Patents Issued in February 1, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180032023
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to suppressing image defects due to variations in the values of currents flowing through respective photosensitive drums during image formation, and reducing the absolute value of a voltage applied when a primary transfer power supply unit applies a voltage of polarity opposite to that during image formation, to primary transfer members. There is provided an image forming apparatus including a transfer member configured to make contact with an inner peripheral surface of a transfer belt, a first power supply unit configured to apply a voltage to the transfer member, a resistance element connected between the first power supply unit and the transfer member, and a diode connected in parallel with the resistance element in a direction in which a current flowing in a first direction is blocked and a current flowing in a second direction is passed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yusuke Shimizu, Kenichi Iida, Takao Kume, Keisuke Ishizumi, Toshihiko Takayama
  • Publication number: 20180032024
    Abstract: A toner collecting device includes an exhaust path and a catching installation. Through the exhaust path, air containing a floating toner is passed. The catching installation is configured to catch the floating toner from the air passing through the exhaust path. The catching installation is formed by overlapping a plural of filters each having a different mesh size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya YAMASHITA, Hiroaki OHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180032025
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a toner storing container that stores a collected toner, a conveyance screw that conveys toner in the toner storing container, and a toner crushing member that crushes the toner accumulated in the toner storing container. The toner crushing member is formed so as to include: a supporting portion being attached above a rotation axis of the conveyance screw; and a plurality of elastic pieces each extending from the supporting portion toward the conveyance screw and being swung by a fin that rotates in association with the rotation of the conveyance screw. Each of the elastic pieces is formed with a raised portion rising toward the seal member, so that the elastic pieces come in contact with the seal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koichi IMANAKA, Takashi MORITA
  • Publication number: 20180032026
    Abstract: An imaging device having a door closing sequencing device to ensure a proper closing sequence of two mating doors. The sequencing device includes a door stop, a link, and a hinge. The hinge and door stop are pivotally connected to a side panel of a frame. The hinge, link, and door stop are pivotally connected together. The hinge is affixed to a first of the mating doors, and, when the first of the mating doors is in an open position, the hinge and link rotate the door stop into an extended position preventing a second of the mating doors from closing until the first of the mating doors is returned to its closed position moving the door stop into a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: MATTHEW RYAN KENISTON, JIMMY ZAMORA LUCAS
  • Publication number: 20180032027
    Abstract: An assembly according to one example embodiment includes an electrically conductive fastener that includes a head and a shank. The shank extends from an undersurface of the head along a longitudinal axis of the fastener to a distal end of the fastener. A fastening hole is formed by an electrically nonconductive material. At least a portion of the shank of the fastener is installed in the fastening hole. An electrically conductive component is held between the undersurface of the head of the fastener and a surface surrounding an entrance to the fastening hole. An electrically conductive flange extends from the component and contacts an outer portion of the head of the fastener such that an electrical path is formed between the fastener and the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: GREGORY ALAN CAVILL, CHRISTOPHER ELLIOT LINGLE, PHILIP JOHN MALE, DAVID LEE MERRIFIELD
  • Publication number: 20180032028
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit and an apparatus main body. The fixing unit fixes a toner image on a recording medium. To the apparatus main body, the fixing unit is attached. The apparatus main body includes a holding part which has an opening and an elastically deformable contact part. The opening is arranged at an attachment position of the fixing unit. The contact part protrudes from an edge of the opening to an attachment direction of the fixing unit and is bent so as to narrow the opening. The fixing unit includes a held part protruding at a position corresponding to the holding part, and the held part enters the opening while pressing the contact part so that the held part fits into the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiro WATATANI
  • Publication number: 20180032029
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development part, a temperature detection part that detects an apparatus inner temperature, and a control part that corrects a potential difference (?V) between the development voltage and the supply voltage based on a temperature difference (?T). The potential difference is an absolute value determined by follow: ?V=|(the development voltage)?(the supply voltage).| the temperature difference is determined by follow: ?T=(the apparatus inner temperature)?(a glass transition starting temperature). The glass transition starting temperature is determined in consideration of a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve of the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Susumu YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180032030
    Abstract: A backlight unit for a binocular-holographic display device and a holographic display device including the same are provided. The backlight unit includes a light source unit which outputs light, a first beam expansion unit which expands, in a first direction, the light output from the light source unit, a second beam expansion unit which expands, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the light output from the first beam expansion unit, and a beam deflection unit which diffracts light incident on the first beam expansion unit. The holographic display device includes the backlight unit, a field lens, and a spatial light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunhee KIM, German B. DUBININ, Alexander V. MOROZOV, Sunil KIM, Hoon SONG, Jungkwuen AN, Young KIM, Hongseok LEE, Chilsung CHOI
  • Publication number: 20180032031
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for real-time holographic augmented reality image processing. The processing includes the steps of receiving, at a computer device and from an image capturing component, real-time image data; extracting one or more objects or a scene from the real-time image data based on results from real-time adaptive learning and one or more object/scene extraction parameters; extracting one or more human objects from the real-time image data based on results from real-time adaptive human learning and one or more human extraction parameters, receiving augmented reality (AR) input data; and creating holographic AR image data by projecting, for each image, the extracted object or scene, the extracted human object, and the AR input data using a multi-layered mechanism based on projection parameters. The real-time adaptive learning comprises object learning, object recognition, object segmentation, scene learning, scene recognition, scene segmentation, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Eliza Y. Du
  • Publication number: 20180032032
    Abstract: A portable electronic device (wrist device) includes: a case (top case and bottom case); a display unit accommodated in the case; a cover plate closing an opening of the case; and a moisture absorbing member disposed along an outer edge of the display unit between the cover plate and the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuto YANAGISAWA, Junya SHIBUYA, Keitaro HASHIZUME
  • Publication number: 20180032033
    Abstract: Exterior sub-assembly for a timepiece or watch or piece of jewelry, comprising a first component and a second component, arranged for a bayonet fitting between two rims and two wings comprised in the first component and the second component, and able to occupy an assembled and indexed position of the first and second components, this sub-assembly including a third component in the form of a ring, inserted between the first and second components and comprising a ring-like element housed inside a groove of the first or second component, this third component including a rotational stop with respect to the first or second component, and a resilient area with radial relief, cooperating in an angular indexing arrangement with a lug of the first or second component which is free to rotate with respect to the third component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Omega SA
    Inventors: Adrien MOLLIER, Daniel KNUCHEL
  • Publication number: 20180032034
    Abstract: An exterior sub-assembly for a timepiece or watch or piece of jewelry, including a first component and a second component, arranged for a bayonet mount between two rims and two wings comprised in the first component and the second component, and capable of occupying an assembled and indexed position of the first and second components, this sub-assembly including a third ring-shaped component inserted between the first and second components, fixed in rotation with respect to one of these components and including an elastically deformable area, opposing a variable resistance torque to any relative tangential torque between the first and second components, and including a catch cooperating with a relief portion of the component that is not connected to the third component, wherein one particular catch angularly indexes these first and second components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Omega SA
    Inventors: Pierry VUILLE, Daniel Knuchel, Rocco Catanese
  • Publication number: 20180032035
    Abstract: An electronic watch circuit for controlling the operation of a watch having analogue hands comprises an integrated circuit, which contains data values to be transmitted to registers and transmitted to peripheral members of the watch, a quartz crystal providing the clock base frequency to the integrated circuit and a connecting device arranged for enabling the peripheral member controllers, the quartz crystal, and the processor to communicate data relating to the operation of the watch to each other. The electronic circuit further comprises a microcontroller including a processor connected to a programmable memory. The integrated circuit comprises an interface, the microcontroller comprises a further interface, and the microcontroller is connected with the integrated circuit by the interfaces allowing bidirectional exchange of data between the microcontroller and the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Philip John Poole, Markus Erwin Annen, Dan Liu
  • Publication number: 20180032036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a case, in which an electronic module supplying at least one item of information is arranged, wherein said at least one item of information is displayed on a dial by display means, characterised in that the electronic module additionally comprises a communication unit having an optical receiving device, wherein said optical receiving device comprises at least one photoelectric receiver arranged to face a first aperture formed on the dial so that an optical signal can be received by said optical receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Pascal LAGORGETTE
  • Publication number: 20180032037
    Abstract: A portable switching device to remotely operate a high voltage circuit breaker, the portable switching device is locally temporarily electrically connected to the controlling circuit of the high voltage circuit breaker and comprises: a voltage input (206); a voltage output (208, 210) for connecting to the external circuit; a ground input (212); an overvoltage protection circuit (201) connected between the voltage input (206) and the ground input (212); and a switching unit (203, 205) comprising a first switching circuit having an input connected to the voltage input and an output connected to the voltage output, the first switching circuit comprising a relay (2032), a relay contact protection circuit (2034), and an overload protection circuit (2036); wherein the first switching circuit is remotely controllable to switch the external circuit from a first operating state to a second operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Eoin Caldwell
  • Publication number: 20180032038
    Abstract: A system provides feedback driven end-to-end state control of a data model. A data model may be used to model the behavior of a monitored system to predict future events. The system may be used to ensure proper operation of the data model. Contingency data models may be executed when a failure is detected. Further, when the system detects accuracy that is out of tolerance, the system may initiate retraining of the data model being currently used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jaeyoung Christopher Kang, Jurgen Albert Weichenberger, Teresa Sheausan Tung, William R. Gatehouse, Tiffany Cecilia Dharma, Jan Andre Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20180032039
    Abstract: A computer-based method controls a dynamical system in an uncertain environment within a bounded probability of failure. The dynamical system has a state space and a control space. The method includes diffusing a risk constraint corresponding to the bounded probability of failure into a martingale that represents a level of risk tolerance associated with the dynamical system over time. The state space and the control space of the dynamical system are augmented with the martingale to create an augmented model with an augmented state space and an augmented control space. The method may include iteratively constructing one or more Markov Decision Processes (MDPs), with each iterative MDP represents an incrementally refined model of the dynamical system. The method further includes computing a first solution based on the augmented model or, if additional time was available, based on one of the MDP iterations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Vu Anh Huynh, Emilio Frazzoli
  • Publication number: 20180032040
    Abstract: Various embodiments involve dynamically controlling parameters for processing sensor data, including rates at which vehicle sensors are sampled and analyzed, based on the vehicle's speed and direction. Data or sampling rates of sensors useful for collision avoidance and/or path planning may be adjusted to emphasize data from sensors having a field of view encompassing the travel direction, while limiting processing of data from sensors less likely to provide useful data for such purposes. In some embodiments, the rate at which data from a particular sensor is sampled and/or processed may depend on a vehicle's direction and speed of travel as well as the sensor's field of view. Processing demands may be reduced by focusing processing on data from sensors viewing the direction of travel while reducing processing of data from sensors viewing other directions. In some embodiments, sensor data sampling or processing rates may vary based on collision risk probabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Charles Wheeler Sweet, III, Hugo Swart
  • Publication number: 20180032041
    Abstract: An automated control system for a home includes a server, which controls and communicates with at least one client device arranged in rooms of the home to be automated, by means of a first PLC, the at least one client device being connected to the wiring of an electrical junction box of the electrical installation of the home and said client device including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of actuators and a second PLC, where the at least one client device and the server feed each other and intercommunicate via the wiring of the electrical installation of the home, such that the server sends instructions to the client devices in order to control the electrical and electronic devices installed in said home.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Raúl Barbosa Sirgado
  • Publication number: 20180032042
    Abstract: Various embodiments include dynamically controlling one or more parameters for obtaining and/or processing sensor data received from a sensor on a vehicle based on the speed of the vehicle. In some embodiments, parameters for obtaining and/or processing sensor data may be individually tuned (e.g., decreased, increased, or maintained) by leveraging differences in the level of quality, accuracy, confidence and/or other criteria in sensor data associated with particular missions/tasks performed using the sensor data. For example, the sensor data resolution required for collision avoidance may be less than the sensor data resolution required for inspection tasks, while the update rate required for inspection tasks may be less than the update rate required for collision avoidance. Parameters for obtaining and/or processing sensor data may be individually tuned based on the speed of the vehicle and/or the task or mission to improve consumption of power and/or other resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Hyatt Turpin, Stephen Marc Chaves, Daniel Warren Mellinger, III, John Anthony Dougherty, Michael Joshua Shomin, Charles Wheeler Sweet, III, Hugo Swart
  • Publication number: 20180032043
    Abstract: A control system may be configured to learn a heating schedule at a first location according to an automated schedule learning algorithm that processes inputs including user inputs and occupancy sensing inputs and derives schedule-affecting parameters therefrom that are processed to compute the control schedule. The control system may also be configured to determine whether a thermostat has been moved to a new location, and if it is determined that the thermostat has been moved to the new location, then determine one or more parameters associated with the new location and establish a new control schedule for the new location, where zero or more of the schedule-affecting parameters are re-used based on the one or more parameters associated with the new location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Daniel A. Warren, Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers, Helen Vo
  • Publication number: 20180032044
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for providing power from DC output ports, typically smart ports, to electronic devices, not necessarily having smart input DC ports. A power adapter cable is provided comprising a control unit that adapts between a smart output port and a DC input port that may not be compatible with the smart output port. Also provided embodiments of a power adapter hub wherein the power supplied through its output ports is selectively reduced in the case of overload, according to a predefined policy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Zeev SHPIRO
  • Publication number: 20180032045
    Abstract: An energy management device includes: an acquirer that acquires a reduction target period, a reduction target amount, an equipment type, a presence of a special operation schedule, a scheduled time of a special operation, and a status; a generator that generates multiple control patterns on the basis of the information acquired by the acquirer; a selector that selects a control pattern to execute from among the multiple control patterns; and a controller that transmits control information to the equipment to be controlled on the basis of the control pattern to execute. At least one of the multiple control patterns is a control pattern for shifting the scheduled time of a special operation to outside the reduction target period, and reducing the power consumption amount by the reduction target amount or more during the reduction target period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: SHUJI MURAKAMI, AKIRA HASHIGUCHI, YOSHIYASU TAKEUCHI, OSAMU SEKINE, YUKIKO NAGOSHI, TAKASHI KAKIUCHI, TOSHIKI YAGI, MASAHIKO TAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180032046
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a home automation system based on identifying a user location via a Wi-Fi fingerprint are provided. Some methods can include receiving one or more signals from a mobile device in a region monitored by the home automation system, identifying a signal strength of the one or more signals, based on the signal strength of the one or more signals, identifying a Wi-Fi fingerprint to be associated with the mobile device, identifying known coordinates within the region that are associated with the Wi-Fi fingerprint to be a location of the mobile device, and based on the location of the mobile device, identifying one or more actions to be executed by the home automation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: KamalaKannan Balraj
  • Publication number: 20180032047
    Abstract: In a customization method of a motor control device, a customization module for executing a modifying operation of a specific function in a customizing element is formed. A customization module group is configured by a set of customization modules. The user can form a user module for executing an operation related to the specific function in the customizing element. A buffer memory accessible from both the customization module and the user module is provided. The customization module is configured to execute the operation related to the specific function based on data received from the user module via the buffer memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Masaru NISHIZONO, Ken'ichi SUZUKI, Yusuke IMADA, Yuya SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180032048
    Abstract: Method for configuring, commanding and/or controlling a command and/or control interface (IN) of devices of a home automation installation, comprising the following steps: (E1) collecting a set of status queries (E) relating to at least one possible status of at least one home automation device (3), (E2) constituting a selection of at least one status query (SeIE) of the set of status queries (E), (E3) configuring an interface element (IN) on the basis of the selection of the at least one status query (SeIE), in such a way as to trigger transmission of a collection request (RC) comprising the selection, and obtaining, for each status query (E) of the selection, of at least one corresponding status indication (IDC) relating to at least one current status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Frédéric DEVIS, Isabelle DUCHENE, Claudia RETY, Michael DANIS
  • Publication number: 20180032049
    Abstract: A robot control device includes a processor that is configured to execute computer-executable instruction so as to control a robot that is capable of displacing a control target of a robot in a plurality of directions, wherein the processor is configured to cause the robot to perform displacement actuation of displacing the control target in a direction different from a direction of the external force among the plurality of directions in a case where a force detector detects external force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro INAZUMI
  • Publication number: 20180032050
    Abstract: A programmable controller sets access rules relating to permission or denial of access to a first data storage unit during execution of a second sequence program. In addition, a first sequence program is executed while accessing only the first data storage unit, whereas the second sequence program is executed while accessing the first data storage unit and a second data storage unit in accordance with the set access rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Yukihiro HIRAISHI
  • Publication number: 20180032051
    Abstract: A numerical controller includes: a program analyzing unit to obtain a first movement end point position of the tool; a direction calculating unit to calculate a synthetic movement direction that maximizes a synthetic velocity, based on an upper limit movement velocity of the tool in each of the two axis directions; an end point position calculating unit to calculate an intersection position of a circle and the synthetic movement direction as a second movement end point position, wherein the circle has as a radius a distance from a rotation center position of the table to the first movement end point position; a rotation angle calculating unit to calculate a rotation angle of the table based on the first movement end point position and the second movement end point position; and a rotation control unit to control rotation of the table based on the rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Sekimoto, Kazuo Sato, Hideaki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20180032052
    Abstract: A method for controlling the motor of a tool magazine that rotates around a horizontal rotation axis is configured so that: at least two indexing positions for the tool magazine are determined; the load torque acting on the tool magazine when stopped at said indexing positions is measured; an unbalance torque, which is the load torque when stopped at the indexing position at which the load torque when stopped is maximal, is calculated from multiple load torques when stopped; and the servo motor for the tool magazine is controlled on the basis of the unbalance torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: MAKINO MILLING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari ISHII, Masashi NAGAYA
  • Publication number: 20180032053
    Abstract: A numerical controller includes: a program analyzing unit to obtain an end point position of a tool; a first angle calculating unit to calculate an inclination angle of a synthetic feeding direction that maximizes a synthetic torque, based on an upper limit movement torque of the tool in each of the two axis directions; a second angle calculating unit to calculate an inclination angle of a cutting feed direction of the tool based on a start point position and the end point position of the tool; a rotation angle calculating unit to calculate a difference between the inclination angle of the synthetic feeding direction and the inclination angle of the cutting feed direction as a rotation angle of a table; and a servo motor control unit to control rotation of the table based on the rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Sekimoto, Kazuo Sato, Hideaki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20180032054
    Abstract: A machining status display apparatus includes an achievement degree data storage storing achievement degree data relating to a degree of achievement of each of predetermined machining-related evaluation items within a range determined by attainable maximum and minimum values of the evaluation item and storing the degrees of achievement of the evaluation items obtained under each of predetermined sets of machining conditions in association with the set of machining conditions, a display part displaying the degrees of achievement of the evaluation items corresponding to a selected set of machining conditions by referring to the data in the achievement degree data storage, and an input part inputting a selection signal for selecting a set of machining conditions. The display part displays the degrees of achievement of the evaluation items obtained under the set of machining conditions corresponding to the selection signal by referring to the data in the achievement degree data storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: DMG MORI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro Kumagai, Shizuo Nishikawa, Koji Iiyama, Hiroki Nakao
  • Publication number: 20180032055
    Abstract: A transmission module for a machine control, is designed to process an input program code of a control program, and based thereon, to generate a uniform intermediate code having work instructions for execution by the machine control. The input program code comprises a first program code component and a second program code component, where the first program code component is written in a first programming language and the second program code component is written in a second programming language. The work instructions of the intermediate code comprise a first work instruction and a second work instruction, where the first work instruction is generated on the basis of the first program code component and the second work instruction is generated on the basis of the second program code component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Klaus Bernzen, Ralph Dreesen
  • Publication number: 20180032056
    Abstract: A method of identifying a multi-component cutting tool assembly to a user includes the steps of: receiving an indication from the user of a desired characteristic of at least one of the cutting tool assembly or of a workpiece to be machined, determining at least a portion of a first set of characteristics associated with a first component of the plurality of tool components corresponds to the desired characteristic, determining at least a portion of a second set of characteristics associated with a second component of the plurality of tool components corresponds to a portion of the first set of characteristics and responsive thereto grouping the first component and the second component together to form a combination and identifying the combination to the user as the cutting tool assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Mitchell D. Benko, Colin John Deem, Pradeep Hemmanur, Fred Patterson, Karen Gallentine
  • Publication number: 20180032057
    Abstract: A blank shape determining method includes: a process of making a forming analysis of forming a reference blank into a reference formed product and a acquiring sheet thickness distribution and a plastic strain distribution; a process of acquiring a forming failure evaluation index for the reference blank; a process of estimating a region, which includes an end edge portion at which the forming failure evaluation index exceeds a predetermined threshold, within the reference blank as a forming failure region; a process of generating a plurality of corrected blanks; a process of making a forming analysis of forming the corrected blanks into corrected formed products and acquiring a sheet thickness distribution and a plastic strain distribution; a process of acquiring the forming failure evaluation index for the corrected formed product; and a process of determining a shape of the corrected blank having a smallest maximum value of the forming failure evaluation index as a shape of a blank provided for press formin
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru YONEMURA, Tohru YOSHIDA, Jun NITTA, Toshiyuki NIWA
  • Publication number: 20180032058
    Abstract: A CAD/CAM-CNC integrated system, configured with devices related to processes from design of a product to machining and including CAD, CAM and a CNC machine tool, has a shared database that stores information collected during machining or a change made to a machining command by an operator in association with structured information of the machining command. The information collected from a machining site is fed back to the CAM via the shared database, and the fed back information is analyzed to update the machining technique information, thereby making it easy to make use of the know-how accumulated in the machining site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Tooru MIZUNO, Masako SUDOU, Soichiro IDE, Osamu HANAOKA, Yousuke OOTOMO
  • Publication number: 20180032059
    Abstract: The application refers to a method for generating three-dimensional object models for an additive manufacturing process in a layer-by-layer manner, e.g. 3D-printing, and to generating control data for use by the print apparatus. The object models are generated from a geometric description and from object generation data, which comprise the print apparatus and attributes such as a halftone scheme, a print apparatus setting, an object structure and a print material coverage representation. The method is implemented in the form of a computer software product and generates data specific for each identifies printing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Jan Morovic, Peter Morovic, Scott White, Juan Manuel Garcia Reyero Vinas
  • Publication number: 20180032060
    Abstract: An example technique for creating a voxel representation of a three dimensional (3-D) object can include obtaining a shape specification of a 3-D object and a number of 3-D objectives. The example technique for creating a voxel representation of the 3-D object can also include creating a voxel representation of the 3-D object by assigning a material type from a number of material types to each voxel of the voxel representation that defines the 3-D object. The example technique creating a voxel representation of a 3-D object can also include evaluating the voxel representation to determine whether the number of objectives are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Jun Zeng, Sebastia Cortes, Scott A. White
  • Publication number: 20180032061
    Abstract: This method for controlling an industrial robot comprising a moving robot arm provided with at least one electric motor suitable for moving this robot arm includes the following steps: a) the execution (1000), by a central unit, of a control program of the robot arm and, in response, the calculation and sending of position instructions of the robot arm; b) generation (1004) of supply voltages of said motor by an axis controller as a function of the calculated position instructions, implementing cascading regulators including at least one entry point receiving an input signal; c) controlling (1006) said motor with the generated supply voltages. During step b), a sound excitation signal is superimposed with the input signal of one of the regulators to form a composite signal, the supply voltages being generated as a function of the composite signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Etienne ALLARDICE, Stephane DELOR
  • Publication number: 20180032062
    Abstract: A cluster tool assembly includes a vacuum transfer module, a process module having a first side connected to the vacuum transfer module. An isolation valve having a first side and a second side, the first side of the isolation valve coupled to a second side of the process module. A replacement station is coupled to the second side of the isolation valve. The replacement station includes an exchange handler and a part buffer. The part buffer includes a plurality of compartments to hold new or used consumable parts. The process module includes a lift mechanism to enable placement of a consumable part installed in the process module to a raised position. The raised position provides access to the exchange handler to enable removal of the consumable part from the process module and store in a compartment of the part buffer. The exchange handler of the replacement station is configured to provide a replacement for the consumable part from the part buffer back to the process module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: David D. Trussell, Alan J. Miller, John Daugherty, Alex Paterson
  • Publication number: 20180032063
    Abstract: A machine tool controlled by a numerical controller includes a feed handle for driving a drive-shaft for moving a tool and a workpiece relatively by using a mechanical mechanism and a motor for driving the drive shaft. The numerical controller generates an automatic feed command for driving the motor when a specific handle operation performed on the feed handle is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: KATSUHIRO ENDOU
  • Publication number: 20180032064
    Abstract: A data transmission and control device in a multi-node sensor network, comprising a processing control module (110). The processing control module (110) comprises an instruction processing unit, a data processing unit, at least one group of first-type interfaces (J101-J10n), at least one group of second-type interfaces (J201-J20n), one group of fifth-type interfaces (J500) and one group of sixth-type interfaces (J600). The fifth-type interfaces (J500) have communication connections with an external control device (120). The first-type interfaces (J101-J10n) respectively have communication connections with a sensor (140) so as to cooperate with the instruction processing unit to configure and query a parameter of the sensor (140), and to upgrade firmware and report feedback information of the sensor (140) and the processing control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: THE WUHAN DIGITAL PET CO., LTD
    Inventor: Lei FANG
  • Publication number: 20180032065
    Abstract: Described herein are, among others, systems and methods associated with electrical test planning in a semiconductor manufacturing context. Within an electrical test planning system in the semiconductor industry, various models that allow a better utilization of installed capacity were developed. The workflow in the plant and the information flow in the electrical test planning area were analyzed to reduce or minimize setup times on the equipment. A paradigm shift is disclosed, with which planning is done at the product family level instead of at the level of the part number, starting with priority products required by the market.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Eddy Martin Delgado Arana
  • Publication number: 20180032066
    Abstract: A production monitoring system has a production monitoring server, a network communication system, production monitoring data store, and production monitoring module. The system is configured to receive, from multiple construction locations, information relating to weld locations, welding parameters, and inspection status for individual welds. Welding information is stored within data stores and is retrieved on request to generate inspection reports containing weld locations, welding parameters, and inspection status for individual welds. Inspection reports can be delivered remotely to a plurality of electronic devices and may contain data from x-ray or ultrasound weld inspections. Weld location may be generated by GPS or by one or more location sensors. The system can receive updated inspection information and update the corresponding information in the data store. Inspection reports can incorporate welding information within a two-dimensional map or three-dimensional model of a construction location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: EDWARD A. ENYEDY, Todd Kooken
  • Publication number: 20180032067
    Abstract: A numerical controller capable of suppressing a load on monitoring processing by monitoring only necessary items according to the operation state of a machine tool or the like includes a monitoring pattern storage unit loaded with a monitoring pattern defined for each operation state of the device to be monitored, a determination unit configured to determine the operation state of the device to be monitored, a monitoring pattern selection unit configured to acquire the monitoring pattern corresponding to the determined operation state from the monitoring pattern storage unit and create a monitoring list based on the acquired monitoring pattern, and a monitoring unit configured to monitor the device to be monitored based on the monitoring list and acquire the monitoring data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouji Maeda
  • Publication number: 20180032068
    Abstract: A system for inspecting a machine including a server with a data storage device accessible by client devices is disclosed. The system can include a mobile inspection tool operatively coupled to the server via a communication network. The mobile inspection tool is operable to receive a request to perform an inspection of a machine unit, provide a graphical user interface to guide a user in performing the inspection, receive an identification of the machine unit, and provide questions to the user, and receive answers from the user. The answers can be related to a defect in the machine unit. The mobile inspection tool can be further operable to acquire measurement input, such as a defect value measured by a digital measurement tool, and cause the server to store the answers and the measurement input in the data storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher D. Higgins, Michael Tishenkel
  • Publication number: 20180032069
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an intelligent online fault detection and early warning method for a heating and ventilation machine room. A data processing center and a data collection center are established, and various signal collection units are respectively arranged in each device part of a pipeline system and an electrical system of the heating and ventilation machine room; the data collection center collects signals collected by the signal collection unit in each device part and transmits the signals to the data processing center; and the data processing center processes the signal collected by each signal collection unit through a program and performs fault judgment and early warning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Chunlei Ren
  • Publication number: 20180032070
    Abstract: A method for providing at least one specific vehicle state of a vehicle. The method includes acquiring basic parameters of the vehicle from at least one data source; comparing the acquired basic parameters with a comparison list; and providing a specific vehicle state for the acquired basic parameters based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Gerald Zoppelt, Sven Conradi, Ruediger Roppel, Markus Koch
  • Publication number: 20180032071
    Abstract: An adaptive situational awareness, decision support, and automated response system operable to receive sensor data or situational awareness data for a region of interest along or in advance of a path of travel of a vehicle obtained from at least a mobile reconnaissance sensor platform and select/execute one or more response programming or plans to operate one or more vehicle equipment items, e.g., a remote interaction, control or jamming system, from a stored database, manual inputs, or a distributive network based on matching of plans/programs with at least one of the sensor outputs or situational awareness data is provided. Apparatus and methods are also provided that enable an exemplary system to obtain data associated with an area surrounding the vehicle and provide this data to other system, subsystems, and personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Garry Wieneke
  • Publication number: 20180032072
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product of controlling driver interaction with an autonomous vehicle (AV) system for a vehicle are provided. In an embodiment, a signal indicating a present state of the driver is received. A signal indicating a past state of the driver is received. A present effectiveness of the driver is determined based on the received signals. A target level of engagement of the driver with the AV system is determined based on the present effectiveness of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Brett Hoye