Patents Examined by James P. Trammell
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Patent number: 8024093Abstract: A headlight optical axis adjustment apparatus for motorcycle includes an ECU for adjusting an optical axis of a headlight in accordance with a vehicle body attitude. The apparatus includes a center kickstand switch and a side kickstand switch for detecting respective positions of a center kickstand and a side kickstand of the motorcycle. When either of the kickstands is in a deployed position thereof, the ECU is operated to adjust the optical axis of a headlight to a previously set initial direction, regardless of detection outputs from a front vehicle height sensor and a rear vehicle height sensor. The front vehicle height sensor and the rear vehicle height sensor respectively detect the vehicle heights at the front part of the vehicle body and the rear part of the vehicle body. The vehicle heights are represented by compression and decompression amounts of suspensions.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Nishijima, Koji Suzuki
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Patent number: 8024071Abstract: Based upon a force in a vertical direction exerted between an object and a hand and an angle made by the hand relative to a horizontal face, a transporting force estimation unit estimates a transporting force applied in the vertical direction by a person, and based upon the estimated force, a force controlling operation is carried out so as to set a force in the vertical direction of the robot arm of a robot system to a predetermined force.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Mayumi Komatsu, Yasunao Okazaki
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Patent number: 8024067Abstract: Immediately before a robot 20 starts to move at a high speed, a monitoring area 53 is expanded in a returning direction Y, and absence of an obstacle in the monitoring area 53 is confirmed. During the high speed movement of the robot 20, the monitoring area 53 is expanded forward, so that a safety of an operator is secured, an effective use of a working station area can be made, and an improvement of productivity can be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2006Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiharu Sakai, Tetsuya Ozawa, Kazuyoshi Fukuzawa, Yoshito Ohtake, Hiroki Baba
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Patent number: 8024066Abstract: An autonomous inspector mobile platform robot that is used to inspect a pipe or network of pipes. The robot includes a locomotion device that enables the device to autonomously progress through the pipe and accurately track its pose and odometry during movement. At the same time, image data is autonomously captured to detail the interior portions of the pipe. Images are taken at periodic intervals using a wide angle lens, and additional video images may be captured at locations of interest. Either onboard or offboard the device, each captured image is unwarped (if necessary) and combined with images of adjacent pipe sections to create a complete image of the interior features of the inspected pipe. Optional features include additional sensors and measurement devices, various communications systems to communicate with an end node or the surface, and/or image compression software.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: RedZone Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Carlos F. Reverte, Scott M. Thayer, William Whittaker, Eric C. Close, Adam Slifko, Edison Hudson, Subramanian Vallapuzha
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Patent number: 8024070Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fixed point stabilization device for a legged mobile body having a generating mechanism for generating a fixed point. The present disclosure also provides a fixed point stabilization device for a legged mobile body comprising a stabilizing device for stabilizing the fixed point in accordance with a leg grounding position of the legged mobile body. The fixed point is generated by inputting a predetermined constant torque to a joint of a leg of the legged mobile body on the basis of the energy balance in the legged mobile body, leg switching, and a leg swinging motion. The fixed point is stabilized globally by keeping the leg grounding position of the legged mobile body constant using a stopper.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2006Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Nagoya Institute of TechnologyInventors: Akihito Sano, Hideo Fujimoto, Yoshito Ikemata
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Patent number: 8019667Abstract: This invention provides system and methods for managing accounts of clients at customer financial entities so that deposits of up to $100,000 or greater are insured, so that interest income earned on a portion of all of the account balances may be flexibly allocated according to customer instructions, and so that withdrawals are not limited. These objects are satisfied by holding client funds at interest-earning money market deposit accounts at one or more banks of savings institutions. More particularly, this invention provides methods for receiving client transaction information, determining a net transfer of funds into or out of each client account from transaction information, causing transfer of funds from the insured, interest-bearing deposit accounts to match the net transfer of funds into or out of each client account, and allocating interest earned by the deposit accounts to clients according to customer instructions.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2010Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Island Intellectual Property LLCInventors: Bruce Bent, Bruce Bent, II
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Patent number: 8019498Abstract: An instruction value conversion section (31) of an operation target calculation section (30) converts an instruction signal from a joystick (25). In order to obtain a movement mode of a ship intended by an operator, a target propeller speed calculation section (32) calculates, using each converted value, target rotation speed of right and left propellers (13) and the propeller (14b) of a thruster (14). At a main engine operation control section (40), a slip rate determination section (41) calculates the slip rate U of a clutch mechanism (120) of a marine gear (12) in order to rotate the propellers (13) at the target rotation speed. A drive control section (42) controls operation of the main engine (11) and the clutch mechanism (120). Further, in a thruster operation control section (50), a drive control section (52) controls drive of the propeller (14b) in the rotational direction determined by an operation determining section (51).Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takayoshi Yamazaki, Atsuyuki Tsuzuki, Kouichi Iguchi
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Patent number: 8014898Abstract: A robot controller (7) controlling a robot (1) used combined with a machine tool (5, 6) provided with a communication unit (9) connecting the robot controller to a machine tool, a detection unit (52) detecting through the communication unit a type and number of machine tools, and a setting unit (55) setting the robot controller based on the type and number of machine tools detected by the detection unit. Due to this, machine tool and robot startup work can be simply and easily performed without requiring skill or increasing the startup man-hours. The setting unit selects one setting file from among a plurality of setting files for the robot controller, stored in the robot controller, based on the type and number of machine tools detected by the detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Hiroji Nishi, Yoshitaka Ikeda
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Patent number: 8014913Abstract: A method includes controlling an aircraft during descent, and controlling the engine pressure ratio of a jet engine so that the engine has a substantially equal pressure at the exhaust, and at the front of the engine during the descent.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Inventor: Hal Gerard Wick
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Patent number: 8014897Abstract: A system and method for operating robots in a robot competition. One embodiment of the system may include operator interfaces, where each operator interface is operable to control movement of a respective robot. A respective operator interface may be in communication with an associated operator radio, where each radio may have a low power RF output signal. A robot controller may be coupled to each robot in the robot competition. A robot radio may be coupled to a respective robot and in communication with a respective robot controller and operator radio. The robot radios may have a low power RF output signal while communicating with the respective operator radios. Alternatively, the radios may be short range radios, where a distance of communication may be a maximum of approximately 500 feet.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Innovation First, Inc.Inventors: David A. Norman, Robert H. Mimlitch, III, Paul S. Adams
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Patent number: 8014910Abstract: A reference value is arbitrarily selected from a range of possible aircraft rotation speeds. A position of a trimmable horizontal stabilizer is angled in accordance with a centering of the reference value. A deviation between the reference value and an accelerating speed value of the aircraft is determined. Elevators or the horizontal stabilizer are controlled, prior to rotation, in accordance with the determined deviation.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2006Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Airbus FranceInventors: Gerard Mathieu, Franck Delaplace, Xavier Le Tron
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Patent number: 8010452Abstract: A communication routing system receives signals from sources thereof and converts them into a standard format, using mapping definitions selected on the basis of their sources. Signals in the standard format are converted into output formats according to their destinations using mapping definitions selected on the basis of their destinations. In a preferred embodiment, the standard format involves distributing data from each received signal across a plurality of tables of a database.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2001Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Open Business Exchange LimitedInventors: Alain Jean Falys, John Richard Jermy, Stefan John Foryszewski, Christopher John Lowrie
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Patent number: 8010248Abstract: A data recorder has: a controlled state detecting unit, operable to detect a controlled state of a vehicle by a driver; an operating state detecting unit, operable to detect an operating state of the vehicle; a state recording unit; and a recording condition determination unit, operable to determine whether or not the controlled state and the operating state are recorded in the state recording unit based on at least the controlled state of the controlled and operating states.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2007Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiaki Sano
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Patent number: 8010270Abstract: An ECU releases brake hold control when an actual accelerator pedal position A exceeds a predetermined position A(0) while the brake hold control is being executed. Further, the ECU determines whether or not the actual accelerator pedal position A is larger than a position A(1), which is a value smaller than the predetermined position A(0), and if it is larger than the predetermined position A(1), executes a process for increasing a creep torque reflection ratio R to recover creep force that has been stopped.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshiro Ueoka, Kenji Oonishi
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Patent number: 8010229Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for ensuring a cleaning robot to return to a charge station. The method includes the steps of: (a) measuring a battery usable time, a running speed, and an actual return distance of a cleaning robot during a cleaning operation; (b) calculating an allowable return distance on the basis of the battery usable time and the running speed; (c) comparing the actual return distance with the allowable return distance; and (d) returning the cleaning robot to the charge station when the actual return distance is larger than the allowable return distance as a result of the comparison. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cleaning robot from being not returned to the charge station, thereby providing convenience to a user.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Hyung Joo Kim, Chang Gyu Lim, Sung Ho Im, Dong Sun Lim
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Patent number: 8010414Abstract: A method of effecting a purchasing transaction includes providing a printed form having printed thereon coded data distributed over an area; capturing an image of the form using a sensing device, the captured image showing a portion of the coded data; decoding at least some of the coded data within the captured image; determining from the coded data an identity of the form, a position of the coded data on the form, and a parameter of the purchasing transaction; determining a position of the sensing device relative to the form from a distortion of the captured image and the determined position of the coded data; compiling the identify of the form, the position of the sensing device, and the parameter of the purchasing transaction as indicating data; receiving in a computer system the indicating data; and identifying, in the computer system and from the indicating data, at least one parameter relating to a purchasing transaction.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
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Patent number: 8005572Abstract: An apparatus provides selective communication between multiple programmable robot controllers and one or more teaching devices connected by a network. The network controls communication between the teaching devices and the controllers including active tasks and passive tasks for preventing communication of active tasks between any of the controllers and more than one of any of the teaching devices. The network permits communication of the passive tasks between any of the controllers and one of the teaching devices communicating active tasks with another one of the controllers.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Fanuc Robotics America, Inc.Inventors: Judy A. Evans, Kenneth W. Krause, Glenn F Nowak
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Patent number: 8005612Abstract: A map distribution system includes a map distribution server that distributes map data to a navigation device. The server includes a first table having entries that each include update data in correspondence with an ID for the update data and an ID for each other update data upon which the update data depends, a second table having entries that each include an area ID of an area of the map data in correspondence with a version of the area and the ID for each update data that is applied in the version of the area, and an update manager that refers to the second table to select the ID for each update data required for updating an area selected based on input from the navigation device and the required ID for each other update data upon which any update data required for updating the area selected depends.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Akinori Asahara, Kenji Naka, Michio Morioka, Hirokazu Inayoshi
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Patent number: 8005738Abstract: The present invention relates to a credit index, a system and method for structuring a credit index, a system and method for operating a credit index, and a system and method for determining the liquidity of a credit.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2010Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Goldman Sachs & Co.Inventors: Varkki Chacko, Fernando Cunha
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Patent number: 8000867Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system for automatically landing an aircraft using image signals and a method of controlling the system. The system includes an altimeter installed on the aircraft; a landing mark placed at a landing location on a landing runway; a camera installed on the aircraft, oriented toward the front of the aircraft, and configured to detect the shape of the landing mark in image information form; and a FCC configured to calculate the angle between the aircraft and the ground, the ground range and the slant range between the aircraft and the landing location using the altitude information measured by the altimeter, the image information of the landing mark captured by the camera, angle information composed of the pitch, roll and yaw angles of the aircraft, and the angle of entry into the landing runway, and configured to control the automatic landing of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Korea Aerospace Research InstituteInventor: Hyeon-Cheol Lee