Patents Examined by Bao Long T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9415518
    Abstract: A robot control device controls the operation of a robot including a base; a robot arm that has at least three links, at least three joint portions, and at least three drive sources; an inertia sensor; and at least three angle sensors. The robot control device includes a first coordinate system vibration calculation unit; a second coordinate system vibration calculation unit; a weighting unit; a third coordinate system vibration calculation unit; a correction value calculation unit that obtains correction values for correcting the respective drive commands of the drive sources based on vibration information in a third coordinate system, and the respective detected results of the angle sensors; and a drive source control unit that controls the operations of the drive sources based on the respective drive commands of the drive sources, the correction values, and the respective detected results of the angle sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Motoyoshi
  • Patent number: 9409553
    Abstract: A control device for work vehicle includes: a hydraulic brake device that generates a braking force according to operation of a brake pedal upon traveling; a brake lock device that hydraulically locks the hydraulic brake device and unlocks hydraulic lock of the hydraulic brake device; a brake pedal operation detection unit that detects the operation of the brake pedal; a hydraulic lock directing switch that is provided on a manual operating lever for operating a work device of the work vehicle; and a control unit that controls the brake lock device such that when the hydraulic lock directing switch is operated, the hydraulic brake device is hydraulically locked and when a predetermined depression operation of the brake pedal is detected by the brake pedal operation detection unit, the hydraulic lock of the hydraulic brake device is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuta Nakamura, Katsuaki Kodaka, Masahiro Kayane
  • Patent number: 9411053
    Abstract: A system and method for augmenting a GNSS/INS system by using a vision system is provided. The GNSS system generates GNSS location information and the INS system generates inertial location information. The vision system further generates vision system location information that is used as an input to an error correction module. The error correction module outputs inertial location adjustment information that is used to update the inertial system's location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NovAtel Inc.
    Inventor: Kristian Morin
  • Patent number: 9403412
    Abstract: A method of recognizing a trailer of a tractor vehicle by an electronic control unit (ECU) includes determining whether a parking switch is in an on state and a transmission gear state is a parking state. Whether a stop lamp switch is in an on state and a state of a current flowing in the stop lamp of the trailer is in an on state are determined. A load current quantity of a load lamp is recognized, and whether the stop lamp is in an open state is determined. A mode to a trailer non-connection mode when the stop lamp is in an off state is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jin-Gi Kim, Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 9399290
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first sensor data acquired by a first sensor in communication with a cloud computing system. The first sensor data has a first set of associated attributes including a time and a location at which the first sensor data was acquired. The method also includes receiving second sensor data acquired by a second sensor in communication with the cloud computing system. The second data has a second set of associated attributes including a time and a location at which the second sensor data was acquire. Further, the method includes generating a data processing result based at least in part on the first sensor data, the first set of associated attributes, the second sensor data, and the second set of associated attributes and instructing a robot in communication with the cloud computing system to perform a task based at least in part on the data processing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony G. Francis, Jr., Ryan Hickman, Arshan Poursohi
  • Patent number: 9396662
    Abstract: This method of determining the risks of collision of an aircraft (1) when travelling on the ground comprises the steps of: determining the path of at least one of several parts to protect of the aircraft (1), determining a protection volume (VR, VP) associated with said at least one of several parts to protect of the aircraft, in which the shape in a horizontal plane of said protection volume depends on said path of said at least one of several parts to protect, detecting an object entering said protection volume, and generating a warning in response to detecting said object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Fabrice Bousquet, Guillaume Le Berre
  • Patent number: 9393997
    Abstract: A method is provided for moving backwards a combination and an assembly is provided for assisting the backward movement of a combination into an area, which might be surrounded by obstacles. The combination includes a propelled vehicle and an implement. The implement can pivot with respect to the vehicle. The vehicle moves the combination backwards. A pivoting angle sensor on board of the combination measures the pivoting angle of the implement with respect to the vehicle. A distance sensor on board of the implement measures the distance to a border of the area. A path sensor on board of the implement measures the length of a path along which the implement is moved. A computer on board of the implement calculates a required change of the travelling direction of the vehicle by using the pivoting angle, the path length, and the measured distance. A signal indicative of the required change is transmitted to an output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: FORAGE INNOVATIONS B.V.
    Inventor: Malte Cornelius Schlichting
  • Patent number: 9384667
    Abstract: A method is described that includes receiving, by a spacing system of an ownship aircraft, a current position of the ownship aircraft and a reference position of a target aircraft, wherein the reference position is a position of the target aircraft prior to a current position of the target aircraft. The method may also include, projecting, by the spacing system of the ownship aircraft, the reference position on a trajectory of the ownship aircraft, determining a first distance between the projected reference position and the current position, projecting, by the spacing system of the ownship aircraft, the current position on a trajectory of the reference position, determining a second distance between the projected current position and the reference position, and adjusting, by the spacing system and based on an average between the first distance and the second distance, a velocity of the ownship aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Pavel Klang, Petr Casek, Silvie Luisa Brazdilova
  • Patent number: 9375838
    Abstract: A grip apparatus includes a robot hand including plural fingers and pressure sensitive conductive rubber provided to the finger and configured to output a detection signal equivalent to acting force. The pressure sensitive conductive rubber is covered by a cover member. The grip apparatus also includes a control unit configured to cause the plural fingers to perform an opening or closing operation and compare a detection value based on the detection signal from the pressure sensitive conductive rubber with a threshold to determine whether the robot hand grips the work or releases the work. During a period from a time when the closing operation is started until a time when the fingers contacts the work, the control unit samples the detection signal of the pressure sensitive conductive rubber and sets the threshold as a value higher than a detection value at a time of this sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9365222
    Abstract: A system and method which may include on each locomotive a propulsion system and a braking system, a transceiver for communication between the locomotives, and sensors for sensing operational conditions on the locomotive. A processor receives the sensed operation conditions, communicates information including the sensed operational conditions to the other locomotive, determines a propulsion or braking value or command based on the sensed operational conditions, pre-selected criteria and the information received from the other locomotive, and outputs the propulsion or braking value or command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: New York Air Brake, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Hawthorne, Marshall G. Beck
  • Patent number: 9366503
    Abstract: A mobile, remotely controlled robot comprising a robot drive subsystem for maneuvering the robot, a turret on the robot, a turret drive for moving the turret, a noise detection subsystem for detecting the probable origin of a noise, a robot position and movement sensor subsystem, a turret position sensor subsystem, and one or more processors, responsive to the noise detection subsystem, the robot position and movement sensor subsystem. The turret position sensor subsystem is configured to control the turret drive to orient the turret to aim a device mounted thereto at the origin of the noise and to maintain said aim as the robot moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Mads Schmidt, Arnis Mangolds, Michael Rufo, James Murray
  • Patent number: 9352731
    Abstract: A vehicle stability control system comprises a 5-sensor cluster and a stability controller configured to communicate with the 5-sensor cluster and receive signals corresponding to a lateral acceleration, a longitudinal acceleration, a yaw rate, a roll rate, and a pitch rate from the 5-sensor cluster. The stability controller can also be configured to determine a braking amount or a throttle amount to maintain vehicle stability. The system also comprises a brake controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a braking request from the stability controller, and a throttle controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a throttle request from the stability controller. The system may also comprise a braking or throttling command computed based on various scenarios detected by measured and calculated signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Leonard K. Johnson, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 9340278
    Abstract: A system and method for a controlling an aircraft with flight control surfaces that are controlled both manually and by a computing device is disclosed. The present invention improves overall flight control operation by reducing the mechanical flight control surface components while providing sufficient back-up control capability in the event of either a mechanical or power-related failure. Through the present invention, natural feedback is provided to the operator from the mechanical flight control surface which operates independent of computer-aided flight control surfaces. Further, through the present invention, force input signals received from the pilot are filtered to improve the operation of the computer-aided flight control surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven G. Hagerott, James L. Hammer, Phillippe A. Ciholas, Mark W. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9342989
    Abstract: In the method of reducing the likelihood of collisions, the improvement comprising the step of embedding passive radio transponders in a tape, grease, or other materials; applying said passive radio transponders to an object of which collisions must be avoided, and mounting an active interrogating transponder on a moving machinery, which uses the information provided by the radio transponders to semi-autonomously avoid collisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Karl D. Brommer, Sterling J. Anderson, Dieter B. Brommer, Karl D. Iagnemma
  • Patent number: 9342066
    Abstract: A robot includes a robot arm, a force sensor, and a control unit configured to control the operation of the robot art. The control unit initializes the force sensor while the robot arm is moving at uniform speed. It is preferable that the control unit initializes the force sensor while the robot arm is moving at the uniform speed and the amplitude of a detection value of the force sensor is smaller than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 9327405
    Abstract: A robot apparatus that performs the work of attaching a cable includes a gripper that grips the cable having first and second ends, the first end being fixed; an arm main body that guides the second end of the cable being gripped by the gripper to the interior of a guide area; a force sensor that is provided on the arm main body and detects that the gripper has come into contact with the second end of the cable; a camera that captures an image of the guide area when the force sensor detects that the gripper has come into contact with the second end of the cable; and an image processor that detects the posture of the second end of the cable based on the captured image. The robot apparatus performs the work of attaching the cable in accordance with the detected posture of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Akihiro Shiota, Ken Okawa, Toshiaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9330951
    Abstract: An apparatus including at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: determine locations of at least two substrates on respective end effectors of the apparatus while the substrates are being moved by the end effectors in substantial unison towards respective target locations for the substrates; and while the end effectors are being moved towards the respective target locations, and based upon the determined locations of the substrates, adjust a position of at least a first one of the end effectors on the apparatus relative to a second one of the end effectors, where the position of the first end effector is adjusted relative to the second end effector while the apparatus is moving the substrates in substantial unison towards the respective target locations and prior to reaching the target locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Persimmon Technologies, Corp.
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Christopher Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 9324194
    Abstract: A system and method of customizing a data retrieval and storage device for communication with a specific vehicle after the device is initially connected to the vehicle. The system includes a master database having communication information arranged by vehicle specific information, and an automotive scan tool having an incomplete set of preloaded communication information stored thereon. The automotive scan tool is configured to retrieve an electronic VIN from the vehicle and upload the electronic VIN to the master database. After receiving the electronic VIN, the master database identifies the specific communication information associated with the vehicle and communicates such information to the automotive scan tool to compliment the preloaded communication information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Innova Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Phuong Pham
  • Patent number: 9316132
    Abstract: A system includes a user interface module, a level determination module, and a level storage module. The user interface module outputs an oil level request based on user input. The level determination module determines N oil levels of an engine. N is an integer greater than one. The level storage module stores the N oil levels and outputs one of the N oil levels in response to the oil level request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Mike M. Mc Donald
  • Patent number: 9308643
    Abstract: An integrated intelligent system includes a first intelligent electronic device, a second intelligent electronic device, a transferable intelligent control device (TICD) and a cross product bus. The first intelligent electronic device performs a first function and the second intelligent electronic device performs a second function. The cross product bus couples the first intelligent electronic device to the transferable intelligent control device. The TICD partially controls behaviors of the intelligent electronic device by sending commands over the cross product bus to the first intelligent electronic device and the TICD partially controls behaviors of the second intelligent electronic device to perform the second function. The TICD is first attached to the first intelligent electronic device to partially control the behaviors of the first electronic device, then detached from the first electronic device, and then attached to the second intelligent electronic device to perform the second function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, Paolo Pirjanian