Patents Issued in May 17, 2016
  • Patent number: 9341458
    Abstract: A method for providing electrical energy to a self-destruct fuze for submunitions contained in a projectile. The method including: using a firing acceleration of the projectile to deform at least one elastic element to store mechanical energy in the elastic element; converting the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy; and providing the electrical energy at least indirectly to the self destruct fuze for detonation of the self destruct fuze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: OMNITEK PARTNERS, LLC
    Inventors: Jahangir S Rastegar, Richard T Murray, Chris Janow, Richard Dratler
  • Patent number: 9341459
    Abstract: Controller executes a first scanning control, causing a driver to move a probe such that a tip scans along an inclined surface of a V groove to approach a center of the V groove, and a second scanning control, causing the driver to move the probe such that the tip scans along the inclined surface of the V groove to approach the center of the V groove from a side opposite that of the first scanning control. Angle calculator calculates an angle created between a direction of a deflection vector of the probe and a predetermined direction. Threshold value-correspondent coordinate obtainer obtains coordinates of the tip where the angle has changed to exceed a first threshold value during execution of the first scanning control and obtains coordinates of the tip where the angle has changed to exceed a second threshold value during execution of the second scanning control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Noda, Hiroshi Kamitani, Kazumi Mizukami
  • Patent number: 9341460
    Abstract: A double cone stylus includes a shank and a double cone-shaped tip attached to the tip end of the shank, the double cone-shaped tip being a rotationally symmetric body obtained by rotating a triangle having a base extending along the shank around the shank as the symmetric rotation axis. The double cone stylus allows the shape of an inner wall surface of a measurement object with the inner wall surface retracted from an upper reference plane to be measured from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Kurihara, Yasuhiro Takahama, Masanori Arai, Tomoyuki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9341461
    Abstract: A wall thickness inspection device includes an electrostatic capacity detector 4 for detecting the electrostatic capacity of a portion of an object subjected to wall thickness inspection, and an arithmetic and control unit for taking in the electrostatic capacity detected by the electrostatic capacity detector 4 and converting the electrostatic capacity to a wall thickness. The electrostatic capacity detector 4 includes a sensor unit 5 brought into contact with the surface of a portion of the object subjected to the wall thickness inspection, and an elastic body 6 for biasing the sensor unit 5 toward the portion of the object. The sensor unit 5 has a curved surface 50 with the radius of curvature R represented by 2 mm?R?10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: NIHON YAMAMURA GLASS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naohiro Tanaka, Goro Tambo
  • Patent number: 9341462
    Abstract: Determining a distance between stationary and moving portions of a turbo machine including generating, by a fixed gap capacitive probe, a first output signal based on a characteristic of a gas in a gas flow path of the turbo machine, wherein the fixed gap capacitive probe is located in the stationary portion and is configured to sense a characteristic of a gas flowing through the gas flow path. Also, a variable gap capacitive probe, located adjacent the fixed gap capacitive probe, is used to generate a second output signal based on a distance between the variable gap capacitive probe and the moving portion, wherein the variable gap probe is configured to capacitively couple to the moving portion of the turbo machine. Afterwards, the value of the second output signal can be adjusted based on the first output signal to produce an adjusted output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc
    Inventor: Peter Szedlacsek
  • Patent number: 9341463
    Abstract: A measuring system having a first magnetic field sensor, an encoder, and an evaluation circuit. The first magnetic field sensor and the second magnetic field sensor and the third magnetic field sensor are connected to the encoder. The evaluation circuit has a logic, which is set up to determine the position of the encoder based on a first measurement signal of a first magnetic field sensor and a second measurement signal of a second magnetic field sensor and a third measurement signal of a third magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Ritter, Joerg Franke
  • Patent number: 9341464
    Abstract: A system for sizing and fitting an individual for apparel, accessories, or prosthetics includes at least one energy emitter configured to emit energy onto a field-of-view that contains an individual, and at least one energy sensor configured to capture reflected energy from within the field-of-view. A spatial measurement module calculates spatial measurements of a surface portion of the body of the individual when the individual is either stationary or moving about in real-time, based on data from the energy sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: ATLAS5D, INC.
    Inventor: Zebadiah M. Kimmel
  • Patent number: 9341465
    Abstract: A dimension measuring apparatus is configured by: a movable stage; a measurement setting data storing section that holds feature amount information and measured position information; a low-magnification imaging section that photographs a workpiece with a low magnification; a workpiece detecting section that specifies a position and a posture of the workpiece in the low-magnification image based on the feature amount information; a stage controlling section that controls the movable stage 12 based on the specified location and posture such that the position to be measured of the workpiece stays within the high-magnification field of view; a high-magnification imaging section that photographs with a high magnification the position to be measured; an edge extracting section that extracts an edge of the position to be measured from the high-magnification image; and a dimension value calculating section that obtains a dimension value of the position to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Yasutaka Kawa
  • Patent number: 9341466
    Abstract: Apparatuses include a conveyor moving in a processing direction, a print head positioned adjacent the conveyor, a light source positioned adjacent a first side of the conveyor, a movable mirror positioned adjacent a second side of the conveyor, that is across the conveyor from the first side of the conveyor, a fixed mirror positioned adjacent the first side of the conveyor (the fixed mirror is between the light source and the print head), and a light sensor position adjacent the second side of the conveyor. The light sensor is between the movable mirror and the print head. The light source outputs light to the movable mirror across the conveyor, the movable mirror directs the light back across the conveyor to the fixed mirror, and the fixed mirror directs the light again across the conveyor to the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Gurak, Timothy J. Clark, Bruce H. Smith
  • Patent number: 9341467
    Abstract: A method for verifying a position of an energy beam spot, said method comprising the steps of: providing a calibrated energy beam having a first focus in a at least two positions at a work table, detecting said at least two positions of said energy beam spot on said work table created with said energy beam having said first focus, providing said calibrated energy beam having a second focus in said at least two positions at a work table, detecting said at least two positions of said energy beam spot on said work table created with said energy beam having said second focus, comparing said at least two positions created with said first and second focus, wherein said position of the energy beam is verified if said positions created with said first focus are deviating less than a predetermined distance from said positions created with said second focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Arcam AB
    Inventor: Anders Snis
  • Patent number: 9341468
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes a light projecting and receiving device configured to project and receive light, and measures an object based on the projected and received light. The measuring apparatus comprises a chamber configured to enclose a first space for accommodating the object; a partition configured to separate the first space from a second space which accommodates the light projecting and receiving device, and configured to transmit the light; a first regulator configured to regulate temperature of the first space to a first temperature by flowing a gas through the first space; and a second regulator configured to regulate temperature of the second space to a second temperature different from the first temperature by flowing a gas through the second space. The partition includes a plurality of partition walls disposed with a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomofumi Nishikawara, Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9341469
    Abstract: A continuous scan type measuring apparatus includes a continuous scan type optical application measuring instrument, a single-axis measuring instrument scanning stage and two carrier stages. The continuous scan type optical application measuring instrument performs a surface shape measurement of a measuring object. The single-axis measuring instrument scanning stage carries the optical application measuring instrument and causes the optical application measuring instrument to perform continuous scanning along a predetermined direction. The two carrier stages are detachably mount respective measuring objects thereon and move independently of each other. The two carrier stages are positioned independently at one of a measurement position within a scanning range of the optical application measuring instrument and a replacement position of the measuring objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TAKAOKA TOKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9341470
    Abstract: A light section sensor for providing an output of a digital output coordinate has an illuminating device for projecting a light line onto a measured object and an electronic camera for detecting the projected light line on the measured object. A processing device determines at least one measured coordinate in a measured coordinate system on the basis of the light line detected. A coordinate transformation device transforms the measured coordinates from the measured coordinate system into the output coordinates in an output coordinate system by a coordinate transformation. A slope angle determination device determines the slope angle of the light section sensor in relation to a flat surface of the measured object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BAUMER ELECTRIC AG
    Inventors: Klaus Friedrich Müller, Walter Hochgenug
  • Patent number: 9341471
    Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for assisting a user in determining a real-world distance. Hardware-based sensors (e.g., present in a mobile electronic device) may allow for a fast low-power determination of distances. In one embodiment, one or more telemetry-related sensors may be incorporated into a device. For example, data detected by a frequently-calibrated integrated accelerometer may be used to determine a tilt of the device. A device height may be estimated based on empirical data or based on a time difference between a signal (e.g., a sonar signal) emitted towards the ground and a corresponding detected signal. A triangulation technique may use the estimated tilt and height to estimate other real-world distances (e.g., from the device to an endpoint or between endpoints).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sundeep Vaddadi, John H. Hong, Chong U. Lee
  • Patent number: 9341472
    Abstract: A device for measuring the level of the end surface of a pipe, comprising a body, a planar reference surface, and a retractable spring-loaded finger extendable through and below the planar reference surface to engage the inside surface of the pipe and secure the level in place. The level body may comprise an elongated body having an elongated chamber and an elongated reference plane, said plane comprising at least one reference surface and at least one opening to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Roy G. Sowley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9341473
    Abstract: A survey system including a target unit that has a survey stick having a high-precision localizable target and a hand-held remote control unit. The remote control unit has an electronic graphical display and can be mounted on a holder on the survey stick such that the remote control unit is in a fixed position relative to the target fitted to the survey stick. The remote control comprises a camera for taking a camera image in a defined shooting direction. In addition, an image processing and evaluation unit with a data link to the position-finding unit and to the camera is provided which, from knowledge of the fixed relative position and of a defined shooting direction and also on the basis of the determined target position, can spatially relate image data from the camera to the targets in the coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Zogg, Werner Lienhart, Daniel Nindl, Norbert Kotzur
  • Patent number: 9341474
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a rotation unit for a surveying device, in particular a laser scanner for optically scanning an environment and such a surveying device. The surveying device has a rotation unit having a rotation mirror, for deflecting an emission light beam and a reception light beam, and a rotation body implemented as a cylinder having a on a beveled, free end. The rotation body is implemented as a hollow cylinder having a cylinder bottom and a beveled cylinder wall on its free end. The hollow cylinder is connected coaxially with respect to its cylinder axis in a rotationally-fixed manner to a motor-driven shaft via the cylinder bottom. The rotation mirror is fastened in the region of its free end to the cylinder wall of the hollow cylinder so it is supported thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Helmut Plangger, Tim Mayer, Jochen Scheja
  • Patent number: 9341475
    Abstract: In a geomagnetism measurement apparatus, a magnetic sensor detects magnetic data, and a storage unit stores the magnetic data sequentially output from the magnetic sensor. An ellipsoid generation unit calculates each ellipsoidal central point of first, second and third ellipsoids each of which has in the vicinity thereof a plurality of the magnetic data stored in the storage unit. An ellipsoidal central point decision unit decides whether or not a distance between respective ellipsoidal central points is equal to or less than a threshold value. A correction value generation unit calculates an ellipsoidal correction matrix for converting coordinates on an ellipsoid into coordinates on a sphere based on a coefficient matrix representing a shape of one of the first, second and third ellipsoids according to the decision result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Ibuki Handa
  • Patent number: 9341476
    Abstract: An inertial sensor is described that has means for improving quadrature rejection The sensor is of a ring type, driven by a driver circuit, the sensor further comprising primary and secondary portions having corresponding signal pickoffs. The primary pickoff signal amplitude is controlled via an automatic gain control, the primary phase lock loop and VCO locks to the resonant frequency to provide the clocks for the synchronous detectors, the primary pickoff signals via the primary phase shift circuit is provided to the primary driver, the secondary pickoff signal being input into a detector circuit capable of detecting motion in the sensor. The secondary channel comprises a series of circuits that when operable in series significantly improve the quadrature rejection ability of the sensor. The circuits include a synchronous detector, passive and active filters and a decimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SILICON SENSING SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Kevin Townsend, Michael Durston
  • Patent number: 9341477
    Abstract: A vibrator element including: a base portion; vibrating arms which extend from the base portion; a first drive section and a second drive section, and a first detecting section and a second detecting sensor which are respectively provided in the vibrating arms; adjusting arms which extend from the base portion in parallel to the vibrating arms; and a first adjusting section and a second adjusting section which are respectively provided on a principal surface of the adjusting arms, wherein, in the first adjusting section and the second adjusting section, a first electrode, piezoelectric layers, and adjustment electrodes are laminated on the first principal surface to be formed, and output signals of the first adjusting section and the second adjusting section are in antiphase to charges generated by the first detecting section and the second detecting section when no angular velocity is added to the vibrating arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9341478
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for inhibiting surface information to a operator are disclosed. An image generator receives navigation data; retrieves surface data; generates and modifies an image data set as a function of the navigation data and the surface data; and provides the modified image data set to a display system. The image data set could be representative of a three-dimensional, egocentric perspective of a scene outside the vehicle comprised of a current surface and corresponding markings, and at least one intersecting surface and corresponding markings; the intersecting surface may be a surface intersecting the current surface. The image data set may be modified by inhibiting the visibility of the intersecting surface markings for each intersecting surface falling within the image modification area. An intersecting surface may fall within the image modification area if the intersecting surface overlaps a boundary of the image modification area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Scherer, Victor E. Villagomez, Felix B. Turcios
  • Patent number: 9341479
    Abstract: Receiving point of interest zones and alerts on user devices comprises communicating, by a user computing device to a remote computing device, a request for point of interest data corresponding to points of interest within a proximity of the user device; presenting the received point of interest data; identifying a particular point of interest; and outputting an alert regarding the particular point of interest. Receiving point of interest zones on user devices comprises communicating a request for point of interest data; receiving the point of interest data from the remote network device wherein a size of the point of interest zone is determined based on a density of points of interest in the proximity of the user, and wherein the shape of the point of interest zone is expanded in a direction of travel and contracted in the opposite direction; and presenting the received point of interest data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Debra Lin Repenning, Ray Xiaohang Wang, Yakov Okshtein, Farhan Shamsi, David Singleton, Lixin Zhang, Alan Newberger, Chandrasekhar Thota, Douglas Alexander Gresham, Nicholas Fey, Marcus Alexander Foster, Petra Cross, Andres Morales
  • Patent number: 9341480
    Abstract: A mining machine management system includes: a route information generation unit generating route information based on position information obtained when a mining machine in operation travels along a route departing from a predetermined first position, passing a second position where a load is loaded, and moving to a third position where the load is removed, the route information including nodes of the route and a link connecting the nodes; and a route analysis unit determining a section having the links within the route information to be a specific section where a slope difference between the links falls within a value, an orientation difference between the links falls within a value, and there is no intersection between the links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohide Sugihara, Koutarou Hori
  • Patent number: 9341481
    Abstract: The application provides a method and system for providing tourist assistance and guided navigation of a tourist spot by transmitting metadata across a communication network. The application provides a method and system for utilizing a beyond audible frequency signal for metadata transmission across a communication network. The application provides a method and system for emitting an encoded metadata over the beyond audible frequency signal, receiving and parsing the said received encoded metadata, extracting and decoding barcode received along with encoded metadata and retrieving the tourist information by accessing a web link received along with encoded metadata for plurality of web based services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Aniruddha Sinha, Dhiman Chattopadhyay
  • Patent number: 9341482
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sequentially updating a Kalman filter in a navigation system. Respective signals from a plurality of transmitters containing range-finding data are received at a plurality of antennas. For each of the plurality of transmitters, a single differenced observable is calculated between a given pair of the plurality of antennas. A common bias, stored as a state in a Kalman filter, is subtracted from the calculated single differenced observable for each of the plurality of transmitters to provide respective double differenced residual values. A plurality of states stored in the Kalman filter are updated using the double differenced residual values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Northrop Grumann Systems Corporation
    Inventor: J. Alexander Fax
  • Patent number: 9341483
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods disclosed herein facilitate mobile station (MS) location determination using MS captured images of known points of interest (POIs). In some embodiments, each POI is associated with a corresponding visibility map comprising a set of grid points, and a subset of the POIs may be identified from the MS captured images by matching the MS captured images of each POI in the subset with corresponding stored images. A cumulative grid point weight for a plurality of grid points in the visibility maps associated with the POIs in the subset may be computed. The cumulative grid point weight for each grid point represents the probability that the MS is located at that grid point. The location of the MS may be estimated based on the cumulative grid point weights of the plurality of grid points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hui Chao, Saumitra Mohan Das, Eric K. Holm
  • Patent number: 9341484
    Abstract: Provided is a navigation server which informs a user of the meaning of the search result of a route considering a primary event through a navigation client. According to a navigation server 100, it is recognized whether a first index value e1 indicating the degree of influence of a predetermined primary event on the passage along a searched route connecting a present location p1 and a destination point p2 is greater than a first threshold value ?1. When the first index value e1 of the previous searched route R1 is greater than the first threshold value ?1, a route R2 is re-searched to reduce the first index value e1. When the first index value e1 of the search route R1 or R2 is the first threshold value ?1 or less, “confirmation information” indicating as such and the searched route are transmitted to the navigation client 200 and recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takurou Masuda, Tadafumi Nogawa, Aiko Ishii
  • Patent number: 9341485
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for representing road intersections as data. A database includes intersection object data entities that represent physical road intersections. Each intersection object data entity includes a maneuver list that identifies each permissible transversal of the intersection from each lane by which the represented intersection can be entered to each lane from which the intersection can be exited from the associated lane by which the intersection can be entered. Each transversal in the maneuver list indicates an entry lane, an exit lane, the geometry of a vehicle path connecting the entry and exit lanes, and an indication of a level of confidence associated with the specified geometry. The database can be used by a system in a vehicle to provide a safety-related function. The database is compatible with navigation-related applications that use a different data model to provide navigation-related functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Weiland, Gregory Nyczak, William McDonough, Michael Tsengouras, David Shuman, Paul Ford
  • Patent number: 9341486
    Abstract: Technology for generating geotemporal graphs is disclosed where geotemporal graphs provide representations of areas based on an expected travel time between points, instead of the geographical distance between points. Travel times may vary based on travel conditions, and geotemporal maps may be generated that show travel times that account for travel conditions. Generating geotemporal maps may include obtaining a graph, determining for several points a warp vector indicating graph how each point should be moved to represent a travel time to that point, and warping the graph according to the determined warp vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Cecilia Aragon, Sungsoo Hong, Jong-Chul Yoon
  • Patent number: 9341487
    Abstract: A system for automatic geofence determination comprises an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive data for one or more trips. A processor is configured to determine a set of nodes for each trip, determine a set of clusters using the set of nodes for each trip, and determine a set of geofences based at least in part on the set of clusters. A node of the set of nodes is determined based at least in part on the data. A cluster is a group of nodes separate from another group of nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Lytx, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome Bonhomme
  • Patent number: 9341488
    Abstract: A method for improving and extending an existing digital road network and generating new networks from statistically relevant amounts of probe data recorded by GPS-enabled navigation devices. New probe data is matched to the existing digital map, then the data merged into the existing network using a time-dependent weight and/or accuracy-dependent weight. A recalculation date is established, and the weight value of a line segment and/or trace is adjusted as a function of the time span relative to the recalculation. The function may include setting a maximal time period divided into bins each having a respective weight reduction factor, or applying decay function. Through this technique, digital maps can be updated and extended without undue influence exerted by old trace data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: TomTom North America Inc., TomTom Germany GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Mund, Clayton Richard Morlock
  • Patent number: 9341489
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to perform continuous guidance in which guidance on a first guidance point which is a guidance point subsequent to a current position and guidance on a second guidance point which is a subsequent guidance point are continuously performed at one time in a navigation apparatus in more suitable circumstances. The navigation apparatus includes continuous a guidance determination part that determines whether or not to cause a display part and an audio guidance part serving as a guidance part to perform the continuous guidance on the first guidance point and the second guidance point based on a distance between the first guidance point and the second guidance point and current date and time acquired by a current date and time acquisition part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kumi Nishibashi, Takashi Irie
  • Patent number: 9341490
    Abstract: A navigation system includes a control unit configured to identify map data for a geographic region; generate an n-gram frequency set based on the map data and the geographic region; calculate a target occurrence rate for detecting one or more potential spelling errors in the map data based on the n-gram frequency set; and a communication interface, coupled to the control unit, and configured to communicate the target occurrence rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TELENAV, INC.
    Inventors: Casey Carter, Kristen Kam, Gregory Stewart Aist
  • Patent number: 9341491
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a technique for searching points of interest, or POIs, along a calculated route to be travelled. A method implementation thereof comprises the steps of providing an initial search corridor of predetermined size, wherein the corridor is indicative of a geographic area covering at least portions of the route to be travelled, performing a POI search within the provided search corridor, and adjusting the corridor size for a subsequent POI search based on a number of POI hits found during the POI search in the currently provided search corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Elektrobit Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Mellert
  • Patent number: 9341492
    Abstract: Because a navigation device or method according to the present invention extracts only route guidance expressions which a speaking person, such as a fellow passenger, provides for the driver, interprets the abstract route guidance expressions to determine a concrete route guidance expression, and outputs information to be presented corresponding to the concrete route guidance expression, the navigation device enables the driver to understand the content intuitively and can prevent the driver from mishearing the speaking person's utterance and from driving the vehicle toward a direction which the speaking person does not intend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Watanabe, Yuki Furumoto
  • Patent number: 9341493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing a user interface, particularly in a vehicle, in which a structured volume of data is stored which relates to the scope of functions of at least one function. At least two hierarchically related modes of operation are predetermined which each produce and each at least partially display a user menu with controllable graphic objects on the basis of a predetermined subset of the structured volume of data, wherein a hierarchically higher mode of operation is based on a hierarchically higher subset of the structured volume of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Annie Lien, Lorenz Laubinger
  • Patent number: 9341494
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for managing route navigation via mobile devices. A route is calculated between a starting point and a destination point. The route is divided into multiple segments based on the complexity of the calculated route, and navigation features are controlled as a function of the segment that corresponds to the user's current location. The user may opt to identify one or more segments, or one or more route portions independent of whether or not segmentation has occurred, in order to specify a portion(s) of the route where navigation support is not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Martin Kosakowski, Roland Schink, Ernst Zielinski
  • Patent number: 9341495
    Abstract: A mobile terminal apparatus including a casing, a plurality of vibrators, and a controller. The plurality of vibrators are provided inside the casing. The controller is configured to judge an orientation from a position of the casing to a target position and cause a vibration for presenting the orientation in the casing by driving at least one of the plurality of vibrators based on a result of the judgment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kousuke Seki, Hideo Kawabe, Osamu Ito, Takeshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 9341496
    Abstract: Disclosed is a navigation device which extracts an entrance and exit section which exists ahead of a vehicle and in which a vehicle is permitted to make a lane change between an HOV lane and a normal lane on the basis of position information about the position of the vehicle and map data in which the HOV lane and the normal lane are defined by a single link, extracts a branch point on the HOV lane which exists ahead of the vehicle on the basis of the map data and the position information about the position of the vehicle, determines a guidance time for a lane changing permitted section defined by the extracted entrance and exit section, and another guidance time for the branch point on the HOV lane, and provides exit guidance notifying that the vehicle can exit the HOV lane or entrance guidance notifying that the vehicle can enter the HOV lane at the determined guidance time, or provides branch guidance on the branch on the HOV lane at the determined other guidance time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kumi Nishibashi, Takashi Irie
  • Patent number: 9341497
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a method for pushing point of interest information, comprising: displaying an electronic map; determining a target point of interest on the electronic map; acquiring an access identification of at least one piece of description information about the target point of interest; and displaying the access identification of the at least one piece of description information about the target point of interest. The embodiments of the present invention also provide a system for pushing point of interest information. According to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the efficiency of pushing point of interest information can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co.
    Inventor: Jinjie Zhang
  • Patent number: 9341498
    Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: determining a travel context based on a travel condition; determining a guidance landmark based on a candidate landmark; and generating a navigation guidance with a control unit having the guidance landmark suited for the travel context for presenting with a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TELENAV, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Stewart Aist, Jose Sebastian, Aliasgar Mumtaz Husain, Casey Carter
  • Patent number: 9341499
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for adjusting a sensor signal and a corresponding sensor system comprising a sensor for providing a sensor signal representative of a measure other than temperature, dynamic components of the sensor signal being dependent on temperature. In addition there is provided a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature. Dynamic components in the sensor signal are adjusted subject to the temperature sensed, and a compensated sensor signal is supplied. Such sensor system helps compensating for long response times of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Markus Graf, Vincent Hess, Dominik Niederberger
  • Patent number: 9341500
    Abstract: The invention relates to a calibration method that can be carried out without a reference system for an angle measuring device having a code carrier carrying an absolute position code, and at least two reading heads comprising a fixed, known angle position at an angular distance, wherein the code carrier can be rotated relative to the reading heads, and different angle positions of the code carrier relative to the reading heads can thus be captured. Angle position values of the reading heads in an angular setting are determined and angular error is determined, which are repeated. And, a mathematical analysis method is performed, including determining the parameters of a mathematical function quantifying the angular error, and determining calibration parameters as parameters of the quantifying mathematical function or as a correction or code table derived from the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Heinz Lippuner, Urs Vokinger, Knut Siercks
  • Patent number: 9341501
    Abstract: A system for driving an analog gauge that displays an indication of a condition of a vehicle has a microcontroller that receives signals representing a voltage at a sender terminal of the analog gauge and the condition of the vehicle. The microcontroller determines a desired resistance based on the condition of the vehicle and a current command signal based on the desired resistance and the voltage at the sender terminal. The microcontroller sends the current command signal to a current driver circuit to command a flow of current. The current driver circuit is coupled to the sender terminal and has a virtual resistance simulated by the flow of current through the current driver circuit and the voltage at the sender terminal. The analog gauge is driven according to the virtual resistance of the current driver circuit and displays the indication of the condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Boatman, Jacob A. Yadon, Michael P. Dengel
  • Patent number: 9341502
    Abstract: A detachable member and a processing member for an analysis tool, the detachable member including a housing for a probe member, the probe member capable of obtaining one or more characteristics information; and a circuitry component for co-operating with the member, the circuitry component including one or more electrical connections for transmitting one or more characteristics information to a separate processing member such that one or more characteristics information is capable of being used by the separate processing member for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Presidium Instruments Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Joanne Yeo, Darren Koong, Reza Assadi
  • Patent number: 9341503
    Abstract: In a data acquisition instrument with dual A/D converters in each measurement channel, phase corrections between the paths are computed using a locally generated calibration signal. The calibration signal goes through dual paths simultaneously and is stitched into a single signal for analysis by a processor running a Fourier transform where phase differences are easily identified and used to establish a phase correction signal applied to a single master clock supplying clock signals to both paths. A switch allows the calibration signal to be applied to each channel or to no channels when actual data is being collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Crystal Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: James Q. Zhuge, Zhengge Tang, Lei Chen
  • Patent number: 9341504
    Abstract: A fluidic cartridge (110) with passively driven fluid flow is disclosed. The disclosed device and method solve problems associated with passive-flow fluidics by using a wicking pad (510) and/or a tilting means to prevent channel draining and backflow. The disclosure further provides means for adding liquid to the cartridge in multiple steps, without requiring liquid aspiration or removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: MBio Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Lochhead, Kurt R. Vogel, Keagan B. Rowley
  • Patent number: 9341505
    Abstract: A flowmeter includes a process sensor assembly providing a sensor signal and a filter stage comprising a low pass filter and a high pass filter and providing a filtered signal from the sensor signal. A processor determines that a filtered signal is indicative of a low flow condition for a first fluid, alters at least one parameter of the low pass filter and at least one parameter of the high pass filter in response to the low flow condition such that the filter stage provides a new filtered signal, determines that the new filtered signal is not indicative of a low flow condition for a second fluid and generates an alarm in response to the new filtered signal not being indicative of a low flow condition for the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffry Duane Foster, Michael D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9341506
    Abstract: A method for controlling excitation energy in a coil arrangement of a flow measuring device having an energy buffer system for storing energy and embodied as a two-conductor field device is provided for producing a magnetic field B passing through a medium as a function of the excitation energy. The wherein the flow measuring device has a plurality of operating states, between which it transfers and which describe an excitation current pulsed in a time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Andre Spahlinger, Thomas Kung, Markus Rufenacht
  • Patent number: 9341508
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a volumetric measurement device that includes of a vessel into which contents to be measured are placed. The device has a target operational range of measurement volumes. The shape of the vessel has the property that the ratio of the surface area of contents in the vessel to the volume of those contents is constant across the operational range. For any source of error in the estimation of vertical height of contents, the constant ratio of surface area to volume prevents the error from having a larger negative impact on overall measurement error as the volume being measured decreases. In other words, the vessel is just at good at measuring small volumes of contents as large volumes of contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Equatine Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua Redstone