Patents Issued in January 29, 2008
  • Patent number: 7324845
    Abstract: An assessment of sleep quality and sleep disordered breathing is determined from the cardiopulmonary coupling between two physiological data series. In an embodiment, an R-R interval series is derived from an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. The normal beats from the R-R interval series are extracted to produce a normal-to-normal (NN) interval series. The amplitude variations in the QRS complex are used to extract to a surrogate respiration signal (i.e., ECG-derived respiration (EDR)) that is associated with the NN interval series. The two series are corrected to remove outliers, and resampled. The cross-spectral power and coherence of the two resampled signals are calculated over a plurality of coherence windows. For each coherence window, the product of the coherence and cross-spectral power is used to calculate coherent cross power. Using the appropriate thresholds for the coherent cross power, the proportion of sleep spent in CAP, non-CAP, and wake and/or REM are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
    Inventors: Joseph E. Mietus, Chung-Kang Peng, Robert J. Thomas, Ary L. Goldberger
  • Patent number: 7324846
    Abstract: Methods of modifying polypeptide drugs in order to enhance their transdermal electrotransport flux are provided. The polypeptide is modified by substituting a histidine residue (His) for one or more glutamine (Gln), threonine (Thr) and/or asparagine (Asn) residue(s). The His for Gln substitution is particularly preferred from the standpoint of retaining biological activity of the parent polypeptide. Compositions containing the modified polypeptide, which are useful for transdermal electrotransport delivery, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Alza Corp.
    Inventor: Leslie A. Holladay
  • Patent number: 7324847
    Abstract: A medical electrode includes a moderately conductive flexible member having a top side and a bottom side with a connector and contact with a flexible member top side for establishing electrical contact with an external apparatus. A non-conductive flexible sheet covers the conductive flexible member top and the connector and a highly conductive ink pattern is disposed on a conductive flexible member bottom side. A moderately high conductive hydrogel adhesive disposed on the conductive flexible member bottom side and cover the conductive ink pattern is provided for adhering electrode to a patients' skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Axelgaard Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jens Axelgaard
  • Patent number: 7324848
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided for reducing the amount of data, processing and/or power required to analyze hemodynamic signals such as photoplethysmography (PPG) signals, pressure signals, and impedance signals. Methods, systems and devices are also provided for reducing the amount of processing required to determine blood oxygen (O2) saturation levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Turcott
  • Patent number: 7324849
    Abstract: A battery of a cardiac stimulation device may experience voltage delay problems caused by a passivation layer that forms on the anode of the battery. To inhibit voltage delay, the battery is periodically used to charge the capacitor to a partial charge. Both the charge time and the interval between charges can be adjusted to reduce the power consumption required to inhibit battery voltage delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Fayram, Mark W. Kroll
  • Patent number: 7324850
    Abstract: Systems and methods for telemetric communication between a handheld programmer and an implantable medical device are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a user-friendly, color, touch-sensitive screen that allows the user to visually observe and control the handheld's operation. The handheld further comprises an internal and/or external analytical means to provide robust analytical capabilities. Some embodiments of a system disclosed herein can be configured as a component of an Advanced Patient Management System that helps better monitor, predict and manage chronic diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Persen, Jeffrey A. Von Arx, Dennis Eric Larson, Vineel Vallapureddy, Matthias Daniel Woellenstein, Jason Dean Hein
  • Patent number: 7324851
    Abstract: A neurological control system for modulating activity of any component or structure comprising the entirety or portion of the nervous system, or any structure interfaced thereto, generally referred to herein as a ?nervous system component.? The neurological control system generates neural modulation signals delivered to a nervous system component through one or more neuromodulators, comprising intracranial (IC) stimulating electrodes and other actuators, in accordance with treatment parameters. Such treatment parameters may be derived from a neural response to previously delivered neural modulation signals sensed by one or more sensors, each configured to sense a particular characteristic indicative of a neurological or psychiatric condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: NeuroVista Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel John DiLorenzo
  • Patent number: 7324852
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for neurological stimulation of peripheral nerve fibers to treat low back pain is provided. The system includes stimulation electrodes adapted to be implanted in tissue proximate a network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating a painful region of the low back area and to deliver electrical stimulation pulses to the network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful region of the low back area. The system also includes a stimulation source adapted for implantation into the person's body and operable to generate electrical stimulation pulses for transmission to the electrodes for delivery to the network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful region of the low back area to relieve pain in the painful region of the low back area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventors: Giancarlo Barolat, Tracy L. Cameron, Christopher G. Chavez
  • Patent number: 7324853
    Abstract: A method for treating spasticity of a subject is provided, including driving a current into a nerve of the subject that includes one or more sensory fibers, and configuring the current so as to inhibit propagation of action potentials in one or more of the sensory fibers, so as to treat the spasticity. In a preferred embodiment, the sensory fibers include one or more Ia sensory fibers, and configuring the current includes configuring the current so as to inhibit propagation of the action potentials in at least one of the Ia sensory fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Biocontrol Medical Ltd.
    Inventors: Shai Ayal, Ehud Cohen, Ron Dabby
  • Patent number: 7324854
    Abstract: A monitor system is disclosed for use in a warehouse. The monitor system includes a server, a database stage, an operation stage, a monitor stage and a display stage. The database stage is connected to the server for storing various types of data related to access control over stuff. The operation stage includes a plurality of operation units connected to the server for taking actions related to the access control over the stuff. The monitor stage includes a plurality of monitor platforms connected to the server for monitoring scenes of the operation units. The display stage is connected to the server for showing various combinations of the scenes of the operation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Atomic Energy Council - Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventor: Tzu-Chung Yenn
  • Patent number: 7324855
    Abstract: A process-state management system encompasses: a plurality of production machines; a control server configured to collectively control at least part of the production machines; a management server including a data-linking module configured to link operation-management data of the production machines with corresponding management information transmitted from the control server, respectively, the management server analyze the operation-management data linked with the management information with a common analysis application; and a management database configured to store the operation-management data linked with the management information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yukihiro Ushiku, Hidenori Kakinuma, Tsutomu Miki, Junji Sugamoto, Akira Ogawa, Yoshinori Ookawauchi, Giichi Inoue, Tomomi Ino
  • Patent number: 7324856
    Abstract: A system that facilitates generation of code from a HMI representation of objects in an industrial automation environment. A component analyzes the HMI representation of objects, and a code generation component generates code based at least upon the analyzed HMI object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifton Harold Bromley
  • Patent number: 7324857
    Abstract: A method is provided for synchronizing the playback of a digital audio broadcast on a plurality of network output devices using a microphone near a source, embedded control codes, and the audio patterns from the network output devices. An optional, additional manual adjustment method relies on a graphical user interface for adjustment and audible pulses from the devices which are to be synchronized. Synchronization of the audio is accomplished with clock synchronization of the network output devices. The digital audio broadcast from multiple receivers does not present to a listener any audible delay or echo effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Gateway Inc.
    Inventor: Mark D. Goddard
  • Patent number: 7324858
    Abstract: A replay apparatus calculates an exact play time even during a fast-forward replay operation and a rewind and replay operation. A demultiplexer demultiplexes an input stream into an audio elementary stream, and stores ES data of the audio elementary stream in a data buffer on a frame by frame basis. The demultiplexer calculates the number of main data frames contained in a first frame to each of the frames on a frame by frame basis, and stores the number of main data frames in an ES data information buffer. A decoder calculates a total play time based on the number of main data frames from the ES data information buffer. The invention is applicable to audio and visual apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiko Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 7324859
    Abstract: A substrate includes at least one visual representation of an audio file and encoded data associated with the at least one audio file. The encoded data can be sensed by a selection device to cause an audio file stored in a computer system to be provided to the selection device from said computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Tobin Allen King, Simon Robert Walmsley, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7324860
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing a cascading timeline of manufacturing events leading to completion of a manufactured product is disclosed. A cascading timeline, or waterfall chart, is updated and distributed weekly to provide week-to-week analysis for supply increase activities, week to week analysis for excess inventory solutions and consolidation of supply issue factor by product by week.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Richard Clinton Dyer
  • Patent number: 7324861
    Abstract: A numerical control system for laser cutting an SMT stencil includes a mechanical control portion (2) and a laser control portion (3). The mechanical control portion includes a first main control system (21), a first host computer isolation interface (22), a first communication interface controller (24), a first optoelectronic/magnetic isolator (25), and a first isolated input/output interface (23) coupled to a mechanical transmission device. Similarly, the laser control portion includes a second main control system (31), a second host computer isolation interface (32), a second communication interface controller (34), a second optoelectronic/magnetic isolator (35), and a second isolated input/output interface (33) coupled to a laser cutting device. The first and second main control systems are connected with the host computer via the respective first and second host computer isolation interfaces. The first and second optoelectronic/magnetic isolators are connected with a slave computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Chun Bin Zheng
  • Patent number: 7324862
    Abstract: Various items of data collected at different process steps are associated on production sites where traceability is hard to conduct. A quality control apparatus controls a manufacturing process in order to manufacture products of predetermined quality, including a data storing part which collects measurement data measured by multiple devices disposed in a manufacturing process and stores the collected measurement data along with measured time or collected time; and a scheduler which associates the measurement data of the devices with each other in consideration of dead time generated between the devices at measured time or collected time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Sugihara, Toru Fujii, Mineo Sono
  • Patent number: 7324863
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a set of inspection files each corresponding to an inspection performed on a wafer of a set of wafers, automatically analyzing the set of inspection files to select at least one inspection file corresponding to a predetermined rule set, and identifying the wafer(s) associated with the selected inspection file(s). Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Paul P. Thirumalai, Rick Mayer, Mike J. Wodarczyk
  • Patent number: 7324864
    Abstract: An axial force measurement apparatus (40) comprises a head member (42) adapted for receiving force imparted by an external force-applying source, and a transducer (44) such as a load cell for measuring the amount of force applied to the head member (42). Electronic circuitry (61) for receiving, processing, storing and/or sending electrical information generated by the transducer is provided either externally to the measurement apparatus (40), or is integrated with the apparatus (40). The apparatus (40) can be used to calibrate the valve crimping station (75) and/or the test firing station (125) of a metered dose delivery canister production line. The apparatus (40) is designed to emulate an actual canister (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham Corporation
    Inventors: Lee A. Barger, David Brian Moody, Donald Devereaux Munn
  • Patent number: 7324865
    Abstract: A method is provided, the method comprising monitoring consumption of a sputter target to determine a deposition rate of a metal layer during metal deposition processing using the sputter target, and modeling a dependence of the deposition rate on at least one of deposition plasma power and deposition time. The method also comprises applying the deposition rate model to modify the metal deposition processing to form the metal layer to have a desired thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sonderman, Scott Bushman, Craig William Christian
  • Patent number: 7324866
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided in which it is possible to perform process control taking account of wafer information and to deal with the process control in which a recipe is change from one wafer to another. The method comprises steps of inserting a process control system into the path of a network where a manufacturing execution system (MES) and a manufacturing apparatus are connected with each other by using a LAN, obtaining a process result on the lot of the wafers at a previous step through the use of the process control system to rewrite the process recipe, and transmitting the rewritten process recipe from the process control system to the manufacturing apparatus. Since the method includes the step of obtaining the process result on the lot effected at the previous step as wafer information, it is possible to calculate a control parameter taking account of the state of the wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Shinichi Imai
  • Patent number: 7324867
    Abstract: Predictive models of physical parts of the laser processing system part determined. These predictive models are used to determine how the physical system will actually react. The predicted reaction from the models is used as feedback in order to produce the control signals. These physical models therefore adjust to the operation of the system, much in the way that actual feedback would adjust the operation of the system. However, the system may be used at faster speeds, where the actual feedback could not be produced fast enough. Different kinds of modeling are described, including in-position feedback which models sharp movements of the laser system, trajectory models which superimpose the commanded curve over the predicted actual curve to determine errors in trajectory, and constant/variable energy density controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lasx Industries
    Inventors: William R. Dinauer, Thomas V. Weigman
  • Patent number: 7324868
    Abstract: There are provided a method for producing a die for press brake easily and a die. Three-dimensional models of an upper die 10 and a lower die 20 are prepared based on the data of a work W10. The lower die 20 is divided into plate-shaped die elements 201 to 20n, and each element is subjected to three-dimensional laser beam machining. The die elements are fastened to complete the lower die. The upper die is also produced by the same process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Tsunehiko Yamazaki, Naoomi Miyakawa
  • Patent number: 7324869
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tool information display device for a processing machine which can display information on tools installed in appropriate parts of the processing machine, in an easy-to-understand manner. The present invention allows even the identification numbers of installed tools to be checked in an easy-to-understand manner. The present invention provides a tool information display device for a processing machine 101 having tool magazines 5, 6 on each of which a plurality of tools can be installed. The tool information display device includes tool information managing means 33 for managing information on the tools 7 installed on the tool magazines 5, 6. The tool information display device also includes installation status display means 33 for providing a display 50 of installation status of the tools which reproduces installation and arrangement of the tools on the tool magazine 5, 6 in a pseudo manner, in accordance with the information managed by the tool information managing means 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Senda, Makoto Totsugi
  • Patent number: 7324870
    Abstract: A cleaning robot and a control method thereof in which a cleaning path desired by the user is recognizable by the cleaning robot, thereby being capable of cleaning a cleaning area desired by the user in a pattern desired by the user. The cleaning robot includes a running unit to run the cleaning robot, a storage unit for storing a running path, along which the cleaning robot has learned, and a control unit to recognize the learned running path of the cleaning robot when a path learning operation is required, to store the recognized learned running path in the storage unit, and to drive the running unit. When a cleaning operation of the cleaning robot along the stored learned running path is required, the control unit controls the running unit to cause the cleaning robot to perform the required cleaning operation while running along the stored learned running path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 7324871
    Abstract: A fully integrated system and method that provides for a system that generates fundamental differences between a host system and sensory data. The system processing covers a series of contrasting sensory data ranges that are comprised of sensory streams, sight, sound, temperature, etc. The ranges establish a point of reference within a host system for contrast with external sensory data. A static range of the system is contrasted with the active range producing an impact variation (a measurable difference) between the ranges. The processing effected by the system utilizes the monitored impact variations resulting from the contrasting sensory ranges, in conjunction with multiple sensory stream integration to resolve the problem of retaining sensory data objectivity when sensory data is internalized by a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Psychodyne Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Loscalzo, Joshua L. Benhart, David E. Cutright
  • Patent number: 7324872
    Abstract: An external force estimation system for estimating an external force acting upon a robot apparatus which includes a machine body which in turn includes a plurality of movable joints is disclosed which includes a distribution type contacting state detection section, an actuator current state measurement section, a motion state measurement section, a motion equation setting section, a known term calculation section, and an external force estimation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichiro Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 7324873
    Abstract: An offline teaching apparatus including a data acquiring section for acquiring position and orientation data and processing-condition data including interpolation commands, at respective predefined taught points, from an existing first processing program for a first workpiece; a processing-path calculating section for determining a processing path in the first program, based on the position and orientation data and the interpolation commands; a model generating section for generating, by using data of a second workpiece model of a second workpiece having geometrical features different from the first workpiece, a processing line showing a range of processing on the second workpiece; a taught-point calculating section for determining a geometrical correlation between the processing path and the processing line, and determining positions and orientations at respective taught points in the processing line; and a program generating section for generating a processing program for the second workpiece, by using the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Nagatsuka, Kozo Inoue
  • Patent number: 7324874
    Abstract: Air conditioner including a temperature sensor for sensing a room temperature, a humidity sensor for sensing room humidity, a control unit for controlling to calculate well-being indices according to the room temperature or the room humidity sensed at the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor with reference to well-being index calculating data stored already, and to present the well-being index calculated thus, and well-being index related information corresponding to the well-being index, and output means for presenting the well-being index calculated thus, and the well-being index related information corresponding to the well-being index under the control of the control unit, thereby readily calculating well-being indices and providing information thereof by using an air conditioner provided to houses or offices without exception without requiring any extra equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Il Dong Jung
  • Patent number: 7324876
    Abstract: A power management system and associated method includes provision of local wireless energy control units at remote sites for controlling power delivery to customer loads, and a central station with a wireless transmitter for broadcasting commands to the wireless energy control units. The wireless energy control units each comprise a bank of switches for controlling power delivery to electrical loads at each local site. The controllable switches preferably have a deformable bimetal member controlled by a heated coil for engaging and disengaging electrical contacts. Each wireless energy control unit is capable of being pre-configured so as to specify the order or priority in which electrical loads are disengaged, in response to commands to reduce power consumption received from the central station. The central station issues power reduction commands according to different priority levels or alert stages, causing the local wireless energy units to disengage local loads accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Yingco Electronic Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ying
  • Patent number: 7324877
    Abstract: In a method of controlling the temperature of a target object by measuring to obtain detected temperatures at a plurality of measurement positions and controlling a processing device such as a heater such that each detected temperature will match the corresponding one of target temperatures set for the processing device, a preliminary step is taken to determine the degrees of interference at the measurement positions by varying the target temperatures and the degrees of interference thus determined are used to correct the set target temperatures or the detected temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Masahito Tanaka, Yosuke Iwai, Ikuo Nanno, Takaaki Yamada, Toshiro Miyachi
  • Patent number: 7324878
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying information on a vehicle includes an information acquiring unit that acquires speed information of the vehicle and status information concerning a status of the vehicle, the status information including at least one of engine revolutions-per-minute information, slope information, acceleration information, angular-velocity information, lateral-gravity information, voltage information, direction information, time information, latitude and longitude information, torque information, and horse-power information; and a display control unit that controls a display screen in such a manner that the speed information and the status information acquired are displayed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer Design Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushige Imai, Isao Nomura
  • Patent number: 7324879
    Abstract: A start switch system for autostarting by remote control a manual transmission vehicle having a gear shift lever is provided. The start switch system includes a start switch operatively connected to the gear shift lever and an autostart unit for autostarting the vehicle. In preferred embodiments, the start switch is a mercury switch. The switch and the autostart unit are electrically coupled to one another, with the autostart unit being responsive to the emission of a first set of signals from a remote control device for activating the autostart unit to autostart said vehicle. Moreover, the positioning of the gear shift lever operatively connected to the switch determines whether the autostart unit may be activated by the remote control for autostarting the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventors: Ira Blyden, Van Blyden
  • Patent number: 7324880
    Abstract: An abnormal lifting cycle of a work machine lift component can be indicative of operator error and/or a fault within a lift component coupler. The present disclosure includes a method of detecting a fault for a lift component coupler of a work machine. Pressure within at least one hydraulic cylinder of the coupler is sensed during at least a portion of a lifting cycle of the lift component. A condition of the lifting cycle can be determined by detecting a magnitude of asymmetry within a plurality of the sensed pressures. An abnormal condition of the lifting cycle is indicated if the magnitude of the asymmetry of the plurality of the sensed pressures is outside of a predetermined range of asymmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Lueschow, Jeffrey J. Simmons
  • Patent number: 7324881
    Abstract: Transformation of differently structured signals of different track guidance systems for automatic control of a steering device in an agricultural working machine includes supplying the differently structured signals of different track guidance systems to a transformation device, and generating by the transformation device from each of the different structured signals a uniform output signal to be used for automatically controlling a steering device of an agricultural working machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Brunnert, Jochen Huster, Norbert Diekhans
  • Patent number: 7324882
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting existence of a failed or broken shear bolt supporting all or a portion of a concave of a threshing system of an agricultural combine and utilizing information relating to rates of movement and absence of movement of a concave to determining the existence and non-existence of a failed or broken shear bolt supporting the concave. More particularly, the present system and method is operable to diagnose existence of a broken shear bolt from a rapid downward movement of the concave and non-movement of the concave during operation of a driver for repositioning the concave. Also, existence of a false broken concave condition can be diagnosed by movements of the concave responsive to operation of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: David N. Heinsey, Barry E. Lehman
  • Patent number: 7324883
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting existence of a failed or broken shear bolt supporting all or a portion of a concave of a threshing system of an agricultural combine and utilizing information relating to rates of movement and absence of movement of a concave to determine the existence and non-existence of a failed or broken shear bolt supporting the concave. More particularly, the present system and method is operable to diagnose existence of a broken shear bolt from a rapid downward movement of the concave and non-movement of the concave during operation of a driver for repositioning the concave. Also, existence of a false broken concave condition can be diagnosed by movements of the concave responsive to operation of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: David N. Heinsey, Barry E. Lehman
  • Patent number: 7324884
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle with a manual transmission, a multi-ratio automatic transmission or a continuously variable transmission, on a road with a low friction coefficient, the engine torque is reduced or, as the case may be, decreased, which leads to a reduction of the wheel drive torque without changing the starting gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Spörl, Oliver Iden
  • Patent number: 7324885
    Abstract: A shift control for an electrically variable transmission shifts between modes through a neutral mode wherein the output is decoupled from the transmission. Normally, shifts between modes are accomplished synchronously through a duration of fixed-ratio operation. Extreme driving conditions may invoke shifts through neutral mode. Ratio violations characterized by one mode being active in a preferred input/output ratio range for another mode are handled by a shift through neutral. Similarly, rapid acceleration and deceleration conditions likely to result in undesirable engine speeds if synchronous shifting is employed are handled by a shift through neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Todd M Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 7324886
    Abstract: A powertrain control apparatus controls a powertrain including a lock-up clutch, and an engine, in which fuel supply is cut off, directly to an automatic transmission. The control apparatus includes a control unit that controls the engine so that fuel supply resumes in the engine and a setting unit that sets a hydraulic-pressure instruction value based on a temperature of a combustion chamber of the engine so that a time required to discharge the lock-up clutch is longer when the temperature of the combustion chamber is a first temperature than when the temperature of the combustion chamber is a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature, when the lock-up clutch is controlled to be brought to the disengaged state from the engaged state and the fuel supply to the engine is resumed. The lock-up clutch is then operated by hydraulic pressure corresponding to the hydraulic-pressure instruction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yumoto, Tadashi Tamura, Akira Hino
  • Patent number: 7324887
    Abstract: A wheel speed detection system including a rotator, a sensor head, a detector, a pulse converter, a speed calculator and a threshold shifter. Plural concave and convex portions are formed on a periphery of the rotator rotating together with a wheel. The sensor head includes a coil to generate an alternate current magnetic field. The detector excites the coil to generate an eddy current on the concave and convex portions, and outputs alternate current detection signals corresponding to changes in the eddy current generated with rotation of the rotator. The pulse converter converts the alternate current detection signals into pulse signals according to preset threshold levels. The speed calculator calculates rotational speed of the wheel based on the pulse signals. The threshold shifter sifts the threshold levels corresponding to a difference between a default average and an average of the alternate current detection signals actually outputted from the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Central Japan Railway Company
    Inventors: Norifumi Kawasaki, Hideo Kita
  • Patent number: 7324888
    Abstract: New algorithms for real-time estimation of the engine friction torque are developed. Engine friction torque can be estimated in a fuel cut-off state and at engine idle. New recursive and computationally efficient data-driven algorithms are developed for adaptation of the look-up tables. The algorithms make it possible to avoid driveability problems that could result from errors in estimating engine friction torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander A. Stotsky
  • Patent number: 7324889
    Abstract: In an intake-air quantity control system of an engine employing a variable valve operating device capable of controlling a cylinder intake-air quantity by variable control of an operating characteristic of an intake valve, in a normal intake-valve operating mode a target operating characteristic of the intake valve is determined based on a target cylinder intake-air quantity calculated based on a target engine torque. In a predetermined high-load range, in particular, at full-load operation, the target operating characteristic is switched to a high-load period valve operating characteristic, preset to be suitable for the predetermined high-load range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Arai, Takahiro Yoshino, Hidekazu Yoshizawa, Hirokazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7324890
    Abstract: An ignition timing control apparatus can obtain high output torque without generating output torque loss, and avoid the deterioration of audibility due to successive knock occurrences. A cylinder specific ignition timing setting section includes a reference ignition timing control section, and a cylinder specific correction value setting section having correction values of the same number as that of engine cylinders. The reference ignition timing control section calculates reference ignition timing common to all the cylinders and uniformly controls the ignition timings of all the cylinders to a retard angle side to prevent the occurrence of successive knocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Morio Fujiwara, Hitoshi Inoue, Akiyoshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 7324891
    Abstract: An engine control method and compensation suitable for the case that both of two manifold pressure sensors in individual groups have failed. When detection outputs from two manifold pressure sensors are different from each other, a first comparing section determines that one of the two sensors is abnormal. A manifold pressure estimating section calculates an estimated manifold pressure value according to an engine speed, throttle opening, and atmospheric pressure. A calculating section calculates a difference ?PMb between the detection output PMb and the estimated value PMcal. A calculating section calculates a difference ?PMa between the detection output PMa and the estimated value PMcal. A second comparing section identifies an abnormal one of these two manifold pressure sensors corresponding to a larger one of these differences ?PMa and ?PMb. When the remaining manifold pressure sensor has also failed, the estimated value PMcal is used as a substitutional value, then continuing the engine control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shumpei Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7324892
    Abstract: A system and method for coordinating parameters in a switch fabric network (22) of a vehicle (20). The network (22) has a plurality of nodes (24) that are interconnected by communication links for the transmission of data packets there between. Events in the vehicle (20) may be handled in connection with a vehicle parameter. One example of a vehicle parameter that may be used in the vehicle is the rotation of a crank shaft in the vehicle. An application uses that information to make a determination whether change a setting of a device in the vehicle (20). If so, the application generates a command data packet and transmits the command data packet over the switch fabric network (22). The command data packet transmitted by the application includes the new setting for the device along with a value of the vehicle parameter when the new setting should occur in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton L. Fehr, Patrick D. Jordan, Desmond Hill
  • Patent number: 7324893
    Abstract: A traffic management system manages, distributes, and controls various traveling states of vehicles at a high quality level. A vehicle-mounted unit performs an interconnection process for user authentication when entering a predetermined radio-wave zone. A radio unit disposed on a road sends interconnection process completion information to a center device when the interconnection process for connection to the vehicle is completed. If the vehicle does not connect to the radio unit after elapsed of a predicted time at which the vehicle is expected to travel across the radio unit, then the radio unit sends an overtime to the center device. The interconnection process completion information is received, the center device calculates a predicted time at which the vehicle is expected to pass across a radio unit, and sends the predicted time to the radio unit. When the overtime is received, the center device determines whether a fault has occurred or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kiyohide Yamashita, Yuji Nagano, Yuji Nomura, Hiroshi Ogura, Kazuyoshi Nagai, Takato Ohashi, Kanna Okamura
  • Patent number: 7324894
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a directional attitude of a driven load in respect to a level plane is employed to adjust initial driving power requirements in order to overcome the effects of such attitude. The apparatus employs a sensor for measuring the attitude, a processor for comparing the measurement against a threshold and a driver for altering the initial driving power requirements. Additional sensors for measuring shock, vibration, and temperature levels that the load is subjected to prior to the movement may be employed for calibration of the directional attitude measuring sensor or for further adjustment of the initial driving power requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Urman, James W. Citta, Warren D. Roddy
  • Patent number: 7324895
    Abstract: To display a navigation map for a navigation device more accurately and realistically and with less memory capacity, roads, railroad lines, rivers, lakes, and similar cartographic parameters are composed not of straight lines but of Cornu spirals. A Cornu spiral is defined by its curvature and its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Philipp Harald Nagel