Patents Examined by Jeff A. Burke
  • Patent number: 11841287
    Abstract: A force sensor that quantitatively detects an external force. The force sensor comprises a base unit, a displacement unit displacing by an external force, a first displacement sensor pair including two sets of sensors detecting a relative displacement between the base unit and the displacement unit in a first direction, and a second displacement sensor pair including two sets of sensors detecting a relative displacement between the base unit and the displacement unit in a second direction. Among four quadrants divided by two straight lines along each of the first direction and the second direction wherein, the straight lines passing through a midpoint of the two sets of sensors composing the first displacement sensor pair, the two sets of sensors composing the second displacement sensor pair are respectively disposed in two quadrants in which the two sets of sensors composing the first displacement sensor pair are respectively disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chihiro Nagura
  • Patent number: 11839441
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes at least one robot arm, at least one instrument, and a plurality of drive motors configured to drive the at least one robot arm and at least one instrument. The system also includes a laparoscopic port having a plurality of fiducials, a sensor configured to detect the plurality of fiducials, and a controller configured to control the plurality of drive motors. The controller includes a processor that determines a current distance between each fiducial among the plurality of fiducials, determines a location of the laparoscopic port based on the distance between each fiducial, determines a position of the at least one robot arm and the at least one instrument relative to the location of the laparoscopic port, and controls the plurality of drive motors to align the at least one robot arm or the at least one instrument with the laparoscopic port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Matthew Chowaniec, Xingrui Chen
  • Patent number: 11842627
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes: a storage configured to store control code sets corresponding to each of a display apparatus and one or more external electronic apparatuses providing contents to the display apparatus; a communicator comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with the display apparatus and a remote control apparatus; and a processor configured to determine a source apparatus, providing a content that is currently displayed on the display apparatus, of the display apparatus and the one or more external electronic apparatuses, and controlling the communication circuitry of the communicator to transmit a control code set corresponding to the determined source apparatus to the remote control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-hee Jung
  • Patent number: 11840276
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a method for detecting faults related to wheels of a motor vehicle in a driving situation, comprising: —a step (S1) of automatically determining a first series of corrective steering wheel angles applied successively to force the vehicle to follow a path parallel to a first rectilinear portion of a traffic lane; —a step (S2) of automatically detecting, from the corrective steering wheel angles of the first series, the presence of a fault affecting a pair of steering wheels of the vehicle; and, optionally: —a step (S3) of estimating a type of fault associated with the detected fault, a step (S4) of identifying the steering wheel of the pair of wheels affected by the fault; and —a step (S5) of generating a warning message for the attention of the driver of the motor vehicle, the message including the estimated type of fault and the wheel identified as having the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Rachid Benmokhtar, Salma Moujtahid
  • Patent number: 11840244
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting behavioral anomalies among a fleet including a plurality of connected vehicles. The method includes generating at least one fleet behavioral profile for the fleet using a first set of data, wherein creating each fleet behavioral profile includes training a machine learning model using at least a portion of the first set of data, wherein the at least a portion of the first set of data relates to communications with and among the plurality of connected vehicles; applying the at least one fleet behavioral profile to detect at least one anomaly in a second set of data for the fleet wherein the second set of data includes data related to communications with and among the plurality of connected vehicles; and performing at least one mitigation action when the at least one anomaly is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: UPSTREAM SECURITY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoav Levy, Yonatan Appel, Amir Volfovich
  • Patent number: 11839986
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a robotic control system and method that utilizes active perception to gather the relevant information related to a robot, a robotic environment, and objects within the environment, and allows the robot to focus computational resources where needed, such as for manipulating an object. The present disclosure also enables viewing and analyzing objects from different distances and viewpoints, providing a rich visual experience from which the robot can learn abstract representations of the environment. Inspired by the primate visual-motor system, the present disclosure leverages the benefits of active perception to accomplish manipulation tasks using human-like hand-eye coordination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ocado Innovation Limited
    Inventors: David Gabriel Hallock, Youssef Zaky, Gaurav Paruthi, Bryan Tripp, James Sterling Bergstra
  • Patent number: 11833683
    Abstract: A gripping assembly for use with an automated sorting or manufacturing assembly is disclosed. The gripping assembly includes two or more fingers and alignment attributes for precisely picking up objects (e.g., objects placed in a random orientation). The gripping assembly includes the intrinsic ability to retrieve and align objects predictably by including fingers machined to specific characteristics, such that when roughly located to pick up the object, the closing of the fingers orients the object precisely allowing further manipulation of the object from a known object orientation. The fingers of the device can be aligned with precision using optional alignment features such as sliding within tabs fixed to one finger or sliding along a stabilizing pin fixed to one finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventors: Allen P Biehle, Martin C Biehle
  • Patent number: 11837064
    Abstract: A robot in a robot system including a plurality of robots each having a function of identifying a monitoring target and transmitting information related to the monitoring target to a remote site. The robot includes an acquiring unit that acquires sensing data related to the monitoring target, a communication unit that communicates with another nearby robot, and a control unit that controls the communication unit such that an alert mode transition request signal is transmitted to the other nearby robot if it is determined that a first monitoring target is in an abnormal state on a basis of the sensing data. The robot transitions to an alert mode in which a process according to the received alert mode transition request signal is performed if the alert mode transition request signal related to a second monitoring target is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Shionozaki
  • Patent number: 11834807
    Abstract: A sensor retrieval system includes a self-propelled unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) having a control system including a navigation controller, an excavator controller and an extractor controller. The navigation controller has instructions to move the UGV to proximate a geodetic position of a sensor disposed proximate a surface of the ground. The UGV further comprises a sensor position locator arranged to determine distance, direction and relative elevation of the sensor with respect to the UGV. An extractor is in signal communication with the extractor controller. The extractor comprises means for lifting the sensor from the ground to a predetermined depth. An excavator is in signal communication with the excavator controller. The excavator comprises means for removing overburden from above the sensor to leave the overburden to at most the predetermined depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Geophysical Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Scott, Sean Clancy, Robert Hauser, Richard Degner
  • Patent number: 11836685
    Abstract: A robot includes a secure storage area, a camera, a propulsion system, a memory device, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a request for drop box services within a casino, the request including a pickup location and a requestor, control the propulsion system to navigate the robot to the pickup location within the casino, and authenticate an identity of the requestor in response to arriving at the pickup location. The processor is also configured to provide the requestor access to the secure storage area in response to authenticating the identity of the requestor, detect receipt, from the requestor, of at least one value instrument within the secure storage area, lock the secure storage area, and provide a receipt to the requestor in response to receiving the at least one value instrument within the secure storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Cupersmith, Victor Blanco, Ryan Scott
  • Patent number: 11833680
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining movement of a robot about an environment are provided. A computing system of the robot (i) receives information including a navigation target for the robot and a kinematic state of the robot; (ii) determines, based on the information and a trajectory target for the robot, a retargeted trajectory for the robot; (iii) determines, based on the retargeted trajectory, a centroidal trajectory for the robot and a kinematic trajectory for the robot consistent with the centroidal trajectory; and (iv) determines, based on the centroidal trajectory and the kinematic trajectory, a set of vectors having a vector for each of one or more joints of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Deits, Scott Kuindersma, Matthew P. Kelly, Twan Koolen, Yeuhi Abe, Benjamin Stephens
  • Patent number: 11835960
    Abstract: A system includes: a mobile robot comprising a sensor, the robot further comprising a computer, the robot operating in an environment; a server operably connected to the robot via a communication system, the server configured to manage the robot; a controller operably connected to the robot, the controller operably connected to the server, the controller configured to control the robot; and an object of interest marked with a marker at one or more of an approximate height and an approximate field of view of the sensor, the sensor generating data describing the object of interest, the computer configured to identify one or more of the object of interest and the location using one or more of a shape of the object of interest and an intensity of data describing the object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Cairl, Derek King, Sarah Elliott, Alex Henning, Melonee Wise, Russell Toris
  • Patent number: 11834061
    Abstract: A driver assistance device includes a one or more processors. The one or more processors is configured to determine whether a pedal misapplication determination condition is satisfied, and output, when the one or more processors determines that the pedal misapplication determination condition is satisfied, at least one of a warning display and warning audio directly instructing a driver to release the pedal that is depressed at a point in time of outputting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Xi Chen, Kohei Morotomi
  • Patent number: 11838634
    Abstract: A method of generating a digital video image uses a wide-angle field of view (WFOV) lens positioned closely in front of an image sensor array so that the image field of the lens is so curved at the sensor array that different regions of the image field are substantially in focus on the sensor array for different positions of the lens. The method comprises selecting a desired region of interest in the image field of the lens, and adjusting the lens/array distance to bring the region of interest into focus on the sensor array. The in-focus region of interest is stored and at least partially corrected for field-of-view distortion due to the WFOV lens. The corrected image is displayed, locally and/or remotely. These steps are cyclically repeated to provide the video image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Christopher Dainty, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 11827203
    Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to capture, from a camera, one or more images, wherein the one or more images include at least a portion of a vehicle, receive a plurality of keypoints corresponding to markers on the vehicle and instantiate a virtual vehicle corresponding to the vehicle. The instructions include further instructions to determine rotational and translation parameters of the vehicle by matching a plurality of virtual keypoints to the plurality of keypoints and determine a multi-degree of freedom (MDF) pose of the vehicle based on the rotational and translation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Punarjay Chakravarty, Shubham Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 11827218
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method intended to regulate the speed of a vehicle with at least partially automated driving and knowing the radius of curvature of a future segment which it is about to take on its route. This method comprises a step (10-90) which involves regulating the speed of the vehicle in accordance with a speed setpoint and, in the event that a radius of curvature of the future segment representative of a bend is detected, determining a maximum transverse acceleration that the vehicle can undergo in the bend depending on the speed setpoint, then a maximum speed that the vehicle would have in the bend if it underwent this maximum transverse acceleration in the presence of the detected radius of curvature, then imposing a deceleration phase on the vehicle until a deceleration speed chosen as a function of this determined maximum speed is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventors: Claire Belle, Fabrice Perrot
  • Patent number: 11827210
    Abstract: Provided is a setting change assist apparatus for a vehicle configured to: determine whether a setting change request for changing a setting state of driving support control is issued; when determining that the setting change request is issued, notify a driver of confirmation information including information on a content of the setting change request and information on a predetermined approval operation with respect to the setting change request; and change the setting state of the driving support control in accordance with the setting change request when the driver performs the approval operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuko Hiratsuka, Masaru Kawakami, Kazuma Tanaka, Sawa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11832029
    Abstract: A projection system and a projection image adjustment method thereof are provided. The projection image adjustment method is applicable to a processing device connected to multiple projectors, a display, and an input device, and includes the following steps. Arrangement information between the multiple projectors is obtained. Multiple adjustable areas corresponding to a projection image of each projector are simultaneously displayed on the display and the multiple adjustable areas are simultaneously displayed on projection images of the multiple projectors according to the arrangement information. A parameter setting interface corresponding to a first adjustable area among the multiple adjustable areas is displayed on the display. The first adjustable area corresponds to a first projector among the multiple projectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Lin, Chen-Ming Li, Kang-Shun Hsu, Chia-Yen Ou
  • Patent number: 11827270
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an offset unit configured to execute offset processing for offsetting the target lateral position such that the target lateral position is separated from the first lane, when a relationship between the first vehicle and the vehicle satisfies an offset condition. The offset unit is configured not to execute the offset processing even if the relationship between the first vehicle and the vehicle satisfies the predetermined offset condition, when a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the second vehicle and the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance or when a value obtained by dividing the vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the second vehicle and the vehicle by a relative speed between the second vehicle and the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyuki Muramatsu, Yushi Shibaike, Naoki Nagakura
  • Patent number: 11827272
    Abstract: Provided is a lane departure prevention device that, when a risk that a vehicle departs from a lane is determined, issues a warning, steers a steering wheel, and prevent the departure. An electronic control unit is configured to, when a determination is made that the vehicle travels obliquely to the lane based on a position of the vehicle detected by a CCD camera and a determination is made that steering torque detected by a torque sensor is equal to or greater than a reference steering torque, start prohibition of issuing of the warning and prohibition of steering of the steering wheel, and in a situation where issuing of the warning and steering of the steering wheel are prohibited, when a determination is made that the vehicle terminates traveling obliquely to the lane, release the prohibition of issuing of the warning and the prohibition of steering of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Fukutomi