Patents Examined by Mancil Littlejohn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9664038
    Abstract: Methods, techniques, and systems for transmitting a data frame of an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry signal to or from a downhole location can be performed using multi-channel transmissions in which at least two different channels at two different frequencies are used to send a long header and the data frame. At least a portion of the long header is transmitted at a first frequency, and at least a portion of the data frame and any remaining portion of the long header not transmitted at the first frequency are transmitted at one or more additional frequencies different from each other and the first frequency. In one example, only two channels are used: one channel is used to transmit all of the long header, another channel is used to transmit all of the data frame, and either of the channels is used to transmit an identifier identifying the type of the data frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: EVOLUTION ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Mingdong Xu, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 9650062
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a ground treatment machine includes a hand-held device that wirelessly communicates with the ground treatment machine. The system includes a radio frequency and an infrared frequency wireless communications that are established between the hand-held device and the ground treatment machine. Instructions associated with operation of the machine are communicated to the machine from the hand-held device via the radio frequency communications. A status of the infrared wireless communication is utilized to assess the proximity of the ground working machine relative to the operator and the operating environment such that operation of the machine in accordance with the operational instructions can be interrupted if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Wacker Neuson Production Americas LLC
    Inventor: David J. Schulenberg
  • Patent number: 9619978
    Abstract: An operating status warning lamp apparatus for visually indicating at least one operating status or a plurality of different operating statuses for a technical appliance such as a machine, an installation, a vehicle or the like having at least one warning lamp unit (1, 4), wherein the warning lamp unit (1, 4) has at least one warning lamp element (3) for producing warning light (6), wherein the warning lamp unit (1, 4) has a radiating element (1), having at least one warning lamp radiating area (4), for radiating the warning light (6), wherein the radiating element (1) has at least one end face (2) oriented transversely with respect to the warning lamp radiating area (4), is proposed that can be produced without great design involvement, at reasonable cost and using new layout options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: WERMA Holding GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Kensy, Christian Hoehler
  • Patent number: 9605971
    Abstract: A method for assisting a driver in lane guidance of a vehicle on a roadway includes: displaying a recorded image to the driver on a display unit, which image represents the vehicle surroundings; reading in an operating signal input on a user interface by the driver; selecting an object contained in the image, using the operating signal; displaying a mark on the display unit, the mark being displayed in an area of the image which represents the object; using the object for determining at least one longitudinal control parameter for a driving route to be traveled by the vehicle in order to assist the driver in lane guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Niehsen, Stephan Simon
  • Patent number: 9607505
    Abstract: An electronic device configured for closed loop remote control functionality and related methods are disclosed herein. In particular, in one embodiment, an electronic device configured for closed loop remote control functionality is provided. The device includes a processor and a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit instructions to a remotely controlled device. Additionally, the device includes an input device configured to allow a user to provide input to the electronic device related to remote control and one or more sensors configured to obtain information related to a state of the remotely controlled device. The processor is configured to use the information obtained by the one or more sensors to determine the state of the remote controlled devices upon receiving the input from a user to transmit instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 9573797
    Abstract: A boom protection system prevents damage to an insulated boom section. The boom protection system has a static strain-detection assembly, a pressure-detection assembly, and an alarm. The static strain-detection assembly is configured to determine a load disposed from an implement at a distal end of said insulated boom section. The static strain-detection assembly includes a subject plate presenting a void therein, a traversing member spanning the void, and a strain gauge disposed adjacent to the traversing member. The pressure-detection assembly is configured to detect pressure within a hydraulic cylinder that is associated with the insulated boom section. The pressure detection assembly comprises a first pressure gauge at a distal end of the hydraulic cylinder, and a second pressure gauge at a proximal end of the hydraulic cylinder. The alarm is configured to alert a user of potential structural damage to the insulated boom section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Altec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Beck
  • Patent number: 9564051
    Abstract: In a method for operating a motor vehicle, data obtained from outside the motor vehicle, which indicate the existence of a hazardous situation, are transmitted to a receiving device. A warning concerning the hazardous situation is communicated to the user of the motor vehicle. In addition to the external vehicle data, data obtained from inside the vehicle, which indicate the existence of a hazardous situation, are evaluated. The warning is communicated to the user of the vehicle subject to the evaluation of the data obtained from outside the vehicle and the data obtained from inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andre Hainzlmaier, Roland Haberl, Andreas Lamprecht, Florian Netter, Frank Oldewurtel, Paul Sprickmann Kerkerinck
  • Patent number: 9530031
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave propagation medium 1 extends in the propagation direction of an electromagnetic wave and has an electromagnetic wave propagation space sandwiched between conductors in the direction perpendicular to the electromagnetic wave propagation direction. A base unit 2 and multiple terminals 3 are placed on the electromagnetic wave propagation medium 1. When the position of a terminal 3 is detected, the base unit 2 transmits a position detection signal through the electromagnetic wave propagation medium 1 to the terminal 3. This position detection signal is attenuated more heavily during its propagation through the electromagnetic wave propagation medium 1 than a communication signal for use in normal communication is. The signal strength of the position detection signal drops as it moves away from the base unit 2. Hence the position of each terminal 3 can be detected based on the signal strength of the position detection signal received by each terminal 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahide Terada, Hiroshi Shinoda, Kazunori Hara
  • Patent number: 9524142
    Abstract: A 3D gesture based interface for controlling audio information in flight deck applications is provided. The system and method utilize a set of simple, intuitive 3D gestures, and unburden the pilot of searching for specific audio device controls. The system and method are intuitive and enable the pilot to quickly silence or subdue non-essential audio information, before interfering with essential audio information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steve Grothe, Aaron Gannon, John Foster
  • Patent number: 9495803
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in which in a conventional non-grounding man-machine interface having no reaction base on the human body and for giving the existence of a virtual object and the impact force of a collision to a person, a haptic sensation of a torque, a force and the like can be continuously presented in the same direction, which cannot be presented by only the physical characteristic of a haptic sensation presentation device. In a haptic presentation device, the rotation velocity of at least one rotator in the haptic presentation device is controlled by a control device, and a vibration, a force or a torque as the physical characteristic is controlled, so that the user is made to conceive various haptic information of the vibration, force, torque or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Miraisens, Inc.
    Inventors: Norio Nakamura, Yukio Fukui, Masataka Sakai
  • Patent number: 9495804
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in which in a conventional non-grounding man-machine interface having no reaction base on the human body and for giving the existence of a virtual object and the impact force of a collision to a person, a haptic sensation of a torque, a force and the like can be continuously presented in the same direction, which cannot be presented by only the physical characteristic of a haptic sensation presentation device. In a haptic presentation device, the rotation velocity of at least one rotator in the haptic presentation device is controlled by a control device, and a vibration, a force or a torque as the physical characteristic is controlled, so that the user is made to conceive various haptic information of the vibration, force, torque or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Miraisens, Inc.
    Inventors: Norio Nakamura, Yukio Fukui, Masataka Sakai
  • Patent number: 9477862
    Abstract: A personal identification process executed by a processor includes receiving personal identification data; encoding, by the processor, the received personal identification information; sending the encoded personal identification information to a data element; receiving a comparison result executed by the data element of the sent encoded personal identification information and corresponding personal identification information stored on the data element; and providing the comparison result to a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Michael Rowe
  • Patent number: 9466211
    Abstract: An early warning system for alerting traffic which comprises a plurality of roadside signals, a computer, and a communications network. Each roadside signal comprises LED illumination devices, solar power sources, battery energy storage, a flexible backing, and attachment straps. The signals are activated to alert traffic to stopped responder vehicles, and can be automatically activated when a responder vehicle performs such actions as stopping or turning its emergency lights on. The system also allows for centralized user control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Roberto Gesmundo
  • Patent number: 9454232
    Abstract: An operating device includes a push operation mechanism including an operating portion to be push-operated, a tactile presenting means that drives the operating portion, a detecting portion for detecting movement of the operating portion, and a drive control unit that drives the driving portion by a drive control signal and a main vibration pulse signal output after outputting the drive control signal, the drive control signal being generated based on a start pulse signal and a pre-vibration pulse signal. The drive control unit sets a mask time to invalidate a detection signal of the detecting portion in a certain period when the drive control signal is output and switches from the output of the drive control signal to the output of the main vibration pulse signal based on a detection signal of the detecting portion after an elapse of the mask time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Kenji Murata, Masaki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9448626
    Abstract: A haptic conversion system is provided that intercepts frames of audio data, such as a digital audio signal, converts the frames into a haptic signal, and plays the created haptic signal through an actuator to produce haptic effects. The haptic signal is based on a maximum value of each audio data frame, which defines a magnitude of the haptic signal. The haptic signal is applied to the actuator configured to receive the haptic signal, where the actuator utilizes the haptic signal to generate the one or more haptic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Herve Thu Timone, Jason Hoi Fun Lau
  • Patent number: 9446325
    Abstract: Provided is a communication processing module, which is compatible with various kinds of devices to be operated by an operation input device. The communication processing module for the device to be operated receives any one of a standard operation signal specifying a standard action and a specific operation signal specifying an action unique to the device to be operated, which are transmitted by the operation input device. When the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, the communication processing module causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the operation signal, and when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal, transfers data contained in the signal to a unique processing module. The unique processing module causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the data transferred from the communication processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Gen Kudo, Toshiyuki Kurosaki, Hideki Tanabe, Kiyoto Shibuya
  • Patent number: 9444263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system comprising an electric current supply device, said device in turn comprises a main outlet, where main electrical equipment is connected, and at least one secondary outlet where secondary electrical equipment is connected, the device is characterized by measuring with a consumption detector the electrical consumption level of the main electrical equipment and in the event of detecting a consumption level below a specific threshold, directing the current towards the at least one secondary outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Francisco GarcĂ­a Sosa
  • Patent number: 9386923
    Abstract: An automatic sensor position recognition system including a position recognition unit located at pre-determined positions on a person's body and bearing a unique identification; a sensor bearing a unique identification; a communication unit assigned to the sensor and being in communication with the position recognition unit and the sensor; a data processing unit in communication with the communication unit; and a database being in communication with the data processing system and comprising the correlation of the unique identification of the position recognition unit and the pre-determined position of the position recognition unit. The system provides an automatic association between sensors and body segments as well as means to obtain these associations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Winter, Juergen Te Vrugt, Richard Daniel Willmann, Gerd Lanfermann, Edwin Gerardus Johannus Maria Bongers
  • Patent number: 9383822
    Abstract: A tactile sense presentation method includes arranging a plurality of first electrodes covered with an insulating film on a plane; arranging a plurality of second electrodes on a plane with tops exposed to outside; and performing a first operation in parallel with a second operation. The first operation is for applying temporally changing first voltages to a part of the plurality of first electrodes to generate electric fields which are changed by the part of the plurality of first electrodes. The second operation is for applying temporally changing first electric currents to a part of the plurality of second electrodes to cause the electric currents to flow from the part of the plurality of second electrodes to second electrodes which are different from the part of the plurality of second electrodes via electric conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Wakuda, Takeshi Suzuki, Tetsuyoshi Ogura, Koichi Hirano
  • Patent number: 9386254
    Abstract: A broadcast apparatus is provided. The broadcast apparatus is signally connected to an input apparatus, which generates a plurality of corresponding control signals according to a plurality of operations. A broadcast method is also provided. The broadcast method includes: receiving one of the control signals; determining identification information and a set of broadcast parameters when the one of the control signals matches a tag; and broadcasting according to the set of broadcast parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Huang