Patents Examined by David S. Warren
  • Risk-aware management of elevator operations
    Patent number: 10544007
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to computer-implemented methods, computer systems, and computer program products for operating an elevator car. The method includes receiving first inputs from one or more sensors. The method further includes receiving second inputs from one or more cameras. The method further includes determining the presence of a passenger on the elevator using the first inputs and the second inputs. The method further includes determining a set of characteristics related to the passenger using the first inputs and the second inputs. The method further includes predicting a set of predicted actions of the passenger, using machine-learning techniques. The method further includes determining an action to perform based on the set of predicted actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jinho Hwang, Byungchul Tak, Maja Vukovic
  • Hammer unit and keyboard instrument
    Patent number: 10546567
    Abstract: A hammer unit of an electronic keyboard instrument to enhance working efficiency for assembling hammer members is provided. The hammer unit comprises a plurality of hammer members which apply loads to a plurality of keys, and a holding member which holds the plurality of hammer members. The holding member is configured to have one of a first holding state in which the plurality of hammer members are temporally locked at a first position and a second holding state in which the plurality of hammer members are released from the temporally locking at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiya Kuno
  • Synthesized percussion pedal and docking station
    Patent number: 10546568
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating control of midi-sequence generation is disclosed. The apparatus may include a midi-sequence module configured for generating midi-sequences. Further, the apparatus may also include a foot-operated switch configured to operate the midi-sequence module. Additionally, the apparatus may include a docking station configured to connect the apparatus to a mobile device. Accordingly, the midi-sequence module may be controlled through the mobile device. Further, in some embodiments the midi-sequence module may be included in the mobile device instead of the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatus may include a switch port configured to electrically couple the foot-operated switch with the mobile device in order to control the midi-sequence module included in the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: INTELLITERRAN, INC.
    Inventor: David Packouz
  • Ergonomic head joint for a transverse flute
    Patent number: 10540948
    Abstract: An ergonomic flute having a head joint that bends slightly downward and away from the user thereby reducing the muscular stress of holding the instrument for long periods of time is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventor: Tamas G. K. Marius
  • Brake operation management in elevators
    Patent number: 10538412
    Abstract: A method includes determining that an elevator car is arriving at a landing at which re-leveling is anticipated; upon the elevator car arriving at the landing at which re-leveling is anticipated, initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation to reduce elevator car sag at the landing; monitoring transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over a period of time; terminating the at least one of the brake cycling operation and the power cycling operation upon at least one of (i) the transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over the period of time being less than a threshold and (ii) the elevator car sag at the landing meeting a sag threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Randall Keith Roberts, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Michael Garfinkel, Edward Piedra, Dennis Hanvey, Daniel Rush
  • Musical instrument amplifier
    Patent number: 10540951
    Abstract: An onboard electronic system and associated method enables a player of an acoustic stringed instrument to control an electronic signal for modifying and amplifying sound while playing an instrument is described. The onboard electronic system is embedded in the tailpiece and/or the chinrest portions of the stringed instrument, and includes at least one pickup, a battery-powered amplification unit and at least one controller. The method includes steps for controlling sound amplification and tonal modification onboard an acoustic stringed instrument. The steps include sensing vibration from strings with a pickup, generating an electrical signal and transmitting the electrical signal to an amplification unit via an input cable, and modifying the electrical signal in response to one or more controllers located onboard the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventors: James Connell, John M Brown
  • System, apparatus and methods for musical instrument amplifier
    Patent number: 10535331
    Abstract: An onboard electronic system and associated method enables a player of an acoustic stringed instrument to control an electronic signal for modifying and amplifying sound while playing an instrument. The onboard electronic system is embedded in the tailpiece and/or the chinrest portions and/or shoulder-rest portion of the stringed instrument, and includes at least one pickup, a battery-powered amplification unit and at least one controller. The method includes steps for controlling sound amplification and tonal modification onboard an acoustic stringed instrument. The steps include sensing vibration from strings with a pickup, generating an electrical signal and transmitting the electrical signal to an amplification unit via an input cable, and modifying the electrical signal in response to one or more controllers located onboard the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventor: James Connell
  • Automatic playing system
    Patent number: 10535328
    Abstract: An automatic playing system may include a damper module for changing a sound generated by the automatic playing system. The damper module may include a damper board, a motion driver, and a supporter. The damper board may be configured to control at least one damper of the automatic playing system. The motion driver may be configured to drive the damper board and operated to perform at least one automatic playing function. The supporter may be configured to couple the damper board with the motion driver when the motion driver is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SUNLAND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaolu Liu, Zhengchun Li
  • Keyboard apparatus and frame
    Patent number: 10529311
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a frame including a first contacting portion, a second contacting portion, and a first rib, a first member having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and being attached to the frame, and a plurality of keys being attached to the frame, the first contacting portion being in contact with the first member from the first side, the second contacting portion being in contact with the first member from the second side, the first rib having longitudinal shape in a first direction, and the first contacting portion in the first direction with respect to the first rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michiko Tanoue
  • Elevator operation panel
    Patent number: 10519003
    Abstract: In an elevator operation panel, a base of a casing includes a back plate portion, a lateral plate portion, and a vertical plate portion. An outer surface of the lateral plate portion, which faces the exterior of the casing, and a vertical direction end surface of the vertical plate portion on the lateral plate portion side are disposed in an identical plane. An L-shaped slit is provided between the back plate portion and the lateral plate portion. The slit includes a rectilinear portion, and a projecting portion that projects into the back plate portion. In a condition where the lateral plate portion is bent relative to the back plate portion, a surface of the lateral plate portion that faces the rectilinear portion overlaps a surface of the back plate portion on an opposite side to a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okuda
  • Electronic apparatus and control method thereof
    Patent number: 10522123
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is disclosed, which includes an input interface configured to receive an audio signal, a processor configured to process the received audio signal, and an output interface configured to output the processed audio signal, in which the processor is configured to obtain a scale of a first octave by applying a filter bank to the audio signal based on a sampling frequency of the audio signal; down-sample the audio signal; and obtain a scale of a second octave lower than the first octave by applying the filter bank to the down-sampled signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong-woo Kim
  • Systems and methods for visual image audio composition based on user input
    Patent number: 10515615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for visual image audio composition. In particular, the present invention provides systems and methods for audio composition from a diversity of visual images and user determined sound database sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Roy Elkins
  • Elevator system
    Patent number: 10508001
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a car, a main rope, a car, a detector, and a sway detection unit. The car moves vertically. The main rope moves as the car moves. The car moves vertically. The detector is provided on the car. The detector detects the position of the main rope. The sway detection unit detects, on the basis of the position detected by the detector, that abnormal swaying requiring a control operation is occurring in the main rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kenta Kitajima
  • Musical instrument for input to electrical devices
    Patent number: 10510327
    Abstract: A musical instrument system is described to operate as a human to machine input device. The musical instrument outputs an audio signal that is processed to control the movement of an indicator in a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Tom Cram
  • Electronic device for improving cooperation among a plurality of members
    Patent number: 10511398
    Abstract: An electronic device 10 that are wirelessly connected to other electronic devices within a range of a limited communication distance, and the device has a controller CNT that configured to determine at least one of whether or not there are a plurality of members who each have an electronic device within a predetermined range and whether or not a plurality of members who each have an electronic device show a same behavior, and to transmit, if it is determined that there are a plurality of members who each have an electronic device within the predetermined range, or that a plurality of members who each have an electronic device show a same behavior, a request to the plurality of electronic devices to generate rhythm signals at a same tempo to encourage improvement in cooperation among the plurality of members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Futoshi Yamamoto
  • Music fingering aid
    Patent number: 10504378
    Abstract: An improved music fingering aid has at least one decal fittable overlying the fingerboard and attachable to the neck of a stringed instrument. The decal includes string identifier indicia, a graduated position indicia series, and a plurality of interval demarcations that employ distinct colors for visual distinction. The indicia do not pair particular notes with particular colors. Instead the improved music fingering aid associates music theory with muscle memory to ensure sounded notes are played in near perfect pitch and, when playing ensemble, in tempered pitch. Contemplation and improved association of music theory is thereby enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Inventor: Toby John Weston
  • Damper unit for an elevator
    Patent number: 10501287
    Abstract: A damper unit for an elevator, for the purpose of reducing vertical vibration of a stopping elevator car, has at least one roller that, in an active position, is in contact with a guide rail for the elevator car and can be rotated about an axis of rotation. For damping rotary movements during vertical vibration of the stopping elevator car, the roller is connected to a rotation damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Philipp Zimmerli
  • Reed for a musical instrument
    Patent number: 10497343
    Abstract: A reed includes: a reed main body having a plate shape, the reed main body including a fixed part fixed to a mouthpiece, and a vibrating part that extends from the fixed part and vibrates; and a sensor part that is disposed inside the vibrating part or on an inner surface of the vibrating part, the inner surface of the vibrating part facing the mouthpiece, the sensor part comprising an effective sensor portion that detects vibration of the vibrating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuji Hashimoto, Ryo Shinoda
  • System and method for resilient design and operation of elevator system
    Patent number: 10494229
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of operating an elevator system having at least one lane is provided. The method comprising: detecting a failure in the elevator system; detecting a location of the failure within the elevator system; determining a traffic pattern of the elevator car in response to the location of the failure, the traffic pattern operable to direct the elevator car to avoid the location of the failure; and moving the elevator car in accordance with the traffic pattern selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Arthur Hsu, David Ginsberg, Jose Miguel Pasini
  • Evaluation device and evaluation method
    Patent number: 10497348
    Abstract: An evaluation device according to an embodiment includes an acquisition unit acquiring an input sound; a feature value calculation unit calculating a feature value from the input sound acquired by the acquisition unit; a detection unit detecting a break position corresponding to a starting point of each sound included in the input sound acquired by the acquisition unit based on the feature value calculated by the feature value calculation unit; and an evaluation value calculation unit calculating, based on a plurality of break positions detected by the detection unit, an evaluation value regarding a degree of temporal regularity of the plurality of break positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichi Nariyama, Tatsuya Terashima