Patents Issued in March 15, 2016
  • Patent number: 9285191
    Abstract: A coating of atactic polypropylene over a transparent armor substrate improves resistance to penetration while allowing convenient repair of minor abrasions and scratches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles M. Roland, Raymond M. Gamache
  • Patent number: 9285192
    Abstract: A ballistic strike plate assembly comprises a first plate formed from aluminum alloy and having a first surface and a second surface. A titanium plate is has a first surface and a second surface. A sheet of ballistic gap foam is adhered to the first surface of the first plate and the first surface of the titanium plate. A multilayer ballistic fabric plate is adhered to the second surface of the titanium plate. A first sheet of ballistic wrap is disposed over the multilayer ballistic fabric plate, and has edges extending beyond edges of the multilayer ballistic fabric plate that are folded over the edges of the multilayer ballistic fabric plate. A second smaller sheet of ballistic wrap is adhered to the portion of the second surface of the first plate not covered by the folded over edges of the first sheet of ballistic wrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bourque Industries
    Inventor: John M. Bourque
  • Patent number: 9285193
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a base portion for attachment in a vehicle; a seat bottom part, with a top side and an underside, which seat bottom part is attached to the base portion; a waist belt, which extends between the seat bottom part's sides. At least one hinge mechanism that is adjustable between a first and a second position is arranged at the base portion. The waist belt is attached to the hinge mechanism, so that the waist belts position in relation to the seat bottom part changes when one on the seat bottom part acting force reaches a predetermined value, which force leads the hinge mechanism from the first to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS HÄGGLUNDS AKTIENBOLAG
    Inventor: Martin Carlsson
  • Patent number: 9285194
    Abstract: A dart is disclosed that may comprise an elongate dart body, a base, and a cap. The elongate dart body may have a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity, which can be a bore. The base may include a mount and a stem inserted into the interior bore of the dart body at the first end of the dart. The cap may be attached to the base and may have a flexible, substantially bulbous-shaped head portion and an interior post so that the head portion may be configured to deform upon an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: EASEBON SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventor: Francis See Chong Chia
  • Patent number: 9285195
    Abstract: A projectile, either a crossbow bolt or an arrow, having a compressible nock. The projectile has a shaft having a front end portion and a rear end portion, an arrow point positioned on the front end portion of the shaft, multiple vanes extending from the shaft between the front end portion and the rear end portion, and a nock at least partially extending from the rear end portion. The nock has a compressible end portion that is compressible toward the shaft to maintain the nock on a bowstring when the bolt is launched. In an example case, the rear end portion is flat at its rear surface and, when the bolt is launched from a crossbow, the bowstring deforms the compressible end portion of the nock to form a groove or notch in which the bowstring is seated while the bolt is launched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: EASTON TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Teddy D. Palomaki, Kenny R. Giles
  • Patent number: 9285196
    Abstract: A guidance unit system is configured to be used for a ground-launched projectile. The system includes a housing configured to be attached to a ground-launched projectile. The housing is coupled to an attachment region that attaches to the projectile, wherein the housing is configure to rotate relative to the attachment region. A motor is contained within the housing and a bearing surrounding the motor. The bearing is rigidly attached to the housing such that the motor rotates with the housing and shields the motor from inertial loads experienced by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Gordon Harris, Stephen Harris
  • Patent number: 9285197
    Abstract: A method is described for safely opening the shell of a munition (10) having an inner chamber containing an explosive material. The method comprises the steps of machining a groove (20) into the shell along a parting line that encircles the outer surface of the munition and divides the shell into two parts. The groove (20) is of sufficient depth to weaken the shell but not to penetrate into the inner chamber of the munition. After machining the groove (20), the shell is cracked open by prising the two parts of the shell apart by inserting a suitable implement into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: John Nicholas Reid
  • Patent number: 9285198
    Abstract: An ARM-FIRE device for a pyrotechnic system includes a first pyrotechnic, a second pyrotechnic, a passage extending between the first and second pyrotechnics, and an actuator/blocking device positioned between the first and second pyrotechnics. The first pyrotechnic is configured to be ignited by a heat source, and the second pyrotechnic is configured to be ignited by the first pyrotechnic in the FIRE arrangement. The actuator/blocking device includes a body configured to move between a first position in the SAFE arrangement and a second position in the FIRE arrangement, an aperture extending through the body, and an actuator. The aperture is offset from the passage in the first position of the body and is aligned with the passage in the second position of the body. The actuator is configured to move the body between the first and second positions. The first pyrotechnic, the second pyrotechnic, and the actuator/blocking device occupy a volume of approximately 49 cubic cm (3.0 cubic inches)or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: Steven D. Nelson, Robert S. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 9285199
    Abstract: A booster shell, comprising: an elongate body defining a chamber for an explosive composition, the body comprising an upper end and a lower end; an inlet at the upper end of the elongate body adapted to allow an explosive composition to be delivered into the chamber; a detonator receiving passage adapted to receive a detonator, the detonator receiving passage: (a) extending within the chamber from the upper end of the elongate body to the lower end of the elongate body; (b) being integrally formed with the elongate body; and (c) including a detonator stop at or near to the lower end of the elongate body; and a detonator lead guide adapted to receive the lead of a detonator, the detonator lead guide: (a) extending from the upper end of the elongate body to the lower end of the elongate body and (b) being integrally formed with the elongate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Bradley Kevin Beikoff
  • Patent number: 9285200
    Abstract: An in-process diameter measuring apparatus equipped with a function of determining a measurement abnormality of a grinding machine is provided. The apparatus measures the diameter of a to-be-processed surface of a workpiece in the process of the workpiece. A sizing device (2) is provided including measuring heads (2X and 2Y) for detecting two locations spaced apart from each other in a diametric direction of the workpiece (W). Based on respective measured values of those measuring heads (2X and 2Y), the diametric dimension is calculated by a dimension calculator (32). With respect to the abnormality detection, the difference between the measured values (G1 and G2) of the measuring heads (2X and 2Y) is determined by a measurement abnormality determiner (34) and the occurrence of the measurement abnormality is determined when this measurement value difference (??) depart from a predetermined permissible range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Yasushi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9285201
    Abstract: A form measuring instrument includes: a body; a movable member including: a stylus holder being rotatably supported by the body; a stylus being held by the stylus holder; and a tip being provided at an end of the stylus and being contactable with a workpiece surface; a measurement-force-applying unit being adapted to generate a rotation force acting on the stylus holder to bring the tip of the stylus into contact with the workpiece surface; a displacement detector being provided to a portion of the stylus holder to detect a displacement of the stylus holder resulting from a rotation thereof; and a vibration generator being adapted to apply vibration to the stylus holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sadayuki Matsumiya, Kazuhiko Hidaka
  • Patent number: 9285202
    Abstract: Disclosed is a deconstructable water storage tank assembled using modular components including wall panels, a base ring and a membrane for use in large volume fluid transfer operations such as hydraulic fracturing. Also disclosed are methods and tools for assembling the tank for use at a first hydraulic fracturing site, and disassembling and transporting the tank components for redeployment at a second hydraulic fracturing site. A fluid management system is also disclosed utilizing the deconstructable storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc
    Inventor: Albert Eugene Butterfield, IV
  • Patent number: 9285203
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a gauge for determining relative positional relationships among assembled vehicular components. The gauge can include a gauge body defining a hook configured to be retained within a ditch joint. The gauge body can also define a curved exterior surface corresponding to a contour of a portion of the exterior surface of a side panel outer that is disposed adjacent a section of the ditch joint in which the hook is retained. The gauge can also include an indicator disposed at a lower portion of the gauge body below the hook. The indicator can determine and indicate a distance separating the lower portion of the gauge body from the door sash in a direction perpendicular to the exterior surface of the door sash, the distance being indicative of an assembly tolerance of relative positions of the side panel outer and the door sash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bryan A. Mermoud, Eric K. Vanderpool, Joshua K. Gilley, Phillip Comstock
  • Patent number: 9285204
    Abstract: To measure a film thickness of a coating film (25a) of a flux (25) serving as a bonding paste formed on a transfer stage (24) of a paste transfer unit (7), the film thickness of the coating film (25a) in a transfer area (26) is measured through a light-transmitting member (51) by a light interference method and by an optical type film thickness measuring sensor (53) which is arranged below the transfer stage (24). Thus, it is possible to automatically and accurately measure the film thickness of the flux (25) in the transfer area (26) without requiring any complicated measurement work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Ikeda, Yousuke Hassaku, Satoshi Furuichi, Masahiro Taniguchi, Michinori Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 9285205
    Abstract: An example turbomachine probe assembly includes a probe body extending along a probe axis from a first sensor end to an opposing second end. An eccentric retention feature is configured to engage the probe body into contact with wall having an aperture that receives the probe body. The eccentric retention feature limits movement of the probe body along the probe axis relative to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eli Cole Warren, William W. Rice
  • Patent number: 9285206
    Abstract: A displacement measuring system to measure the displacement of a structural object that includes a transmitter having a signal generator and an antenna wherein the antenna is securable relative to one of a displaced object and a support. The antenna defines a transmitter axis that is parallel to the displacement axis of the object and a centerline that is perpendicular to the displacement axis. The system further includes a first receiver and a second receiver having antennas securable relative to the other of the object and the support. The receiver antennas are positioned along a receiver axis that is parallel to the displacement axis and being spaced along the receiver axis on either side of the center line. The receiver antennas are configured to detect a signal emitted by the transmitter. The system further includes a phase detector to triangulate phase change and calculate object displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Pile Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Berris, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9285207
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring displacement of a structure is disclosed. The method and system comprise providing a first capacitance and providing a second capacitance. The first and second capacitances share a common terminal. The method and system further include determining a difference of the inverses of the value of the first and second capacitances when the structure is displaced. The first capacitance varies in inverse relation to the displacement of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Baris Cagdaser, Du Chen, Hasan Akyol, Derek Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 9285208
    Abstract: A signal processing system implemented on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) operates according to a low frequency K-Clock to sample Optical Coherence Topography (OCT) signals, as opposed to relying on a high frequency K-Clock to obtain the same information. A resampler is used to resample the OCT signal uniformly in the optical frequency domain. The resampling may be performed by extracting instantaneous phase information from a low-frequency digitized K-Clock signal, unwrapping the extracted phase information, multiplying the unwrapped extracted phase information with an interpolation factor to obtain recalculated phase information, determining one or more integer crossing points corresponding to the recalculated phase information, and interpolating one or more values of the OCT signal based on the one or more integer crossing points. The integer crossing points may represent points in phase divisible by 360 degrees, within the range of points in phase defined by the recalculated phase information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Kalyanramu Vemishetty
  • Patent number: 9285209
    Abstract: Provided are a tomography image generating method and an apparatus for generating a tomography image. The method of generating a tomography image includes, in response to a depth scan operation performed on an object, generating a candidate tomography image by using an interference signal acquired by the performed depth scan operation, determining a pixel pattern by using the generated candidate tomography image; and when the depth scan operation performed on the object is completed, generating a final tomography image of the object by using a finally determined pixel pattern. The generating the candidate tomography image and the determining are parallel processed by at least one processor during the depth scan operation being repeatedly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jae-guyn Lim, Jae-duck Jang, YongKeun Park, Hyeonseung Yu, Woo-young Jang
  • Patent number: 9285210
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method for measuring a storage frame having at least one tray defining an at least one approximately horizontal storing plane and being used for storing rod-like elements, the rod-like elements serving for storing products, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop for a pendulously storage of the products on a rod-like element. The method comprising the steps of moving the storage frame into the operating range of a measuring apparatus, scanning the storage frame by the measuring apparatus for detecting and recording data regarding geometrical dimensions of the storage frame including at least the height of the tray. The method further comprises the steps of referring the height of the tray to a reference height, creating a dataset including at least said height, storing the dataset in a data memory device, and creating a link between the dataset and the respective storage frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Poly-clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Meyrahn, Frank Niedecker
  • Patent number: 9285211
    Abstract: A height detecting apparatus for detecting the height of a workpiece held on a chuck table. The height detecting apparatus includes a single-mode fiber for transmitting return light reflected from the workpiece and next branched by a fiber coupler, a photodetector for detecting the return light emerging from the single-mode fiber and outputting a signal corresponding to the intensity of the return light detected above, and a controller having a memory for storing a table setting the relation between wavelength and height. The controller determines the wavelength corresponding to the highest light intensity from the wavelengths detected by the photodetector in synchronism with the predetermined cycles of sweeping of light having a single wavelength by a Fabry-Perot tunable filter, and then checks this determined wavelength against the wavelength and height set in the table, thereby determining the height of the workpiece held on the chuck table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Nomaru
  • Patent number: 9285212
    Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of systems for detecting the posture of a mobile object in space. The system according to the invention comprises an electro-optical device comprising a light source, a photoreceptor and means of analysis, and a retro-reflecting cube corner disposed on the mobile object. The cube corner comprises a mask disposed on its entry face. The source emits a parallel or almost-parallel pencil beam. The electro-optical device comprises means for deviating, about a fixed point, the said pencil beam of light by an angle varying as a function of time. The photoreceptor is configured for receiving the pencil beam of light retro-reflected by the cube corner. The means of analysis are configured in such a manner as to determine, based on the signal coming from the photoreceptor, the position of a number of points representative of the borders of the mask and, using this positional information, the posture of the cube corner in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Bruno Barbier, Laurent Potin, Siegfried Rouzes
  • Patent number: 9285213
    Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a food product for use in subsequent processing of the food product includes a scanning area and one or more product drives for driving a product through the scanning area in a longitudinal direction. First line lasers project one first transverse laser line transversely to the longitudinal direction on the first surface and two first cameras arranged to capture different, overlapping first transverse image portions of the first transverse laser line. A reference laser projects a beam on the first surface that indicates a transverse reference position, and the two first cameras also capture the reference position. A control system uses the transverse reference position to combine the different first transverse image portions captured by the two first cameras to calculate a first profile of the first surface at multiple positions along a length of the first surface as the product is driven through the scanning area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FORMAX, INC.
    Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Thomas C. Wolcott, Salvatore Lamartino, Gage Fox
  • Patent number: 9285214
    Abstract: Position detector for determining the rotation angle position of a rotatably supported object, comprising a light source for producing a light beam, a diffraction grating, a mirror which is connected with the object in a co-rotating manner in such a way that the light beam is reflected therefrom onto the diffraction grating and passes over the diffraction grating during a rotation of the mirror, thereby producing diffraction light, an interference device which is configured such as to be able to bring different diffraction orders of the diffraction light to interference, thereby producing an interference pattern, a light detector by means of which a brightness course, caused by the passing over of the diffraction grating with the reflected light beam, of the interference pattern can be detected, and an evaluation unit by which the rotation angle position of the object can be determined based on the brightness course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SCANLAB AG
    Inventors: Norbert Petschik, Vladimir Ponkratov, Martin Valentin, Hans-Joachim MĂĽnzer
  • Patent number: 9285215
    Abstract: A system for alignment of a pulley system and a method of use are provided. A laser alignment tool includes an arcuate front surface having a target pattern of parallel vertical lines. The tool is provided with a laser light source that projects a laser light beam through an aperture in the front surface. A pair of laser alignment tools may be mounted on two pulleys of a pulley system such that the laser light beams are displayed on the target pattern of the opposite laser alignment tool. In the event of a misalignment, the laser light beams displayed on the target patterns do not align with the vertical lines thereon. A user may adjust the pulleys so that the laser light beams produced by each laser alignment tool are aligned with the vertical lines of the opposite laser alignment tool to achieve alignment of the pulley system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Michael A. Olszewski
  • Patent number: 9285216
    Abstract: A method for determining characteristics of an axle geometry of a vehicle including the following: steering a wheel mounted on an axle of the vehicle to various steering positions having different steering angles; determining the spatial position of the wheel at the different steering positions; determining the particular axis of rotation of the wheel in the different steering positions from the results of the determination of the spatial position; modeling a parametric model of the steering axis; adapting the parametric model of the steering axis to the axes of rotation of the wheel determined from the measurement of the spatial position; and determining characteristics of the axle geometry from the adapted parametric model of the steering axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Steffen Abraham
  • Patent number: 9285217
    Abstract: The present general inventive concept relates to methods and systems to select and display information on an avionics display screen. The systems and methods allow for the selection and display of information using knobs to highlight and select the desired information for display, eliminating the need for a cursor function. The systems and methods also provide for multiple pages and/or multiple windows or “tiles” within these pages and/or windows simultaneously on a single screen of a display, with each window, page, and/or tile being fully controlled independently when selected. The present general inventive concept also relates to systems and methods to provide multiple cues on an electronic display system altitude tape to a pilot in advance and impending approach to a predefined altitude. The present general inventive concept also relates to systems and methods to employ variable resolution topographical data based on display range for an avionics navigation display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Aspen Avionics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lyons, David Berlin, William Brodegard
  • Patent number: 9285218
    Abstract: A shortest path from a source to a destination for a current start time in a set of start times is determined. A processor identifies a critical start time in the set of start times that is temporally separated from the current start time by at least one intermediate start time. The shortest path from the source to the destination for the current start time is set as the shortest path for the at least one intermediate start time without separately determining the shortest path for the at least one intermediate start time. A different shortest path is determined from the source to the destination for the critical start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Shashi Shekhar, Venkata Maruti Viswanath Gunturi, KwangSoo Yang
  • Patent number: 9285219
    Abstract: A technique for determining location data from a database is presented. A method implementation of that technique comprises receiving a first user input defining an extension of a search corridor relative to a map visualized on a display unit. The search corridor extends from a first map area to a second map area spaced apart from the first map area. In response to a second user input defining one or more characters, location data are determined of at least one location associated with the one or more characters and lying within the search corridor. The technique may be used for searching for an intermediate or target location in connection with calculating a route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ELEKTROBIT AUTOMOTIVE GmbH
    Inventor: Silvio Iaccarino
  • Patent number: 9285220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a navigation system, which includes an appliance for finding a desired route from a starting point to an end point. The navigation system includes explicit markings discernible by the senses, which are located on the route, and the markings on the route are arranged in the appliance in the order of progression. The invention also relates to a navigation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Jouni Hirvonen
  • Patent number: 9285221
    Abstract: A method, system and computer readable media for route re-planning including generating enemy force movement predictions to be used during mission planning. During a mission, enemy force movements can be compared to the predictions. By using enemy force movement predictions for an initial comparison, the enemy force movements may only need to be compared to the own force mission plan if the enemy forces deviate from the predictions. When enemy force movement deviates from the predictions, new enemy force movement predictions can be generated. The new enemy force movement predictions can then be compared to the own force mission plan to determine if a route re-plan is needed. The route can be re-planned to determine a route that reduces or eliminates the chance of a lethal encounter with an enemy or threat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Rosswog, Carl R. Herman
  • Patent number: 9285222
    Abstract: A system and method for providing autonomous navigation for an Autonomous Vehicle such as an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in the vicinity of power lines or other signal carrying lines or underwater cable is presented. Autonomous navigation is achieved by measuring the magnitude and phase of the electromagnetic field at an unknown location within a space under excitation by a set of power cables of the power line with one or more orthogonal electromagnetic sensors formed on the AV; and estimating parameters related to a position and orientation of the AV, and load parameters of each cable based on the residual error between the measured set of complex electromagnetic field values corresponding to a combined model of the set of power cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: OPTIMAL RANGING, INC.
    Inventors: James W. Waite, Thorkell Gudmundsson, Dimitar Gargov
  • Patent number: 9285223
    Abstract: A method for determining a yaw angle estimate or vehicle heading direction is presented. A potential range of yaw angles is generated based on a plurality of primary telematics data. One or more yaw angle estimates are generated from the potential range of yaw angles. A driving pattern is determined based on at least one of the yaw angle estimates. The primary telematics data is a plurality of telematics data originated from a client computing device. The effects of gravity have been removed from the plurality of telematics data in a first primary movement window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Sunish Shreenarayan Menon, David James Dosher, Scott Thomas Christensen
  • Patent number: 9285224
    Abstract: Methods and systems for compensating for gyroscopic errors. A system uses magnetometers to detect and measure a magnetic field local to a personal navigation device. When the local magnetic field is quasi-static, the rate of change of the magnetic field is combined with the rotational rate of change of the device. This generates an estimated gyroscope error. The error can then be used to correct for time-varying inherent gyroscope errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: UTI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Muhammad Haris Afzal, Valerie Renaudin, Gerard Lachapelle
  • Patent number: 9285225
    Abstract: Implementations are disclosed for using magnetometer measurements to estimate bias for angular rate measurements provided by an angular rate sensor (e.g., a gyro sensor). In some implementations, a bias estimator running on a device is configured to determine if the device is rotating based on the magnetometer measurements. If the device is not rotating, a dynamic bias is calculated and added to a temperature compensated static bias to provide a total angular rate measurement bias. The total angular rate measurement bias can be provided to an attitude estimation system where it is used to update an attitude (orientation) of the device. In some implementations, the angular rate measurements are used to determine if the device is oscillating according to a threshold value. If the device is not rotating and the device is oscillating according to a threshold value, the static bias is updated in a calibration table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hung A. Pham, Hengliang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9285226
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for updated routing are described. A device computes a route from an origin to a destination and provides updated navigation information as a user travels along the route. In response to a change in orientation of the device, a display element is presented indicating the orientation of the device, allowing the user to enter an indication to compute an updated routing based on the orientation of the device. In one or more embodiments of the invention, a user may be presented with routing information such as time and distance information based on potential routing computed a detected orientation of an orientation detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, Richa Menke
  • Patent number: 9285227
    Abstract: A digital map having a routing path is created. Points in at least a majority of a linear length of the path may be constrained so that they are disposed substantially equidistant between structural features that are bounding navigable spaces in a structure. The creating of the path may include selecting a connected component corresponding to some or all of the navigable spaces. A morphological process may be performed on the connected component to create the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hui Chao, Jiajian Chen
  • Patent number: 9285228
    Abstract: A navigation system for an automotive vehicle that travels on roads includes a vehicle positioning apparatus that determines location data associated with the vehicle. A source of attraction location data provides location data associated with a plurality of attractions that are of interest to a user of the vehicle. A processing device is communicatively coupled to the vehicle positioning apparatus and to the source of attraction location data. The processing device calculates a distance and direction from the vehicle to at least one of the attractions of interest. The calculating is based upon the location data associated with the vehicle and the location data associated with the attractions of interest. A graphical display arrangement is communicatively coupled to the processing device. The graphical display arrangement indicates the calculated distance and direction without graphically indicating orientation of roads on which the vehicle may travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Michael McManus, Jeremy Koempel
  • Patent number: 9285229
    Abstract: To update a database of a navigation device which stores at least a base version of a digital map, versions of the digital map which are available locally in the database or remotely from the navigation device are identified. To execute the navigation task, a version of the digital map is selected for execution of the navigation task. Data from a sub-set of storage blocks in which the selected version is stored is required to execute the navigation task. Depending on whether all storage blocks of the sub-set are already stored locally in the database, data stored in storage blocks of the sub-set which are not yet stored locally in the database are downloaded via a wireless interface. The downloaded data are stored in the database without modifying the base version of the digital map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Kunath, Marcel Voigt, Stefan Baptist, Carsten-Christian Spindler, Marcus Heitmann
  • Patent number: 9285230
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting road curbs are described herein. A vehicle's computing system may receive point clouds collected in an incremental order as the vehicle navigates a path. The point clouds may include data points representative of the vehicle's environment at a given timepoint and include associated position information indicative of the vehicle's position at the timepoint. Based on the associated position information in the point clouds, the computing system may process the point clouds into a dense point cloud representation and may determine features of the representation. The computing system may provide the features to a classification system that is configured to output an estimate of whether the features are representative of a road curb. Based on the output of the classification system, the computing system may determine whether the given data points represent one or more road curbs in the vehicle's environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: David Harrison Silver, David Ian Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9285231
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining transit routes through crowd-sourcing, for determining an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of a vehicle of the transit route at a given location, and for providing predictive reminders to a user for catching a vehicle of the transit route. A server receives signal source information about wireless signal sources detected by user devices, including information about a first wireless signal source detected by some devices. The server determines that the first wireless signal source is moving. The server determines that the first wireless signal source is associated with a public transit route upon determining that the signal source information satisfies one or more selection criteria. The server stores information associating the first wireless signal source with the public transit route as transit movement data corresponding to the public transit route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: François M. Jouaux, Rama Krishna Chitta, Lukas M. Marti, Michael P. Dal Santo, Ronald Keryuan Huang
  • Patent number: 9285232
    Abstract: A method of determining a path comprises obtaining a path in a road net, the road net comprising a plurality of nodes; calculating, with a processing device, an event displacement probability within coverage of the path, wherein the event displacement probability is used to describe a possibility of displacement of an event that could have occurred within the coverage of the path, to outside the coverage of the path to occur; and changing the path based on the event displacement probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Shan Dong, Ning Duan, Ronald Fellows, Li Li, Wei Sun, Zhi Hu Wang, Chang Jin Zhou
  • Patent number: 9285233
    Abstract: A display control apparatus for controlling a display device including a screen having a plurality of areas so as to assign and display a content on a corresponding area, includes: a content managing unit managing the content by associating content information; an area managing unit managing the area by associating area information; and a content assignment control unit determining a combination of the content and the area. The content assignment control unit generates a content list, generates an area list, extracts a combination list based on the area list and the content list, calculates an evaluation reference value of each combination list based on the content information and the area information, selects the combination list based on the evaluation reference value of each combination list, and determines a combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sugiyama, Shigeo Kato, Yoshihiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 9285234
    Abstract: An interactive digital map of a geographic area is provided via a user interface of a computing device. A selection of a point on the digital map is received, where the selected point corresponds to a selected location within the geographic area. In response to receiving the selection of the point and without receiving a request for directions from a user via the user interface, an indication of a length of a trip between a current location of the computing device and the selected location is automatically obtained. The indication of the length of the trip along with the interactive digital map are displayed via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Graf, Darren Delaye, Rita Chen
  • Patent number: 9285235
    Abstract: The present technique relates to an information processing device, an information processing method and a program which can accumulate sufficient movement history data with a little power consumption. A similarity search unit searches for a past route similar to the immediate movement history which is acquired by a position sensor unit and which has time series position data, from the search data stored in a past history DB. A fitness determination unit determines whether or not goodness of fit of the past route searched by the similarity search unit and the immediate movement history is a predetermined threshold or more. A sensor control unit controls an acquisition interval of the position data of the position sensor unit according to a determination result of the fitness determination unit. The technique of this disclosure is applicable to a prediction device which, for example, acquires position data and predicts a predicted route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Ide, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Masato Ito, Kohtaro Sabe
  • Patent number: 9285236
    Abstract: A navigation method, apparatus, and a computer readable medium for a mobile terminal support a display mode that provides a good field of view and enhanced readability. An input signal for enabling a route guidance function is received. Map data for route guidance is outputted when the route guidance function is enabled. Whether to activate a heads-up display (HUD) mode is determined. When the HUD mode is activated, only preset guidance information items that are extracted from the map data are displayed. Hence, the driver does not have to look away from the road to view the map on the screen, significantly reducing the risk of traffic accidents. Simplified route guidance information is provided to solve poor map readability due to screen size limitations of a mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyung Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 9285237
    Abstract: A method and system for representing traffic control signals in a road network database is provided. The database may include lane-level modeling, intersection modeling, and traffic signal modeling of a road network. An individual traffic signal is represented in the database with data indicating the traffic signal's geographic location and other attributes of the traffic signal such as an arrangement of lenses in the signal, an indication as to whether the signal is vertically or horizontally oriented, a height of the traffic signal over the roadway, and others. The database can be used by a system in a vehicle that provides convenience features to the vehicle's driver. The system may attempt to warn or control a vehicle that is determined to be at imminent risk of violating a traffic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Weiland, Gregory Nyczak, William McDonough, Michael Tsengouras, David Shuman, Paul Ford
  • Patent number: 9285238
    Abstract: Provided is a navigation system capable of matching map information used by a navigation apparatus and a navigation server with an appropriate frequency and at an appropriate timing. When there is differential information between the navigation map information and the support map information, index information for identifying the differential information is transmitted from the navigation server to the navigation apparatus and the navigation apparatus outputs preliminary information indicating a brief summary of the differential information generated according to the index information. When a request signal based on a request operation by a user in the navigation apparatus is transmitted from the navigation apparatus to the navigation server, the differential information is transmitted form the navigation server to the navigation apparatus, so that the navigation map information is updated in accordance with the differential information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadafumi Nogawa, Satoshi Murata
  • Patent number: 9285239
    Abstract: A navigation device for displaying at least one point-of-interest on a map comprises a channel set module to record a user defined channel set. The channel set includes at least one point-of-interest criteria. A channel set options module provides a user of the navigation device with an option to select the channel set. A channel set display module displays the point-of-interest criteria associated with the user selected channel set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Tsurutome, Darrell Sano, Sean Murphy
  • Patent number: 9285240
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves determining charging equipment availability through crowdsourcing. Information is gathered from a plurality of electrically powered vehicle in a geographical region. The charging stations in the geographical region are displayed. A request is received, from a user, to determine occupancy of the electrical charging equipment at one or more of the charging stations during a specified future time window. A calculation is performed based on the information gathered from the electrically powered vehicles. The calculation calculates a probability of the electrical charging equipment at the one or more charging stations being unoccupied during the specified future time window. As a part of the calculation, a weighted probability is assigned to each charging station of being visited by at least one of the electrically powered vehicles. The probability is communicated to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Rao Sanyasi Yenamandra, Naveen Kalla