Patents Assigned to Engineering
  • Patent number: 9789575
    Abstract: A mechanism retains an asymmetric work piece in a fixed orientation during a machining process on diversely positioned surfaces falling on multiple work piece axes. The mechanism includes a body having an upper surface forming an elongated V-shaped groove, a planar lower surface spaced from the upper surface, and a through passage extending between the upper and lower surfaces. A fastener includes an elongated shaft which extends within said passage, and has an upper end emerging within the V-shaped groove for engaging the work piece, and a lower end extending below and configured to abut the lower surface to maintain the shaft under tensile loading. A plurality of discrete mechanisms can be commonly mounted on a machining table in a spaced-apart relationship with the V-shaped grooves in axial alignment to support a single super elongated work piece. The fastener can be axially advanced or retarded to vary tensile loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl E. Scarbrough, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9789613
    Abstract: A surgical system includes an external anchor, an internal anchor and an instrument. The external anchor is adapted to be positioned outside a body. The internal anchor is adapted to be inserted into the body via a single entrance port, positioned inside the body and magnetically coupled with the external anchor. The instrument is adapted to be inserted into the body via the single entrance port and secured to the internal anchor. The instrument includes an end-effector that has multiple degrees of movement via multiple axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: BIO-MEDICAL ENGINEERING (HK) LIMITED
    Inventors: Chung Kwong Yeung, Kai Leung Yung
  • Patent number: 9791563
    Abstract: The various embodiments presented herein relate to utilizing an operational single-channel radar to collect and process synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) imagery from a same set of radar returns. In an embodiment, data is collected by randomly staggering a slow-time pulse repetition interval (PRI) over a SAR aperture such that a number of transmitted pulses in the SAR aperture is preserved with respect to standard SAR, but many of the pulses are spaced very closely enabling movers (e.g., targets) to be resolved, wherein a relative velocity of the movers places them outside of the SAR ground patch. The various embodiments of image reconstruction can be based on compressed sensing inversion from undersampled data, which can be solved efficiently using such techniques as Bregman iteration. The various embodiments enable high-quality SAR reconstruction, and high-quality GMTI reconstruction from the same set of radar returns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Thompson, Aaron Hallquist, Hyrum Anderson
  • Patent number: 9792292
    Abstract: A method and system of publishing a map includes providing access to a plurality of map data files or mapping services between at least one publisher and at least one subscriber; defining a map in a map context comprising parameters and descriptors to substantially duplicate a map by reference to mutually accessible data or mapping services, publishing a map to a channel in a table file on server; accessing the channel by at least one subscriber, transmitting the mapping context from the server to the at least one subscriber, executing the map context by the at least one subscriber, and generating the map on a display software associated with the at least one subscriber by reconstituting the map from the references and other data in the mapping context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Leo Bynum
  • Patent number: 9793997
    Abstract: A tuning device for a pluggable XFP and SFP+ and DWDM transceiver devices. Also provided are applications for CWDM XFP, and SFP+ and future form factors as well as DWDM and CWDM SFP. This tuning device is for use with tunable DWDM and CWDM transceivers, and provides the ability to lock the tune of the transceiver to prevent a host device from automatically retuning the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Champion Optical Network Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Lewis, Paul A. Hospodar, Charles S. Weinberger
  • Patent number: 9793116
    Abstract: The invention provides a reactor for the manufacture of silicon by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), the reactor comprises a reactor body that can rotate around an axis with the help of a rotation device operatively arranged to the reactor, at least one sidewall that surrounds the reactor body, at least one inlet for reaction gas, at least one outlet for residual gas and at least one heat appliance operatively arranged to the reactor. The reactor is characterized in that during operation for the manufacture of silicon by CVD, the reactor comprises a layer of particles on the inside of at least, one sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Dynatec Engineering AS
    Inventors: Werner O. Filtvedt, Josef Filtvedt
  • Patent number: 9792184
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing unit including a configuration memory and self-scrubber logic coupled to read the configuration memory to detect compromised data stored in the configuration memory. The apparatus also includes a watchdog unit external to the processing unit and coupled to the self-scrubber logic to detect a failure in the self-scrubber logic. The watchdog unit is coupled to the processing unit to selectively reset the processing unit in response to detecting the failure in the self-scrubber logic. The apparatus also includes an external memory external to the processing unit and coupled to send configuration data to the configuration memory in response to a data feed signal outputted by the self-scrubber logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher K. Wojahn
  • Patent number: 9793177
    Abstract: Precise annealing of identified defective regions of a Focal Plane Array (“FPA”) (e.g., exclusive of non-defective regions of the FPA) facilitates removal of defects from an FPA that has been hybridized and/or packaged with readout electronics. Radiation is optionally applied under operating conditions, such as under cryogenic temperatures, such that performance of an FPA can be evaluated before, during, and after annealing without requiring thermal cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel A. Bender
  • Patent number: 9790910
    Abstract: What is described is a system for controlling an engine of a vehicle. The system includes a gear shifter having a gear selection sensor configured to determine a selected gear position. The system also includes a proximity sensor configured to detect object data within a predetermined area of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller coupled to the gear shifter and the proximity sensor and configured to control the engine based on the selected gear position and the object data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Luis C. Quinteros
  • Patent number: 9789808
    Abstract: Provided is a method and device to selectively illuminate off-road objects in low-light environments using directionally-adjustable vehicle headlamps. An object may be identified by a vehicle user and/or autonomous vehicle sensors. When the identified object is within an illumination range capability of a vehicle headlamp, a frontlighting control unit operates to determine vector data for the identified object, taking into account vehicle motion. With the vector data, a headlight pattern of the vehicle headlamp may be adjusted to align with the vector data to illuminate the identified object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Hong, Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 9789512
    Abstract: A liquid material is discharged in a flying mode at a high tact by moving a needle (12) at a high speed with a small-sized drive device. A liquid droplet discharge device includes a liquid chamber (51) that is communicated with a discharge opening (60), and that is supplied with the liquid material, a needle (12) having a tip that is advanced and retracted within the liquid chamber, a drive device (2) that operates the needle (12) to advance and retract, and a displacement magnifying mechanism (3), wherein liquid droplets are discharged in a flying mode from the discharge opening (60). Even number of drive devices are disposed in a left-right symmetric relation, and the displacement magnifying mechanism (3) includes an elastically deformable U-shaped member (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) having a bottom portion to which the needle (12) is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: MUSASHI ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ikushima
  • Patent number: 9790652
    Abstract: A variable traffic safety sign is useful in informing road users of the possibility of a surface of a road or bridge section being wet or frozen without using an additional external power source by exactly expressing freezing and wet roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section using a thermochromic paint and a humidity indicator paint, and also allowing road drivers to exactly recognize the roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section by displaying the freezing and wet roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section conditions in response to changes in temperature and humidity, respectively. Also, the variable traffic safety sign is readily applicable to structures such as a bridge crash barrier, a traffic safety sign board, a bridge guardrail, a road shoulder, and an inner part, entrance and exit of a tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyeong Yeol Kim, Jong Sup Park
  • Patent number: 9790458
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for growing algae and/or other microorganisms in a controlled environment while reducing or minimizing the amount of energy required for maintaining desired conditions in the growth medium. The systems can be based on a photobioreactor having a “tube-in-tube structure”, where an outer cylindrical tube contains a heat regulation fluid that surrounds one or more inner cylinders that contain microorganisms in growth media. The heat regulation fluid in the outer cylinder, as well as the outer cylinder itself, can assist with regulating the temperature of the growth media in the inner cylinder(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: Paul Podsiadlo
  • Patent number: 9789588
    Abstract: A fluid pressure cylinder comprises a rod insertion hole formed in a piston member, an auxiliary rod provided to a head side wall member so as to be inserted into the rod insertion hole, an open/shut valve mechanism for detection, and a fluid passage that is opened and shut by the open/shut valve mechanism. The open/shut valve mechanism includes a valve body reception hole formed in the auxiliary rod, a valve body that is movably held in the valve body reception hole and that has a recessed engagement portion on its external peripheral portion, and a spherical body mounted on the auxiliary rod so as to engage with the recessed engagement portion; when the piston member has reached a set shifting position, the valve body is changed over to the closed position or to the opened position due to cooperation between the spherical body, the recessed engagement portion, and the inner peripheral wall portion of the rod insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Pascal Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9791253
    Abstract: Technical solutions are engineered for remote firing devices to include pieces of hardware to implement a history log, security fence, seismic detection, countdown timers, and sequential firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Rothenbuhler Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Neal Howard Rothenbuhler, Richard Blocker Taft
  • Patent number: 9789729
    Abstract: A wheel includes a first hoop attached to a second hoop about a circumferential interface. The first and second hoops form at least part of an enclosed box structure positioned circumferentially around the wheel and adjacent to an outboard side of the wheel. The box structure may be formed at least in part by circumferential projections of the first hoop and the second hoop. The wheel may also include a central hub that optionally includes spokes. In some embodiments, the central hub may form part of the enclosed box structure. In some embodiments, a first hoop portion and a second hoop portion may be integral or unitary, with a box structure integrally formed between the hoop portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SWIFT ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Kai Anderson
  • Patent number: 9789763
    Abstract: Systems and methods for infotainment system startup are provided. One embodiment of a method includes determining a user-defined startup priority associated with a plurality of vehicle service classifications, where the plurality of vehicle service classifications are associated with a plurality of respective vehicle services. Embodiments also include receiving an indication of vehicle startup, determining whether at least two of the plurality of vehicle services in at least two of the plurality of vehicle service classifications are to be activated in response to vehicle startup, and in response to determining that at least two of the plurality of vehicle services are to be activated in response to vehicle startup, determining a startup order of the plurality of vehicle services, based on the user-defined startup priority. Embodiments also include initiating startup of the plurality of vehicle services according to the startup order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson-Boon Siang Khoo, Ming Michael Meng
  • Patent number: 9791857
    Abstract: A computing device for a vehicle is provided. The computing device includes one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing device, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to receive sensor data relating to operation of an autonomous driving assistance system, process the received sensor data to derive a value for an assistance system data quality parameter, compare the quality parameter value to a reference, and generate a notification including a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Ebe
  • Patent number: 9788666
    Abstract: A ducted shelf for an open-fronted display unit employing air curtains. The shelf has a supply duct at a lower level communicating with a downwardly-facing forward discharge outlet and a return duct at an upper level communicating with an upwardly-facing forward return inlet. In front-to-back section through the shelf, a forward supply duct extension in front of the supply duct narrows forwardly above the discharge outlet and a forward return duct extension in front of the return duct reaches downwardly to the lower level of the shelf to lie forwardly of the supply duct. This beneficially reduces the thickness of the front of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Design and Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Wood, Edward Hammond
  • Patent number: 9789659
    Abstract: A slide lock apparatus for a press machine includes: a flange member fixed over the shaft member for driving the slide, and having a flange portion; an annular main member fixed to the main frame, and having an annular member facing the flange portion; a plurality of reception holes formed in the annular member; a plurality of pin members installed in the plurality of reception holes so as to be shiftable therein; a plurality of actuators for driving the plurality of pin members between retracted positions and advanced positions penetrating into admission holes in the flange portion; a first locking member for locking the plurality of pin members in retracted positions; a first drive device for rotationally driving the first locking member; a second locking member for locking the plurality of pin members in their advanced positions; and a second drive device for rotationally driving the second locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Pascal Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaura, Akitake Hashidate, Seiji Kimura