Patents Examined by Bao Long T Nguyen
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Patent number: 9308642Abstract: A phase oscillating device for affecting movement of a limb or a primary body includes a sensor coupled to the primary body. A physical state of the primary body is measured using the sensor. A phase angle of the primary body is determined based on the physical state measurement. The physical state measurement includes position, velocity, or acceleration. The phase angle of the primary body is filtered using a sine function. An actuator is coupled to the primary body. The actuator is triggered based on the phase angle of the primary body to provide a force or torque to assist or resist movement of the primary body. A secondary body is coupled to the primary body. The secondary body is oscillated using the actuator, which is triggered in phase with a gait step. Alternatively, a fan is coupled to the primary body and actuator to provide the oscillating force.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignees: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University, SpringActive, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Sugar, Jason Kerestes, Matthew A. Holgate, Jeffrey A. Ward, Thierry Flaven
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Patent number: 9311760Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for unmanned aerial vehicle authorization and geofence envelope determination. One of the methods includes maintaining, in a datastore, flight operation information associated with UAV flight operations. A request to generate a risk assessment report is received, with the request including aspects of a UAV flight operation, with the risk assessment report describing risk associated with each aspect. Flight operation information accessed from the datastore is analyzed. Performance characteristics are determined based at least in part on the analysis of the flight operation information, with the performance characteristics including information that can inform, or affect, a safe or functional UAV flight operation. Risk assessments for each aspects in the request are determined using the performance characteristics. The risk assessment report is generated using the determined risk assessments.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: UNMANNED INNOVATION, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Downey, Bernard J. Michini, Joseph Moster, Donald Curry Weigel, James Ogden
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Patent number: 9284016Abstract: A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a controller that is configured to operate a first electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a first signal from a first input member, and to operate a second electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a second signal from a second input member. The controller is configured to prohibit operation of the second electrical bicycle component upon starting operation of the first electrical bicycle component.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Ryuichirou Takamoto, Yoshiyuki Kasai, Mao Kuroda, Tadashi Ichida, Toyoto Shirai
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Patent number: 9277968Abstract: A medical robot system and a method for controlling the same. The medical robot system includes a trocar, inserted into an incision of a patient, to guide a surgical apparatus and transmit at least one of position information of the surgical apparatus and pressure information of the surgical apparatus, and a console to display a screen including at least one of the position information and the pressure information.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Seung Ki Min, Woong Kwon
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Patent number: 9261373Abstract: A map navigation tool provides a start-of-route buffer area in which off-route feedback (e.g., audio or visual warnings or alerts) can be suppressed in some circumstances. For example, a mobile computing device implements a map navigation tool that can output off-route feedback when the user strays from a route, but also can suppress off-route feedback when the user is within a start-of-route buffer area. Off-route feedback can continue to be suppressed until some other event, such as the user leaving the start-of-route buffer area, occurs. Off-route feedback can be suppressed even if the user is not within a start-of-route buffer area, such as when the map navigation tool generates a route when the user is at an initial location that is far away from any part of the route and then joins the route later (e.g., at the start location or downstream from the start location).Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2011Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Chien-Wen Danny Su, Mudassir Alam, Aarti Bharathan, Juan Pablo Candelas Gonzalez
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Patent number: 9248573Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of calibrating robots without the use of external measurement equipment. The invention furthermore pertains to a method of copying working programs between un-calibrated robots. Both methods utilize the properties of a closed chain and the relative position of the links in the chain in order to update the kinematic models of the robots.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: UNIVERSAL ROBOTS A/SInventors: Rune Søe-Knudsen, Esben Hallundbæk Østergaard, Henrik Gordon Petersen
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Patent number: 9242372Abstract: Apparatus and methods for training of robotic devices. A robot may be trained by a user guiding the robot along target trajectory using a control signal. A robot may comprise an adaptive controller. The controller may be configured to generate control commands based on the user guidance, sensory input and a performance measure. A user may interface to the robot via an adaptively configured remote controller. The remote controller may comprise a mobile device, configured by the user in accordance with phenotype and/or operational configuration of the robot. The remote controller may detect changes in the robot phenotype and/or operational configuration. User interface of the remote controller may be reconfigured based on the detected phenotype and/or operational changes.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Brain CorporationInventors: Patryk Laurent, Jean-Baptiste Passot, Mark Wildie, Eugene M. Izhikevich
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Patent number: 9244461Abstract: An electronic controller defining an autonomous mobile device includes a self-location estimation unit to estimate a self-location based on a local map that is created according to distance/angle information relative to an object in the vicinity and the travel distance of an omni wheel, an environmental map creation unit to create an environmental map of a mobile area based on the self-location and the local map during the guided travel with using a joystick, a registration switch to register the self-location of the autonomous mobile device as the position coordinate of the setting point when the autonomous mobile device reaches a predetermined setting point during the guided travel, a storage unit to store the environmental map and the setting point, a route planning unit to plan the travel route by using the setting point on the environmental map stored in the storage unit, and a travel control unit to control the autonomous mobile device to autonomously travel along the travel route.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Nakano
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Patent number: 9246314Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and an apparatus. A described mobile robotic device includes a mobile chassis configured to travel on a transmission line of a power transmission system. The mobile robotic device includes an inspection module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to automatically inspect a structure associated with the power transmission system. The mobile robotic device includes a risk-assessment module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to assess a potential risk to the power transmission system in response to inspection data provided by the inspection module. The mobile robotic device includes a communication module physically associated with the mobile chassis and configured to output data indicative of the assessed potential risk.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 9233470Abstract: Example methods and systems for determining 3D scene geometry by projecting patterns of light onto a scene are provided. In an example method, a first projector may project a first random texture pattern having a first wavelength and a second projector may project a second random texture pattern having a second wavelength. A computing device may receive sensor data that is indicative of an environment as perceived from a first viewpoint of a first optical sensor and a second viewpoint of a second optical sensor. Based on the received sensor data, the computing device may determine corresponding features between sensor data associated with the first viewpoint and sensor data associated with the second viewpoint. And based on the determined corresponding features, the computing device may determine an output including a virtual representation of the environment that includes depth measurements indicative of distances to at least one object.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Industrial Perception, Inc.Inventors: Gary Bradski, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee
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Patent number: 9233685Abstract: It is provided a control device of a hybrid vehicle having a damper device disposed in a power transmission path between an engine and an electric motor, the damper device having different torsion characteristics between torsion in positive direction in which drive power is transmitted from the engine toward the electric motor and torsion in negative direction in which drive power is transmitted from the electric motor toward the engine, the control device being configured to increase rotation of the engine with the electric motor to start the engine, the torsion characteristic in the negative direction of the damper device including a plurality of torsion characteristics having torsional rigidity varying depending on an angle of the torsion, and at start of the engine, the plurality of torsion characteristics being selectively used depending on an engine rotation speed to increase the engine rotation speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takeshi Kanayama, Masato Watanabe, Shinichiro Suenaga
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Patent number: 9222801Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for correcting an error of a gyro sensor, and more particularly, a method and apparatus for correcting an error of a gyro sensor installed in a mobile robot.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: MICROINFINITY, INC.Inventors: Do-Hyung Kim, Hak-Young Chung, Jin-Woo Song, Guen-Rok Ryu
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Patent number: 9211646Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for a robot arm performing assembly. The control apparatus includes an operation database recording information as to an operation of the robot arm, and includes a correction operation type determining unit determining a correction type for the operation. The control apparatus also includes a force detecting unit detecting a force of a person, and an operation correction unit correcting an operation in accordance with the force of the person and the correction type, while the robot arm is performing a task.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuko Tsusaka, Yasunao Okazaki
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Patent number: 9199379Abstract: A robot system display device is provided for graphically displaying components of a robot system which carries out a desirable process by measuring a position of a target object with a vision sensor. The robot system display device acquires an arrangement of the vision sensor relative to other components of the robot system based on calibration data for the vision sensor and pre-stored shape information of the vision sensor. The robot system display device graphically displays the vision sensor in a virtual space based on the relative arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Fanuc CorporationInventor: Yuuta Namiki
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Patent number: 9180876Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting the engine and a shift-down action of the transmission while assuring not only a reduction of the heat generated by a clutch, but also an improvement in the response of the vehicle to an operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode, a time of initiation of the shift-down action of the transmission is delayed by a longer length of time when a temperature of the clutch upon initiation of an engine starting control to start the engine is relatively high than when the temperature is relatively low. Various other embodiments of control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles are also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Toshio Sugimura, Seiji Kuwahara, Shun Sato, Koki Minamikawa
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Patent number: 9183682Abstract: A vehicular diagnostic tool configured to interface with a plurality of vehicular computing systems that each utilize a different communications protocol. The tool includes a transceiver that itself includes a voltage threshold controller and a current threshold controller. Also, a method of using a single vehicular diagnostic tool to communicate with a plurality of vehicular computing systems that each utilize a different communications protocol.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.Inventors: Kurt Raichle, Marco Le Brun, Manokar Chinnadurai, Phillip McGee
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Patent number: 9180882Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting and avoiding blind spots of other vehicles when maneuvering an autonomous vehicle. Blind spots may include both areas adjacent to another vehicle in which the driver of that vehicle would be unable to identify another object as well as areas that a second driver in a second vehicle may be uncomfortable driving. In one example, a computer of the autonomous vehicle may identify objects that may be relevant for blind spot detecting and may determine the blind spots for these other vehicles. The computer may predict the future locations of the autonomous vehicle and the identified vehicles to determine whether the autonomous vehicle would drive in any of the determined blind spots. If so, the autonomous driving system may adjust its speed to avoid or limit the autonomous vehicle's time in any of the blind spots.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Dmitri A. Dolgov, Christopher Paul Urmson
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Patent number: 9174647Abstract: A controller with energy economy rating (EER) calibration logic is configured to adjust a look-ahead time and feed-forward mapping window for vehicle controls according to EER.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lawrence M. Rose, Benjamin L. Pence, Poyu Tsou, Judy H. Che
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Patent number: 9162355Abstract: This mobile unit suppresses lateral vibration produced when the mobile unit passes over a step. A stabilizer according to the present invention predicts contact timing at which the mobile unit makes contact with a step, which may be a bump or pit, using sensor information or map information, shifts the center of gravity of the mobile unit laterally by controlling actuators, and shifts the center of gravity laterally for the next step after detecting that the mobile unit has passed over the previous step.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Ryosuke Nakamura, Azusa Amino
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Patent number: 9165412Abstract: A method and system of managing a vehicle fleet is provided. The method includes providing an electronic device, a computing device, and a vehicle that is associated with the vehicle fleet. The electronic device is located within a proximate distance from the vehicle and the computing device is located remotely from the vehicle. The electronic device is associated with a driver identifier. The method includes sending a data signal from the electronic device to the computing device indicating the driver identifier. The method further includes matching the driver identifier with a specific driver profile that is saved on a database of the computing device. The specific driver profile includes information associating the vehicle with the driver identifier. The method includes sending information regarding the specific driver profile from the database to a vehicle control module, where the vehicle control module associated with the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Andrew W. Gellatly, Matthew M. Highstrom, Timothy J. Grost