Patents Examined by Khoi Tran
  • Patent number: 9165468
    Abstract: A system for longitudinal and lateral control of a vehicle. The system includes a camera generating a plurality of images representative of a field of view in front of the vehicle, and a controller receiving the plurality of images. The controller detects an object in the plurality of images, extracts a plurality of features from the plurality of images, generates a reference feature depiction based on the plurality of features from one or more of the plurality of images, generates a comparison feature depiction based on the plurality of features from one of the plurality of images, compares the reference feature depiction and the comparison feature depiction, and determines a longitudinal position of the vehicle relative to the object based on differences between the reference feature depiction and the comparison feature depiction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Yun Luo, Dieter Hoetzer
  • Patent number: 9162669
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling a torque output of a motor/generator via one or more torque commands generated by a controller. The target output being determined by a target torque based upon a low voltage side target of a DC/DC converter including a battery operatively coupled to one or more low voltage loads, a high voltage side target of the DC/DC converter including a supercapacitor operatively coupled with an inverter that is operatively coupled to the motor/generator, and a ripple compensation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Dziuba, Jaroslaw Leonarski
  • Patent number: 9162648
    Abstract: In general, aspects of this disclosure are directed towards techniques for using a computing device to perform the functionality of a vehicle key, so that the computing device may be used to automatically unlock the doors of a vehicle and/or to activate a previously-deactivated keyless ignition system. The computing device may be associated with a vehicle, including sending an identifier associated with the computing device to the vehicle via short-range communication. The computing device may also send to the vehicle, via short-range communication, at least one unlock door signal including an access code verifiable by the vehicle, and wherein receipt of the at least one unlock door signal by the vehicle enables the vehicle to unlock one or more of its doors without further user intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi Weng, Lantian Zheng
  • Patent number: 9156163
    Abstract: A robot system includes: a robot arm; a robot hand provided on the robot arm; a contact unit provided on the robot hand for rotating a rotation body of a rotation device which includes the rotation body capable of housing a work and a fixed part rotatably supporting the rotation body and which performs a predetermined process on the work; a detection unit configured to detect a detection target part provided on the rotation body; and a first control unit configured to control operation of the robot arm and the robot hand so that the contact unit rotates the rotation body up to a predetermined rotational position according to a result of detecting the detection target part by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Makoto Umeno, Tomoyuki Horiuchi, Takashi Suyama
  • Patent number: 9156160
    Abstract: A robot system includes a plurality of robots, a control device, a common work table, and a calibration device. The control device is configured to control the plurality of robots. On the common work table, the plurality of robots are configured to work. Based on a position of a first robot having a calibrated coordinate relative to a position of a second robot among the plurality of robots, the calibration device is configured to calibrate a coordinate of the second robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Ryoichi Nagai, Tamio Nakamura, Dai Kouno, Tetsuro Izumi
  • Patent number: 9157377
    Abstract: A control schedule incorporating a relationship between corrected torque and inlet pressure is selected or determined responsive to a power-level command representative of a level of power to be transmitted to a controllable load by a single-spool turboshaft engine. At least a substantial portion of the control schedule provides for a flat-rated power level by the single-spool turboshaft engine substantially independent of associated inlet air pressure and inlet air temperature, and for at least one selectable mode of operation, the control schedule provides for minimizing or nearly minimizing a measure of fuel consumption, and for at least one other selectable mode of operation, the control schedule provides for operation at a substantially fixed level of rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: WILLIAMS INTERNATIONAL CO., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ray D. Lickfold, Gregg G. Williams, Robert S. Thompson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9158306
    Abstract: A system arranged in an aerial vehicle for determining the position of the aerial vehicle relative to a center of a remote predetermined landing area arranged on a surface. A beam emitter is configured to emit beams towards the surface. A detector is configured to detect the beams reflected from the surface. A control is configured to control the beam emitter to emit beams onto the surface to form a plurality of lines thereon. A processor is configured to detect at least one edge providing a difference in height relative to the surface based on the detected reflected line forming beams. The edge substantially surrounds the predetermined landing area. The processor is further configured to determine the position of the aerial vehicle relative to the center of the remote predetermined landing area based on the detected at least one edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Johan Ehlin, Tomas Högström
  • Patent number: 9150221
    Abstract: An ECU of a vehicle control device selects a system-mounted vehicle traveling ahead of a system-mounted vehicle as a cooperating vehicle and controls the inter-vehicle distance between the selected system-mounted vehicle and the system-mounted vehicle, or the like to control the traffic volume of a road in the vicinity of the system-mounted vehicles, such that traffic jams can be prevented effectively as compared with a case where the system-mounted vehicle performs travel control independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoh Sato, Yoshinori Kadowaki, Kazunori Kagawa
  • Patent number: 9150227
    Abstract: A receive attenuation system for a locomotive consist having a communication network is disclosed. The system may have a trainline communication processor and an adjustable attenuator. The adjustable attenuator may be configured to be connected to the network and variably attenuate a signal received via the network before transmitting the signal to the trainline communication processor. The system may also have a gain controller coupled to the adjustable attenuator. The gain controller may be configured to identify a transmitting locomotive from which the signal was sent, determine a tuned attenuation control value based on a distance between the transmitting locomotive and a receiving locomotive, and control the adjustable attenuator according to the tuned attenuation control value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc., Secure Communications Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Keith Habermehl
  • Patent number: 9150111
    Abstract: An engine-generator control method and a series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system using the control method are provided. The series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system includes a drive motor connected to an axle via a speed reducer, a Motor Control Unit (MCU) configured to control the drive motor, an engine-generator configured to generate electric power, a Generator Control Unit (GCU) configured to control the engine-generator, a high voltage battery, a Battery Management System (BMS) configured to manage the high voltage battery, and a Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) configured to control the MCU, the GCU, and the BMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT
    Inventors: Soonkyu Jeong, Myeongeon Jang, Kyuhong Han, Seungtai Yeo
  • Patent number: 9153130
    Abstract: A terminal unit (400) of a navigation system (100) transmits to a server (300) list request information containing a rectangular code corresponding to a predetermined display rectangular area of a travel route map. The terminal unit (400) acquires from the server (300) a server POI list corresponding to the rectangular code of the list request information, and when recognizing that the server POI list contains POI individual information corresponding to terminal base data that is not stored in a terminal base storage area, the terminal unit (400) transmits base data request information about POIID of the POI individual information to the server (300). Upon acquisition of server base data corresponding to the base data request information from the server (300), the terminal unit (400) stores the server base data in the terminal base storage area as terminal base data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: PIONEER CORPORATION, INCREMENT P CORPORATION, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Iwahori, Yoshihide Hamaguchi, Yasushi Kikuchi, Ryota Shitamatsu, Hiroyuki Kashima
  • Patent number: 9149933
    Abstract: A grasp assist device includes a glove with first and second tendon-driven fingers, a tendon, and a sleeve with a shared tendon actuator assembly. Tendon ends are connected to the respective first and second fingers. The actuator assembly includes a drive assembly having a drive axis and a tendon hook. The tendon hook, which defines an arcuate surface slot, is linearly translatable along the drive axis via the drive assembly, e.g., a servo motor thereof. The flexible tendon is routed through the surface slot such that the surface slot divides the flexible tendon into two portions each terminating in a respective one of the first and second ends. The drive assembly may include a ball screw and nut. An end cap of the actuator assembly may define two channels through which the respective tendon portions pass. The servo motor may be positioned off-axis with respect to the drive axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Bryan J. Bergelin, Lyndon Bridgwater
  • Patent number: 9151619
    Abstract: A routing system can be configured to determine a route based on availability and reliability of location reference devices to determine a most reliable route between a source and a destination. A reliability rating associated with each route of a plurality of routes can be determined based, at least in part, on a count of navigation satellites available along the route. The reliability rating can be indicative of an ability of the routing system to maintain continuous connectivity to the navigation satellites along each of the plurality of routes. The reliability ratings of the plurality of routes are compared to identify and to present one of the plurality of routes as a referred route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Sai Pradeep Venkatraman
  • Patent number: 9144907
    Abstract: Robotic system (100) includes a processing device (512) and a plurality of robot actuators (501) to cause a specified motion of the robot (102). The processing device (512) responds to one or more user robot commands (115) initiated by a control operator input at a remote control console (108). A user robot command will specify a first movement of the robot from a first position to a second position. The processing device will compare a current pose of the robot to an earlier pose of the robot to determine a difference between the current pose and the earlier pose. Based on this comparing, the processing device will selectively transform the user robot command to a latency-corrected robot command which specifies a second movement for the robot which is different from the first movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew D. Summer, Paul M. Bosscher, Michael J. Summer, Miguel Ortega-Morales
  • Patent number: 9140559
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems, methods, etc. for creating a routing graph based at least partly on building information, which may include relatively low-detail schematics. For certain example implementations, a method may include obtaining building information descriptive of at least a portion of a building structure and superimposing a grid of points onto the building information. The building information may be analyzed using the superimposed grid of points by projecting multiple rays from multiple points of the superimposed grid of points. At least one routing graph may be created responsive to the analyzing and based at least in part on the superimposed grid of points and the building information. Other example implementations are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Behrooz Khorashadi, Saumitra Mohan Das, Rajarshi Gupta
  • Patent number: 9139056
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle regulating system is configured to pick up driving state measurement signals from driving state sensors of the vehicle and determine reaction properties of the vehicle wheels from the signals. The control device is configured to also pick up roadway measurement signals of a spectroscopic sensor that is aligned with a roadway surface and determine therefrom the presence and/or properties of a layer of water on the roadway surface. The control device determines tire properties of the tires on the basis of the determined reaction properties of the vehicle wheels and the roadway measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Breuer, Thomas Dieckmann
  • Patent number: 9137943
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a profound user-mower interaction, which enables the user to teach a robotic lawn mower for improving its visual obstacle detection. The main idea of the invention is that the user can show some typical obstacles from his garden to the mower. This will increases the performance of the visual obstacle detection. In the simplest scenario the user just places the mower in front of an obstacle, and activates the learning mechanism of the classification means (module) of the mower. The increasing use of smart devices such as smart phones or tablets enables also more elaborated learning. For example, the mower can send the input image to the smart device, and the user can provide a detailed annotation of the image. This will drastically improve the learning, because the mower is provided with ground truth information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Nils Einecke, Mathias Franzius, Heiko Wersing
  • Patent number: 9140802
    Abstract: In the present disclosure, an error in the velocity and position computed from a three dimensional IMU measurement is reduced confined by computing an auxiliary speed in a drive direction of a vehicle from an angular velocity measurement and a lateral acceleration measurement. The auxiliary speed is then compared with the speed computed from the acceleration measurement. The auxiliary speed is provided as the speed of the vehicle mounted with the IMU when the absolute difference between the auxiliary speed and the speed computed from the acceleration measurement in the drive direction is above a threshold. The auxiliary speed is computed when the vehicle is detected to be in a curved motion. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the bias errors are determined when the vehicle is in a steady state, at rest or in a straight line motion. The bias errors are used to obtain the accurate auxiliary measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sachin Bhardwaj, Jaiganesh Balakrishnan, Sriram Murali
  • Patent number: 9141110
    Abstract: A robot cleaner system is described including a docking station to form a docking area within a predetermined angle range of a front side thereof, to form docking guide areas which do not overlap each other on the left and right sides of the docking area, and to transmit a docking guide signal such that the docking guide areas are distinguished as a first docking guide area and a second docking guide area according to an arrival distance of the docking guide signal. The robot cleaner system also includes a robot cleaner to move to the docking area along a boundary between the first docking guide area and the second docking guide area when the docking guide signal is sensed and to move along the docking area so as to perform docking when reaching the docking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung-Hwan Yoo, Jae Man Joo, Dong Won Kim, Jun Hwa Lee, Jun Pyo Hong, Woo Ram Chung, Jae Young Jung, Hwi Chan Jang, Jang Youn Ko, Jeong Gon Song, Sam Jong Jeung
  • Patent number: 9140575
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to computer-implemented methods for navigating to a selected location. One method includes receiving from a client device, which includes a graphical user interface, a search query for locations. The method includes performing a search using the search query to obtain one or more locations corresponding to the search query. The method includes sending to the client device, for display on the graphical user interface, the one or more locations corresponding to the search query. The method includes receiving from the client device, an indication of a selected location which corresponds to one of the location or locations corresponding to the search query. The method includes calculating navigation instructions for the secondary device to navigate to the selected location. The method includes sending to the client device, the navigation instructions for the secondary device, and a request to forward the navigation instructions to the secondary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Vincent Byrne