Speed, Velocity, Or Acceleration Patents (Class 73/488)
  • Patent number: 8170277
    Abstract: An automatic tracking apparatus is provided, which is capable of solving a failure occurred in an automatic tracking operation in connection with a zooming operation, and capable of tracking an object in a stable manner, while a zooming-up operation, or a zooming-down operation is carried out in a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Michimoto, Satoru Ooyabu
  • Publication number: 20120085171
    Abstract: A device for measuring a speed of a material includes a body unit disposed at an exit side of a rolling stand and placed below a material which is transferred from the rolling stand; and a speed measuring unit installed on the body unit and constructed to measure a speed of the material transferred from the rolling stand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI STEEL COMPANY
    Inventors: Yong Kook Park, Gap Soo Lim
  • Patent number: 8141423
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first electronic component having a terminal member and a second electronic component connected with the first electronic component. The terminal member includes a trunk portion, an external terminal portion that extends in a straight direction from the trunk portion to be connected with a lead wire at its connection end and a U-shaped internal terminal portion that has one side extending from the trunk portion and the other side extending in a direction opposite to the straight direction and connected with the second electronic component at its connection end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoya Takayama
  • Publication number: 20120067122
    Abstract: A bank angle detecting device includes an angular velocity sensor for detecting a roll rate and a yaw rate of the vehicle, a roll rate estimating circuit for calculating an estimated roll rate, which is an angular velocity about a forward and rearward axis, on the basis of the roll rate, the yaw rate and a travelling speed, a bank angle estimator for calculating an estimated bank angle from the estimated roll rate, a straightforward travel determiner for determining a straightforward travelling condition on the basis of the estimated roll rate and an estimated yaw rate, a time-of-straight-forward-travel drift amount estimator for estimating a time-of-straight-forward drift amount from an output of the angular sensor in the event that the straightforward travel determiner determines a straightforward travel, and an angular velocity corrector for correcting the output of the angular velocity sensor with the time-of-straight-forward drift amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Takuya Sakamoto, Yoshiteru Harada
  • Publication number: 20120042725
    Abstract: The invention detects variation in the speed of the bicycle's drive chain using a sensor. Variations in chain speed are measured, with the resulting numbers displayed to be visible to the cyclist in real-time and/or saved for later downloading and viewing via computer. Metrics that can be calculated using variations in chain speed include: a smoothness index, which indicates how evenly the cyclist is applying force/power; chain speed variation to show the contribution of each leg to the overall force/power delivered; pedaling cadence; and a calculation of gear ratios. Some of these metrics can use inputs from additional sensors, such as a cadence sensor that is tripped by each revolution of the bicycle's crank arm, and wheel speed or GPS sensor for measuring the bicycle's speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Alan Francis Cote, John Charles Croy, Jean Joseph Cote
  • Publication number: 20120036930
    Abstract: An extrusion-coating method for a sensor device, including the following steps: providing a sensor module, which is completely enclosed by a first medium, supporting by a support bar on the first medium of the sensor module, extrusion-coating the sensor module using a second medium, so that a sealing connection is formed between the first medium and the second medium and extracting the support bar. Also, a sensor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Peter Kunert
  • Patent number: 8113494
    Abstract: Active cushioning mechanisms that detect imminent impact and activate a damper by driving power from an onboard power supply into an electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator transforms the stored electric power into an electromechanical damping force. The actuators may be arranged about the exterior surface of the device, and may be selectively activated to provide protection at different points on the surface depending on the location of expected impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ashwin Sunder
  • Publication number: 20110313684
    Abstract: A g-force-sensitive label for detecting and indicating the application of a g-force is provided, the g-force sensitive label comprising an area for detecting and indicating an application of a g-force above a threshold value on the g-force sensitive label and an attachment area for attaching the g-force sensitive label on an object. At least one physical property of the area measurably changes its state upon applying a g-force above the threshold value, thereby altering a displayed pattern such that a machine-readable 1D or 2D or alphanumeric code is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Frederic Furrer, Mark James Simmons
  • Publication number: 20110276312
    Abstract: A device for monitoring eating behavior of a user is provided. The device includes at least one sensor mounted on a head of the user, the sensor being capable of detecting jaw muscle movement and sound while not occluding an ear canal of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Tadmor Shalon, Leonardo Gabriel Neumeyer
  • Patent number: 8044670
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a resonant frequency of a wind turbine tower is provided. The apparatus includes a processing unit configured to receive an acceleration measurement value, the acceleration measurement value representative of the acceleration of the wind turbine tower in the direction parallel to a rotor rotational axis of the wind turbine and/or in the direction perpendicular to both the rotor rotational axis and the tower axis of the wind turbine. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store a series of acceleration measurement values, and the processing unit includes a Fourier transform module configured to calculate a spectral vector based on calculating a convolution-based fast Fourier transform of the series of acceleration measurement values, and includes a resonant frequency calculation module configured to calculate the tower resonant frequency based on the calculated spectral vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Bjerge, Per Egedal
  • Publication number: 20110246123
    Abstract: A method for monitoring kinetic motion includes: capturing acceleration data of a human body of interest from a plurality of points on the human body of interest; using the plurality of points that correlate to parts of the human body of interest to determine a position or view of the human body of interest, wherein the position or view includes a kinetic signature comprising motion characteristics; and displaying a live representation of the human body of interest by using the determined position or view of the human body of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
    Inventors: James J. DelloStritto, Albert Goldfain, Min Xu
  • Publication number: 20110226038
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of determining an instantaneous speed of an arrow, includes determining a time-of-flight of the arrow; determining a distance between a location from which the arrow is loosed and a location of a target-face; providing, with an apparatus included in the arrow, data from at least a portion of a free flight of the arrow; and determining the instantaneous speed of the arrow for at least one point of the free-flight by employing each of: a) the time-of-flight; b) the distance; and c) at least some of the data provided by the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: FULL FLIGHT TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Robert V. Donahoe, John Barton, Jan Vcelak
  • Publication number: 20110218757
    Abstract: Sensing a change in motion proximate to a body part of a person via one or more sensing elements disposed on a flexible substrate and having a sufficient mechanical coupling to the body part. A proximity of the sensing element(s) to the body part is detected, and power is coupled to or decoupled from the sensing element(s) based at least in part on the detected proximity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Gilman Callsen, Roozbeh Ghaffari, William J. Arora, Bassel de Graff, Benjamin Schlatka, Jeffrey D. Carbeck
  • Publication number: 20110208472
    Abstract: Tri-axial acceleration component data detected by a tri-axial acceleration sensor of acceleration acting on a movement detection device is split into respective stationary components obtained by low-pass filtering processing and movement components of the acceleration component data from which the respective stationary component has been removed. Which axial direction has been moved in is detected based on the split movement component expressing the maximum value. A shake duration is detected as a period of time from the point in time when this maximum movement component exceeded a threshold value expressing an upper limit value of a specific range up to once again becoming a value in the specific range after becoming less than a threshold value expressing a lower limit value, or as a period of time from the point in time when the movement component became less than the lower threshold value up to once again becoming a value in the specific range after exceeding the upper threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: OKI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazunori Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8001838
    Abstract: A sensing device obtains range-related data—such as Doppler data or pulse time-of-flight data—from a sports projectile during flight. The time course of the range-related data is employed, in light of predictable characteristics of the projectile trajectory, to determine and output an accurate determination of the projectile speed for one or more points of interest in its flight. Such determination of speed may, for instance, be the speed at the time of projectile release, even though range-related data is gathered later in the flight, when the projectile is traveling neither so fast, nor straight at the sensor. Such sensing device may employ inexpensive short-range acoustic Doppler, and be incorporated into a target device that automatically displays to a pitcher-in-training the speed and ball/strike condition of each pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Jerry B. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20110197673
    Abstract: An electronic sensor has a sensor housing in which a chip module having a module housing is mounted. The module housing has terminal pins that protrude laterally outward, each having a tapering at its free end. In addition, at least one metallic bearer strip is provided that is fashioned, in a first end area, as a plug contact, and that has in a second end area for at least one terminal pin a respective spring-clamp contact point that forms a flexible press-in zone for the corresponding terminal pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Ronny Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20110199319
    Abstract: A portable computer system is provided having a base unit and a detachable display unit having first and second connectors. The display unit can be oriented in landscape and portrait orientations, replaced by a different display unit, and/or operated in a standalone manner. A digital switch can control interconnection of the first and second connectors with a display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: George Moser
  • Publication number: 20110178759
    Abstract: A method of estimating a stride length includes: detecting acceleration of a user's vertical movement; and estimating a stride length using the detected acceleration by changing the degree of correlation between the acceleration and the stride length, in which the stride length is increased as the detected acceleration increases, based on user's speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuji Uchida
  • Patent number: 7972886
    Abstract: Provided is a MEMS device which is robust to the misalignment and does not require the double-side wafer processing in the manufacture of a MEMS device such as an angular velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, a combined sensor or a micromirror. After preparing a substrate having a space therein, holes are formed in a device layer at positions where fixed components such as a fixing portion, a terminal portion and a base that are fixed to a supporting substrate are to be formed, and the holes are filled with a fixing material so that the fixing material reaches the supporting substrate, thereby fixing the device layer around the holes to the supporting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Heewon Jeong, Yasushi Goto, Yuko Hanaoka, Tsukasa Fujimori
  • Publication number: 20110160911
    Abstract: In order to possibly suppress noise components contained in a signal value of a detection signal for use in controlling a rate of rotations or speed, an driving controller receives a detection signal in accordance with a rate of rotations or speed and acquires a signal value of the detection signal every predetermined sampling time, and controls an actuator at control timings with predetermined intervals using the signal value, so that the rate of rotations or speed is controlled at each of the control timings in accordance with variation aspects of a plurality of signal values acquired before the outstanding control timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventor: Takao Konishi
  • Patent number: 7962310
    Abstract: A method for estimating longitudinal speed of a motor vehicle, including two drive wheels and at least one central electronic unit, based on rotational speeds of the four wheels two of which are drive wheels, such that, after arranging the rotational speeds in descending order: in an acceleration phase, the vehicle longitudinal speed is compared with the speed of the third fastest wheel, and its acceleration should not exceed that of the slowest wheel; in a deceleration phase, the longitudinal speed is compared with the speed of the fastest wheel and its acceleration in absolute value should not exceed that of the second fastest wheel; when the longitudinal speed ranges between the speed of the third fastest wheel and that of the fastest wheel, its value remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Stephane Guegan, Gabriel Toffolo
  • Patent number: 7962308
    Abstract: A body motion detecting method calculates an acceleration-of-gravity vector from acceleration vectors, which are detection outputs of a multi-axial acceleration sensor. The method extracts a vertical component of acceleration, using the acceleration vectors from the acceleration sensor and the calculated acceleration-of-gravity vector. The method further detects peaks in the extracted vertical component of acceleration, and detects body motion in the vertical direction by analyzing the detected peaks. Related body motion detecting device and computer readable medium are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Makino
  • Patent number: 7954215
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acceleration sensing unit includes: providing an element support substrate in which a plurality of element supporting members is arranged so as to form a plane, each of the element supporting members being coupled to the other element supporting member through a supporting part and having a fixed part and a movable part that is supported by the fixed part through a beam, the beam having a flexibility with which the movable part is displaced along an acceleration detection axis direction when an acceleration is applied to the movable part; providing an stress sensing element substrate in which a plurality of stress sensing elements is arranged so as to form a plane, each of the stress sensing elements being coupled to the other stress sensing element through an element supporting part and having a stress sensing part and fixed ends that are formed so as to have a single body with the stress sensing part at both ends of the stress sensing part; disposing the stress sensing element
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Epson Toyocom Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikuni Saito
  • Publication number: 20110131005
    Abstract: In an automatic recording mode, an action sensor 6 detects acceleration depending on motion of a user 9 in a three-dimensional space, displays the number of steps as computed on the basis of the detected acceleration on an LCD 35 as equipped therewith, and records it. In a manual recording mode, the action sensor 6 records behavior information and body information as inputted by the user 9. In a communication mode, the action sensor 6 transmits the information recorded in the automatic recording mode and the manual recording mode to a cartridge 4 while the cartridge 4 visualizes the information. In the communication mode, the action sensor 6 inputs the acceleration information to the cartridge 4 in real time, and provide the user 9 with various contents using a video image to be displayed on a television monitor 5 in cooperation with the cartridge 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Hiromu Ueshima, Takahiro Kido, Kazuo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20110125370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for locking (D) the steering column of a motorcycle (M), which includes a first module (200) secured to the rotating column and a second module (100) secured to the frame of the vehicle (M), which is stationary with respect to said column, said frame mechanically limiting the angular amplitude of rotation of said column, a module (200) including a locking bolt (211) projecting toward the other module (100), and the other module (100) including two flat bolts (110) projecting toward the other module (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Philippe LEFAURE
  • Patent number: 7949488
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor movement of a person, or of a vehicle ridden by the person, to determine speed, distance traveled and/or airtime of the person or vehicle. Accelerometer-based sensors, pressure sensors or Doppler sensors may be employed in these systems and methods. A liquid crystal display may attach to the person to display speed, distance traveled and/or airtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Flentov, Dennis M. Darcy, Curtis A. Vock
  • Patent number: 7944163
    Abstract: A sensorless controlling apparatus for controlling a brushless motor includes a speed calculator for calculating speed of a rotor ?, an angle calculator for calculating rotor angle ? at a predetermined time interval, and an angle controller for calculating correction angle ?? based on the current value of a d-axis current (d-axis current value id), thereby controlling the rotor angle ?. The angle calculator uses the correction angle ?? calculated by the angle controller, the speed ? calculated by the speed calculator, a predetermined time, and the rotor angle ? calculated by the angle calculator at a predetermined time to calculate the rotor angle at the predetermined time interval. Thus, the rotor angle ? calculated by the angle calculator is converged on the true angle of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Shigekazu Okumura
  • Publication number: 20110107835
    Abstract: A crash sensor assembly including a printed circuit board and a crash sensor mounted on the printed circuit board, At least one connector pin is mounted to the printed circuit board so as to permit external electrical communication with the crash sensor. A first insert molded soft inner layer of material partially covers the printed circuit board and covers the crash sensor, and a second overmolded hard outer layer of material covers the first soft inner layer of material and bonded thereto and rigidly contacts the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Curt Douglas Campbell, Neil Gordon Murray, JR., Dion Parker
  • Publication number: 20110088468
    Abstract: A system includes a processing module, a sampling module, a period determination module, and a speed determination module. The processing module generates time stamps when pulses are received from a sensor that senses a rotation of a device. The sampling module samples the time stamps during N predetermined intervals and stores N of the time stamps that correspond to the N predetermined intervals, where N is an integer that is greater than 2. The period determination module determines a plurality of periods, wherein each one of the plurality of periods is based on a difference between two of the N time stamps. The speed determination module determines a rotational speed of the device based on a difference between two of the plurality of periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: William R. Mayhew
  • Patent number: 7926346
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device comprising a transmitter (1) for measuring a position and/or a rotational speed of a rotary element (2), a housing (3), and a plate (4) comprising a recess for receiving a transmitter (1), the transmitter (1) being rotatably arranged in relation to the plate (4). The transmitter (1), the plate (4) and the housing (3) are arranged in such a way that when the housing (3) is connected to the base body (5), the housing (3) presses the plate (4) against the base body (5). In this way, the transmitter (1) is pressed against the base body and the housing is pressed against the plate. The invention also relates to a method for fixing a housing of the above-mentioned measuring device. The angular position of the housing can be modified independently of the angular position of the transmitter in relation to a base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Gläser, Ulrich Wetzel
  • Patent number: 7898404
    Abstract: A vehicle speed exceeded notification device to be installed in a vehicle of a type including a vehicle audio entertainment system being configurable via a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle may include an audio entertainment system content interface. The audio interface may be selectively operable to communicate audio content relating to a vehicle speed exceeded condition to the vehicle audio entertainment system. The device may also include a controller coupled to the audio entertainment system content interface for detecting a vehicle speed exceeded condition. The controller may also be for configuring the vehicle audio entertainment system, via the vehicle data communications bus, so that the audio content related to the vehicle speed exceeded condition plays through the vehicle audio entertainment system based upon detecting the vehicle speed exceeded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
  • Publication number: 20110041602
    Abstract: A sensor system is provided having a base plate, a sensor module, a damping element and a support frame, the base plate having a main plane of extension and a recess that is perpendicular to the main plane of extension; the support frame being fastened in the recess; the damping element being situated between the support frame and the recess; and the sensor module further being pressed into the support frame in a form-locking and a force-locking manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Reinhold Jocham, Juergen Kurle, Franz Schmich
  • Publication number: 20110040522
    Abstract: A velocity detection device includes a rotational direction discriminator calculating an x coordinate or a y coordinate in temporary coordinates on a line between an origin of the coordinates and a point obtained by rotating the actual second coordinates by as much as a rotational angle a in a direction of a coordinate axis, the rotational direction discriminator discriminating a rotational direction from the actual first coordinates to the actual second coordinates based on either a sign of the x or y coordinate in the temporary coordinates; and a processor calculating calculational second coordinates represented by a multiplication, addition or subtraction between the actual first coordinates and one of the trigonometric function values to make calculational second coordinates closer to the actual second coordinates, and calculating the velocity of the moving body based on the temporary angles corresponding to the trigonometric function value used for the calculational second coordinates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shouichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20110023628
    Abstract: A side impact detection system includes a two-stage load transmitting structure that transmits to a floor tunnel, in which a side impact-detecting G sensor is provided, load caused by a side impact at a predetermined impact speed Vp in two stages having a predetermined time lag in such a manner that the load transmitted or the rate of change in the load differs between the first-stage load transmission and the second-stage load transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hamabe, Koju Kurihara
  • Patent number: 7878059
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle housing having a tubular portion. A bimetallic sensor mount having a first region of corrosion resistant material and a second region of weldable material is welded to the tubular portion. A differential unit including a side gear is disposed in a central cavity of the axle housing. An axleshaft having a shaft portion and a target portion with a plurality of teeth is disposed in the tubular portion of the axle housing. The shaft portion is coupled to the side gear. A sensor is coupled to the sensor mount and extends through an aperture in the mount and the tubular portion to locate an end portion of the sensor a predetermined distance from the teeth of the target portion. A method of making an axle assembly having a sintered bimetallic sensor mount is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7877226
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for counting exercise repetitions are provided for counting exercise repetition even when an exerciser attaches the apparatus in different places and along different orientations of his or her body. The apparatus and method utilizes acceleration data along at least three axes and determines that a valid step is taken by the exerciser if at least one of acceleration profiles falls within at least one of pre-defined thresholds. Moreover, a method of identifying an optimal axis for exercise repetition measurement is disclosed by comparing the acceleration profiles of previous steps with amplitude, cycle and rhythm thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: IDT Technology Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Chan, Mun Hoong Leong, Li Li
  • Patent number: 7865311
    Abstract: The present technical solution provided allows it to determine true meridian of any movable object. This solution is based on determining true meridian by zero value of linear acceleration induced created by changing the projection of the vector of linear velocity, caused by rotating any heavenly body, in particular, the terrestrial globe. The determination is implemented in compact variant only by the devices located on the movable object without any necessity of using induced radiations, quickly and accurately without any necessity of knowing the coordinates of location and the speed of movement irrespective of weather conditions, transverse accelerations, temperature changes and external magnetic fields influence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Naumov, George Naumov
  • Patent number: 7853391
    Abstract: An energy-saving driving promotion system includes: a vehicle state detecting device; a current value calculating device that calculates a current value associated with an accelerator operation amount or a vehicle drive power; a recommended value calculating device that calculates a recommended value associated with the accelerator operation amount or the vehicle drive power; an indicator device that indicates a relationship between the calculated recommended value and the calculated current value; and an acceleration intention determining device that determines whether a driver intends to accelerate. If the acceleration intention determining device determines that the driver intends to accelerate, the recommended value calculating device calculates a larger recommended value when the acceleration intention determining device determines that the driver intends to accelerate than when the acceleration intention determining device determines that the driver does not intend to accelerate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Komeda, Akito Adachi, Takeshi Yamada, Yukihiro Okane, Sadamu Tsuge
  • Patent number: 7844415
    Abstract: The instant invention discloses a method for an orientation measuring instrument to isolate and separate gravitational and non-gravitational components of acceleration from accelerometer measurements by using an ambient magnetic field, typically the earth's magnetic field, as a fixed rotation reference. Using magnetic field measurements, one can track changes in orientation of a device and use that information to determine the gravitation direction, during periods when acceleration measurements include non-gravitational acceleration combined with gravitational acceleration components. In addition to determining orientation, a method and associated instrument provide a non-gravity acceleration vector of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: PNI Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler M. Bryant, Davy J. Figaro, Andrew T. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20100288046
    Abstract: A rotation sensor configured to be mounted on a rim of a wheel. The rotation sensor includes a band sized and shaped to fit around the rim of the wheel, a first element mounted on the band that generates a first time-varying electrical signal in response to a rotational movement, a second element mounted on the band that generates a second time-varying electrical signal in response to the rotational movement, a processor mounted on the band that receives the first and second time-varying electrical signals and processes the first and second time-varying electrical signals to determine a rotational speed, and a rechargeable power source that receives the first and second time-varying electrical signals, consumes at least a portion of the first and second time-varying electrical signals to recharge the rechargeable power source, and generates a power signal. The processor is connected to the rechargeable power source to receive the power signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Williamson Sy, David Bass
  • Patent number: 7831846
    Abstract: The operating state of a computer is switched only when moving of the computer is detected. An information processing device has a detection unit, which detects, as a lifting action, a fact that an accelerated velocity has been kept applied in one direction for a given period of time, and a control unit, which executes a predetermined control operation that is associated with the lifting action detected by the detection unit. A lifting action detecting method has a detection step of detecting, as a lifting action, the fact that an accelerated velocity has been kept applied in one direction for a given period of time, and a control step of executing a predetermined control operation that is associated with the lifting action detected in the detection step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Nobutaka Ishidera, Yosuke Konaka, Nobuyuki Koike
  • Publication number: 20100275675
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (1) and a method for measuring pressure, variation in sound pressure, a magnetic field, acceleration, vibration, or the composition of a gas. The sensor (1) comprises an ultrasound transmitter (2), and a cavity (4) arranged in connection with it. According to the invention, the sensor (1) comprises a passive sensor element (3, 3?) located at the opposite end of the cavity (4) to the ultrasound transmitter (2), the distance of which from the ultrasound transmitter (2) is selected in such a way that the resonance condition is met at the ultrasound frequency used, the ultrasound transmitter (2) comprises a light-construction diaphragm oscillator (9), which is thus well connected to the surrounding medium, and the sensor includes means for measuring the interaction between the ultrasound transmitter (2) and the cavity (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Teuvo Sillanpää
  • Patent number: 7822563
    Abstract: A method of calculating a cornering force to be applied to each wheel provided to a vehicle which is cornering, comprising the steps of: obtaining a magnitude of a centrifugal force to the vehicle in a direction substantially orthogonal to a vehicle traveling direction, a contact length of each wheel during the cornering of the vehicle, and an amount of deformation in a wheel width direction at the contact portion of each wheel of the vehicle, calculating a difference between the obtained amount of the deformation and an amount of deformation in the wheel width direction under a straight forward travel condition of the vehicle for each wheel, and calculating a cornering force for each wheel based on the magnitude of the centrifugal force, the contact length, and the difference between amounts of deformation in the wheel width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Matsuda, Tsuyoshi Kitazaki, Naoshi Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7818118
    Abstract: A method for planning the velocity of a craft along a predetermined route, where said method comprises the step of transforming demands and limitations of said route and said craft into a time-distance domain. Said planning subsequently takes place in said domain. The method saves computational time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Johan Ivansson, Måns Mångård
  • Publication number: 20100242599
    Abstract: Provided are a device, a system, and a method for determining a fitting condition of a connector, which are capable of improving the accuracy for determining the coupling condition of the connector. A connector fitting condition determination device (10) includes an input section (11) that is attached to an operator and receives detection results including sound information and acceleration information that are measured at a time of fitting a connector; a sound information determination section (13) that determines whether the sound information satisfies predetermined conditions based on the detection results input to the input section (11); and an acceleration information determination section (15) that determines whether the acceleration information satisfies predetermined conditions, on detection results satisfying the conditions in the sound information determination section 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ogawa, Akira Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7801700
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that generates a simulated vibration pattern in a computer subsystem. During operation, a vibration pattern is monitored at a location in the computer subsystem, wherein the vibration pattern is monitored while the computer subsystem is incorporated into the computer system and the computer system is operating. Then, the vibrations of the computer subsystem are mimicked by generating the simulated vibration pattern at the same location in the computer subsystem based on the monitored vibration pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny C. Gross, Anton A. Bougaev, Aleksey M. Urmanov
  • Patent number: 7779686
    Abstract: A device for calculating the speed of movement of a ball utilizing a sensing unit having an aperture at the surface of the ball and a receiving unit within the ball that measures reflected signals generated by the sensing unit. A distance measuring feature fixes a value for a particular distance of flight of the ball and a transducer receives a signal indicating the termination of the flight of the ball. A processor calculates the speed of the ball utilizing the absence of a reflected signal through the aperture and the beginning of a stop signal generated by the transducer as the basis for the time span of flight of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: National Broom Company of California, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Rothman
  • Publication number: 20100206069
    Abstract: A PLL circuit is provided with an AD converter, a DA converter to which output from the AD converter is inputted, a filter circuit filtering an output signal of the DA converter, a voltage control oscillator outputting a signal of a different frequency in accordance with an output signal from the filter circuit and a frequency divider dividing a signal which the voltage control oscillator outputs. The AD converter operates by a timing signal from the voltage control oscillator and the DA converter outputs an analog signal corresponding to a value which the AD converter outputs by the timing signal outputted from the frequency divider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Hideyuki Murakami, Takashi Kawai, Kouji Nabetani
  • Publication number: 20100177037
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for motion detection in a portable terminal preferably includes a state determination unit for receiving first sensing information for determining a motion of the portable terminal by a sensor unit. After determining the motion of the portable terminal, second sensing information is received for determining whether or not a normal motion applying a motion function has occurred. The portable terminal determines if the portable terminal is a normal motion associated with a motion-related function or an abnormal motion that is not associated with a motion-related function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Ho KIM, Sung-Pil CHO, Chang-Yul LEE
  • Publication number: 20100172052
    Abstract: A fall detection device that is allowed to reduce the processing load put when making a determination using software, to reliably determine the start of a fall, and to make a fall prediction as necessary, and a magnetic disk drive and a portable electronic apparatus that each include the fall detection device are configured. Accelerations are obtained in three orthogonal axis directions (ax, ay, az), and an evaluation value is obtained with respect to each of the accelerations (ax, ay, az) on the basis of an evaluation function, by which an evaluation value is increased as the difference increases between accelerations (ax0, ay0, az0) at a steady time and accelerations (ax, ay, az) at a fall determination time, and whether a fall has started is determined on the basis of whether this evaluation value exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiko SHIBATA