Patents Examined by John Barlow
  • Patent number: 7487056
    Abstract: Precision and reliability of localization estimates derived from conventional localization systems are improved through a system and method for post-processing of initial localization data, even in environments which may include noise, reflections, or other interference. Such localization systems include conventional sound source localization (SSL) systems based on microphone array inputs, radio source location systems based on directional antenna array inputs, etc. In general, this post-processing system and method applies statistical real-time clustering to initial localization estimates, and then uses this real-time clustering in a multi-stage process to generate new localization estimates having improved precision and reliability relative to the initial localization estimates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Ivan Tashev
  • Patent number: 7454309
    Abstract: A wearable computing apparatus includes a processor; a device for presenting information from the processor to a user, and a device for providing user input to the processor in response to the information presented to the user. The device is adapted to be activated wholly or partly by a foot of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard Anthony Lawrence, David Neil Slatter, Glenn Peter Hall
  • Patent number: 7440868
    Abstract: A method for the determination of the position, in particular the future position, of an object, in particular of a particle or the like, in which case the progression of the position of a reference object is determined, in which case the reference object passes through a process and in which case the differences of the positions of the object and of the reference object are formed, has been designed for the purpose of a good determination of the position of the object with simultaneously the lowest possible technical expenditure in such a manner that error position terms are formed from the differences, and that the error position terms are weighted with at least one correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Uwe Jaekel
  • Patent number: 7430489
    Abstract: A device (4) for producing information concerning one or more properties of an environment (1), comprising a sensor (5) movable in relation to the environment, for obtaining information from the environment by recording or measuring one or more properties of the environment in one or more positions and/or directions, and a transducer (6) mechanically connected to the sensor (5) so that the relative positions and orientations of the sensor and the transducer are fixable. The transducer (6) is arranged to determine its orientation and position with respect to at least four degrees of freedom relative to the environment by receiving incident signals from signal sources (7) in the environment and thereby produce corresponding information concerning the orientation and the position of the sensor, for at least one said recording or measuring accomplished by the sensor (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Inventors: Jan G. Fäger, Klas Jacobson
  • Patent number: 7425056
    Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening and performing printing by ejecting an ink from the ink-jet head, timings of bubble forming are mutually shifted at respective heaters of the plurality of heaters upon application of respective pulses to the plurality of heaters and based on information relating to an ink temperature of the ink-jet head. The ejection amount can be controlled by forming bubbles in the ink to eject the ink through the ink ejection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noribumi Koitabashi, Jiro Moriyama, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Hiroshi Tajika, Fumihiro Gotoh, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 7426442
    Abstract: Techniques for displaying chromatographic data using a graphical user interface are provided. Chromatographic separation data that is a series of measurements for a sample at a scanning location over time can be displayed on a display device in a series of bands. Additionally, the series of bands for multiple samples can be aligned on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Caliper Technologies, Corp.
    Inventor: Steven J. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7421363
    Abstract: A method for implementing a virtual inspection of a virtually machined workpiece is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes defining a set of master reference planes, defining a set of positioning planes with respect to the set of master reference planes, and defining a pair of intersecting cutting planes from the set of positioning planes. The pair of intersecting cutting planes define an inspection line at the intersection thereof, wherein the inspection line is swept through a selected area of the workpiece, thereby collecting inspection data for the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Thomas, Diane M. Landers
  • Patent number: 7415377
    Abstract: A programmable system for testing relays and controlling systems is provided. In one embodiment the present disclosure provides a programmable device capable of, for example, testing relays. The device includes a signal generator for generating signals to test relays. The device includes a memory location, and a first program stored in the memory location. The first program supports relay testing. The device includes a versioned program to support relay testing, and a processor in communication with the signal generator and the memory location. The device also includes a routine that is operable by the processor to install a versioned program in the memory location replacing the first program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: AVO Multi-Amp Corporation DBA Megger
    Inventors: Aaron C. Klijn, Marvin G. Miller, Francisco J. Pataro, Michael D. Willett, Michael Edwards, Terry L. Elzy, Michael Maahs, John L. Shanks, Stanley I. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7415356
    Abstract: A facility for producing a composite aerial image is described. The facility receives information specifying a geographic area. The facility obtains an aerial image showing the specified geographic area that was prepared using one or more aerial image sections. Each aerial image section covers a geographic area defined in terms of spherical coordinates, and was constructed by copying a portion of a master aerial image that was selected using rectangular coordinates into the master image that were determined by directly transforming the spherical coordinates defining the covered geographic area. The facility obtains information indexed to one or more distinguished geographic locations within the specified geographic area and, for each distinguished geographic location, composites into the obtained aerial image a visual indication of the information that is indexed to the distinguished geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Zillow, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Gowda, Bryan Byrne, Andy Wand
  • Patent number: 7403858
    Abstract: The invention covers the mining industry. Detection method of the occurrence zone of the mantle substance diapir finger consisting in that that geological observation are carried out in riftzones banked up by diapirs of the abnormal mantle and places of location of the mantle substance finger in the earth's crust are determined. Based on the presence of influence traces of silanes streams upon the rock and/or presence of separate ridges having the length up to 200 km by the width of up to 20 km and/or based on the blast traces of silanes and/or presence of scoria cones, differing by that that the correspondence of 3He/4He from gases sampled from sources of 10?5 order is additionally determined for determination of silicides at the small depth as physical parameters for the location of the mantle substance diapir finger in the earth's crust. The presence of high semiconductor conductivity, locality and activity of magnetic anomalies and anomalies of gravity field is additionally established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Vladimir Nikolaevich Larin
  • Patent number: 7398158
    Abstract: A unique method has been developed which can show the presence of fractures in an Earth formation as a mappable attribute. This method uses the frequency spectra derived from P-wave seismic data over a pair of specific time windows above and below a seismic horizon or reflector of interest to infer the presence or absence of these geologic fractures based on an attenuation of high frequencies. The method produces a parameter value (t*) which is proportional to the shift in frequency spectra amplitudes (i.e., energy) from higher frequencies to lower frequencies, that is, from a time-window above a horizon or reflector of interest to a time-window below the horizon or reflector of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ilyas Juzer Najmuddin
  • Patent number: 7398166
    Abstract: A probe located in an area to be measured has an acoustic stimulator, (e.g., a loudspeaker and a microphone). The stimulator sends acoustic signals to the microphone where the signals are transformed into electrical signals and transferred to an analysis unit. Using a defined stimulation followed by a two-port chain transfer matrix connected to an impedance as a model, the voltage ratio between the stimulation and the impedance is described as a dimensionless transfer function of a complex function of the stimulation frequency. A series of acoustic calibration signals are generated by known acoustic impedances covering different calibration scopes using the stimulation. The calibration signals are recorded and the electric values are merged with the respective voltage values of the stimulation for evaluation of the respective transfer functions which are merged together into an over-determined linear system of equations. The impedance is determined by evaluating the transfer functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Alfred Stirnemann
  • Patent number: 7395175
    Abstract: A digital data recording apparatus, which can record the exact acquisition time of data, a sampling data identification method thereof, and a program for identifying sampling data, are provided. A CPU 11 reads out the program of a first conversion formula. The CPU 11 uses the first conversion formula to convert a time series of detection temperature data into a time series of actual oscillation frequencies f? of a reference clock signal. At a subsequent step, the CPU 11 calculates the respective normal sampling timings employing the current time as a reference time by dividing a time series of count values by each of the actual oscillation frequencies f? corresponding to the respective count values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignees: National University Corporation Nagoya University, Macome Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneo Yamauchi, Iwao Fujii, Akane Mandokoro, Masayoshi Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 7389188
    Abstract: A fluid-structure coupled numerical simulation method is provided. The method uses a finite volume method employing an orthogonal mesh and a computer and memory setting a solid area based on a solid rate inside a mesh and at a tangent position to each mesh, including the steps of: setting initial and boundary conditions of a moving film structure; setting a velocity boundary in the tangent direction of the film structure by computing a position and shape thereof; and computing a curvature thereof. The method further includes the step of computing a pressure balance based on a balance between a pressure obtained from a fluid computation and a repulsive force obtained from the tension and curvature of the film structure to implement processing of a mutually-coupled phenomenon. A shift amount of the film surface for each time of said computing steps is simulated using the same program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Toda, Tatsushiro Hirata
  • Patent number: 7389204
    Abstract: A system for visually presenting data receives signal processing data generated signal processing data collection blocks corresponding to devices associated with a process plant. The signal processing data collection blocks may generate data such as statistical data, frequency analysis data, auto regression data, wavelets data, etc. The system displays an image representative of the devices and representative of a context of the devices within the process plant. Additionally, data based on signal processing data corresponding to one or more devices is displayed. For example, the signal processing data for the device could be displayed. As another example, data may be generated based on the signal processing data and this generated data may be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Evren Eryurek, Kadir Kavaklioglu, John P. Miller
  • Patent number: 7386410
    Abstract: A variable reference voltage circuit controllable in closed loop, for calibrating off-chip and on-chip drivers, margining and optimizing a reference voltage, for interfaces such as DDR2 or any other suitable interface. In one example, the on-chip variable reference voltage circuit, coupled to external fixed reference voltage, includes control logic and an array of switchable resistor elements (pull-up and pull-down resistors) that may each be selectively switched in or out of the circuit to change the reference voltage being supplied to an on-chip receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: ATI Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Boris Boskovic
  • Patent number: 7386413
    Abstract: A testing apparatus includes one or more trace banks. Each trace bank includes (1) an input switch operable to couple an input port to one of multiple output ports, (2) an output switch operable to couple one of multiple input ports to one output port, and (3) transmission lines of different lengths coupled between the output ports of the input switch and the input ports of the output switch. The trace banks can be cascaded using cables to connect their output and input ports. The input and output switches in the trace banks are controlled to provide a transmission path of the desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Jeff P. Kirsten
  • Patent number: 7386408
    Abstract: A parallel kinematic machine has a parallel kinematic mechanism including an end effecter and a parallel link mechanism. A numerical control device controls a position and orientation of the end effecter based on kinematics of the parallel kinematic mechanism. A posture setter sets an adjustment tool on the end effecter in a known posture in a reference coordinate system defined outside the parallel kinematic mechanism based on a measurement method. A data acquirer acquires data in accordance with a measurement method selecting code for designating the measurement method used by the posture setter in setting the adjustment tool in the known posture, and defines a correlation between kinematic parameters for the parallel kinematic mechanism and the reference coordinate system. A calculator calculates the kinematic parameters based on the acquired data by using a relational expression describing forward kinematics of the parallel kinematic mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventors: Nobutaka Nishibashi, Kazuaki Yagi
  • Patent number: 7386411
    Abstract: An exemplary automatic hi-pot test apparatus (20) includes a high voltage supply (21), a transmission device configured for transmitting an electronic device (26) to be tested, a connecting device electrically connected to the high voltage supply and configured for moving and electrically connecting with or electrically disconnecting from the electronic device, a controller (28) for controlling the connecting device and the transmission device, and a detector (27) for detecting the presence of the electronic device. When the detector detects the presence of the electronic device, the detector sends a corresponding detecting signal to the controller, such that the controller stops the electronic device and drives the connecting device to electrically connect with the electronic device whereby a hi-pot test can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventors: Yan-Kai Zhang, Jun-Hua Yang, Yi Wang
  • Patent number: 7386416
    Abstract: The wall thickness and ovality of a tubular are simultaneously determined. The theoretical radius of a pipe is computed from a measurement of its circumference. An ultrasonic device conventionally used to measure the wall thickness of tubulars is adapted to also measure the maximum and minimum diameters and ovality by equipping or utilizing existing ultrasound inspection device with contact surfaces which contact the tubular at a fixed distance apart and at a known distance from the surface of the ultrasonic transducer. The contact surfaces define a chord of known length on the tubular under test. The mean radius of the tubular may be computed from multiple water path measurements around the circumference relative to a known fixture. The maximum and minimum diameter and ovality are calculated from the measured differences in distance from the surface of the tubular to the ultrasonic transducer and the theoretical circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Cudd Pressure Control, Inc.
    Inventor: David Glasscock