Patents Issued in January 7, 2020
  • Patent number: 10527382
    Abstract: Embodiments include a riser assembly for a bow. The riser assembly can include a first non-planar riser plate; and a second non-planar riser plate that is coupled to the first non-planar riser plate with one or more connectors. The first non-planar riser plate and the second non-planar riser plate define a gap there between. A width of the gap extending from the first non-planar riser plate to the second non-planar riser plate. The width of the gap varies in size such that the width of the gap at a central location of the gap is larger or smaller than the width of the gap at a location distal to the central location. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: P.T. Archery LLC
    Inventor: Paul Trpkovski
  • Patent number: 10527383
    Abstract: Crossbow systems are provided a firing grip mounting shaped and adapted for use with one of a first firing grip adapter having a firing grip adapter mounting configured to mount to the firing grip adapter mounting and a second firing grip adapter having a second grip adapter mounting configured to mount to the firing grip adapter mounting and a foregrip mounting between the firing grip and the bow and having a foregrip mounting shaped and adapted for use with one of a first foregrip adapter having a first foregrip adapter mount configured to mount to the foregrip mounting and a second foregrip grip adapter having a second foregrip adapter mount configured to mount to the foregrip mounting. A first functional paradigm is enabled by the first firing grip and first foregrip and second functional paradigm is enabled by the second firing grip and the second foregrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Crosman Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew S. Fulton
  • Patent number: 10527384
    Abstract: An electromagnetic launcher with a curved or spiral-shaped, open-ended guideway and conductors for launching a projectile. The projectile, movably retained on or within the guideway, is accelerated along the guideway using electromagnetic forces until it reaches an end of the guideway, then the projectile is launched in a desired direction. The direction of the launch of the projectile is determined by orienting the guideway in the desired direction using an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Hartman, Erik Timpson
  • Patent number: 10527385
    Abstract: A rapidly adjustable receiver extension preferably includes a modified receiver extension and a ramped indexing plate. The modified receiver extension includes an indexing slot machined in a standard receiver extension to receive the ramped indexing plate. The ramped indexing plate is retained in the indexing slot with any suitable retention method. The ramped indexing plate preferably includes a plurality of inclined surfaces with a flat indexing slot disposed between two adjacent inclined surfaces. A length of the flat indexing slot is slightly longer than a diameter of a locking pin. A threaded tap is formed in each inclined surface for receiving a set screw or the like as a stop. One end of the rapidly adjustable receiver extension is attached to a rifle and an opposing end of the modified receiver extension is retained in a butt stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Theodore R. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10527386
    Abstract: Provided is a handguard attachment mechanism for use with a firearm using a standard AR-pattern barrel nut having a substantially cylindrical portion with an axial length and an enlarged diameter radial flange at a forward end. The handguard includes a substantially tubular handguard with proximal and distal ends. The proximal end includes a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end toward, but not to, the distal end. A pair of clamping lugs, one positioned on each side of the slot adjacent the proximal end, have means for adjustably drawing the clamping lugs together to narrow at least a portion of the longitudinal slot. A circumferentially incomplete barrel nut bushing is configured to fit on the barrel nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Faxon Firearms, LLC
    Inventor: Robert T. Faxon
  • Patent number: 10527387
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing, repositioning, and/or removing a foregrip are disclosed, including providing a foregrip comprising: a rail base mount; a grip assembly comprising: a grip body; one or more guide pins; a plunger; and a locking spring; and a separating spring disposed within the grip body and partially disposed within a portion of the rail base mount; wherein the grip assembly is rotatably coupled to the rail base mount in either an unlocked foregrip state or a locked foregrip state; wherein in the locked foregrip state, a portion of the plunger protrudes into a slot of the rail base mount to secure the foregrip to the sectional rail; and wherein in the unlocked foregrip state; the plunger is retracted from the slot to permit the installation, repositioning, or removal of the foregrip from the sectional rail. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Olive Arrow, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Oliva Chavez, Bradley Arnold
  • Patent number: 10527388
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed here is a sling retention device for an object such as a gun worn over a body vest or ballistic vest. The device allows for the user to wear a sling across their body, while preventing the sling from making contact with the user's neck. The device consists of a base, an articulating hook, a spring and an attachment strap. The base is a rigid rectangle that lies flat on the user's shoulder and is attached to the vest by a strap that secures the device. The articulating hook is positioned with the open end facing away from the user's neck, and captures the sling between the hook and the base. When the sling is placed in the device, the device prevents the sling from making contact with the user's neck or head thereby reducing the discomfort to the user. The spring is designed to permit release of the articulating hook and allow rapid removal of the sling from the user's shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Mike Son
  • Patent number: 10527389
    Abstract: A photoluminescent capsule illuminator for a sighting device. The photoluminescent illuminator includes an elongated phosphor housing having sidewalls and a base. The photoluminescent illuminator includes phosphors in a granular form disposed inside the phosphor housing. The photoluminescent illuminator includes a cap sealing the phosphors in the phosphor housing. The phosphor housing is disposed in relation to a body of the sighting device such that photoluminescent light emitted from the phosphors exits the phosphor housing and identifies a location of a sight on the sighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Defense Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard James Martin, Gregory Louis Bender, Thomas Wells Brignall, Jr., Henry John Richert
  • Patent number: 10527390
    Abstract: A shooting simulation system and method. The system includes a plurality of firearms. Each firearm is associated with a separate soldier having a man-worn computer, a location device for determining a location of the soldier, an optical system for capturing an image where the captured image provides information on a trajectory of a virtual bullet fired from a shooting firearm, and an orientation device for obtaining the orientation of the firearm when shooting the firearm. The optical system is aligned with a sight of the shooting firearm and captures the image when shooting the firearm. The system also includes a shooter/target location resolution module for identifying a valid target and a target image recognition module for determining an impact location where a virtual bullet from the shooting firearm would impact within the captured image and determining if an identified target from the captured image is a hit or a miss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: George Carter
  • Patent number: 10527391
    Abstract: An armor system includes an armor plate, and an appliqué affixed to an exterior of the armor plate, wherein the appliqué has a density increasing in a direction towards the armor plate and configured to minimize reflection of a blast wave from the armor plate. The coupling system comprises a binder material that surrounds filler particles configured to create an impedance gradient parallel to the impulse propagation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Alex E. Moser, David L. Knies, Kenneth S. Grabowski
  • Patent number: 10527392
    Abstract: The exemplary arrangement relates to a target comprising at least one dummy depicting at least one part of the human body. According to the exemplary arrangement it is provided, that the dummy depicting at least one part of the human body comprises a plurality of sensors, which communicate with a sensor data evaluating apparatus (140) for the registration of the sensors. The sensor data evaluating apparatus determines, by mathematical correlation of points in time (t1, t2, t3) corresponding to points of maximum pressure (Pmax1, Pmax2, Pmax3) from sensor data of the plurality of sensors the point of entry () and preferentially the trajectory of a projectile penetrating the dummy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TACTICAL TRIM E.K.
    Inventors: Marco Herrmann, Martin Keil, Sebastian Stutte
  • Patent number: 10527393
    Abstract: A medium caliber high kinetic energy round with tracer and self-destruct mechanism having an optimized kinetic energy projectile incorporating a fully hardened projectile body and an explosive self-destruct mechanism for a medium caliber high rate of fire round. The medium caliber high kinetic energy ammunition round incorporates a multiple piece sub-projectile that integrates a tracer and high explosive self-destruct mechanism to neutralize the penetrator during self-destruct and minimize collateral damage during firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Nicole Sapp, Jeffrey Darbig, Jonathan Escobar
  • Patent number: 10527394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a kinetic and/or incapacitating projectile having high energy absorption including: a body (1) made up of at least one portion made of cellular material, foam or open or closed microstructures; a head, made of a resilient polymer material; at least one layer (3) which makes it possible to link the assembly made up of the body (1), the head (2) and optionally a rear portion by annular constriction, said layer being made of a thin material, the thickness of which is less than five hundredths of the diameter of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SECURINOV SA
    Inventor: Cyrille Raquin
  • Patent number: 10527395
    Abstract: A detonator for use in a detonating system, which detonator includes discriminating and validating arrangements which sense and validate at least one characteristic of at least one parameter produced by at least one of a light, acoustic, vibratory, magnetic or electrical signal event, and an electronic timer which executes a timing interval in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Albertus Abraham Labuschagne, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Craig Charles Schlenter, Elmar Lennox Muller
  • Patent number: 10527396
    Abstract: A device for destroying dangerous objects such as shells, munitions or other charges that are to be destroyed by detonating them, which device includes a packaging produced from a flat blank folded on itself along three folds, four folds or more in order to form at least three sides and two half, four sides or four sides and a flap for closing the packaging which is produced in the form of a tubular package of polygonal and notably square or rectangular cross section once the flat blank has been folded up, with explosive charges placed on the sides that are to be folded, the flat blank being of dimensions suited to being able to house, in the middle of the tubular package in contact with the explosive charges, one or more of the dangerous objects that are to be destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ARIANEGROUP SAS
    Inventor: Gérald Raymond
  • Patent number: 10527397
    Abstract: A first position measurement device (“FPMD”) is configured to control and operate both standalone and combined device operating modes. During the combined device operating mode, the FPMD inputs second-device measurement sample outputs provided by a second position measurement device (“SPMD”) via an inter-device communication connection. The FPMD and the SPMD are held in a fixed relationship in a workpiece measurement arrangement (e.g., with transverse measuring axes). Concurrent measurement data sets are determined as including at least a first-device measurement sample output from the FPMD and a second-device measurement sample output from the SPMD corresponding to concurrent first-device and second-device sample periods. Each concurrent measurement data set is associated with a corresponding measurement sample region on the workpiece. A combined measurement data output (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Nahum
  • Patent number: 10527398
    Abstract: A tag assembly for measuring a characteristic of a tree includes a band and a shield strip. The band is configured to encircle the tree and has a plurality of tags spaced apart along the band. The shield strip extends along the band to thereby shield a number of tags in the plurality of tags such that the plurality of tags includes shielded tags and unshielded tags. The shield strip prevents the shielded tags from being read or emitting signals and while the unshielded tags can be read or emit signals such that the characteristic of the tree can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Arbre Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Meyers, Matthieu Vollmer, Michael J. Riebel, Milton J. Riebel
  • Patent number: 10527399
    Abstract: A scanning unit adapted for scanning a measuring graduation of a scale for purposes of position measurement in a measurement direction includes a housing having a detector configured to generate position-dependent scanning signals. An electrical lead passes out through the housing in the measurement direction. A rotatable member, in which the electrical lead is routed, has a first section extending in the measurement direction and a second section extending in a second direction at an angle relative to the measurement direction. The rotatable member is rotatably mounted on the housing about an axis of rotation extending in the measurement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Riesemann, Wolfgang Pucher, Stefan Kuehnhauser
  • Patent number: 10527400
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid mobile entity for a device for interfacing a plurality of mobile entities with a computer system, the hybrid mobile entity including at least one location module including: a unit for emitting an electromagnetic signal making it possible to determine the position of the location module; and a unit for receiving an activation signal and, according to at least one item of information of the activation signal, activating the unit for emitting an electromagnetic signal. The hybrid mobile entity further including: an inertial measurement unit rigidly joined to the location module; and a unit for communication with the device, for transmitting data relative to a movement of the inertial measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: STARBREEZE PARIS
    Inventors: Valentin Lefevre, Laurent Chabin, Christophe Duteil
  • Patent number: 10527401
    Abstract: A sensor for identifying a mechanical deformation of a housing of a charging column configured to charge an electrical energy store of an electrically driven vehicle. The sensor includes an elongated arm having a first end portion arranged in the longitudinal orientation and a second end portion opposite the first end portion in the longitudinal orientation. The arm is connected at its first end portion to a base of the charging column and runs in the longitudinal orientation approximately parallel to a part of the charging column that is sensitive to deformations of the housing, in particular to a side wall of the housing. An electrical probe element is arranged on the second end portion of the arm. An activation element is connected to the part of the charging column that is sensitive to deformations of the housing and is configured to activate the electrical probe element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Götz, David Köhler, Steve Zander, Jari Rönfanz, Volker Reber, Michael Kiefer
  • Patent number: 10527402
    Abstract: Apparatus for magnetically sensing, computing, and displaying cable distance, as well as computing and displaying other user-selectable information in a pipe inspection system or other system is disclosed. Two or more permanent magnets may be mounted in spaced apart fashion, on either a frame or a rotatable member supported on the frame for rotation about an axis. A magnetic sensor may be mounted on the other one of the rotatable member or frame on which the magnets are not mounted, so that either the magnets rotate around the magnetic sensor or the magnetic sensor rotates between the permanent magnets. The magnetic sensor may generate output signals representing changes in at least two axes in a composite magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Jan Soukup, Jeffrey A. Prsha, Ray Merewether
  • Patent number: 10527403
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus (10) for determining a shape of an optical surface. An illumination module (16) produces an illumination wave (34), an interferometer (18) splits the wave into a test wave (50), which is directed onto the optical surface, and a reference wave (52). The relative tilt between the waves produces a multi-fringe interference pattern (66) in a detection plane (62) of the interferometer when the waves are superposed. A pupil plane (28) of the illumination module is arranged in a Fourier plane of the detection plane and the illumination module is configured to produce the illumination wave so that the intensity distribution thereof in the pupil plane includes at least one spatially isolated and contiguous surface region (38) such that a rectangle (74) with the smallest possible area fitted to the surface region or the totality of surface regions has an aspect ratio of at least 1.5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventor: Jochen Hetzler
  • Patent number: 10527404
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for ascertaining a focus image distance of an optical sensor, which is provided with a lens, of a coordinate-measuring machine onto a workpiece to be measured, wherein the optical sensor and the workpiece are movable relative to one another in a Z direction such that a distance in the Z direction between the workpiece and the optical sensor is variable. The present invention furthermore relates to a corresponding coordinate-measuring machine and to a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Fiekers
  • Patent number: 10527405
    Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for sensing a position of two relatively movable objects includes a scale connected to one object and having a measuring graduation. A scanning unit is disposed on the other object and has optical elements. An arrangement and design of the optical elements of the scanning unit results in a scanning beam path in which split and subsequently interfered sub-beams propagate mirror-symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry and either impinge on and/or are reflected back from the scale in a V-shape. The plane of symmetry is tilted by a defined tilt angle relative to the scale about an axis of rotation that is oriented parallel to a surface of the scale and extends perpendicular to the graduation direction. The sub-beams that are interfered are deflected at the measuring graduation into symmetric diffraction orders. The sub-beams travel identical optical path lengths between splitting and recombination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Karsten Saendig
  • Patent number: 10527406
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for determining the loss on ignition of at least part of an iron and steel product during passage through a furnace upstream of a descaler. The device includes electromagnetic sensors, with at least one arranged to scan the product's lower surface near the furnace outlet, the sensor oriented so the scanning plane of the electromagnetic radiation from the sensor is perpendicular to a direction of movement; a set of at least two electromagnetic sensors upstream of the descaler, oriented so their scanning planes are substantially on a single plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the at least part of the product; and at least two electromagnetic sensors downstream of the descaler, oriented so their scanning planes are substantially on a single plane perpendicular to the product's movement direction. The sensors determine the height of the product upstream and downstream of the descaler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FIVES STEIN
    Inventors: Yuen Yee Chan, Jean-Luc Magalhaes
  • Patent number: 10527407
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for forming films having uniformity of thickness on substrates. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be used to measure thickness or other properties of films being deposited on a substrate without knowing beforehand the surface properties of the substrate. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be used to measure thickness or other properties of a plurality of layers being formed. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in measuring thickness of vertical memory stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Khokan C. Paul, Edward Budiarto, Todd Egan, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani, Jeongmin Lee, Dale R. Du Bois, Terrance Y. Lee
  • Patent number: 10527408
    Abstract: There is provided a misalignment detecting device being capable of detecting and correcting distortion of a spoked wheel with a simple configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HOZAN TOOL INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomi Hara, Hiroshi Udagawa, Rikio Kurakane, Saburo Shimokawa, Masahiro Okuno
  • Patent number: 10527409
    Abstract: An arithmetic device includes an imaging section adapted to take an image of the measurement object, a relative phase calculation section adapted to calculate a relative phase, and a projection control section adapted to perform a first pattern projection and a second pattern projection, and the relative phase calculation section adapted to obtain a grayscale image of a measurement object on which light is projected due to the first pattern projection and a grayscale image of the measurement object on which light is projected due to the second pattern projection from the imaging section to calculate the relative phase using the grayscale images obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taisuke Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10527410
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a shape measurement apparatus that is capable of detecting minute roughness irregularity at high speed across the entire width on the entire surface of a measurement object. [Solution] Provided is a shape measurement apparatus including: a light source configured to irradiate a surface of a moving strip-shaped body with linear light diagonally from an upstream side in a movement direction of the strip-shaped body; a screen configured such that reflected light of the linear light on the surface of the strip-shaped body is projected on the screen; an imaging unit configured to image the reflected light of the linear light projected on the screen; and an arithmetic processing unit configured to acquire surface roughness distribution of the strip-shaped body on the basis of width distribution of a light strip of the reflected light of the linear light projected on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio Akagi, Yusuke Konno, Atsuhiro Hibi, Nobuhiro Furuya, Takayuki Sonoda, Akihito Nakazaki
  • Patent number: 10527411
    Abstract: An electro-magnetic brake which is switched between an operative braking position and an inoperative position by transient pulses of current. It is held passively in the operative and inoperative positions with little or no current. This prevents the generation of heat, which would affect the accuracy of measurements where the brake is used in dimensional measuring equipment. In one form, permanent and semi-permanent magnets are arranged in parallel, and the magnetic polarity of the arrangement is flipped by transient current pulses in a surrounding coil. A capacitor may provide a reservoir of current to activate the brake in the event of a power supply failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Michael John Wooldridge, Jack Colebrooke, Kevin Cullivan
  • Patent number: 10527412
    Abstract: Measurement approaches and data analysis methods are disclosed for combining 3D topographic data with spatially-registered gas concentration data to increase the efficiency of gas monitoring and leak detection tasks. Here, the metric for efficiency is defined as reducing the measurement time required to achieve the detection, or non-detection, of a gas leak with a desired confidence level. Methods are presented for localizing and quantifying detected gas leaks. Particular attention is paid to the combination of 3D spatial data with path-integrated gas concentration measurements acquired using remote gas sensing technologies, as this data can be used to determine the path-averaged gas concentration between the sensor and points in the measurement scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Bridger Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Thorpe, Aaron Kreitinger, Stephen Crouch
  • Patent number: 10527413
    Abstract: An outside recognition device according to the present invention has an object to perform distance measurement of an obstacle detected with a surrounding monitoring camera at a low cost. The outside recognition device according to the present invention has a stereo camera that measures a distance in front of the vehicle, a surrounding monitoring camera that photographs a surrounding area of the vehicle, a three-dimensional measuring unit that measures a photographing range of the surrounding monitoring camera with the stereo camera by means for rotating the stereo camera, and generates three-dimensional information from the measurement result, a distance correction information generating unit that generates distance correction information corresponding to a photographing direction of surrounding monitoring camera from the three-dimensional information, and a distance measuring unit that measures a position of the obstacle detected with a surrounding monitoring camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Matsuo, Noriyasu Hasejima, Kenichirou Kurata
  • Patent number: 10527414
    Abstract: The technology relates to a system and method for monitoring an environment. The method comprises receiving first and second sets of data from a plurality of mobile units, wherein the first set of data is associated with a first temporal indicator, the second set of data is associated with a second temporal indicator and each mobile unit comprises: a position determining device configured to generate position data associated with a position of the mobile unit within the environment, and a laser scanning device configured to generate scan data based on a scan of at least part of the environment; determining a first parameter associated with the first set of data; determining a second parameter corresponding to the first parameter and associated with the second set of data; and determining a difference between the first and second parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: 3D LASER MAPPING LIMITED
    Inventor: Graham Hunter
  • Patent number: 10527415
    Abstract: A level including a rotating level vial is provided. The level includes a locking mechanism that utilizes an actuator that engages a brake to lock the rotating vial into the desired position. The locking mechanism may include a spring element that is compressed by the actuator during locking, and the spring element in turn pushes against the brake facilitating control of the normal force that the brake applies to the vial surround of the rotating vial. The rotating level vial may engage the level body such that the rotating level vial is permitted to rotate 360 degrees in both the clockwise and counter clockwise directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Burge, Bryant Deakins, Michael Wyatt
  • Patent number: 10527416
    Abstract: A method for detecting a displacement of a mobile platform includes obtaining a first frame and a second frame using an imaging device associated with the mobile platform and determining the displacement of the mobile platform based upon the first frame and the second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Honghui Zhang
  • Patent number: 10527417
    Abstract: A high-definition map system receives sensor data from vehicles travelling along routes and combines the data to generate a high definition map for use in driving vehicles, for example, for guiding autonomous vehicles. A pose graph is built from the collected data, each pose representing location and orientation of a vehicle. The pose graph is optimized to minimize constraints between poses. Points associated with surface are assigned a confidence measure determined using a measure of hardness/softness of the surface. A machine-learning-based result filter detects bad alignment results and prevents them from being entered in the subsequent global pose optimization. The alignment framework is parallelizable for execution using a parallel/distributed architecture. Alignment hot spots are detected for further verification and improvement. The system supports incremental updates, thereby allowing refinements of subgraphs for incrementally improving the high-definition map for keeping it up to date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: DeepMap, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen Chen, Greg Coombe
  • Patent number: 10527418
    Abstract: This invention relates to a rotatable device having two arms rotatably connected about a hollow hub wherein the arms include a cable extending through a passageway and the hub so as to minimize bending of the cables about each other when the arms are in a compact position. In particular this invention relates to a foldable GPS compass and a method relating thereto to present a compact folded device that is easier to install with minimal bending of the cables. The invention also discloses a detent disposed within the hub for accurate selective placement of the arms and method relating thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventors: Bruce Kenneth Clifford, Mark Frischman, Michael Robb Main
  • Patent number: 10527419
    Abstract: A compact Inertial Wave Angle Gyroscope (IWAG) is operated using a phase lock loop to track resonator phase and a baseband regulator to null quadrature. The resonator velocity or its components computed from precession angle are first determined at baseband and then applied to gain matrices in order to generate the feedback control forces for self-precession, cancellation of damping and compensation of anisodamping. The inertial rotation input is determined from the measured total precession angle by removing the computed or calibrated self-precession angle. The resonator energy can be regulated to a fixed magnitude and the baseband feedback force for self-precession at a fixed rate determined from components computed from precession angle such that the total force is in phase with baseband velocity but has fixed magnitude. The IWAG inertial rotation input can be determined from the measured total precession rate by removing the computed self-precession rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: Inertialwave, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Anthony Dorian Challoner, Parsa Taheri-Tehrani, David Horsley
  • Patent number: 10527420
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes at least one proof mass, the at least one proof mass is capable of moving to contact at least one target structure. The MEMS device further includes at least one elastic bump stop coupled to the proof mass and situated at a first distance from the target structure. The MEMS device additionally includes at least one secondary bump stop situated at a second distance from the target structure, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, and further wherein the at least one elastic bump stop moves to reduce the first distance when a shock is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Qiu, Joseph Seeger
  • Patent number: 10527421
    Abstract: Embodiments for modifying a spring mass configuration are disclosed that minimize the effects of unwanted nonlinear motion on a MEMS sensor. The modifications include any or any combination of providing a rigid element between rotating structures of the spring mass configuration, tuning a spring system between the rotating structures and coupling an electrical cancellation system to the rotating structures. In so doing unwanted nonlinear motion such as unwanted 2nd harmonic motion is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Ozan Anac, Joseph Seeger
  • Patent number: 10527422
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a micro three-dimensional shell resonator gyroscope, a method for fabricating a micro shell resonator, a method for fabricating a composite structure substrate, and a method for fabricating a micro three-dimensional shell resonator gyroscope. A micro three-dimensional shell resonator gyroscope includes a packaging shell cover, a micro shell resonator, and a composite structure substrate. The micro shell resonator includes a shell, a single-ended column, and a flange. The composite structure substrate includes a non-planar electrode, a conductive structure, an electrical isolation part, and a main body part. The non-planar electrode includes a driving electrode, a detection circuit, an annular exciting electrode, and an isolation electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jintang Shang, Bin Luo
  • Patent number: 10527423
    Abstract: A system and a method for autonomous localization of a ground, surface or aerial vehicle with respect to a surface of a complex shape is disclosed. Localization is used by way of an optical flow method. Sensed optical (electro-optical, infrared, thermal) images are augmented by depth data, i.e., distance from the distance sensor to points on the sensed surface object. A modification of the optical flow method is applied to sequence of frames obtained in such a way to compute displacement of the vehicle with respect to the surface object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: LUFTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Roman Pavlyuk, Volodymyr Kozak, Klaus Sonnenleiter, Denise Spell
  • Patent number: 10527424
    Abstract: An angle offset judging device (1) includes: an azimuth histogram generating section (126) for obtaining an appearance frequency of estimated azimuths; and an evaluating section (127) for making an evaluation of whether or not the appearance frequency thus obtained shows a tendency which is observed in a case where an azimuth is properly estimated under a binding condition concerning an advancing direction of a movement of a moving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Masakatsu Kourogi, Takeshi Kurata, Tomoya Ishikawa, Takashi Okuma
  • Patent number: 10527425
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing location and guidance, and more particularly for providing location and guidance in environments where global position systems (GPS) are unavailable or unreliable (GPS denied and/or degraded environments) utilizing inertial measurement units IMUs to provide such location and guidance. A series of low-accuracy or low-resolution IMUs, in combination, are utilized to provide high-accuracy or high-resolution location and guidance results along with an electronics-control system for handing off control of the measurement and guidance of a body in flight between groups or subgroups of IMUs to alternate between high dynamic range/lower resolution and lower dynamic range/higher resolution measurement and guidance as the environment dictates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jankowski, Edward J. Rapp
  • Patent number: 10527426
    Abstract: A system for and method of determining angular position (e.g. pitch) of a vehicle. In accordance with an embodiment, a first angular rate of rotation of the vehicle about a first axis of rotation is detected using a first angular rate sensor mounted to the vehicle. A second angular rate of rotation of the vehicle about a second axis of rotation is detected using a second angular rate sensor mounted to the vehicle. The second axis of rotation is substantially orthogonal to the first axis of rotation. The angular position of the vehicle is determined based on a ratio of the first angular rate of rotation of the vehicle and the second angular rate of rotation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: u-blox AG
    Inventor: Alexander Somieski
  • Patent number: 10527427
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing location and guidance, and more particularly for providing location and guidance in environments where global position systems (GPS) are unavailable or unreliable (GPS denied and/or degraded environments), utilizing inertial measurement units (IMUs) to provide such location and guidance. A series of low-accuracy or low-resolution IMUs, in combination, are utilized to provide high-accuracy or high-resolution location and guidance results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jankowski, Edward J. Rapp
  • Patent number: 10527428
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and vehicles for capacity based vehicle operation are provided. For example, a method can include receiving, by a computing system including one or more computing devices, object data based in part on one or more states of one or more objects. Based in part on the object data, the computing system can determine one or more features of the one or more objects. Based on a comparison of the one or more features of the one or more objects to a vehicle capacity criterion, the one or more objects that satisfy the vehicle capacity criterion can be determined. The vehicle capacity criterion can be based in part on a carrying capacity of an autonomous vehicle. In response to the one or more objects satisfying the vehicle capacity criterion, one or more control systems associated with operation of the autonomous vehicle can be activated by the computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Sisil Mehta
  • Patent number: 10527429
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide sailing information to users of a mobile structure. A sailing user interface system includes a logic device in communication with a compass or orientation sensor, a wind sensor, and/or a speed sensor. Sensor signals provided by the various sensors are used to determine a heading and a wind direction for the mobile structure, which can be referenced to Magnet North. The wind direction and heading may be used to orient a sail chart rendered by the logic device. The sail chart graphically indicates the heading of the mobile structure relative to the wind direction and a performance contour for the mobile structure. The sail chart may be displayed to a user to refine manual operation of the mobile structure, and the information rendered in the sail chart may be used to autopilot the mobile structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Gatland, Gregory W. Wells, Mark Johnson, Marcel Tremblay
  • Patent number: 10527430
    Abstract: Method, mobile device, computer program product, and apparatus relating to beacon data collection. A user context at a mobile device may be obtained and a recommended configuration for beacon data collection can be determined according to the recommended configuration. A reliability metric may be determined as part of determining the recommended beacon collection configuration. The beacon data collection may include filter or weight to define when or how to send or collect beacon data and/or positioning data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ju-Yong Do, Sai Pradeep Venkatraman, Weihua Gao, Meghna Agrawal, Gengsheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10527431
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assisting a user at an event and venue are described. A user is guided or navigated to different points of interest at a venue. The points of interest include seat locations or surrounding services and facilities, such as restaurants, shops, and restrooms. Advertisements and promotions associated with surrounding services may be displayed to the user. The user may be notified of the presence of friends and family at the same venue, and be provided with real-time information about the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: EBAY INC.
    Inventors: Dong Xu, Frédéric Tu, Meijie Xia