Patents Examined by Jorge Peche
  • Patent number: 9937013
    Abstract: A surgical controlling system comprising: a location estimating means to real-time locate the 3D spatial position of surgical tools, a movement detection means and movement database in communication with the location estimating means and with a control database and controller to control the position of surgical tools. The movement database stores 3D spatial positions of the surgical tools at the present time and at at least one previous time; movement has occurred if a present position is different from a previous position. In the control database are rules identifying tool movement as allowed or restricted, selected from: most used tool rule, right or left tool rule, field of view rule, no fly zone rule, route rule, environmental rule, operator input rule, proximity rule, collision prevention rule, history-based rule, tool-dependent allowed and restricted movement rule, preferred volume zone, preferred tool, movement detection rule, tagged tool rule, and change of speed rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: M.S.T. MEDICAL SURGERY TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Motti Frimer, Mordehai Sholev, Yehuda Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 9884626
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode and to assume operation in said system operating mode, wherein when operating in the automatic mode selection condition the system is configured to prevent selection of a prescribed one or more operating modes if it is determined that the vehicle is towing a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: James Kelly, Andrew Fairgrieve, Elliot Hemes, Dan Dennehy, Sam Anker
  • Patent number: 9873201
    Abstract: A force detection device includes a charge output element that outputs charge in accordance with a received external force, a conversion and output circuit, having a first switching element and a first capacitor, which converts the charge into a voltage and outputs the voltage, a compensation signal output circuit, having a second switching element and a second capacitor, which outputs a compensation signal, and an external force detection circuit that detects an external force on the basis of the voltage which is output from the conversion and output circuit and the compensation signal which is output from the compensation signal output circuit. The capacitance of the second capacitor is smaller than the capacitance of the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kamiya, Takanobu Matsumoto, Hideaki Oka, Hiroki Kawai
  • Patent number: 9868212
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer readable media that are related to 3D object detection and pose determination and that may optionally increase the robustness and/or efficiency of the 3D object recognition and pose determination. Some implementations are generally directed to techniques for generating an object model of an object based on model point cloud data of the object. Some implementations of the present disclosure are additionally and/or alternatively directed to techniques for application of acquired 3D scene point cloud data to a stored object model of an object to detect the object and/or determine the pose of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Stefan Hinterstoisser
  • Patent number: 9862499
    Abstract: A human machine interface linked to the throttle lever of an aircraft used to control the energy of an aircraft is disclosed. The HMI has upper part, which corresponds to the forward stroke of the lever, and a lower part, which corresponds to the rearward stroke of the lever. An upper shutter is positioned over the upper part, and a lower shutter is positioned over the lower part. A “cursor” acts as a visual representation in the HMI of the lever and its handle. The cursor moves forward or backward as the pilot acts on the lever/handle. The cursor indicates an ordered release of more or less aircraft energy, depending on its position on the display. The upper and lower shutters also indicate the ordered release of more or less aircraft energy, depending on the respective lengths of the two shutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Florian Constans, Mathieu Deroo, Benjamin Mazoin
  • Patent number: 9849593
    Abstract: A robotic system that includes a mobile robot linked to a plurality of remote stations. One of the remote stations includes an arbitrator that controls access to the robot. Each remote station may be assigned a priority that is used by the arbitrator to determine which station has access to the robot. The arbitrator may include notification and call back mechanisms for sending messages relating to an access request and a granting of access for a remote station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: INTOUCH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Keith Phillip Laby, Jonathan Southard
  • Patent number: 9828010
    Abstract: A mission planner system for a powered system, the mission planner system including a receiving device to collect aspect information as the powered system performs a mission, said aspect information being received from a remote location, a processor to determine a speed limit based at least in part on the aspect information, and a control system connected to the powered system to operate the powered system in response to the speed limit. A method and a computer software code for determining the mission plan with aspect information obtained from a remote location during the mission are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tom Otsubo, Wolfgang Daum, Craig Alan Stull, Gregory Hann, Phillip Danner
  • Patent number: 9827678
    Abstract: An example robotic arm includes a base linkage and a first end effector connected to a second end of the base linkage through a first rotational joint. The robotic arm additionally includes a control arm. The control arm includes a first linkage and a second linkage, each having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first linkage is connected to the second end of the base linkage through a second rotational joint. The first end of the second linkage is connected to the second end of the first linkage through a third rotational joint. The control arm also includes a second end effector connected to the second end of the second linkage through a fourth rotational joint. The first, second, third, and fourth rotational joints are configured to rotate in or parallel to a first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Seth Gilbertson, Jeff Weber, Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 9827677
    Abstract: An example robotic device includes a mobile base and a base linkage. The base linkage has a first end and a second end where the first end is connected to the mobile base. The robotic device also includes a first end effector connected to the second end of the base linkage. The first end effector includes a shovel tool. The robotic device additionally includes an actuated control arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of the actuated control arm is connected to the second end of the base linkage. The robotic device further includes a second end effector connected to the second end of the actuated control arm. The second end effector includes a sweeping tool. The actuated control arm is configured to move the sweeping tool to engage with the shovel tool to sweep one or more objects onto the shovel tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Seth Gilbertson, Jeff Weber, Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 9824507
    Abstract: A vehicular diagnostic communications system, and components thereof, are provided for an apparatus and technique for communicating vehicular diagnostic information over a cellphone network. The system includes a code reader having a vehicle diagnostic port connector for receiving vehicle diagnostic information from the vehicle diagnostic port. The code reader also has a local connectivity network circuit for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the vehicle diagnostic port connector and a local connectivity circuit. A cellphone is arranged in communication with the local connectivity network for communicating vehicle diagnostic information between the code reader and a cellular telephone network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Ieon C. Chen
  • Patent number: 9796375
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce frequency of establishing an engine braking force is provided. The control system is configured to operate a first motor as a motor to increase torque of an output member while halting the output shaft of the engine by a brake, and to increase the deceleration torque of the second motor, if a state of charge of the battery is higher than a predetermined threshold level when deceleration of the hybrid vehicle is demanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Makoto Hirai, Koji Hokoi, Takanori Aoki, Hideo Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 9785138
    Abstract: A robot has an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode of the robot. The operation mode setting unit changes a correction factor multiplied by the maximum acceleration and the maximum deceleration of an arm and the servo gain of a servo circuit, and thereby selectively sets the operation mode to one of a first operation mode, a second operation mode in which the arm operates faster than in the first operation mode, and a third operation mode in which the arm vibrates less than in the first operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Toshimitsu, Hiroaki Fujimori, Katsuji Igarashi, Masatoshi Ono, Atsushi Asada
  • Patent number: 9782897
    Abstract: In a robot system, a signal output unit outputs, depending on a processing result of an image processing unit, an entry preparation signal indicating an entry preparation state, and an entry permission signal for permitting a person to enter a predetermined section in a case where the person has been requested to enter the predetermined section. The entry preparation signal is outputted when the stopping of the operation of the robot is detected, and thereafter, when the person requests to enter the predetermined section, an instruction to stop the operation of the robot, or an instruction to stop the operation of the robot as well as an instruction to stop a portion of the robot system which is necessary to enable the person to enter therein, are outputted, and the entry permission signal is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Yuuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9782275
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for controlling walking of a wearable robot, which provide walking assistive power as if something were pulling the wearer of the robot from the front or pushing the wearer from the back, by applying the force of a virtual spring, whereby the wearer may comfortably walk. The systems for controlling walking of the robot include: a walking mode determination unit configured to determine whether the robot is walking; a virtual spring force calculation unit configured to calculate the force of a virtual spring of which one end is connected to the robot and the other end is connected to a target point in front of the robot based on the walking direction; and a joint driving unit configured to drive each joint of the robot using torque calculated based on the force of the virtual spring, which is calculated by the virtual spring force calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Wan Jae Shin
  • Patent number: 9771149
    Abstract: A gate departure system for an aircraft includes an electric traction motor for driving a wheel of a main landing gear assembly of the aircraft on only one side of the aircraft; and a controller selectively connected to a starter-generator of an auxiliary power unit (APU) and to the traction motor to control flow of electrical power to either the starter-generator for starting of the APU or the electric traction motor for driving the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: David Lazarovich, Nicolae Morcov, Marius Pleniceanu
  • Patent number: 9764471
    Abstract: A trajectory generation apparatus for robot includes a load judgement unit which compares a load applied to a component of a robot when the robot is operated on a reference trajectory with a load judgement value and a speed reduction unit which reduces a speed of the robot when the load is greater than the load judgement value. The trajectory generation apparatus includes a comparison trajectory generation unit which sets a comparison teaching point obtained by changing a position of a reference teaching point when the speed is reduced and generates a comparison trajectory based on the comparison teaching point and a trajectory selection unit which compares a transit time of the comparison trajectory with a transit time of the reference trajectory and selects a trajectory of which a transit time is shorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Sugio
  • Patent number: 9766087
    Abstract: A wireless client-server (WCS) navigator provides routes optimized for travel time based on traffic flow rate and incident data, inexpensively and in a timely manner. A server, having a database of geographical information including road segments at a server, receives information representing traffic flow rates or traffic incidents along the road segments. This allows a route to be generated that is optimized to minimize travel time along the road segments based upon the traffic flow rates or traffic incidents. The route is then transmitted to a mobile client. Typically, though not necessarily, the route is generated in response to a request from a mobile client. Some travel time estimates may be based on historical traffic flow rate data or speed limit data rather than current information. Traffic flow rate or traffic incident data associated with the transmitted route may be transmitted to a client along with the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventor: Ian Cummings
  • Patent number: 9766072
    Abstract: A method and device for providing a travel route of a portable medical diagnosis apparatus include acquiring a travel image obtained by capturing a space to move of the medical diagnosis apparatus; predicting the travel route of the medical diagnosis apparatus on the basis of a steering angle of the medical diagnosis apparatus; and displaying information regarding the travel route on the travel image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Myeong-je Kim
  • Patent number: 9757206
    Abstract: Surgical controlling systems and methods. A surgical controlling system includes: at least one surgical tool adapted to be inserted into a surgical environment of a human body for assisting a surgical procedure; at least one location estimating unit to real-time locate the 3D spatial position of at least one surgical tool at any given time t; and at least one movement detection unit in communication with a movement's database and with the location estimating means. The system also includes a controller having a processing unit in communication with a controller's database. The controller controls the spatial position of at least one surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: M.S.T. MEDICAL SURGERY TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Motti Frimer, Mordehai Sholev, Yehuda Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 9758156
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce frequency of establishing an engine braking force is provided. The control system is configured to operate a first motor as a motor to increase torque of an output member while halting the output shaft of the engine by a brake, and to increase the deceleration torque of the second motor, if a state of charge of the battery is higher than a predetermined threshold level when deceleration of the hybrid vehicle is demanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Makoto Hirai, Koji Hokoi, Takanori Aoki, Hideo Nakatsukasa