manual driving force in accordance with an inclination angle of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10203259
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a vehicle state recognition unit configured to determine states of a vehicle using an acceleration value and an angular velocity value, a stopping state gravity vector calculation unit configured to calculate a stopping state gravity vector value, an accelerating state vehicle acceleration vector calculation unit configured to calculate a vehicle acceleration vector value, a vehicle pitch angle vector calculation unit configured to calculate a vehicle pitch angle vector value, and a vehicle pitch angle calculation unit configured to calculate a vehicle pitch angle using a corresponding vehicle pitch angle vector value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Autron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Yoon Yee
  • Patent number: 9982992
    Abstract: A dimension measuring system includes a target positioning system mounted on a railroad track's parallel rails. The target positioning system includes two targets positioned at fixed positions in a first plane perpendicular to the rails, and another two targets positioned at fixed positions in a second plane perpendicular to the rails and spaced-apart from the first plane. A laser-based distance measuring device measures vector distances to the four targets. A processor, coupled to the laser-based distance measuring device, determines an elevation of each of the rails in the first plane and second plane using the vector distances and the fixed positions of the targets in the first and second planes. The elevation of each the rails in the first and second planes define a top-of-rail reference plane used by the processor when dimensions of an object above the top-of-rail reference plane are to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEDSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Brian S. Daniel
  • Patent number: 9784565
    Abstract: A dimension measuring system and method are provided. Two track reference target (TRT) assemblies are positioned at spaced-apart locations on a railroad track's rails. Each of the TRT assemblies has two targets at fixed positions in a plane perpendicular to the rails. For each of the TRT assemblies, at least one of the two targets is positioned at a known and fixed height over one of the rails. A laser-based distance measuring device measures vector distances to the two targets associated with each of the TRT assemblies. The vector distances are processed in combination with the fixed positions to determine an elevation of each of the rails in the plane associated with each of the TRT assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems Inc.
    Inventor: Brian S Daniel
  • Patent number: 9630623
    Abstract: A method for operating a speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises detecting an external force acting on the vehicle wherein the external force has an accelerating or decelerating effect on the vehicle. The method further comprises automatically adjusting a rate of change of at least one component of a net torque being applied to one or more wheels of the vehicle to compensate for the accelerating or decelerating effect of the external force on the vehicle. A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising an electronic control unit configured to perform the above-described methodology is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, Daniel Woolliscroft, James Kelly
  • Patent number: 9454264
    Abstract: A manipulation input device includes a projection component, a photodetector and an inclination determination component. The projection component projects an image on a projection surface by scanning light from a light source. The photodetector detects as scattered light the light reflected by a manipulation object. The inclination determination component acquires, for a plurality of scan lines of the light, position information of the manipulation object that is specified based on scanning angle information when the photodetector has detected the scattered light, and width information of the manipulation object that corresponds to a continuous detection duration during which the photodetector continuously detects the scattered light. The inclination determination component determines inclination of the manipulation object based on at least one of a temporal change in a plurality of sets of the width information and a temporal change in a plurality of sets of the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka, Shintaro Izukawa
  • Patent number: 9175956
    Abstract: A construction laser system includes a rotation laser and a laser receiver. To determine a direction in which the laser receiver lies in sight of the rotation laser, a digital code respectively assigned uniquely to the respective rotation angle ranges includes a state value sequence based on a defined sequence of states relating to the laser beam. In the respective rotation angle ranges, the corresponding sequence of states is respectively generated by successively occurring crossings of the respective rotation angle range. On the receiver side, an output signal is generated as a function of incidence of the laser beam. With the aid of an output signal sequence of successively generated output signals, which is acquired by the evaluation unit, the state value sequence corresponding to the acquired output signal sequence is identified, permitting final determination of the corresponding rotation angle range in which the laser receiver lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Thilo Fessler, Bernd Stöckel
  • Patent number: 9127891
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable and executable instructions are described herein. One method includes combining a plurality of images of a furnace into a composite image of the furnace, revising the composite image of the furnace to an intensity scaling, restoring a portion of the revised composite image of the furnace; and displaying a view of the restored revised composite image of the furnace to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Kwong Wing Au, Sharath Venkatesha, Matthew Martin
  • Publication number: 20150149114
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for monitoring the integrity of a subsea pipeline network to transport the production fluid from a subsurface wellhead to surface facilities. More specifically, the described methods and systems are for monitoring the integrity of a riser pipe network and can include installing one or more inclinometers to the buoyancy tank and/or vertical riser structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
    Inventor: Vincent Alliot
  • Publication number: 20150120240
    Abstract: A slope calculation device basically includes at least one first detection sensor, a speed sensor, a data storage unit and a control unit. The at least one first detection sensor detects at least one parameter related to a first energy inputted to a bicycle. The speed sensor detects a travel speed at which the bicycle is traveling. The data storage unit stores a total weight of the bicycle and the rider. The control unit is programmed to determine the first energy based on the parameter detected by the first detection sensor, calculate a second energy based on the travel speed detected by the speed sensor and the total weight of the bicycle and the rider stored in the data storage unit. The control unit is further programmed to calculate a slope based on the first energy and the second energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Junya FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20150120239
    Abstract: A slope calculation device basically includes at least one first detection sensor, a speed sensor, a data storage device and a control unit. The at least one first detection sensor detects at least one parameter related to a first energy inputted to a bicycle by a rider of the bicycle. The speed sensor detects a travel speed at which the bicycle is traveling. The data storage device stores a total weight of the bicycle and the rider. The control unit is programmed to determine the first energy based on the parameter detected by the first detection sensor, calculate a second energy based on the travel speed detected by the speed sensor and the total weight of the bicycle and the rider stored in the data storage device. The control unit is further programmed to calculate a slope based on the first energy and the second energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Junya FUJITA
  • Patent number: 9020776
    Abstract: An inclination angle compensation system for determining an inclination angle of a machine is disclosed. The inclination angle compensation system may have a non-gravitational acceleration estimator configured to estimate a non-gravitational acceleration of a machine based on an estimated inclination angle and an acceleration output from a forward acceleration sensor. The inclination angle compensation system may also have an inclination angle sensor corrector configured to receive an inclination angle output from an inclination angle sensor, determine an inclination angle sensor acceleration based on the inclination angle output, and calculate a corrected inclination angle of the machine based on the non-gravitational acceleration and the inclination angle sensor acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Russell Friend
  • Patent number: 9009000
    Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine can include a base, a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, an electronic circuit that receives the position signals from the transducers, a first inclinometer coupled to the base, wherein the inclinometer is configured to produce a first electrical signal responsive to an angle of tilt of the base and an electrical system configured to record a first reading of the first inclinometer and a second reading of the first inclinometer, wherein the first reading is in response to at least one of a first force applied to the base and a third force applied to the mounting structure, wherein the second reading is in response to at least one of a second force applied to the base and a fourth force applied to the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Faro Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick John York, Brent Bailey
  • Patent number: 9009516
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes determining, based on motion data generated by a motion sensor of a wearable computing device, a plurality of motion vectors, wherein one or more components operatively coupled to the wearable computing device are operating in a first power mode during a first time period; determining, based on the plurality of motion vectors, a plurality of values. In this example, the method also includes, responsive to determining that each of the plurality of values satisfies a corresponding threshold, transitioning, by at least one component of the one or more components, from operating in the first power mode to operating in a second power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Gabayan, William Haldean Brown
  • Publication number: 20150100272
    Abstract: A method and system is described for determining attitude for a satellite. A two-axis ram sensor head measures neutral winds and provides a density of the neutral winds. A three-axis magnetometer measures a geomagnetic field. A measurement interface module calculates attitude information, which includes three-axis attitude knowledge of a satellite relative to a local-vertical local-horizontal orbit frame, based on the combined ram measurements and magnetic field measurements, and provides the attitude information to a satellite that comprises the attitude sensor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Andrew C. Nicholas, Nelson Creamer, Theodore T. Finne, Federico A. Herrero
  • Patent number: 9002676
    Abstract: A gravity direction calculating apparatus for calculating a direction of gravity with respect to an input device, including: an obtaining logic unit for successively obtaining acceleration data output from a multi-axis acceleration sensor included in the input device; a period detecting logic unit for detecting a period from start to end of movement of the input device, as a movement period, based on the obtained acceleration data; and a gravity direction calculating logic unit for calculating a sum of one or more acceleration vectors corresponding to one or more pieces of acceleration data obtained during the movement period, a direction determined by a vector indicated by the sum being the gravity direction, wherein the acceleration vector is a vector whose components are acceleration values with respect to a plurality of axes of acceleration values with respect to axes indicated by the acceleration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenta Sato
  • Publication number: 20150032411
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, the received signal of a level sensor is sampled at discrete times, and the sampled values are digitised. New values are obtained from the digitised sample values by rotating the phase through a predetermined angle, which new values are then used together with the digital sample values to calculate the envelope curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Hoferer, Roland Welle, Werner Reich
  • Publication number: 20140372074
    Abstract: A sensor uses an accelerometer to measure acceleration values in two axes to detect if a tip-over angle of a system has exceeded a tip-over threshold angle ?. Each acceleration value is respectively multiplied by a corresponding factor a, b. The two factors a, b are chosen as a function of the tip-over threshold angle ?. Two values are calculated and each calculated value is compared to zero. Depending upon which values are greater than or less than zero determines whether the tip-over angle has been exceeded. The detector, upon sensing of a tipped-over condition, provides a signal indicative of that condition. The output signal can be employed to trigger an alarm or to shut down a device that has tipped over or to otherwise denote the tipped-over condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Dribinsky, Kenichi Katsumoto, Hongzhi Sun, John Newton
  • Patent number: 8909498
    Abstract: A method and system for testing and calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is a test system for an electronic device having an accelerometer with three mutually orthogonal sensing axes, the test system comprising: a test fixture having: a nest defining a cavity for receiving an electronic device; wherein the nest is configured so that, when the test fixture is substantially horizontal, a two-dimensional sensing plane defined by two of the sensing axes of the accelerometer is substantially horizontal and the third sensing axis is perpendicular to the two-dimensional sensing plane and substantially parallel to the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Marc Adam Kennedy, Arkady Ivannikov, Aleksandar Papo
  • Patent number: 8886258
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (200) is disclosed. It can include: an electronic device (210) including a display (240); a wearable device (242) including a first orientation detector (244) configured to detect a suitable display viewing orientation; and a controller (220) including a power saving module (290) coupled to the electronic device (210), the controller (220) configured to control the operations of at least the display (240) in response to a suitable orientation detection. Advantageously, the wireless communication device (200) can provides a simple, portable, compact and robust power savings feature that can actuate a display when properly orientated for viewing by a user and not actuate the display when not suitably oriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Rachid M Alameh, Gregory R. Black, Daniel J Sadler
  • Patent number: 8879363
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a display unit, a communication unit, a tilt detector, an acceleration detector, and a power-off unit. The display unit displays information including information of time. The communication unit performs near field communication with an external device via an antenna. The tilt detector detects a tilting movement of a main body of the electronic timepiece. The acceleration detector detects an accelerated movement of the main body. The power-off unit turns off a power of the communication unit when the tilt detector does not detect the tilting movement and when the acceleration detector does not detect the accelerated movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaomi Yonekura
  • Patent number: 8872645
    Abstract: A method is provided of estimating a road grade of a current driven road. A nominal value of a vehicle operating parameter is measured during a nominal vehicle operating condition. The vehicle operating parameter is related to a vehicle thrust power. The nominal value of the vehicle operating condition is comprised of a nominal acceleration corresponding to the nominal value when the vehicle is driven on a substantially non-inclined road. The nominal value and nominal acceleration is stored in a memory. An actual value of the vehicle operating parameter is determined during a current vehicle operating condition. A vehicle acceleration corresponding to the actual value of the vehicle operating parameter is measured. The road grade of the current driven road is estimated as a function of a comparison between the measured acceleration value and the nominal acceleration that would be expected for the actual value of the vehicle operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi, Elizabeth S Nunning
  • Publication number: 20140316740
    Abstract: A method for determining the inclination of a tower, in particular of a wind turbine, in relation to the gravitational field, by evaluating the output signal from an acceleration sensor configured to pick up static acceleration in the direction of a sensor measurement axis, which method is simple to use and can be carried out on any wind turbines. It is proposed that the acceleration sensor is attached to a component, preferably to a main frame, which can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the tower in an azimuth angular range of at least 180°, such that the sensor measurement axis is oriented substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the component, the output signals, in the case of various azimuth angles, being successively measured and recorded by rotating the component between measurements, the inclination being determined by evaluation of the series of measurements obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: GR Garrad Hassan Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Nils Heining
  • Publication number: 20140278226
    Abstract: A method for characterizing the surface over which a vehicle is to be rolled during a rolling compensation procedure. A set of wheel alignment angle sensors are mounted to the rearmost fixed axle of a vehicle which is then backed onto the floor surface to be characterized, and rolled in reverse over the region of the floor surface generally traversed during a rolling compensation procedure. As the vehicle is rolled in reverse, a pair of wheel alignment angle sensors temporarily positioned at selected points on the floor surface measure a distance to the wheel-mounted alignment angle sensors, which in turn, are acquiring camber angle measurements. The resulting set of measurements is stored in an accessible data storage device, characterizing the camber altering contours of a path across the floor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Stieff, James W. McClenahan, J. Kaleb Silver, Timothy A. Strege, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III
  • Patent number: 8831777
    Abstract: A program changing device includes a sequence interchanging unit for interchanging plural teaching points in a teaching sequence such that total movement time of a robot becomes smaller than that when the robot is moved in line with an initial teaching sequence of the teaching points, a calculating unit for calculating difference amounts between the initial teaching points and a trajectory of the robot that is obtained by executing an after-interchanged operational program by simulation, a position adjusting unit for adjusting positions of the teaching points of the after-interchanged operational program until the difference amounts become equal to or smaller than a predetermined allowable value, and a teaching point changing unit for changing the adjusted teaching points to be the initial teaching points when cycle time of the after-interchanged operational program including the adjusted teaching points is longer than initial cycle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Yuuki Kimoto
  • Patent number: 8788241
    Abstract: A system for inspecting the hull of a vessel includes a movable machine which moves on the hull and a positioning element to determine an instantaneous position of the machine in a reference point. The positioning element includes: —first and second coaxial encoding wheels separated from each other by an inter-wheel spacing and in contact with the hull, and are capable of measuring first and second linear movements of the machine; —first and second inclinometers arranged so as to measure inclinations, relative to a reference direction, of a first axis and a second axis of a frame of reference linked to the machine; and, —a processing element, which receives data measured in order to calculate a variation of the position of the machine in the frame of reference, and in order to integrate the successive position variations in order to obtain the instantaneous position of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: DCNS
    Inventor: Olivier Myx
  • Patent number: 8781789
    Abstract: A method for determining an incline angle of electromagnetic pointer is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, an electromagnetic input pen/stylus is provided over antennas Xn/Yn along X/Y axes. Then a plurality of antennas at two sides of the antennas Xn/Yn are scanned. Next the signal distributions of the antennas Xn/Yn and the antennas at two side are analyzed. Then the number of antenna sampled of the signal distributions of the antennas at two side is determined. Next the antennas at two side are selected and the signal distributions are sampled and received according to the number of antenna sampled. Finally, an incline angle of the electromagnetic pointer is determined according to the sampled signal distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Waltop International Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Liang Hsieh, Yun-Hsiang Yeh, Chia-Jui Yeh
  • Publication number: 20140180633
    Abstract: Determining an object's inclination fixed reference frame relative to a gravity field includes supplying circularly disposed accelerometers rigidly linked by the object and measuring in non-collinear directions. A radius linking it to the circle's center defines an accelerometer's measurement direction. The accelerometers measure components of the field along the measurement directions to provide measurement values. Then, a matrix equation is solved to obtain the object's inclination relative to the reference frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Mikael Carmona, Laurent Jouanet, Nathalie Sprynski
  • Publication number: 20140149071
    Abstract: Method of determining the longitudinal pitch of blocks of a tread band having a raised pattern with a number of longitudinal grooves and transverse grooves; the method including the step of calculating a best longitudinal pitch of the blocks, to minimize pass-by noise at a given target speed, as a function of the resonance frequency of the longitudinal grooves and an integer greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nicola Pieroni
  • Publication number: 20140081595
    Abstract: We describe improved techniques for airborne gravity gradiometer surveys. In particular we describe a method and system for performing a gravity gradiometer survey of a surveyed region of terrain, the method comprising: providing an aircraft with a gravity gradiometer; flying said aircraft over said terrain at a speed of at least 100 m/s and at an average height above said terrain of above said terrain of at least 300 m; and collecting gravity gradient data for said surveyed region of terrain from said gravity gradiometer, said gravity gradient data comprising data for at least one component of the gravity gradient tensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: ARKeX Limited
    Inventors: Jeremy White, Richard James Foster-Turner, Gary Barnes, Phillip Houghton
  • Publication number: 20140074429
    Abstract: In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a reading from a magnetometer of a mobile device. A cluster from a plurality of clusters of bias offsets generated from previously-calibrated readings is selected. The selected cluster has a representative bias offset, a mean of magnitudes in the selected cluster, and a magnitude threshold. An external magnetic field is estimated based on the reading and the representative bias offset for the selected cluster. Whether a magnitude of the estimated external field is within a magnitude range defined by the mean magnitude and the mean magnitude plus the magnitude threshold is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Sunny Kai Pang Chow, Xiaoyuan Tu
  • Publication number: 20140067318
    Abstract: An inclination angle determination system for determining an inclination angle of a machine is disclosed. The inclination angle determination system may have an inclinometer, an accelerometer, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine the inclination angle by receiving inclination data from the inclinometer and derived inclination data based on acceleration data from the accelerometer. The controller may compare the inclination data and the derived inclination data, and may determine which of the inclination data and the derived inclination data to use as the inclination angle of the machine based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Russell Friend
  • Patent number: 8666623
    Abstract: A method for controlling and/or regulating an automatic transmission of a vehicle, depending on the driving route slope in which a winding mountain pass road detection is carried out, depending upon a topography of the driving route, in such a way that a time for either setting or resetting winding mountain pass road detection is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Matthias Winkel, Bertram Wengert
  • Patent number: 8652699
    Abstract: This fuel cell system is for suppressing a backflow of water from an exhaust pipe outlet that discharges a reactant-off gas, without decreasing the performance and fuel consumption of a fuel cell, the exhaust pipe being configured to switch between a main discharge pipe and a sub discharge pipe by a switching means to discharge the reactant-off gas. The sub discharge pipe includes a rising gradient portion formed to incline upwards above a gradient of the main discharge pipe and a falling gradient portion formed to incline downwards at the downstream of the rising gradient portion. The switching valve switches to allow the reactant-off gas to be discharged from the main discharge pipe if an amount of reactant-off gas to be discharged is equal to or above a threshold value of an amount of discharge, and allow the reactant-off gas to be discharged from the sub discharge pipe if the amount of reactant-off gas to be discharged is below the threshold value of the amount of discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Suematsu, Tomotaka Ishikawa, Yuichi Sakajo
  • Publication number: 20140025335
    Abstract: An example information processing device calculates an attitude of an input unit having a magnetic sensor. The information processing device repeatedly obtains detected magnetic vectors detected by the magnetic sensor. The information processing device stores the detected magnetic vectors in a storage unit where each detected magnetic vector is classified based on a direction from a reference position to the end point position of the detected magnetic vector. The information processing device repeatedly estimates a center position of a spherical body having a curved surface which is estimated based on the end point positions of detected magnetic vectors obtained by extracting, from among the classified detected magnetic vectors, at least one detected magnetic vector for each class. The attitude of the input unit is calculated based on a direction vector representing a direction from the center position to the end point position of the detected magnetic vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keizo OHTA
  • Patent number: 8626471
    Abstract: A method and system for testing and calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is a method of testing and calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device, comprising: detecting the electronic device within a nest of a test fixture; calculating an offset value for each sensing axis of the accelerometer in response to detecting the electronic device within the nest; and storing the offset values in a memory of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Marc Adam Kennedy, Arkady Ivannikov, Aleksandar Papo
  • Patent number: 8597570
    Abstract: Provided are a measurement device by which the blood-sugar level or the like associated with the living activity of a diabetic patient can be measured easily and precisely and the measured valued associated with the living activity can be clinically applied easily, and an insulin infusion device, a measurement method, a method for controlling an insulin fusion device, and a program. A blood-sugar level measurement device (100) is provided with a blood-sugar level sensor (200) and an acceleration sensor (112) for measuring movement information associated with human body activity, wherein a CPU (110 controls, on the basis of the measured movement information, whether or not the measurement operation of a blood-sugar measurement circuit (113) can be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Terashima, Masataka Nadaoka
  • Patent number: 8589118
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conveyor diagnostic device diagnoses an abnormal state of a cyclically moving conveyor. The conveyor diagnostic device includes a first tilt sensor, a second tilt sensor, a table, and a processing unit. The first and second tilt sensors are attached to a predetermined position of the conveyor and detect tilt angles of the conveyor in a vertical direction and horizontal direction, respectively. The table indicates a relationship between a tilt angle which changes in the vertical direction and sections included in one revolution of the conveyor. The processing unit specifies an abnormality occurrence position of the conveyor based on a tilt angle in the vertical direction, the table, and an elapsed time after ingression for a section corresponding to the tilt angle in the vertical direction, when a tilt angle in the horizontal direction exceeds a predetermined management limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kimito Idemori, Takahiro Shirota, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Sumi, Tomohiko Tanimoto, Nobutaka Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8583324
    Abstract: In a method for determining the angle of inclination of a two-wheeled vehicle of the type of a bicycle, a scooter or a motorcycle with respect to the roadway normal, the angle of inclination is able to be determined simply and accurately if the transverse acceleration of the vehicle is measured using a transverse acceleration sensor and the acceleration in the direction of the vertical axis of the vehicle is ascertained and the angle of inclination with respect to the roadway normal is calculated based on the two acceleration values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Niewels, Markus Lemejda
  • Publication number: 20130262026
    Abstract: A controller (26) of a surveying instrument including a GPS receiver (28) and a transmitter and receiver section (24) for communicating with a prism device including a GPS receiver (58), an atmospheric pressure sensor (60), a temperature sensor (32), and a transmitter and receiver section (54) for communicating with the surveying instrument calculates an azimuth angle of the prism device when viewed from the surveying instrument and a distance therebetween from positions of the prism device and surveying instrument obtained from the GPS receivers, further calculates an elevation angle of the prism device when viewed from the surveying instrument from the distance and atmospheric pressures at the positions of the prism device and surveying instrument, and issues a rotation command to a horizontal drive section (16) and a vertical drive section (18), so that a collimating telescope can be immediately and automatically directed toward a reflecting prism for measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SOKKIA TOPCON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Homare Momiyama, Masaru Muraki
  • Patent number: 8548722
    Abstract: A tilt sensor and method comprises a first accelerometer for measuring a first acceleration level associated with a first axis of the vehicle. A second accelerometer measures a second acceleration level associated with a second axis of the vehicle that is generally perpendicular to the first axis. A data processor is capable of determining an arcsine-derived tilt based on an arcsine equation and the determined first acceleration level. The data processor is capable of determining an arc-cosine-derived tilt based on an arccosine equation and the determined second acceleration level. The data processor comprises a selector for selecting the arcsine-derived tilt as the final tilt of the vehicle if the determined arcsine-derived tilt is lesser than the determined arccosine derived tilt such that the final tilt compensates for vertical acceleration associated with changes in the terrain in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Puhalla, Nikolai R. Tevs
  • Patent number: 8548689
    Abstract: A system for detecting pitch of a machine caused by operation of a machine implement is provided. The system may include an inclination sensor for sensing inclination of the machine and producing inclination data representing inclination of the machine over time. An acceleration sensor for sensing acceleration of the machine and producing acceleration data representing acceleration of the machine over time can be provided. A controller in communication with the inclination and acceleration sensors respectively receives the inclination and acceleration data. The controller can be configured to process the inclination data so as to detect a sudden inclination change and to process the acceleration data so as to detect a sudden acceleration change. The controller can be further configured to determine a machine pitch condition upon concurrently detecting a sudden inclination change and a sudden acceleration change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paroma Banerjee, Troy Becicka
  • Patent number: 8538722
    Abstract: A feature transformation apparatus recognizes activities of subjects in adaptation to each individual and improves recognition accuracy. The feature transformation apparatus includes a section that acquires respective prescribed activity data of one or more reference individuals and a subject when the one or more reference individuals and the subject perform a prescribed activity. A section extracts a reference individual feature of the one or more reference individuals and a subject feature of the subject. A calculation section calculates at least one standard feature based on the one or more reference individual features. A transform matrix between the standard feature and the subject feature is calculated. Recognition object activity data is acquired when the subject performs a recognition object activity. A recognition object feature of the subject is extracted from the recognition object activity data. The recognition object feature is transformed using the transform matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Futoshi Naya
  • Patent number: 8532899
    Abstract: An inclinometer using speed, acceleration and yaw angle rate to measure inclination angle. The accuracy of the inclination angle measurement may be improved by compensating for a position offset of an accelerometer; Kalman filtering with an external altitude measurement; and/or compensating for an accelerometer bias. The accelerometer bias may be calculated based on a last incline angle before a dormant time period and/or by Kalman filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Peter Van Wyck Loomis
  • Publication number: 20130185004
    Abstract: A system, a device and a method are for retrieval of measured values, items of diagnostic information or device parameters in level measurement, pressure measurement, flow measurement or limit detection. Provided in the measuring device is a flag which is raised when the measuring device changes a measuring device parameter, for example. An external control device receives this flag and, using said flag, can determine whether a device parameter has been changed in the measuring device. If this is the case, it requests the group of device parameters, associated with this device parameter, from the measuring device. In this manner, the transfer of data can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: VEGA Grieshaber KG