Patents Examined by David S Luo
  • Patent number: 10037022
    Abstract: A method for adjusting print speed during an additive manufacturing process may include receiving at an additive manufacturing machine, information including at least a current layer print speed. The method may further include determining a current layer print time based on at least the current layer print speed and adjusting the current layer print speed to an adjusted current layer print speed based on at least the current layer print time and a minimum layer cooling time. Further, the method may include printing a layer of a part at the adjusted current layer print speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas Vote, Scott G. Vaal
  • Patent number: 10027295
    Abstract: An electrical device (e.g., an integrated circuit) includes an amplifier, a configurable common mode gain trim circuit, and a memory. The configurable common mode gain trim circuit is coupled to the amplifier. The memory is configured to include trim data that is usable during an initialization process for the electrical device to configure the impedance matching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Wenxiao Tan, Mayank Garg, Noble Narku-Tetteh
  • Patent number: 10028154
    Abstract: A rotatable antenna apparatus has a fixed unit for attachment of the apparatus to an external structure, and a rotatable unit mounted on the fixed unit and comprising an antenna assembly and processing circuitry coupled to the antenna assembly for signal processing. An interface unit, coupled to both the fixed unit and the rotatable unit, routes a cable to provide a wired connection from the fixed unit to the processing circuitry. The interface unit includes a cable housing within which a coiled length of the cable is enclosed. A control mechanism coupled to the interface unit constrains the amount to which the length of cable is wound and unwound within the cable housing to inhibit application of a stretching stress on the cable during rotatable unit rotation. This provides a very efficient, cost effective mechanism for providing a wired connection to the processing circuitry included within the rotatable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: AIRSPAN NETWORKS INC.
    Inventor: David Charles Elson
  • Patent number: 10016041
    Abstract: A hair removal tool is equipped with: a drive unit for driving a blade; a load detection unit for detecting the size of the load on the drive unit; and a control unit for changing the drive mode of the drive unit between a first drive mode for driving the drive unit at a first drive speed, a second drive mode for driving the drive unit at a second drive speed which is faster than the first drive speed, and a transition mode for driving the drive unit at a transition speed which is faster than the second drive speed. A first interval is set as the interval from when the drive mode is changed from the first drive mode to the transition mode until when the drive mode is changed from the transition mode to the second drive mode. A second interval is set as the interval from when the drive mode is changed from the transition mode to the second drive mode until when the drive mode is changed from the second drive mode to the first drive mode. The first interval is shorter than the second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Ohba, Koji Asakawa, Masanobu Yamasaki, Yoichi Takaoka
  • Patent number: 10018971
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a micromechanical actuator having a setpoint input for receiving a setpoint signal, an actual-value input for receiving an actual-value signal, a setpoint filter to attenuate a first predefined frequency or a first predefined frequency band in the received setpoint signal to generate a filtered setpoint signal, a differentiator to generate a time derivative of the received actual-value signal; a controller core to generate a manipulated variable signal based on a system deviation between the filtered setpoint signal and the actual-value signal; a phase rotation element to modify the phase of the difference between the manipulated variable signal and the derivative of the actual-value signal for a second frequency or in a predefined second frequency band to generate a modified manipulated variable signal; and a first manipulated variable filter to suppress a predefined third frequency in the modified manipulated variable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Ortseifen, Mohamad Iyad Al Dibs
  • Patent number: 10010331
    Abstract: A system and a device are provided for counterbalancing a surgical robotic system that include a rail assembly having a shaft that engages a first carriage and a second carriage via threaded mechanism. A manipulatable arm carries a movable effector; the manipulatable arm is supported by the first carriage. A counter weight is supported by the second carriage with a single actuator. A simplified robotic surgery system results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: THINK SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventor: James P. Morash
  • Patent number: 10011018
    Abstract: A surgical system uses a single entry port in a wide variety of surgeries. To insert multiple surgical instruments into a patient through a single entry port requires that the shaft of at least one of the surgical instruments be bent between the base of the surgical instrument and the point where the shaft contacts a channel in an entry guide. Each surgical instrument is positioned by an instrument manipulator positioning system so that when the shaft is inserted in a channel of the entry guide, any bending of the shaft does not damage the surgical instrument and does not inhibit proper operation of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony K. McGrogan, Thomas G. Cooper, Kent M. Anderson, Jeffrey D. Brown
  • Patent number: 10011178
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle propulsion system uses current feedback to modify gate drive signals to suppress voltage spikes and increase switching efficiency. A DC link having a link capacitor and a link inductance is connected to first and second converters. A first converter bridge has a first phase leg with first upper and lower switching devices, each switching device having a respective gate loop. A second converter bridge has a second phase leg with second upper and lower switching devices, each switching device having a respective gate loop. A plurality of gate drivers provide gate drive signals to respective gate loops for turning the respective switching devices on and off. A plurality of gate coils are provided, wherein each gate coil is connected in series between a respective gate driver and a respective gate loop. Each gate coil is respectively inductively coupled to the link inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhuxian Xu, Chingchi Chen
  • Patent number: 10005084
    Abstract: An article destruction device includes an electric motor driving at least one moving component. An indication panel includes at least three visual indicators situated in sequence. Each visual indicator is associated with a stage of an approaching overload (motor cool down) condition. A first visual indicator lights when the motor or corresponding sensor temperature is below a first threshold, i.e., when the device is first powered on. A second indicator lights when the temperature exceeds the first threshold and is below at least a second threshold, i.e., the temperature is approaching a fault condition. A last visual indicator lights when the temperature exceeds the first and the at least second thresholds, i.e., the fault condition is met. A thermistor on the motor energizes (self-heats) with the motor. A thermostatic switch controls current flow through windings of the motor depending on measured temperatures meeting operating and equilibrium temperature thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: STAPLES BRANDS INC.
    Inventors: Josh Davis, Jeffrey Jensen, Li (Henry) ZhiGuo, Hua (Kevin) Ren
  • Patent number: 10004517
    Abstract: A powered surgical tool that includes a housing with a head and a handle that extends from the head. An electric motor is disposed in the head. A trigger extends from the handle. There is a void space in the handle. A plate separates the motor from the handle. Internal to the handle void space there is a rotor sensor and a control circuit. The rotor sensor is able to monitor the magnetic fields emitted by the motor rotor and that pass through the plate. The control circuit receives signals from the rotor sensor representative of the rotational orientation of the rotor and is further able to monitor the actuation of the trigger. Based on the rotor orientation signals and the actuation of the trigger, the control circuit generates signals that result in the selective generation of power signals to the motor rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Philipp
  • Patent number: 9998061
    Abstract: A switching control unit that ON/OFF-controls switching elements of a power conversion circuit includes a power supply side abnormality determination unit, and a regeneration abnormality response processing selection unit that selects either three-phase short circuit processing, in which all upper stage side switching elements or all lower stage side switching elements are switched ON, or six-switch opening processing, in which all of the switching elements of the power conversion circuit are switched OFF, as processing to be executed when the power supply side abnormality determination unit determines that a power supply side abnormality has occurred, the three-phase short circuit processing and the six-switch opening processing being selected in accordance with a motor operating condition of the AC motor at the time of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9994086
    Abstract: A main semiconductor device for controlling an air conditioner provided in a vehicle and selectively connected to an air-conditioning panel semiconductor that controls an air-conditioning panel may include: an analog circuit unit and a digital circuit unit, an input module receiving sensor information for controlling the air conditioner, a motor driving module driving one or more motors provided in the air conditioner, a voltage regulator module regulating a voltage supplied to each module of the main semiconductor device, and a control module controlling the motor driving module based on the sensor information received by the input module, and constantly supplying a voltage to each module of the main semiconductor device by controlling the voltage regulator module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Kim, Yongwook Kwon, Sukyoung Rho, Junekyu Park
  • Patent number: 9995302
    Abstract: A motor-driven compressor includes an electric motor, a drive circuit, a modulation method controller, a temperature measuring section, a high-temperature (HT) stop controller, and a high-temperature (HT) stop temperature setting section. The high-temperature (HT) stop controller stops the electric motor when the temperature measured by the temperature measuring section is higher than or equal to a predetermined high-temperature (HT) stop temperature. When the modulation method is the three-phase modulation, the HT stop temperature setting section sets the HT stop temperature to a three-phase high-temperature (HT) stop temperature. When the modulation method is the two-phase modulation, the HT stop temperature setting section sets the HT stop temperature to a two-phase high-temperature (HT) stop temperature, which is higher than the three-phase HT stop temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Junya Yano, Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Takashi Kawashima, Yoshiki Nagata
  • Patent number: 9995050
    Abstract: A robotic pool cleaner includes a housing with an interior chamber. A filter within the interior chamber filters water drawn through a water inlet provided in a bottom portion of the housing. Filtered water is discharged through a discharge port provided in a upper portion of the housing. Rotatably-mounted supports attached to the housing support and guide the cleaner on the pool surface. An electric motor mounted in the chamber is configured to move the cleaner on a pool surface. A pool cleaner controller electrically connected to the electric motor controls movement of the cleaner and receives communication signals transmitted by a remote power supply over a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors. The pool cleaner controller is configured to provide uninterrupted electric power to the electric motor while the pool cleaner controller also receives pulsed communication signal from the remote power supply over the two-wire cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Aqua Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kameshwar Durvasula, Mark Sphilman
  • Patent number: 9996062
    Abstract: The present invention implements a model-tracking motor control apparatus for stabilizing behavior of a controlled object. The control apparatus (1) includes: a motor control part (20), generating a driving torque instruction value used to enable the servo motor (2) to perform driving based on a detection value of an encoder (4) that performs detection on a rotational state of a servo motor (2); and a model control part (10), generating a model torque instruction value, and outputting the model torque instruction value to the motor control part (20), where the model control part (10) has a model torque limiter (104) that limits the model torque instruction value within a first limit range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Ono, Mamoru Egi, Yasutomo Kawanishi, Yasumoto Mori
  • Patent number: 9993614
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a catheter positioning device with components for controlling actuators of the catheter in multiple axes. A catheter may be attached to a sled member by a modular plate with one or more actuator interfaces that may couple with the actuators of a catheter handle. One or more motors or drives in the sled member may move the actuator interfaces of the modular plate to control one or more actuators on the catheter in different axes. In various embodiments the sled member may have a clam shell design in which two or more sides of the sled member close around the catheter handle. In further embodiments, the sled member may include adjustable faces that can fit different types of modular plates and thereby control actuators on different types of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CATHETER PRECISION, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Pacheco, Steve Foley, David Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9995119
    Abstract: A method of operating a pumping system includes an electric motor and a variable speed drive. The method includes the steps of setting a first preference for the operation of the motor, loading a first optimized motor model into the variable speed drive and controlling the motor in accordance with the first preference. The method continues with the steps of monitoring the performance of the motor and setting a second preference for the operation of the motor, wherein the second preference is different from the first preference. The method concludes with the steps of loading a second optimized motor model into the variable speed drive and controlling the motor in accordance with the second preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Hoyte, Christopher Middleton
  • Patent number: 9990590
    Abstract: A machine learning apparatus includes: a state observation unit that observes a state variable composed of at least one of data relating to the number of errors that is an error between a position command relative to a rotor of a motor which is drive-controlled by the motor control apparatus and an actual position of a feed mechanism unit, an operation program of the motor control apparatus, any command of the position command, a speed command, or a current command in the motor control apparatus, data relating to a workpiece machining condition in a machine tool including the motor control apparatus, and data relating to a state of the machine tool including the motor control apparatus; and a learning unit that learns a condition associated with the number of corrections used to correct the above-mentioned command in accordance with a training data set constituted by the state variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Kawai, Kaname Matsumoto, Tatsuya Senoo
  • Patent number: 9991785
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an electric power converting device with which can executes a ground fault detection in a short time with its inexpensive configuration. In one step, the electric power converting device performs level comparison of a difference between output values of low pass filters, with a threshold value ?E. If a W-phase is shorted to ground at a time when the U-phase and V-phase lower arm IGBTs are ON and W-phase upper IGBT is ON, the difference between the output values of the low pass filters and becomes small. In another step, a level comparison is made between the absolute value of a difference between the U-phase current value iu and U-phase current command value iu?, and a threshold value F. If the absolute value is lower than the threshold value, the result is determined to be normal, and if the absolute value is greater than the threshold value, the result is determined to be abnormal, because the U-phase is shorted to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kashihara, Hiroaki Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9991880
    Abstract: Routing of a gate signal for controlling a discrete power switching device (such as in an inverter for an electric vehicle drive) is configured to compensate for the common source inductance inherent in the switching device as a result of its integrated circuit packaging. The power device has a gate signal path via a gate pin and a power signal path via first and second power pins, wherein the gate signal path and the power signal path have a first mutual inductance. A circuit board apparatus provides a gate wiring loop juxtaposed with the power signal path, wherein the gate wiring loop and the power signal path have a second mutual inductance substantially canceling the first mutual inductance. The resulting reduction in common source inductance avoids the reductions in switching speed and the increased switching losses otherwise introduced by the common source inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhuxian Xu, Chingchi Chen