Patents Examined by Abby Lin
  • Patent number: 9915543
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a display of one or more multi-dimensional navigation scores. The data source device may comprise a data source computer and a database storing historical data or real time data associated with a plurality of segments of road. A map data processing device may have a map data processing computer and memory storing computer-executable instructions. The map data processing device may determine a geographical location based on a location determining device, determine a segment of road associated with the geographical location, and/or receive, from the data source device, one or more of the historical data or real time data for the segment of road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Sunil Chintakindi, Howard Hayes, Santhosh Thammi
  • Patent number: 9896218
    Abstract: The invention concerns an aircraft propulsion control system in which multiple gas turbine engines (10) are under the control of a controller (30). One or more sensor is arranged to sense a condition indicative of vapor trail formation by an exhaust flow from one or more of the engines. The controller (30) is arranged to be responsive to a thrust demand (51) for the aircraft and to control the thrust produced by each of the engines (10) concurrently so as to alter the efficiency of the engines upon sensing of the vapor trail formation condition, while satisfying the aircraft thrust demand. The controller (30) may output a separate throttle control signal (35) to each engine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Peter Swann
  • Patent number: 9878733
    Abstract: A steering device of a working vehicle includes a lever, a first switch, a lever support member, a second switch, and a control device. The first switch sets a steering signal to be in a valid/invalid state. The lever support member is provided so as to be able to flip up from a certain position of performing tilting operation. The second switch attains conduction when the lever support member is located at the certain position, and attains non-conduction in conjunction with the case where the lever support member is flipped up. The control device sets steering with use of the lever to be valid/invalid. The first switch has a plurality of terminals which respectively attain conduction of a steering signal in accordance with a setting of a valid state and an invalid state and are electrically connected to the control device in parallel with the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Enomoto
  • Patent number: 9872428
    Abstract: An agricultural implement for applying an ingredient to a geographic area, the agricultural implement includes a chassis, weight bearing conveyance devices, a component and a weight distribution system. The weight bearing conveyance devices including a fore conveyance device and an aft conveyance device. The fore and aft conveyance devices are connected to and carry the chassis respectively in a fore and an aft position. The component is carried by and coupled to the chassis. The weight distribution system is configured to allow an adjustment of a position of the component relative to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Bernier, Martin L. Krohn
  • Patent number: 9872692
    Abstract: A motion-compensated micro-forceps system, including a manually-operable micro-forceps assembly having a plurality of moveable grasping elements; a motor assembly operatively connected to the plurality of moveable grasping elements; an optical detection system having an optical fiber attached to the manually-operable micro-forceps assembly at a fixed axial distance relative to a distal-most end of the plurality of moveable grasping elements; and a motor controller configured to communicate with the optical detection system and the motor assembly to provide motion compensation of the plurality of moveable grasping elements of the manually-operable micro-forceps, wherein the optical detection system is configured to output a signal for the determination of a distance of the plurality of moveable grasping elements of the micro-forceps to a target during operation, and wherein the motor controller is configured to provide feedback control signals to the motor assembly for motion compensation for both hand tremor
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jin U. Kang, Peter L. Gehlbach
  • Patent number: 9867516
    Abstract: Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the same, capable of controlling a travelling or cleaning pattern of a robot cleaner in accordance with extension and retraction operations of an auxiliary cleaning tool to perform an efficient cleaning operation. The robot cleaner includes a plurality of auxiliary cleaning units mounted to a bottom of the robot cleaner such that the auxiliary cleaning units are extendable and retractable, and a control unit to extend the auxiliary cleaning units while travelling in a wall tracing manner along the periphery of the cleaning region and/or when an obstacle is sensed, and to retract the auxiliary cleaning units while the robot cleaner travels in an inner portion of the cleaning region when traveling of the periphery of the cleaning region is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Sik Yoon, Woo Ram Chung, Kyu Sun Han, Jun Pyo Hong, Jun Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 9862363
    Abstract: In a method for setting a parking brake that has an electromechanical brake device having an electrical brake motor, the release time duration for displacing the electrical brake motor in the release direction is determined from the closing time duration in which the brake motor was previously displaced in the closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Bieltz, Simon Hauber
  • Patent number: 9852346
    Abstract: The present invention provides a trailer track estimation system by image recognition including: an image photographing unit which photographs a trailer which is connected to a rear side of a vehicle; a control unit which estimates a connection angle of the trailer using an image photographed by the image photographing unit; and a display unit which displays a value estimated by the control unit on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Hong Min
  • Patent number: 9849981
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The location of the delivery device can be determined as it is lowered to the ground using image tracking. The UAV can include an imaging system that captures image data of the suspended delivery device and identifies image coordinates of the delivery device, and the image coordinates can then be mapped to a location. The UAV may also be configured to account for any deviations from a planned path of descent in real time to effect accurate delivery locations of released payloads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: James Ryan Burgess, Joanna Cohen
  • Patent number: 9840166
    Abstract: A computer device may include logic configured to detect a wake up event that wakes the computer device from an idle mode, wherein the wake up event indicates that a user is getting ready to use a vehicle; obtain accelerometer data from an accelerometer, associated with the vehicle, during a time period that includes the wake up event; determine a number of door slam events during the time period based on the obtained accelerometer data; and determine a number of people in the vehicle based on the determined number of door slam events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Steven Taylor, James Ronald Barfield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9833896
    Abstract: There are provided a wearable robot and a method of controlling the same. The method includes obtaining a joint angle and a joint angular velocity of a plurality of joints, calculating a target joint angle of one joint among the plurality of joints using a joint angle and a joint angular velocity of at least one joint among the other joints, calculating assistive torque to be applied to the one joint using the calculated target joint angle, and outputting the calculated assistive torque to the one joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Min Kim, Gyung Rock Kim, Jong Do Choi, Tae Sin Ha
  • Patent number: 9821768
    Abstract: A geo-proximity Vehicle Alert and Access System (VAAS) is discussed that has a cloud based server having a GPS-based proximity system to control and track a package exchange process, to speed up a package delivery and pick-up process, and to ensure security for the package exchange process. The cloud based server is configured to receive both current GPS coordinates of a package carrier's vehicle and current GPS coordinates of a target vehicle for at least one of package delivery to the target vehicle and package pick up from the target vehicle. The cloud based server is configured to send to the target vehicle the commands to wake-up an on-board telematics module, to give an alert, to unlock the target vehicle, and to lock the target vehicle after receiving a confirmation of the package exchange process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Intelligent Transportation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Seval Oz, Alexander Marc Klotz, Sudeep Kaushik, Yao Zhai, Francisco Fernandez Nares, Adrian Ramos Aguayo, Tammer Zein El-Abedein
  • Patent number: 9821455
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for selecting a first robot for a robot task of a user, and during a first session between a computing device of the user and the first robot to perform the task, determining a need for the first robot to perform an alternative task. Based on determining the need, a second robot is selected to “replace” the first robot in performing the task. The second robot may replace the first robot in performing the task by directing the telepresence robot to navigate to a location proximal to the first robot and transitioning the first telepresence robot's session to the second telepresence robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Mallinath Bareddy
  • Patent number: 9815571
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating an aircraft energy indicator(s) is disclosed. The energy indicator generating system is comprised of one or more sources of aircraft performance factors data, an image generator (IG), and a presentation system. The IG may be configured to receive the aircraft performance factors data representative of at least aircraft altitude and speed; determine descent path data as a function of at least the aircraft performance data; determine target aircraft energy data as a function of at least the descent path data; determine actual energy data as a function of at least the aircraft performance data; and generate presentation data as a function of the target energy data and the actual energy data, where the presentation data is representative of one or more images of an aircraft energy indicator presentable to a viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin D. Ogden, Bradley R. Mickelson, Kirk A. Kolek
  • Patent number: 9815566
    Abstract: A system, device, and method for generating a vertical speed indicator (VSI) are disclosed. The VSI generating system may include a source of first vertical speed (V/S) data, a source of second V/S, an image generator (IG), and a display system. The IG may be configured to acquire first V/S data; acquire second V/S data; and generate image data as a function of the first V/S data and the second V/S data. The first V/S data could include actual V/S, and the second V/S data could include a target V/S other than a manually-selected V/S. The image data could be representative of an image of an aircraft VSI comprised of at least one indication of the actual V/S, and at least one indication of the target V/S other than a manually-selected V/S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Innis, Daniel I. Moore
  • Patent number: 9811950
    Abstract: An aircraft electric taxi system diagnostics and prognostics evaluation method, including receiving, with a computer, an electronically recorded first performance parameter of a first electric taxi system of a first aircraft during a taxi operational event at an airport; and comparing the first performance parameter with a first performance factor statistical model generated in response to the first performance parameter and first comparative performance parameters; and calculating a first performance parameter difference based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Nutaro, Stephen Abel, Grant Gordon
  • Patent number: 9809949
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an industrial machine during crowd runaway conditions. The system includes a controller that monitors and compares an actual crowd system state (e.g., an actual dipper position) with a requested crowd system state (e.g., a requested dipper position from the operator). If the controller determines that the crowd system is behaving contrary to requested crowd system behavior, the controller adjusts a crowd parameter, such as a crowd motor torque, to resolve the runaway condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Voelz, Michael Linstroth
  • Patent number: 9789609
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing manufacturing functions on a workpiece. The apparatus may comprise a base, a plurality of autonomous functional components, and a plurality of autonomous movement systems. Each functional component of the plurality of autonomous functional components may be configured to perform a respective function. The plurality of autonomous movement systems may be associated with the base. Each of the plurality of autonomous movement systems may be connected to a respective functional component of the plurality of autonomous functional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Phillip John Crothers
  • Patent number: 9766077
    Abstract: A navigation device is disclosed that provides navigational guidance to boats needing to cross a boundary line at a milestone event time. Port and starboard laylines and guidelines may be displayed with the boundary line using wind direction data. The port and starboard layline angles may change with the wind direction, while their lengths may represent a distance traversed by the boat tacking at the port and starboard layline angles for a target time period at a target speed. A predictor line may be displayed extending from the boat in the direction in which the boat is traveling and may have a length indicating a distance traversed by the boat at its current speed until the milestone event time. The predictor line length and color may provide feedback regarding whether the boat will cross the boundary too early or too late given its current speed and direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Jan O. Silfven, Ravinder Singh, David L. Gepner, Kyle A. Chappell
  • Patent number: 9760088
    Abstract: A method and cooperative system for deploying a mobile robot of a plurality of mobile robots with a plurality of fixed sensors. The method includes broadcasting a position-request message including a request for a position and a demand for mobile robots, receiving the position-request message, and transmitting a position-demand message. The method also includes receiving position-demand messages from corresponding fixed sensors, determining a distance to the corresponding fixed sensors, storing information for the corresponding fixed sensor in a fixed sensor list when the distance to the corresponding fixed sensor is less than a predetermined distance, determining a closest fixed sensor, transmitting an association request message to the closest fixed sensor, receiving the association request message, and transmitting a confirmation message when the demand of the closest fixed sensor is not equal to zero or a rejection message when the demand of the closest fixed sensor is equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Uthman Baroudi, Gamal Sallam