Patents Issued in August 19, 2008
  • Patent number: 7415310
    Abstract: A home automation protocol system provides a network consisting of a number of node devices, controllers, and servers for storing information about node device settings and scene settings in a home environment is provided. The node devices are controlled by the controllers, in that the node devices are set to create scenes, which are stored in a scene server, while the operational states of the node devices are stored in a status server. The status server and scene server may be provided as separate units. The home automation protocol network is controlled by sending commands to the devices and servers, and new devices and controllers are added or updated, and new scenes are programmed. The network protocol allows devices running different protocols to be incorporated into the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Intermatic Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Bovee, Gregory J. Aper, Brendan Doorhy, Brian Gaza, Steven R. Reckamp, Mihail C. Dinescu, Joseph Mazza, Michael Pelland, Tim Duitsman
  • Patent number: 7415311
    Abstract: A computer system for controlling a nonlinear physical process. The computer system comprises a linear controller and a neural network. The linear controller receives a command signal for control of the nonlinear physical process and a measured output signal from the output of the nonlinear physical process. The linear controller generates a control signal based on the command signal, a measured output signal, and a fixed linear model for the process. The neural network receives the control signal from the linear controller and the measured output signal from the output of the nonlinear physical process. The neural network uses the measured output signal to modify the connection weights of the neural network. The neural network also generates a modified control signal supplied to the linear controller to iterate a fixed point solution for the modified control signal used to control the nonlinear physical process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Guided Systems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Calise, Byoung-Soo Kim, J. Eric Corban
  • Patent number: 7415312
    Abstract: A process module tuning method characterizes a process module by gathering data using a process condition measuring device to measure process outputs while inputs are excited. The data is used to identify a dynamic process model. The dynamic process model is then be used to determine process input settings that will produce desired outputs. For multi-zone process modules, the interactions between zones may be modeled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventors: James R. Barnett, Jr., Mark K. Ekblad, Jeffrey M. Parker
  • Patent number: 7415313
    Abstract: A system and process uses pheromone propagation to provide direction and/or distance information to a remote destination through the use of localized decision making processes. Locally available information is exchanged and translated with global information through the use of a pheromone vocabulary and multi-layer grid systems. Self-organizing networks of sensors provide remote monitoring of a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: New Vectors LLC
    Inventors: Sven Brueckner, Henry Van Dyke Parunak, John A. Sauter
  • Patent number: 7415314
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus having a microphone, an analog to digital converting circuit, a semiconductor memory, input device, and a controller. The analog to digital converting circuit converts an output signal from the microphone into a digital signal. The semiconductor memory stores the output signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. The input device at least carry out input of a record start and a record end. The controller, according to the input from the input device, carries out operation control for start and stop of writing into the semiconductor memory a digital signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. When the input device is operated and a predetermined time interval has passed, the controller controls to start writing the digital signal from the analog/digital conversion circuit into the semiconductor memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7415315
    Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a microphone, a semiconductor memory, an operating section and a controller. An output signal from the microphone is written in the semiconductor memory and the written signals are read out from the semiconductor memory. The operating section performs input processing for writing a digital signal outputted by an analog/digital converter, reading out the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory and for erasing the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory. The control section controls the writing of the microphone output signal in the semiconductor memory based on an input from the operating section and the readout of the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Iida
  • Patent number: 7415316
    Abstract: By estimating the processing rate on the basis of capacity factors, which are classified with respect to process recipes, i.e., technology nodes, and process tool groups, a fast response to various conditions may be accomplished, thereby providing significantly enhanced flexibility in estimating the productivity and rentability of a manufacturing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Quarg
  • Patent number: 7415317
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a method and system for correlating and combining production and non-production data for analysis for the purposes of increasing manufacturing efficiency and reducing manufacturing downtime due to abnormal conditions. In one example, this method provides for quicker data analysis which may result in less manufacturing product being discarded due to lengthy delays between abnormal conditions and the response to those conditions. In one example, a computer system is used to implement the method with the data captured from production and non-production sources being stored remotely on a server. In one example, a computer system is used to implement the method with the analyzed data being stored remotely on a server and accessed over a network for local examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Naoki Toyoshima, Shinichi Murakami, Kazuyuki Okazaki, legal representative, Yuko Maeda
  • Patent number: 7415318
    Abstract: Concerning a plurality of wafers which compose one lot, amounts of misalignment between alignment marks of these wafers and alignment patterns transferred on photoresists are measured in advance, and then, a mutual relation between a thickness of an interlayer dielectric film and a value of Wafer Scaling is calculated. When exposure is actually executed, first, an interlayer dielectric film is formed on the alignment marks in a lot and planarized. After that, the thickness of the interlayer dielectric film after planarization is measured. The value of the Wafer Scaling is estimated from an average value of the thicknesses of the interlayer dielectric films in the lot and the above-mentioned mutual relation. Then, photoresists are coated on the interlayer dielectric films in the lot, and the photoresists are exposed while the correction is executed so as to compensate the value of the Wafer Scaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventor: Tohru Higashi
  • Patent number: 7415319
    Abstract: Correcting for misalignment of a substrate before it is exposed is performed using offset corrections and process corrections that are calculated based on alignment offset measurements of alignment marks and overlay measurements of overlay targets on substrates in previous batches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Roy Werkman, Everhardus Cornelis Mos
  • Patent number: 7415320
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic method for increasing the throughput of a container reloading point or a container storage space and for reducing the loading and unloading time for a container transport vehicle. According to said method, after the identification of a container transport vehicle, the loading platform of the transport vehicle that has been parked in the parking area of the container storage space is measured. The position co-ordinates of the loading platform are determined by a data processing system. The container to be loaded is then automatically positioned by means of a crane, using the position co-ordinates of the loading platform. To align the container exactly in relation to the loading platform, the latter is measured again and any deviation in relation to the position of the container thus obtained is used for said exact alignment. The container is deposited on the platform automatically. The unloading of a container transport vehicle involves practically identical steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Gottwald Port Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Jannis Moutsokapas
  • Patent number: 7415321
    Abstract: Realized is a robot controller capable of handling a large amount of data of images and so on necessary for advanced intelligence of control while securing a real-time performance with a simple structure. For this purpose, there are provided a motion control device for performing a calculation process for achieving motion control of an object to be controlled, a recognition and planning device for performing task and motion planning of the object to be controlled and recognition of outside world, an input/output interface for outputting a command to the object to be controlled and receiving as input, a state of the object to be controlled, and a route selecting device for controlling communications by switching connections among the motion control device the recognition and planning device, and the input/output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunao Okazaki, Kazuyuki Sakiyama, Katsuhiko Asai, Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7415322
    Abstract: A motherboard is capable of accepting various types of fans from same or different manufacturers and is capable identifying the type of fan to which it is connected. In one embodiment, the motherboard is capable of decoding bar code data originating from a fan of the type which, rather than including circuitry for generating a single index pulse, includes an integral optical sensor and bar code pair for generating the bar code data, the motherboard being further capable of and identifying the fan based on the bar code data. Fan identification has a variety of uses including, for example, adjusting motherboard parameters to properly operate the fan based on the type of fan presently coupled to the motherboard. Additionally, fan speed may be calculated from pulses which are intended to identify the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jerry W. Pearce, Thomas J. Clement
  • Patent number: 7415323
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus comprises: a computer operable to execute a control program, a first memory storing the control program, and a second memory storing the produced data. The control program includes: a platform program for inputting data from a hardware device and storing inputted data as first data in a first section of the second memory, an application program for processing for a vehicle control in accordance with an AP interface, and a coupling processing program. The coupling processing program performs mediation in the processing using the application program by converting the first data provided from the processing using the platform program to second data in accordance with the PF interface so that the second data is adapted to the AP interface. The application program executes vehicle control by using the second data. The platform program performs an operation at different predetermined intervals than the coupling program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Ihara
  • Patent number: 7415324
    Abstract: A method for measuring and aligning front and rear wheels of a four wheel vehicle, including measuring alignment properties of the front wheels, and correcting alignment properties of the rear wheels if all of the measurements of the alignment properties of the front wheels are substantially equal to the manufacturer-specified alignment properties for the front wheels. If all of the measurements of the alignment properties of the front wheels are not substantially equal to the manufacturer-specified alignment properties for the front wheels, then the alignment properties of the front wheels are corrected prior to correcting alignment properties of the rear wheels. The measurements of the alignment properties can be made using a computer-aided, three-dimensional machine vision alignment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald A. Healy
  • Patent number: 7415325
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for data interchange between a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle coupled thereto. A first electronic device provided in or on the tractor is connected via a data link to a second electronic device provided in or on the trailer; the first and second devices being connected to sensors and/or actuators for controlling operating functions of the vehicle allocated thereto and for measuring status information. Initiated by an information request, the first device sends request data via the data link to the second device. The first device receives status information via the data link sent by the second device in response to the request data. The first device outputs, in a manner that correlates with the trailer, the received status information by means of an output device disposed on or in the tractor. The same output scheme is used for both the tractor and trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Michael Knosmann, Gerhard Ruhnau, Matthias Radtke, Ulrich Weihe
  • Patent number: 7415326
    Abstract: A system and method which implement automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text-to-speech (TTS) programs to permit pilots, co-pilots, and other persons to more quickly and easily perform control and monitoring tasks on aircraft. The system may be used to automatically change the frequency of an aircraft radio when a pilot or co-pilot is instructed to do so by ATC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Komer, Joseph E. Gepner, Charles Gregory Sherwood
  • Patent number: 7415327
    Abstract: Method for dynamic control of the performance of an aircraft computed on the basis of a real aircraft data input file and a computation data input file, using a computerised flight manual running on a terminal equipped with a commercial operating system, which comprises the following steps: a step of computing the performance of the aircraft on the basis of said real aircraft data input file, and said computation data input file, and obtaining at least one first result file, a step of computing reference performances on the basis of a reference data input file, and obtaining at least one third result file, which step is performed in parallel with the previous step, a first step of comparing the at least one third result file with the at least one reference result file, so as to detect any malfunction of the operating system with the application of numerical margins tolerated on the results of the result files, a step of deleting the at least one first result file and sending an error message to the user if
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Olivier Cabrera, Bernard Deret, Laurent Fonteneau
  • Patent number: 7415328
    Abstract: Method for detecting faults in a device comprising the steps of receiving a plurality of performance parameters, applying the plurality of performance parameters to a first model to produce a plurality of estimated performance parameters, applying the plurality of performance parameters to a second model to produce a plurality of estimated device parameters, computing a plurality of residuals from the plurality of estimated device parameters, computing a plurality of distance measuring from the plurality of residuals, detecting at least one parameter deviation using the plurality of residuals and the plurality of estimated performance parameters, and setting at least one detection flag if the detected at least one parameter deviation is persistent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Allan J. Volponi
  • Patent number: 7415329
    Abstract: An N-Tiered enterprise and/or N-Tiered Web-based enterprise system and methods for managing, monitoring, coordinating the procedures of and optionally controlling a fleet of geosynchronous satellites through a distributed network such as the Internet. The system and associated object oriented software architecture seamlessly supports monitoring and analyzing real-time, near real-time, historical/playback, simulated and archived satellite telemetry as well as Tracking, Telemetry and Control (TT&C) ground system generated data products such as real-time alerts, archived alerts and ground system server statuses from a group of legacy distributed TT&C wide area network (WAN) ground station systems located around the world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: SES Americom, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Nowak, Srinivasan Ranganathan, Manoj K. Chauhan, Christopher Taylor, Anthony William Massaro, John Philip Schramm, Kevin John Moscatiello, Nicholas Vespasian Chilelli
  • Patent number: 7415330
    Abstract: The device (1) comprises a set (3) of information sources, an information processing unit (4), a display means (6) comprising a display screen (8), and a configuration means (9) allowing an operator to configure said device (1), according to one of the three configuration states, a first configuration state, for which the display means (6) presents aircraft piloting information, a second configuration state, for which the display means (6) presents aircraft navigation information, and a third configuration state, for which the display means (6) presents both piloting information and navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: AIRBUS France
    Inventors: Stéphane Saint Aroman, Marielle Plat, Patrice Rouquette
  • Patent number: 7415331
    Abstract: A system ensures safety and security of teams of collaborative autonomous unmanned vehicles in executing a mission plan. The system includes a plurality of components, a first device, a second device, and a third device. The plurality of components perform situation analysis, mission planning, mission replanning, mission plan execution, and collaboration between the autonomous unmanned vehicles. The first device identifies safety critical components of the plurality of components. The second device identifies security sensitive components of the plurality of components. The third device isolates the safety critical components from contamination by other components of the plurality of components. The third device isolates security sensitive data from contaminating non-security sensitive components of the plurality of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Dapp, Adam Jung, Robert J. Szczerba, Paul W. Thurm, Joel J. Tleon
  • Patent number: 7415332
    Abstract: Each of ECUs constituting a system of a vehicle is registered with authentication IDs of other ECUs. The each of ECUs determines whether the other ECUs are regular by comparing the registered IDs with authentication IDs newly obtained from the other ECUs when the system is started. When a certain ECU within the other ECUs is determined to be not regular, the certain ECU is prohibited from being used in this system. Further, when a new ECU is substituted or added, a terminal confirms whether the new ECU is unused in another vehicle and is thereby enabled to be usable by transmitting an authentication ID of the new ECU to a management center. When the new ECU is confirmed to be enabled to be usable, authentication IDs registered in the respective ECUs are updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ito, Ifushi Shimonomoto, Toshio Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7415333
    Abstract: A method and system for managing fleet health of vehicles comprises gathering environmental data for potential mission locations. A data processing system collects vehicle data, including historical use data and maintenance data associated with corresponding vehicular components of vehicles within a fleet. A mission planner establishes a list of candidate missions for the fleet of vehicles. A stress module assigns a stress severity indicator to the established candidate missions based on the environmental data. The mission planner matches vehicles to corresponding missions based on the collected vehicle data and the stress severity indicator such that the matched vehicles are likely to complete the missions with a desired degree of reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Noel Wayne Anderson
  • Patent number: 7415334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of correction for determining, by a central unit that is provided with a receiver and that equips a vehicle, the longitudinal position, either on the front wheel assembly or on the rear wheel assembly, of emitters that are each mounted on a wheel of said vehicle. This process consists of, in a preliminary phase, determining and storing, for each wheel of the vehicle, a reference field level, received by the receiver and having for an origin an emitter that is combined with said wheel and that exhibits a given mean radiated power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventor: Philippe Lefaure
  • Patent number: 7415335
    Abstract: The mobile data collection system includes a positioning system, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and/or an Inertial Navigation System (INS), to generate position and time data. A down looking line scan camera for mounting on a vehicle, obtains a series of line scan images of a path, such as a road. A data collection controller is connected to the positioning system and the line scan camera to associate the line scan images with the corresponding position and time data. A database stores the line scan images and associated corresponding position and time data. An image processor identifies and marks features in the line scan images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: David Monroe Bell, Timothy Raymond Culp, John Bryan Daly, Michael Hattermann
  • Patent number: 7415336
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for automatic flight logs. One method includes receiving one or more location data points associated with a flight, automatically recording the one or more location data points in a flight log, and allowing access through a display user-interface to view and operate on the flight log. Receiving the one or more location data points includes obtaining the location data points from a global positioning system (GPS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventor: Matthew C. Burch
  • Patent number: 7415337
    Abstract: The collision of a vehicle with a pedestrian is detected based on the response of bend sensor segments affixed to a vehicle body panel such as a bumper fascia. The sensor data is processed to identify the location of an object impacting the body panel, and is correlated with calibration data to determine the shape and mass of the object. Impacts with pedestrians are discriminated from impacts with other objects based on the determined shape and mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Hau, Kevin D. Kincaid
  • Patent number: 7415338
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of auxiliary equipment of a vehicle by receiving an output of a surroundings detection sensor for detecting the surrounding of the vehicle and an output of the vehicle information sensor, for detecting operation of the vehicle, wherein the distance to and the direction of an overtaking vehicle, an oncoming vehicle, or a preceding vehicle and the light intensities of the right and the left headlamps are controlled independently. A plurality of processes required for controlling the vehicle auxiliary equipment are performed by the time division processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Monji, Masaaki Fukuhara, Katsuo Ouchi, Isao Furusawa, Hiroyuki Kasuya, Jun Higashino, Fujio Iida, Katsumi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 7415339
    Abstract: A vehicle accessory adjusting system that adjusts a variety of on-vehicle accessories of a vehicle to suit a driver or a passenger according to personal data stored in an IC card or other portable data storage medium. The vehicle accessory adjusting system includes a memory that stores standard setting data on the on-vehicle accessories, calculation circuit for calculating personal data based on specific setting data obtained when a driver or a passenger uses some on-vehicle accessories and corresponding standard setting data of the on-vehicle accessories, a rewriting unit to rewrite the personal data stored in the IC card with new personal data; and setting circuit to set the on-vehicle accessories according to the personal data stored in the IC card and the standard setting data stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotane Ikeda, Kimiaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7415340
    Abstract: A method of operating working machines with a changeable nominal value of at least one specific parameter of a working machine has the steps of forming by the changed nominal value an actual value of the specific parameter of the corresponding working machine; and deriving from the change of the respective actual value of a plurality of working machines a pronounced user behavior; and a device provided for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Claas Selbsfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Fitzner
  • Patent number: 7415341
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle braking system, for delivering pressurized air to a brake chamber to achieve a desired braking response, includes an air-pressure controlled relay valve for delivering the pressurized air to the brake chamber. A solenoid receives a variable control input pressure and delivers the control input pressure to the relay valve as a function of a state of the solenoid. An ECU controls the solenoid according to a control model for delivering the pressurized air to the brake chamber and achieving the desired braking response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Hermann J. Goebels, Christopher M. Knaack
  • Patent number: 7415342
    Abstract: A fuel delivery control system includes a vehicle speed sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal and an engine rotational speed sensor that generates an engine rotational speed signal. A control module calculates at least one of an accelerator release delay period and a brake depression delay period based on the vehicle speed signal and the engine rotational speed signal and deactivates fuel delivery to said engine after waiting at least one of the accelerator release delay period after the accelerator pedal is released and the brake depression delay period after the brake pedal is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, Birendra P. Bhattarai, Tony T. Hoang
  • Patent number: 7415343
    Abstract: Respective positive terminal electric potentials of exhaust gas sensors are sequentially selectively inputted to an analog input terminal of a multi-channel AD converter through a multiplexer. An offset voltage is applied to respective negative terminals of the exhaust gas sensors. This offset voltage is inputted to another input terminal of the multi-channel AD converter. A microprocessor detects a generating voltage of the exhaust gas sensors by the difference between a digital converting value of the positive terminal electric potential and a digital converting value of the negative terminal electric potential. The microprocessor also individually judges that each of the digital converting values is excessively small and excessively large. Thus, the microprocessor judges the existence of ground, sky short circuit and disconnection abnormalities of the negative terminal and the positive terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Zushi, Toru Tanaka, Michihisa Yokono, Akihiro Fukui, Yusuke Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7415344
    Abstract: A required torque waveform, a target torque waveform, and a maximum torque that can be realized/achieved by hardware are updated at time t2. When a required torque value at time t2 exceeds the maximum torque, the time at which the target torque waveform is realized is delayed until time tb at which this required torque value matches the maximum torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoya Kawai
  • Patent number: 7415345
    Abstract: In operation of an internal combustion engine, an air filling (rl) in a combustion chamber is ascertained, taking into account a pressure (ps) in an intake conduit. It is proposed that the air filling (rl) be ascertained on the basis of a model (A), which as its input variables receives an rpm (nmot) of a crankshaft and a ratio of the pressure (ps) in the intake conduit (22) to an ambient pressure (pu).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Wild
  • Patent number: 7415346
    Abstract: A temperature sensor is disposed at a position upstream of a throttle shaft in the flow channel so as not to contact the throttle valve. An inlet of a guiding path in the flow channel is arranged downstream of a first half part of the throttle valve that is revolved in an upstream direction when the throttle valve is revolved in an opening direction, the guiding path guiding a pressure to the pressure sensor. A first screw which attaches the sensor unit to the throttle body is disposed at a position upstream of a half part. A second screw is disposed at a position downstream of the other half part. A detected temperature of intake air is corrected to a temperature of intake air detected near an air cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Mikuni Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Musashi, Osamu Miura
  • Patent number: 7415347
    Abstract: A method of statistically characterizing combustion knock events includes receiving signals from a sensing device such as an accelerometer, estimating at least one parameter of a probability distribution function based on the received signals, and calculating a value indicative of an nth percentile based on the parameter to predict upcoming combustion knock events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Michigan Technological University
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Naber, Satheesh Rajh Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7415348
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a direct fuel injection engine includes an injection mode module. The injection mode module selects a fuel injection mode to be one of a single injection mode and a dual injection mode. A fuel injection command module transitions between the single and dual injection modes by varying the timing of fuel injection events relative to a crankshaft position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Jesse M. Gwidt, Jonathan T. Shibata, Stuart R. Smith, Michael J. Lucido
  • Patent number: 7415349
    Abstract: An ECU cuts off a fuel supply to an engine when a vehicle is decelerating. The ECU sets the cancellation of the fuel supply cut-off based on the target idle speed of the engine such that the power transfer state is prevented from switching from an engine driven state to an engine drive state even if the fuel supply to the engine is restarted. When the running condition of the vehicle satisfies the cancellation condition, the ECU then cancels the fuel supply cut-off to restart the fuel supply to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sato, Tatsuya Kawamura, Toshimitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 7415350
    Abstract: A stopping position control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine, over which an automatic stop/restart control is executed, is suggested. With the stopping position control apparatus and method, the crankshaft stopping position control is executed accurately by minimizing the influence of the loads placed on the internal combustion engine by auxiliary devices. The position at which the crankshaft stops when the internal combustion engine is automatically stopped is controlled by controlling the engine speed at which ignition is stopped. When issuance of a command to automatically stop the internal combustion engine is predicted, the auxiliary devices of the internal combustion engine are stopped before the internal combustion engine is automatically stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Nishikiori
  • Patent number: 7415351
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting an angular position signal representing the rotary motion of a rotating part of an internal-combustion engine. The internal-combustion engine includes at least one combustion chamber. In addition, a speed sensor of the type mentioned initially is provided, the speed sensor outputting a rotation-measurement signal representing the rotary motion of a sensing wheel connected with the rotating part. At least one pressure sensor is also provided that outputs a pressure signal representing the pressure in a combustion chamber. The method according to the present invention has the following steps: Detect the pressure signal, detect the rotation-measurement signal, calculate a correction quantity that is a function, at the least, of the detected pressure signal and rotation-measurement signal, and determine the angular position signal by linking the detected rotation-measurement signal with the correction quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Raichle, Wolfgang Fischer, Joerg Breuninger, Haris Hamedovic
  • Patent number: 7415352
    Abstract: An information display unit for an automobile includes a display screen and a user interface presented on the display screen that simultaneously presents at least two display elements each depicting information relating to a different subsystem of the automobile (e.g., a navigational subsystem and an audio subsystem). The user interface visually emphasizes one of display element relative to another other display element in response to a predetermined stimulus such as a user's hand actuating or coming near a radio control knob or an approaching turn recommended by a navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Olcott
  • Patent number: 7415353
    Abstract: A navigation satellite receiver accepts satellite-position table messages comprising truncated GPS ephemeris parameters. In particular, at least one of the two harmonic corrections to inclination angle, Cic and Cis, are not communicated and not used in the solution of navigation receiver position. In a first method embodiment of the present invention, both the two harmonic corrections to inclination angle, Cic and Cis, are omitted from the computation. In a second method embodiment of the present invention, only one of the two harmonic corrections to inclination angle, Cic and Cis, are omitted from the computation, depending on Min(Cis sin(2?k), Cis cos(2?k)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, eRide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. McBurney, Frederic Vaucher
  • Patent number: 7415354
    Abstract: A system and method for GPS acquisition in relatively high interference is described. Acquisition is aided by an Advanced Tightly Coupled (ATC) tracking filters that compute a satellite range residuals and range rate residuals for satellites being acquired. Multiple channels are used in parallel to search for the desired satellites. Range residuals from the ATC filters are used to correct the computed receiver offset and thus allow acquisition in the presence of relatively high interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Steven B. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7415355
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for controlling an electronic device. In one embodiment, a controller is coupled with a position determining component, and a motion detecting component. In one embodiment, the motion detecting component detects motion of the electronic device and generates a signal to the controller indicating the motion. The controller, in response to the signal, causes the position determining component to determine the geographic location of the electronic device. The geographic location is compared with a pre-defined zone and, in response to the comparing, a command is generated for controlling the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Gregory T. Janky, Dennis Workman, Ami Bergstrom
  • Patent number: 7415356
    Abstract: A facility for producing a composite aerial image is described. The facility receives information specifying a geographic area. The facility obtains an aerial image showing the specified geographic area that was prepared using one or more aerial image sections. Each aerial image section covers a geographic area defined in terms of spherical coordinates, and was constructed by copying a portion of a master aerial image that was selected using rectangular coordinates into the master image that were determined by directly transforming the spherical coordinates defining the covered geographic area. The facility obtains information indexed to one or more distinguished geographic locations within the specified geographic area and, for each distinguished geographic location, composites into the obtained aerial image a visual indication of the information that is indexed to the distinguished geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Zillow, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Gowda, Bryan Byrne, Andy Wand
  • Patent number: 7415357
    Abstract: The subject mater herein relates to oil well testing and, more particularly, automated oil well test classification. Various embodiments described herein provide systems, methods, and software for statistical analysis and classification of oil well tests. Some embodiments include receiving a first set of oil well test results from one or more measurement devices of a well test separator, storing the first set of oil well test results in a database, and annotating one or more tests of the first set oil well test results. The annotated test results are then used to build one or more classification models to enable automated oil well test classification as new oil well tests are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International inc.
    Inventors: Petr Stluka, Karel Marik, Josef Rieger
  • Patent number: 7415358
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the elucidation of the global changes in gene expression and the identification of toxicity markers in tissues or cells exposed to a known renal toxin. The genes may be used as toxicity markers in drug screening and toxicity assays. The invention includes a database of genes characterized by toxin-induced differential expression that is designed for use with microarrays and other solid-phase probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ocimum Biosolutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Donna Mendrick, Mark Porter, Kory Johnson, Brandon Higgs, Arthur Castle, Michael Elashoff
  • Patent number: 7415359
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for cell simulation and cell state prediction. For example, a cellular biochemical network intrinsic to a phenotype of a cell can be simulated by specifying its components and their interrelationships. The various interrelationships can be represented with one or more mathematical equations which can be solved to simulate a first state of the cell. The simulated network can then be perturbed, and the equations representing the perturbed network can be solved to simulate a second state of the cell which can then be compared to the first state, identifying the effect of such perturbation on the network, and thereby identifying one or more components as targets. Alternatively, components of a cell can be identified as targets for interaction with therapeutic agents based upon an analytical approach, in which a stable phenotype of a cell is specified and correlated to the state of the cell and the role of that cellular state to its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignees: Gene Network Sciences, Inc., Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Hill, Iya Khalil