Patents Examined by Khoi Tran
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Patent number: 9737989Abstract: A human cooperation robot system includes: an external force detecting unit that detects an external force acting on a robot; a retreat operation commanding unit that commands a retreat operation for causing the robot to be moved in a direction such that the external force is decreased when the external force detected by the external force detecting unit is larger than a first threshold value; a position acquiring unit that a current position of the robot; and a retreat operation stopping unit that stops the retreat operation when the current position of the robot acquired by the position acquiring unit departs from a retreat area.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita, Hiromitsu Takahashi
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Patent number: 9730815Abstract: A method for operating a grasping device and grasping devices therefrom are provided. The grasping device is configured to use a plurality of parallel, bi-directional state flow maps each defining a sequence of poses for a plurality of joints in the grasping device. The method include receiving at least one control signal, determining a current pose of the grasping device within the one of the plurality of state flow maps currently selected for the grasping device, and selectively actuating the plurality of joints to traverse the sequence of poses, where a direction for traversing the sequence of poses is based on the at least one control signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael Goldfarb, Skyler A. Dalley, Huseyin Atakan Varol
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Patent number: 9731701Abstract: A maximum output line during HV backward running accompanying actuation of an engine is on a side of lower torque than a maximum output line in EV backward running in an engine stop state. Reverse drive torque during EV backward running is set in accordance with the sum of base torque suppressed within a range not higher than maximum output torque during HV backward running and correction torque added at the time when a reverse drive torque request from a driver is great in accordance with a running state.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shunya Kato
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Patent number: 9731416Abstract: An example robot includes a first hydraulic actuator cylinder connecting a first member to a second member, where the first hydraulic actuator cylinder comprises a first piston and a first chamber. A second hydraulic actuator cylinder connects the first member to the second member, where the second hydraulic actuator cylinder comprises a second piston and a second chamber. A valve system controls hydraulic fluid flow between a hydraulic supply line of pressurized hydraulic fluid, the first and second chambers, and a return line. A controller is configured to determine a gait state of the robot, and based on the determined gait state, provide a signal to the valve system.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: John Aaron Saunders, Christopher Everett Thorne, Michael Patrick Murphy
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Patent number: 9725880Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a cascaded hybrid construction machine system and a method therefor, which apparatus includes: a control part for controlling an electric motor for driving an actuator differently according to whether or not the actuator performs a recovery action and whether or not an energy storage device can be recharged; and a motor driver for driving or stopping the electric motor by switching under the control of the control unit, wherein when the actuator performs a recovery action for both the overcharged state and the failure state of the energy storage device, the motor for driving the actuator is temporarily stopped by the switching of the motor driver so as to restrain the recovery energy generated, thus protecting the hybrid power source system and keeping the operator safe as well as resolving the problem of the working time being increased due to the system's shutting off.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ABInventor: Chong-Chul Kim
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Patent number: 9725112Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power steering apparatus that is capable of positively returning a steering wheel to a neutral point in such a running state as to return to a going straight state by calculating a return control current corresponding to a steering angle and a steering speed and compensating a current command value.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: NSK LTD.Inventor: Tetsuya Kitazume
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Patent number: 9724827Abstract: A method for monitoring a kinematically redundant robot includes detecting joint forces acting in the joints of the robot, determining an external work force between a robot-permanent reference point and an environment based on the detected joint forces, determining a further monitoring variable that is at least substantially independent of an external force acting on the robot-permanent reference point based on the detected joint forces, and monitoring the determined external work force and the determined further monitoring variable.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbHInventor: Marc-Walter Ueberle
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Patent number: 9718471Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product automatically provide spatial separation between self-driving vehicles (SDVs) operating in an autonomous mode and vehicles being operating in a manual mode on a roadway. A first SDV operating on the roadway is operating in autonomous mode. A second vehicle may be operating in the autonomous mode or a manual mode, in which a driver is controlling the second vehicle. Processor(s) issue spatial separation instructions to the first SDV, which direct SDV control mechanisms controller on the first SDV to direct a set of SDV vehicular physical control mechanisms on the first SDV to provide a predetermined amount of spatial separation between the first SDV and the second vehicle, based on whether the second vehicle is being operated in the manual mode or in the autonomous mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael S. Gordon, James R. Kozloski, Ashish Kundu, Peter K. Malkin, Clifford A. Pickover
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Patent number: 9702712Abstract: An on-board system includes at least one execution unit executing an operation for eliminating an inattentive state of a driver of a vehicle, an information acquiring section acquiring driver state information, a state determination section determining whether the driver is in the inattentive state, a position specifying section specifying a present position of the vehicle, a searching section searching for a resting place at which the driver can have a rest based on the present position and information stored in a resting place database when the driver is in the inattentive state, and an execution unit control section calculating a necessary travel time to the resting place and activates at least one target execution unit to start operation when the necessary travel time is equal to or longer than a predetermined threshold period.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Nozomi Kitagawa
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Patent number: 9701292Abstract: A speed control system operable to control a motor vehicle to operate in accordance with a set-speed value, the control means being operable to allow a user to adjust the set-speed value by user actuation of a vehicle brake control or a vehicle accelerator control.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, Daniel Woolliscroft, James Kelly, Adam Southgate
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Patent number: 9694793Abstract: A vehicle braking control device includes: a mode switch for making a switching request for braking force characteristics of a vehicle; a motor cylinder device for generating braking force characteristics based on the switching request made by the mode switch; a brake fluid pressure sensor for detecting operation of the brake pedal; and an ECU for prohibiting the braking force characteristics of the motor cylinder device from being changed in a case where the mode switch is operated while the operation of the brake pedal is detected by the brake fluid pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Keisuke Ishino, Shuichi Okada
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Patent number: 9694499Abstract: An article pickup apparatus according to the present invention is configured to control a robot or a hand in accordance with profile control when the hand holds an article so that an external force acting on the hand detected by a force sensor installed between an arm and the hand is closer to a target value of the external force set by a force target value setting unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Fanuc CorporationInventor: Takefumi Gotou
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Patent number: 9691279Abstract: Provided is a drive assist apparatus: based on signal indication information on a traffic signal installed at at least one intersection located ahead of a self-vehicle in a travelling direction of the self-vehicle, distance information from the self-vehicle to the at least one intersection, and a running speed of the self-vehicle, a recommended speed at which the self-vehicle can pass through the at least one intersection during a period in which the traffic signal installed at the at least one intersection is green is calculated and is notified to the driver. In addition, when a difference obtained by subtracting an actual running distance from a predicted running distance in a case where the self-vehicle runs at the recommended speed exceeds a first threshold value, it is determined that the road has a traffic jam and the notification of the recommended speed is terminated.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Takashi Maeda
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Patent number: 9687301Abstract: A control method may be applied to a surgical robot system including a slave robot having a robot arm to which a main surgical tool and an auxiliary surgical tool are coupled, and a master robot having a master manipulator to manipulate the robot arm. The control method includes acquiring data regarding a motion of the master manipulator, predicting a basic motion to be performed by an operator based on the acquired motion data and results of learning a plurality of motions constituting a surgical task, and adjusting the auxiliary surgical tool so as to correspond to the operator basic motion based on the predicted basic motion. The control method allows an operator to perform surgery more comfortably and to move or fix all required surgical tools to or at an optimized surgical position.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2013Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Samsung Elecronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Min Hyung Lee, Young Bo Shim, Byung June Choi, Young Do Kwon, Kyung Shik Roh
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Patent number: 9685090Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-storage media are provided for use of navigational aids. Three-dimensional graphical representations of flight plans, flight paths, waypoints, etc., may be displayed to improve situational awareness. Additionally, dynamic monitoring of airports, waypoints, traffic, etc., may be performed so that real-time updates are available to users. The real-time updates will not only include updated location information and any relevant navigational markers (e.g., updated waypoints, new traffic, etc.) but will also include detailed information related to the navigational markers such as a distance from the marker, an airspeed of the marker (if applicable), and the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Jeremy Joseph Kneuper, John Robert Lanier
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Patent number: 9682478Abstract: A safety monitoring device monitoring a robot includes a workpiece parameter switching unit switching a workpiece parameter, an external force estimation unit estimating, as an external force estimation value, a force acting on the robot from an external environment by using the workpiece parameter, an external force monitoring unit stopping the robot when the external force estimation value satisfies an external force determination condition, an operation monitoring unit stopping the robot, based on conditions such as a position of the robot being included within a predetermined region, an operation monitoring state switching unit switching between a disabling command and an enabling command for the operation monitoring unit, and an external force determination condition setting unit switching the external force determination condition to an operation monitoring disabling time external force determination condition at the disabling command and to an operation monitoring enabling time external force determinaType: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Fanuc CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Naitou, Soichi Arita, Hiromitsu Takahashi
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Patent number: 9682708Abstract: A driving support controller determines whether it is an opportunity to change a traveling lane based on a predetermined condition in an self-driving activated state in which an acceleration, a deceleration, and a steering of a vehicle equipped with the driving support controller can be automatically controlled, and performs a control to present a lane change proposal to an operator of the vehicle when a lane change is determined to be possible. The device performs an automatic lane change control in response to an intention of the operator agreeing to the lane change proposal. In this case, when the operator's intention is determined to be in disagreement with the lane change proposal, the control to present the lane change proposal to the operator is suspended until a predetermined cancelling condition is met.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tasuku Maruyama
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Patent number: 9676097Abstract: A device is provided that includes a plurality of hardware segments. The device also includes a plurality of actuators to actuate the plurality of hardware segments. The device also includes a controller to cause at least one of the plurality of actuators to adjust positions of at least one of the plurality of hardware segments to correspond to a particular arrangement, to determine physical parameters of the device responsive to the adjustment of the positions, and to generate an identification code for the device based on the physical parameters. The physical parameters may include one or more of electrical parameters of the plurality of actuators or mechanical parameters of the plurality of actuators.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLCInventor: Garratt Gallagher
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Patent number: 9676481Abstract: A tether compensated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is described. In one embodiment, the UAV includes a winch with a tether to lower an item from the UAV for delivery, a flight controller to control a flight path of the UAV, a tether compensation mechanism through which the tether extends, at least one sensor to identify movement in the tether, and a tether response controller. Based on movement identified in the tether, the tether response controller may determine a complementary response and direct the tether compensation mechanism to brace the tether against the movement. Thus, the tether compensation mechanism may stabilize sway or movement in the tether by moving against the sway or movement, which may help prevent the tether from undesirable swinging when lowering the item from the UAV for delivery, for example, or at other times.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Daniel Buchmueller
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Patent number: 9669549Abstract: A motion setting method that can set motions to a standing and sitting motion-supporting robot so that a care receiver can make standing and sitting motions comfortably is provided. The motion setting method is a motion setting method of a standing and sitting motion-supporting robot that supports standing and sitting motions being at least one of a standing motion and a sitting motion of a care receive. The motion setting method includes a custom tracking path acquisition step. In the custom tracking path acquisition step, a custom tracking path is obtained by correcting a base tracking path of the standing and sitting motions in accordance with the position of a predetermined body portion of each care receiver.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: FUJI MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD.Inventors: Jun Suzuki, Nobuyuki Nakane, Joji Isozumi, Hideaki Nomura, Satoshi Shimizu, Takahiko Yamamoto