Patents Examined by Jack Keith
  • Patent number: 7949445
    Abstract: A device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle performs calculation of a relative modal body shell speed in relation to the mid-plane of the wheels, and calculation of the set modal stress of the damper as a function of the relative modal body shell speed in relation to the mid-plane of the wheels. The control value includes a determined shock absorption principle from among a plurality of different shock absorption principles that impose the force of the damper as a function of its travel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Francois Poilbout
  • Patent number: 7944774
    Abstract: A method for marine seismic surveying includes towing seismic sensors in a plurality of streamers in the water, actuating a seismic energy source in the water at selected times and detecting seismic signals at the sensors resulting from the actuation of the source. A data trace is created for each of the detected signals. At least one Fresnel zone is determined for at least some of the seismic data traces. A contribution of each of the traces to each one of a plurality of bins defined in a predetermined pattern is computed, based on the Fresnel zone associated with each trace. Based on the computed contributions, a maximum lateral distance between corresponding seismic sensors is determined that will result in a contribution sum above a selected threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Apache Corporation
    Inventors: David Monk, Paul G Young
  • Patent number: 7940601
    Abstract: Originating from a novel and an exact algebraic formula for the impulse response of a plane acoustic reflector at zero offset due to a point acoustic source the present invention provides a method for computing an exact impulse response of a plane acoustic reflector at zero offset due to a point acoustic source; and originating from the method, methods for testing and validating algorithms for numerical modeling of seismic reflection, seismic migration and seismic inversion; a method for testing the efficacy of ray-theoretical solution for a given source-reflector configuration; another method for computing zero-offset reflection response of a circular reflector at its central axis; yet another method for validating an interpretation of a reflector as a planar structure; still yet another method for estimating the seismic source-time function when the zero-offset reflection response of a plane reflector is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventor: Santi Kumar Ghosh
  • Patent number: 7937197
    Abstract: A method of evaluating whether a vehicle under test is operating as intended. Parameters of the vehicle are sampled at a plurality of sample times to obtain a plurality of data samples. Data samples from more than one of the sample times are included in a sample set. The sample set is input to an artificial neural network (ANN). Many time-varying parameters, e.g., response times in motor vehicle systems, can be detected and evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: Michael R. Grimes
  • Patent number: 7936640
    Abstract: Methods of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals are provided for. Assembled seismic data are transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a Radon transformation. Preferably, the Radon transformation is applied within defined slowness limits pmin and pmax that will preserve coherent noise, and according to an index j of the slowness set and a sampling variable ?p; wherein j = p ma ? ? x - p m ? ? i ? ? n + 1 ? ?sec ? / ? m ? ? ? p , ?p is from about 0.5 to about 4.0 ?sec/m. The coherent noise content of the transformed data is then enhanced, and the primary reflection signal content diminished by filtering at least a subset of the transformed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: John M. Robinson
  • Patent number: 7937194
    Abstract: A method of reducing wheel slip and wheel locking in an electric traction vehicle includes receiving in a first controller a first signal value representative of a first amount of torque to be applied to at least one wheel of the electric traction vehicle by a motor coupled to the wheel and to the first controller, and a second signal value representative of a reference speed of the electric traction vehicle. The first and second signal values are generated by a second controller in communication with the first controller. The method also includes receiving in the first controller a third signal value representative of a speed of the at least one wheel, determining in the first controller a torque output signal using the first, second, and third signal values; and transmitting the torque output signal from the first controller to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Nader Nasr, Peter Werner
  • Patent number: 7937202
    Abstract: The computer 26 sends actuating signals to the resistive device 38 to resist the occupant input to the accelerator 22, but only when the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold while the seat belt 24 is not fastened about the occupant 28. This invention is characterized by applying the resistance and adjusting the threshold in proportion to the number of times the seat belt 24 is not fastened while the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold compared with the number of times the vehicle 20 exceeds the threshold speed. Also, the threshold may be adjusted so resistance may be applied at speeds that would normally be acceptable to have the seat belt 24 unfastened when the vehicle 20 is operated at these speeds too often.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald Van Houten, Richard Schulman, Jeffrey Tenenbaum
  • Patent number: 7933713
    Abstract: A method for supplying two types of fuel to an engine of a vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, an amount of a first fuel supplied to the engine is adjusted in response to a condition of a fuel separator. The method can improve vehicle drivability at least during some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 7933166
    Abstract: A method for tracking a wellbore tool includes: obtaining a first image of the wellbore using an imager associated with the tool; obtaining a second image of the wellbore using the imager after a selected time period; matching the first image with the second image by shifting one of the first and second images; determining an amount of the shifting; and comparing the amount of the shifting with a reference distance to determine a distance of tool movement. A method for tracking a wellbore tool includes: obtaining an image of a wellbore feature using a first imager associated with the tool; moving the tool in the wellbore; and registering a distance of tool movement when the image of the wellbore feature is detected by a second imager spaced apart from the first imager, wherein the distance of tool movement equals a spacing between the first and second imagers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Goodman
  • Patent number: 7933164
    Abstract: A technique includes performing at least one intervening towed seismic survey after a prior towed seismic survey and before a future towed seismic survey. The prior towed seismic survey has associated first streamer positions, and the future towed seismic survey has associated second streamer positions that do not coincide with the first streamer positions. The technique includes using measurements that are acquired in the intervening towed seismic survey(s) to link the prior towed seismic survey to the future towed seismic survey for time lapse analysis involving the prior and future towed seismic surveys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ralf Ferber, Stephen Pickering, Robin Charles Walker
  • Patent number: 7933690
    Abstract: A vehicle recognition allowing device is provided which allows the recognition of a traveling state of a vehicle, including a two-wheeled vehicle to be recognized and does not require a sophisticated image processing function. When a change in the speed, traveling state or both of the vehicle is detected by a traveling state detecting part, flickering frequencies of respective infrared ray markers are increased or decreased to a frequency corresponding to the change in speed, traveling state or both. Alternatively, flickering duty ratios of the respective infrared ray markers can be changed to a duty ratio corresponding to the new speed, traveling state or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumitsu Kushida, Mutsumi Katayama
  • Patent number: 7933702
    Abstract: A method for activating a restraint system in a vehicle, in which the restraint system is activated as a function of a speed, an activation characteristic, and at least one quantity derived from an acceleration signal, and in which the at least one quantity exceeds a threshold function that is set as a function of the impact speed and a required activation time. The activation characteristic of a particular accident type runs linearly to a first impact speed value. The activation characteristic runs with a second slope between the first impact speed and a second impact speed value, the first and the second impact speed value depending on the particular vehicle type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Marc Theisen
  • Patent number: 7929380
    Abstract: A seismic source signal generator having feed-forward control having pressure, current and/or valve position sensors that detect system component parameters. Initial and operating parameters are processed during source operation to remove, partially or wholly, harmonic distortions from the seismic source signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Inova Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhouhong Wei, John Sallas
  • Patent number: 7924652
    Abstract: The method disclosed is useful for estimating anisotropic properties of an earth formation. The method includes extracting travel time values of components of the acoustic wave induced from a downhole tool and reflected from a boundary bed formation. The method further includes obtaining a travel time ratio of the wave components and using the travel time ratio to estimate the anisotropic properties of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Xiao Ming Tang, Vladimir Dubinsky, Yibing Zheng
  • Patent number: 7925408
    Abstract: During the standstill state maintenance control executed by an electric parking brake system, the moving force-based target tension Frefb is determined based on the inclination angle of a vehicle and the shift position each time the predetermined program is executed, and the tentative target tension Fref(n) in the current routine is set to a smaller value from among the moving force-based target tension Frefb and the maximum value Fmax. The control target tension Fref(n)* is set to a larger value from among the control target tension (the final target tension) Fref(n?1)* in the immediately preceding routine and the tentative target value Fref(n). Even if the tentative target tension Fref(n) is smaller than the control target tension Fref(n?1)*, the control target value Fref(n)* is not set to a value smaller than the control target tension Fref(n?1)*.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Shiraki
  • Patent number: 7920966
    Abstract: Navigation apparatuses, methods, and programs set a first reference point on a driving route, set a second reference point on the driving route, the second reference point being prior to the first reference point along the driving route, and set a third reference point on the driving route, the third reference point being after the first reference point along the driving route. The apparatuses, methods, and programs set a triangular area having vertices corresponding to the first reference point, the second reference point, and the third reference point and obtain three-dimensional map data around the triangular area. The apparatuses, methods, and programs set a predetermined translucent ratio for a structure included in the triangular area. The apparatuses, methods, and programs generate a moving three-dimensional image which displays the driving route overlapped with the structure set with the predetermined translucent ratio and display the generated three-dimensional motion-image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiko Emoto, Shinya Miyamoto, Kazuyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7920952
    Abstract: A turning control apparatus for a vehicle to improve turning ability and to avoid degradation of acceleration ability is provided. The turning control apparatus comprises a first yaw controller for adjusting at least one of driving torque of a left wheel and a right wheel; a second yaw controller for adjusting a speeds difference between a front wheel and a rear wheel; and an integrated yaw controller for controlling yaw momentum of the vehicle by managing the first and second yaw controller, wherein when the yaw of the vehicle should be reduced, the integrated yaw controller controls the first yaw controller so as to decrease the driving torque of a inside wheel, which is one of the right and left wheel and is near to a center axis of turning, and the second yaw controller so as to decrease the speeds difference between the front and rear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takami Miura, Keiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7920959
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for determining the velocity vector, speed, and direction of moving vehicles traveling on roadways which change elevation and have curves. A camera mounted above a roadway observes at least one vehicles traveling in different directions on different roads. Each pixel in the two-dimensional optical image is mapped into a three-dimensional real world location to enable the moving vehicles to be analyzed in the three-dimensional real world as they travel on roads, which may change elevation and may have curves. The estimated vehicle velocities may be displayed on an image near the moving vehicle. Individual images with vehicle velocities may be posted on an Internet site. The sequence of optical images, or streaming video, with the displayed vehicle velocities may also be used for television news programs that show traffic moving on the roadways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher Reed Williams
  • Patent number: 7917272
    Abstract: In deceleration control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a deceleration control is performed in accordance with a turning travel situation of the vehicle; and an engine throttle opening angle is controlled gradually in a closure direction at a preset variation degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Genpei Naitou, Shinji Matsumoto, Tomohiro Jimbo
  • Patent number: 7916576
    Abstract: A technique includes determining at least one parameter that characterizes a seismic survey in which multiple interfering seismic sources are fired and seismic sensors sense energy that is produced by the seismic sources. The determination of the parameter(s) includes optimizing the seismic survey for separation of the sensed energy according to the seismic sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Craig J. Beasley, William Henry Dragoset, Jr., Ian Moore