Patents Examined by Harry Oh
  • Patent number: 8626358
    Abstract: A system to reduce head-down time for a flight crew is provided. The system includes a functional module including a set of screens used to receive and send controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages between an aircraft and a ground system; a message composition screen communicatively coupled to the functional module; and a shortcut interface communicatively coupled to the functional module, wherein a shortcut prompt is automatically displayed when a confirm-response message received responsive to a previously-sent downlink request message is viewed, and wherein the previously-sent downlink request message is displayed when the shortcut interface is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. McGuffin, Reetu Gupta, Divya Swarup Giriyappa Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 8612067
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for deicing and/or defogging an aircraft surface (4) comprising: a temperature sensor (5) located proximate said surface (4) and adapted to generate a temperature information (TPT); a computer (20) adapted to generate a control information (CMD) based on the temperature information (TPT) and to transmit the control information (CMD) over a computer network (18) of the aircraft; an electric power supply system (8) located in the electrical center of the aircraft (18) and comprising a switch (12) adapted to be switched based on the control information (CMD); a heating element (6) located proximate said surface (4) and electrically powered via said switch (12). The invention also concerns a method for controlling such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Joseph Leon, Jean-Yves Vilain
  • Patent number: 8538612
    Abstract: When an actuator in an operational mechanical system having a short continuous operation time is operated using a small-capacity electric motor (MG), an electric motor is rotated in the range exceeding a rated capacity, and during traveling with a long continuous operation time, the electric motor is rotated at the rated capacity or less. A controller (C) determines, from signals from mode sensors (5a, 12a), whether the construction machine is in traveling mode or in traveling halt operation mode. When determining that the construction machine is in the traveling halt operation mode, the controller (C) sets the construction machine to a high output setting in which the electric motor (MG) rotates in the rage exceeding the rated capacity. In the normal traveling mode, the controller (C) sets the construction machine to a low output setting so that the electric motor rotates at the rated capacity or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kawasaki, Masahiro Egawa
  • Patent number: 8521344
    Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program including instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to acquire route data in a first format for a route, the route data comprising a plurality of route parameters for a plurality of route locations. The computer is further programmed to re-format the acquired route data in the first format into a second format different from the first format, filter the reformatted route data into a route dataset having a lesser number of route locations than the number of route locations in the acquired route data, and to store the route dataset in computer memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Pierino Gianni Bonanni
  • Patent number: 8504220
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enhance existing ITP (In-Trail Procedure) algorithms by providing additional information to the flight crew. The additional information may enable the flight crew to appropriately modify own aircraft airspeed, and thereby, ground speed, in order to qualify for ITP procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems LLC
    Inventors: Harold Tjorhom, James Redmond, Zachary R. Reynolds, Cyro A. Stone, Christopher Polynin, Charles C. Manberg
  • Patent number: 8494748
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling engine torque in a hybrid vehicle, in which a point of time when an intake cam is activated is determined such that an engine demand torque is controlled to a level at which system efficiency is maximized within a limited engine output range before activation of the intake cam and the engine demand torque is controlled to a level at which the system efficiency is maximized after activation of the intake cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Young Dae Lee
  • Patent number: 8489295
    Abstract: A transmission control module including a shift control module that generates an enable signal when an up-shift is requested and the engine torque is below a threshold torque value. A turbine speed profile determination module that selectively generates a desired turbine speed profile. The shift control module controls a clutch pressure of an off-going clutch based on a measured turbine speed and the desired turbine speed profile when the enable signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kluemper, Brett R. Caldwell, Jeffrey K. Runde, Robert M. Merrion
  • Patent number: 8489238
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a joint angle difference calculator calculating a joint angle difference; a torque command value calculator calculating a torque command value for a joint, based on the joint angle difference; an external torque calculator calculating an external torque that is a difference between the estimated drive torque and the torque command value, and determining an external force receiving joint shaft on which an external force from the external torque acts; a compliance model storage unit storing a compliance model at the external force receiving joint shaft; a compliance correction amount calculator calculating a compliance correction amount for a task coordinate system position at the external force receiving joint shaft in accordance with the external force; and a joint angle difference correction amount calculator calculating a joint angle difference correction amount from the compliance correction amount and the partial Jacobian matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junichiro Ooga, Junji Oaki, Hideki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8483929
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention has the technical effect of controlling an air preheating system integrated with a gas turbine. The present invention may offer the benefit of extending a turndown range by beating the air (hereinafter “inlet-air”) entering the compressor of the gas turbine. The present invention may also offer the benefit of increasing an efficiency of the powerplant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory L. DiAntonio, Erwing Calleros, Renhua Wang, Aydin M. Abdollahian, Troy A. Michaud
  • Patent number: 8483914
    Abstract: An electrically adjustable control interface for a machine comprises a vertical adjustment assembly arranged in vertical support of a control pod module. The vertical adjustment assembly is configured to adjust a vertical position of the control pod module in response to a vertical adjustment command signal generated by a controller. The electrically adjustable control interface also comprises a horizontal adjustment assembly coupled to the control pod module. The horizontal adjustment assembly is configured to adjust a horizontal position of the control pod module in response to a horizontal adjustment command signal generated by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Everett Copeland, Amory Rodriguez Diccion, Jamie Lance McClintock, Patrick Andrew Pryor
  • Patent number: 8473099
    Abstract: A robot for interpreting between a speaker and a listener is provided. The robot includes a direction identifying device for identifying directions of the speaker and the listener, and a motor for moving a robot body to a direction identified by the direction identifying device. The direction identifying device identifies the direction of the speaker at a given time, and in the case where the speaker and the listener are alternated, identifies the direction of an alternated listener by the direction identified at the given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Sugiyama, Kiyoshi Yamabana, Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 8473143
    Abstract: A system for logging visual and sensor data associated with a triggering event on a machine is disclosed. The system may include a camera disposed on an autonomous machine to provide a visual data output and a sensor disposed on the autonomous machine to provide an operational parameter output. The system may also include a memory buffer to store the visual data and operational parameter output of the autonomous machine and a permanent memory device to selectively store contents of the memory buffer. The system may further include a controller configured to detect a condition indicative of the triggering event on the autonomous machine. The controller may also be configured to store the contents of the memory buffer in the permanent memory at a predetermined time after the triggering event, said contents corresponding to the visual data output and operational parameter output occurring before, during, and after the triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Shannon K. R. Stark, Clayton Reitz
  • Patent number: 8467901
    Abstract: A method for calibration of a base coordinate system of an industrial robot in relation to a work area includes: mounting a first part of a kinematic coupling which is constrained in the same number of degrees of freedom as the robot, on the robot wrist interface of the robot, mounting a second part of the kinematic coupling in the work area, moving the robot including the base portion to the work area, set the robot in compliant control mode, move the first part of the kinematic coupling to mate with the second part, storing axis positions of the robot during mating of the kinematic coupling, determining the position and orientation of the base portion based on the stored axis positions and a kinematic model of the robot, and on basis thereon calibrating the base coordinate system of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Torgny Brogardh
  • Patent number: 8437936
    Abstract: An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system for a vehicle is disclosed. An electronic control unit (ECU) is programmed to reduce vehicle lateral skidding by reducing differences between an intended vehicle yaw rate and an actual vehicle yaw rate by applying modifications to operation of the vehicle brakes and/or throttle. The ESC system receives inputs from wheel speed sensors, a steering wheel position sensor, a yaw rate sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor. The ECS system also receives input that indicates at least a property of the road upon which the vehicle is located, wherein the road upon which the vehicle is located is determined from a positioning system that uses a map database and the property is determined from the map database. The ESC system incorporates the road property information in determining when and/or how to modify operation of the vehicle to reduce vehicle skidding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventors: Chris Schwarz, Kevin Moran, Robert Denaro
  • Patent number: 8396595
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for avoiding collision of a body segment with other structures in an articulated system are described. According to one aspect, a collision function is determined for avoiding such collision. A distance between the body segment and one such structure is measured. A weighting matrix is generated based on the collision function and the distance, and used to determine a redirected motion for the body segment. The body segment is redirected based on the redirected motion to avoid colliding with the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Behzad Dariush
  • Patent number: 8395350
    Abstract: A method for charging a hybrid electric vehicle having a high voltage battery that both propels the vehicle and starts the vehicle. More specifically, if the high voltage battery has a depleted or diminished charge and is unable to start an internal combustion engine, then the method described herein may be used to charge the high voltage battery with energy from a low voltage external power source. In one embodiment, the low voltage external power source is a conventional car battery that is connected to the hybrid electric vehicle by way of jumper cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Adam B. Sloan, Kevin S. Kidston, Emily R. Wu
  • Patent number: 8380426
    Abstract: A method and system operable for evaluation of an automotive vehicle forward collision threat. The presence of an oncoming vehicle in front of a host vehicle is established and a passing position of the host vehicle for the moment when the vehicles reach each other is predicted. In addition, a free passing distance for free passing of the oncoming vehicle on a first side of the host vehicle is predicted for the situation when the host vehicle is positioned in the passing position. The free passing distance is the minimum distance between the first side of the host vehicle and a road edge. A width of the oncoming vehicle is also estimated. If the free passing distance is equal to or less than a comparison value, it is decided that a forward vehicle collision threat exists. The comparison value is at least equal to the width of the oncoming vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Bjorn Konijnendijk
  • Patent number: 8352146
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine of a vehicle in response to an operator input, comprising, during a first non-cruise control condition and at first distance to a forward vehicle, adjusting engine output in response to said operator input with a first relationship; and during a second non-cruise control condition and at a second, greater, distance to a forward vehicle, adjusting engine output in response to said operator input with a second relationship different from said first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jeff Doering
  • Patent number: 8346467
    Abstract: A roof-cleaning device for moving side windows of a convertible vehicle an appropriate distance clear of a roof hinged to the vehicle body, and capable of detecting an event in or in the surroundings of the vehicle, includes: a first motion detector designed to occupy a first operational state and a second standby state, and a second detector coupled to the first detector and of lower power consumption, wherein I. with the first detector in the standby state, if the second detector detects an event to which it is sensitive, then the first detector switches into the operational state so that it can play a part in moving the window clear of the roof, II. and if, while in this operational state, the first detector detects the presence, intervention or action of the individual, then the windows are rolled down before the door is, or can be, opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventors: Bertrand Vaysse, Laurent Satge, Frédéric Cantie, Karim Bendhia
  • Patent number: 8326488
    Abstract: A height controlling apparatus for controlling at least one actual height as a relative position of (a) a body of a vehicle and (b) at least one wheel of the vehicle relative to each other, the apparatus including at least one height controlling actuator which changes the at least one actual height; and an actuator control device which controls the at least one height controlling actuator so that the at least one actual height approaches at least one target height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Onuma, Masaaki Tabata, Takenari Yamaguchi, Masaki Kanatani, Atsushi Mizuta, Hideki Ohashi, Koutaro Okimura