Patents Examined by Christine Behncke
  • Patent number: 9841809
    Abstract: A virtual encounter system includes a mannequin coupled to a camera for receiving a video image. The camera sends the video image to a communications network. The virtual encounter system also includes a processor for morphing the video image and a set of goggles to display a morphed video image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Kurzweil Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond C. Kurzweil
  • Patent number: 9244716
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for creating a virtual machine are provided. In particular, a mechanism is provided which allows the automated creation of a virtual machine based on attributes of an existing physical machine. This allows for an efficient and user-friendly way of transitioning a physical machine or set of machines to a virtual machine architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Glen George Freundlich, Prasad Subramanian
  • Patent number: 9229710
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product for allocating virtual machines in a stateless preallocation pool on a computing device is provided. In response to determining that a virtual machine is to be removed from an active pool in a computing device, it is determined whether the virtual machine is to be moved to a preallocation pool of the computing device. In response to determining that the virtual machine is to be moved to the preallocation pool, the virtual machine is cleansed of stateful data by removing unique information about the virtual machine's prior allocation while in the active pool. The virtual machine is moved to the preallocation pool. In response to determining that the virtual machine is needed in the active pool, the virtual machine is moved from the preallocation pool to the active pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Omkharan Arasaratnam
  • Patent number: 9229711
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product for allocating virtual machines in a stateless preallocation pool on a computing device is provided. In response to determining that a virtual machine is to be removed from an active pool in a computing device, it is determined whether the virtual machine is to be moved to a preallocation pool of the computing device. In response to determining that the virtual machine is to be moved to the preallocation pool, the virtual machine is cleansed of stateful data by removing unique information about the virtual machine's prior allocation while in the active pool. The virtual machine is moved to the preallocation pool. In response to determining that the virtual machine is needed in the active pool, the virtual machine is moved from the preallocation pool to the active pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Omkharan Arasaratnam
  • Patent number: 9082095
    Abstract: A system provides field workers with on-site access to forms and tools that guide the field worker through the data entry and submission of information and images from field inspections and maintenance. The system also provides an interface for recipients of submitted field reports to view and manage the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Field Dailies LLC
    Inventor: James Raymond Duff
  • Patent number: 8996165
    Abstract: A remote controlled robot with a head that supports a monitor and is coupled to a mobile platform. The mobile robot also includes an auxiliary camera coupled to the mobile platform by a boom. The mobile robot is controlled by a remote control station. By way of example, the robot can be remotely moved about an operating room. The auxiliary camera extends from the boom so that it provides a relatively close view of a patient or other item in the room. An assistant in the operating room may move the boom and the camera. The boom may be connected to a robot head that can be remotely moved by the remote control station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Kevin Hanrahan, Daniel Steven Sanchez, Marco Pinter
  • Patent number: 8838274
    Abstract: A mobile robot operable to move on a surface in a room is provided. The mobile robot includes a shell and a chassis including at least two wheels. At least one motor is connected to the wheels for moving the mobile robot on the surface. A cleaner is operable to clean the surface as the mobile robot moves on the surface. A wall sensor is operable to detect a wall in the room as the mobile robot moves on the surface. A controller is operable to control the motor to move the mobile robot on the surface in accordance with a wall following mode and a bounce mode. In the wall following mode, the mobile robot moves generally adjacent to and along the wall in response to detection of the wall by the wall sensor. In the bounce mode, the mobile robot moves away from the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Jones, Philip R. Mass
  • Patent number: 8831841
    Abstract: An automatic steering device for self-propelled straddle carriers for lifting and transporting manufactures, includes a spatial portal structure (1) resting on the ground on a plurality of steering wheel units (4) connected by a fifth wheel (14) to the structure above, where each wheel unit (4) includes two tyred wheels (8, 8?) each of which is associated with its own electric motor unit (10, 10?) independently with respect to the other; each electric motor is supplied by its own vector frequency converter controlled by a control unit provided with a control microprocessor; angular rotation of each wheel unit (4) is measured by an incremental encoder integral with the upper structure and with the fifth wheel (14) and connected to the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Eden Technology SRL
    Inventor: Bruno Mognon
  • Patent number: 8825309
    Abstract: A cargo handling controller includes a rotation speed setting unit, an engine control unit, a memory, a rotation speed detection unit, a deviation calculator, an assistance amount setting unit, and a generator-motor control unit. The deviation calculator calculates a deviation of a feedback control rotation speed, which is determined from a target engine rotation speed stored in the memory a predetermined time earlier, and an actual rotation speed of the generator-motor, which is detected by the rotation speed detection unit. The assistance amount setting unit obtains a generator-motor assistance amount in accordance with the deviation. The generator-motor control unit sends a drive signal that is in accordance with the generator-motor assistance amount to the generator-motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yukikazu Koide, Norihiko Kato
  • Patent number: 8812195
    Abstract: Collision safety control device having a ground wire connected to a plurality of portions of a vehicle body frame, in which two of the plurality of portions may be mutually separated by more than a width of the frame and the ground wire may include a first portion connecting the collision safety control device to the cab and a second portion connecting the cab to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Kikuo Suzuki, Atsushi Mikawa
  • Patent number: 8812161
    Abstract: There is provided a robot apparatus that can rapidly obtain an ellipse indicating a stiffness characteristic, even if lengths of two links are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Takagi, Ichiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 8812182
    Abstract: A control system (1) for a vehicle (10) with two axle drive devices (5, 12) has an engine control device (28) for controlling a first axle drive device (5) for driving a first axle of the vehicle (10) by a connected combustion engine (14) in a two-wheel drive mode and by a four-wheel drive mode. The control system (1) also has a control device (26) for controlling a second electric axle drive device (12) for driving a second axle of the vehicle in a four-wheel drive mode. The control device (26) is connected to the engine control device (28) for passing on at least one characteristic diagram to the engine control device (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Hennings, Stefan Unger
  • Patent number: 8761962
    Abstract: Provided are a system and method of controlling an in-vehicle device using augmented reality. A system for controlling an in-vehicle device using augmented reality includes a mobile device configured to identify a vehicle object unit as an image and receive a vehicle control command through implementation of the augmented reality of the image, and a driving control unit configured to transmit a vehicle type information to the mobile device and, upon receiving a command signal from the mobile device, to control the in-vehicle device that corresponds to the command signal. Accordingly, by remotely controlling an in-vehicle device by using augmented reality of a mobile device, user convenience may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dong Cheol Seok
  • Patent number: 8751045
    Abstract: A monitoring system has a vehicle and a monitoring device. The vehicle is movable along a predetermined route, and the monitoring device is detachably mounted to the vehicle. The vehicle has a photonic device configured to read position information according to detection of a positioning tag positioned at a predetermined position along the predetermined route. The monitoring device has a sensor configured to monitor an environmental parameter and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and the photonic device. The controller is configured to record the monitored environmental parameter along the predetermined route and the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Wang, Hsiang Yin Shen
  • Patent number: 8738241
    Abstract: A machine having a pump overspeed protection system operating thereon includes an internal combustion engine, a plurality of ground engaging elements, and a drivetrain coupling the internal combustion engine and the ground engaging elements. The drivetrain includes a torque converter having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The machine also includes a plurality of pumps driven by the internal combustion engine. An electronic control is in communication with the internal combustion engine, the torque converter, and the plurality of pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Evan Hague, Sameer Marathe, Zhiyong Wei, Matthew Stephen Marquette
  • Patent number: 8731775
    Abstract: [Object] An electric power steering apparatus capable of returning the steering wheel to a steering wheel neutral position even in case of failure of a steering angle sensor. [Solution] In performing a control action whereby the steering wheel is returned to a neutral position according to the steering angle and yaw rate, the gain of the yaw rate sensor (13) is amplified if a failure in the steering angle sensor (12) is detected, and the damping gain of a damping compensation unit (23) is reduced if failure in at least one of the sensors is detected. Thereby, the steering wheel (1) can return to the neutral position by producing a stronger returning force based on an amplified detection value even if the real yaw rate is small, and the damping component acting on the returning force can be reduced so that the self-aligning torque is enabled to return the steering wheel to the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8694184
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for tab-pane-based flight plan management interface are disclosed. The tab-pane-based flight management interface system (FMIS) is optimally Layered and Multi-Indexed (LMI) such that the management of flight management (FM) functions and associated parameters that affect the airplane's flight are easily and efficiently operable by pilots. The LMI-FMIS provides a flexible tab-pane-based architecture that allows pilots to start a flight plan modification, proceed to engage in other tasks not related to the modification, and return to the pending modification to continue the modification process. The LMI-FMIS also provides task-oriented menu structures that provide pilots tailored options or menus applicable to the task at hand thus efficiently guiding pilots to complete a task while maintaining easy access to information that was displayed prior to the commencement of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Boorman, Randall J. Mumaw, Victor A. Riley
  • Patent number: 8676459
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle having an engine configured to output a variable torque, can include a transmission with a plurality of gear ratios and selectively driven by the variable torque, and a pair of wheels selectively driven by the transmission. The system can include a longitudinal acceleration sensor and a controller. The controller can be in electrical communication with the longitudinal acceleration sensor. The controller can be configured to determine an inertial value of the vehicle based on data from the longitudinal acceleration sensor prior to a shift from one of the plurality of gear ratios to another of the plurality of gear ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Darren F. Stursa, Joshua D. Sigmund
  • Patent number: 8655527
    Abstract: A vehicle power indication status quantity display unit displays on an indicator a vehicle power indication status quantity obtained by dividing the torque required for driving a hybrid vehicle by the upper limit value of the torque that does not excessively increase the fuel consumption. A HV eco zone of the vehicle power indication status quantity display unit is the zone that is determined by the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the HV eco zone that indicates the motor is being effectively used to drive the vehicle. A check is made to determine whether the vehicle power indication status quantity is within the HV eco zone, and, if it is determined to be within the HV eco zone, the driving being performed is diagnosed as fuel-saving driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Fujitsu Ten Limited, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Harumoto, Kouei Kiyo, Shojiro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8649945
    Abstract: A traction force control section of a wheel loader reduces maximum traction force to below the maximum traction force with traction force control in an off state when the traction force control is in an on state. The traction force control section increases the maximum traction force when determination conditions are satisfied with the traction force control in the on state. The determination conditions include that the work situation is digging, that the operation amount of the acceleration operation member is the predetermined operation threshold or more, and that a boom angle is the predetermined angle threshold or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Shirao