Patents Examined by Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 10288433
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a map-matching module that supports a Global Positioning System (GPS) and provides a user with a best match trajectory corresponding to GPS sampling points taken at a low sampling rate. The best match trajectory is based upon a spatial-temporal analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Yu Zheng, Yin Lou, Chengyang Zhang, Xing Xie
  • Patent number: 10155531
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric power steering system of a vehicle is provided. The method determines that one or more hand wheel torque sensors of the vehicle are not enabled. The method generates an assist torque command by estimating a lateral acceleration of the vehicle based on a hand wheel angle and determining an amount of assist torque based on the estimated lateral acceleration. The method controls the electric power steering system using the generated assist torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony J. Champagne, Timothy W. Kaufmann, Kathryn L. Pattok, Tejas M. Varunjikar
  • Patent number: 10029812
    Abstract: A biomass stack covering system for applying a tarpaulin sheet on a stack of biomass bales includes a motorized vehicle having at least one steerable and driven axle and an articulated arm affixed to and movable with respect to the motorized vehicle. The articulated arm is operably configured to extend horizontally and vertically and to pivot at a proximal end thereof with respect to the motorized vehicle. A tarpaulin dispensing apparatus is operably connected to a distal end of the articulated arm and is articulable thereabout. The dispensing apparatus is configured to rotationally retain a tarpaulin roll thereon and dispense a tarpaulin sheet from the tarpaulin roll onto the Bale stack by unrolling the tarpaulin sheet from the tarpaulin roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventor: Lon Owen Crosby
  • Patent number: 10011279
    Abstract: A method for guidance of driver behavior during driving of a vehicle (1) in hilltop driving: the steps of continuously determining topography along the vehicle's itinerary for determining a profile of the vehicle's speed (v); presenting (S2) the vehicle driver with suggestions for action concerning the driving of the vehicle for a desired reduction of fuel consumption, the action includes reduced power mobilization before a hilltop transition. A profile of the vehicle speed (v) is determined as a result of the action, whereby the step of presenting (S2) the vehicle's driver with suggestions for said action, is subject to consideration to subconditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Linus Bredberg, Olof Larsson
  • Patent number: 9950719
    Abstract: An operating system for operating functional units in a rail vehicle. At least one base station is provided in each car of the rail vehicle. Each base station communicates, via a wireless interface, with a mobile terminal of an authenticated user, in particular an authenticated train conductor, who operates functional units of the rail vehicle via a graphical user interface of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Kessner
  • Patent number: 9889558
    Abstract: A redundantable robotic mechanism is disclosed for improving reliability of tranport equipment. The redundantable robot assembly typically comprises independent robots with separate controls, motors, linkage arms, or power, thus providing the capability of operation even if parts of the assembly are not operational or when parts of the assembly are removed for repair. The redundantable robot assembly can be also designed to allow in-situ servicing, e.g. servicing one robot when the other is running. The disclosed redundantable robot assembly provides virtual uninterrupted process flow, and thus greatly increases the yield for the manufacturing facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, GmbH
    Inventor: Lutz Rebstock
  • Patent number: 9883914
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a robotic manipulator and a surgical instrument mounted to the robotic manipulator. The surgical instrument comprises an elongate arm including an actively controlled bendable region including at least one joint region and an end effector and a passively bendable region including a distal end coupled to the actively controlled bendable region. An actuation mechanism extends through the passively bendable region and is coupled to the at least one joint region to control the actively controlled bendable region. A channel extends through the elongate arm, and an optical fiber is positioned in the channel. The optical fiber includes an optical fiber bend sensor in at least one of the passively bendable region or the actively controlled bendable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Q. Larkin, David C. Shafer
  • Patent number: 9878720
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for regulation of torque demanded from a prime mover of a vehicle, which prime mover responds to the torque demanded by delivering a dynamic torque. This dynamic torque is related by a gear ratio to a dynamic wheel torque which a power train comprising the prime mover imparts to at least one tractive wheel of the vehicle. The system regulates the torque demanded in such a way that a difference between the torque demanded and the dynamic torque is actively limited by employing feedback of the dynamic torque at an earlier time. The torque demanded at a time (t) for the regulation is limited to a maximum value which exceeds the dynamic torque at an earlier time by an offset value. The torque demanded is continuously varied according to the dynamic torque, so that power train oscillations in the vehicle are reduced in number and/or magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Johan Tunhag, Niclas Lerede, Martin Evaldsson
  • Patent number: 9875247
    Abstract: At least one subsystem among the plurality of subsystems includes a managing section operable to manage individual route information for routes in a management target region of the at least one subsystem among the plurality of regions and adjacent route information for routes positioned in a partial range from a boundary of the management target region among routes in an adjacent region that is adjacent to the management target region, and an identifying section operable to identify the route on which the moving object is positioned based on the observation position, by using the individual route information and the adjacent route information managed by the at least one subsystem. Also provided is a method and computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Gotoh, Tomohiro Miyahira, Taku Sasaki, Makoto Tanibayashi
  • Patent number: 9873502
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods are disclosed herein for moving control surfaces on an aircraft wing to control airloads during a wing tip folding operation (from a folded position to an extended position or from an extended position to a folded position). An example method includes determining a position of a control surface on a wing of an aircraft. In the example method, the wing has a fixed wing portion and a wing tip moveably coupled to the fixed wing portion. The example method includes determining a change in the position of the control surface from a first position to second position for facilitating movement of the wing tip while the aircraft is not in flight. The example method also includes moving the control surface to the second position and moving the wing tip between an extended position and a folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Steven Good, Jonathan J. Paul
  • Patent number: 9873505
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fly-by-wire system which comprises: three-stage piloting control, each stage including a control computer suitable for determining the positions of the stick, and a monitoring computer capable of verifying all the pre-determined positions of the stick; three-stage control-surface position calculation, each stage including a control computer suitable for calculating the control-surface positions from encoded positions of the stick, and a monitoring computer capable of verifying all the calculated control-surface positions; a single unidirectional communication link connecting the control computer of the first piloting control stage to the control computer of the first control-surface position calculation stage; a single unidirectional communication link connecting the control computer of the second piloting control stage to the control computer of the second control-surface position calculation stage; and a single unidirectional communication link connecting the control computer of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: Airbus Helicopters, Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Cédric Bara, Christophe Tuzi, Eric Bourgogne, Pascal Coppee, Yann Vandenbaviere
  • Patent number: 9875440
    Abstract: A method of processing information is provided. The method involves receiving a message; processing the message with a trained artificial neural network based processor, having at least one set of outputs which represent information in a non-arbitrary organization of actions based on an architecture of the artificial neural network based processor and the training; representing as a noise vector at least one data pattern in the message which is incompletely represented in the non-arbitrary organization of actions; analyzing the noise vector distinctly from the trained artificial neural network; searching at least one database; and generating an output in dependence on said analyzing and said searching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Lamport Commons
  • Patent number: 9852640
    Abstract: A method includes generating an initial flight context that includes a set of unresolved flight constraints. The method further includes generating a decision tree based on the initial flight context. The decision tree includes a plurality of flight contexts corresponding to leaves of the decision tree. The method also includes expanding the decision tree according to a greedy best-first strategy that selects a flight context of the decision tree for expansion based on a fitness value assigned to the flight context. The method includes selecting, as a piloting strategy, a flight context of the decision tree that includes a sequence of actions to resolve each of the unresolved flight constraints. The method further includes flying an aircraft according to the piloting strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Juan Alberto Besada Portas, Javier Lopez Leones, Guillermo Frontera
  • Patent number: 9836050
    Abstract: In a guided vehicle system, articles are transported between load ports by a plurality of guided vehicles traveling with articles carried thereon along a predetermined traveling route. A guided vehicle system controller communicates with a superordinate controller and guided vehicles, and creates traveling schedules representing positions and times at which the guided vehicles travel, disregarding interferences with other guided vehicles. For both newly created traveling schedules and traveling schedules from which interferences have been eliminated, interferences between the guided vehicles are detected, and the traveling schedules of the guided vehicles is modified so as to eliminate the detected interferences. The traveling schedules from which interferences have been eliminated interferences is stored. Also, the positions of the guided vehicles are stored based on data received from the guided vehicles, and the traveling schedules is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hisato Yoneda
  • Patent number: 9830828
    Abstract: A receiver includes an RF module to receive and down convert multiple types of RF signals received from at least one antenna; a communication unit configured to communicate signals with at least one external device; and a processing unit communicatively coupling the radio frequency module with the communication unit. Processing unit receives operation mode selection. When first operation mode is selected, processing unit receives first input signal from antenna via RF module (the first input signal including ILS signal and/or VOR signal) and outputs first output signal based on first input signal to external device. When second operational mode is selected, processing unit receives second input signal from antenna via radio frequency unit (second input signal including AIS signal including data regarding a current location of remotely located transmitting device) and outputs second output signal based on second input signal to external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James Alexander Nicholls, Mark Karl Sutter, Robert S. Doyle, Matt Glassburn
  • Patent number: 9821804
    Abstract: A demand is identified based on input from a vehicle operator. Data is received providing a history of vehicle velocities. An estimated reference velocity is generated based at least on the velocity data. A final demand is generated based at least in part on a reference velocity indicated by the velocity control signal and the estimated reference velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Mario D'Amato, Steven Joseph Szwabowski, Jonathan Thomas Mullen
  • Patent number: 9826367
    Abstract: The application relates to a wireless rotating instrumentation package for collecting data from a spinning rotor head of a rotary wing aircraft. The application also relates to a method of wirelessly collecting data from a spinning rotor head of a rotary wing aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Michael A. Mando, Tiffany S. Yates, Ryan Chandler, Jeffrey Welch
  • Patent number: 9809213
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction motor coupled to a driveline. An engine and a generator are coupled to the driveline through a planetary gearset. A controller commands the traction motor torque based on a difference between a driver torque demand and an estimated powertrain torque. The estimated powertrain torque is based on an error between actual and estimated engine speed and an error between actual and estimated generator speed. The estimated powertrain torque may be further based on commanded or estimated engine torque and generator torque. The estimated powertrain torque may utilize a state estimator to calculate internal states based on the errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liang, Thomas Chrostowski, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 9798323
    Abstract: An automated vehicle includes a control system configured to selectively transfer the automated vehicle from an automated control mode to a manual control mode based on a transfer-of-control criterion. The transfer-of-control criterion is based on a current context of the automated vehicle and a dataset of previous transfer-of-control events and previous contexts associated with the operation of a plurality of additional automated vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Omer Tsimhoni, Claudia V. Goldman-Shenhar, Ron M. Hecht, Jeremy A. Salinger
  • Patent number: 9799218
    Abstract: The automated lane management assist method, data structure and system receive unprocessed lane-specific limited-access highway information, including lane use and speed limits, from traffic detectors in the roadway or from other sources, process and develop predicted information from these sources and substitute the predicted information for the current information where appropriate, thus improving the timeliness of the information in a form that assists in the selection of driving lanes and target speeds for vehicles, including in partially and fully automated vehicles, and communicate the processed predicted information to the vehicles by suitable means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Gordon