Patents Issued in February 20, 2020
  • Publication number: 20200056890
    Abstract: Cleaning of a swimming pool may be facilitated by systems and methods for mapping a pool environment. Such mapping may occur in three dimensions when appropriate. At least some of the systems may include an apparatus for light detection and ranging (LIDAR) tethered to an automatic swimming pool cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Phillip Newman, Abian van der Meijden, Hendrikus Johannes van der Meijden
  • Publication number: 20200056891
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping and navigation are provided. In implementations, the systems and methods perform operations including receiving, via a network, a message from a messaging application of a mobile device of a user requesting a map of a mapped area. The operations also include generating the map of the mapped area displaying an icon indicating a location of the user. Further, the operations include sending, via the network, the map to the messaging application of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: William Stryker Clausen
  • Publication number: 20200056892
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine a set of features associated with a road segment based at least in part on data captured by one or more sensors of a vehicle. At least one scenario that is associated with the set of features can be determined. The at least one scenario can be associated with the road segment. The associated at least one scenario and the road segment can be maintained in a scenario information database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Asif Haque, Mark Douglas Huyler, Gerard Joyce, Ying Liu, David Tse-Zhou Lu, Sameer Qureshi, Vinay Shet
  • Publication number: 20200056893
    Abstract: A method and a corresponding system for localizing a vehicle using a digital map are described. In accordance with the method, the digital map assigns to the features one or a plurality of predetermined attributes, which are provided for characterizing possibly occurring actual changes in the features in comparison to the digital map existing at the moment. On the basis of the assigned attributes, probabilities relative to the changes are also determined, and the vehicle is localized in consideration of the determined probabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten HASBERG, Christoph SCHROEDER, Danny HIENDRIANA, Oliver PINK, Philipp RASP
  • Publication number: 20200056894
    Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a road specifying device which estimates an appropriate own vehicle position even when autonomous driving maps are not prepared for all roads in a driving assisting function which can automate and assist part or all of a driving operation of a passenger, and correctly perform traveling control of the autonomous driving. The road specifying device according to the present invention specifies a road on which an own vehicle is traveling based on autonomous driving map data including road data, navigation map data including data which is the road data and whose contents partially overlaps that of the autonomous driving map data, and position information of the own vehicle whose position is measured by an external positioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Akihiro KAWABATA
  • Publication number: 20200056895
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for navigating an autonomous vehicle. Trip plan data may describe a plurality of candidate vehicle start points, a plurality of candidate waypoints, and a plurality of candidate vehicle end points. A plurality of candidate routes may be determined between an algorithm start point and an algorithm end point. Each candidate route of the plurality of candidate routes may include at least one of the plurality of candidate waypoints and at least one of the plurality of candidate vehicle end points. A best rate may he determined using the plurality of candidate routes. The best route may include a first candidate vehicle start point, a first candidate waypoint, and a first candidate vehicle end point. The autonomous vehicle may be controlled along the best route from the first candidate vehicle start point towards the first candidate vehicle end point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Bryan John Nagy, Xiaodong Zhang, Brett Bavar, Misna Sameer
  • Publication number: 20200056896
    Abstract: A method includes receiving information associated with a first haul truck configured to traverse a travel path extending from a paving material plant to a worksite. The method also includes identifying the first haul truck as having a location sensor that is one of missing and faulty, determining whether a second haul truck traversed the travel path ahead of the first haul truck, and determining an arrival time at which the first haul truck is expected to arrive at the worksite. In such a method, the arrival time is determined based at least in part on an estimated travel time associated with the first haul truck traversing the travel path, or a recorded travel time associated with the second haul truck traversing the travel path ahead of the first haul truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Jacob J. McAlpine, Dann J. Rawls
  • Publication number: 20200056897
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a system where a processor(s) monitors activities of a user operating a vehicle with a navigational device providing route guidance, via a first route, to a geographic destination. The processor(s) identifies driving patterns of the user to generate a driver profile for the user, including a baseline activity pattern. The processor(s) determines, at a given time, that the monitored activities of the user are outside of the baseline activity pattern and enables an integrated image capture device in the vehicle and captures images of an environment outside of a the vehicle. The processor(s) utilizes the image capture device, to capture images and derives data describing environmental conditions, based on performing a semantic analysis of the images. The processor(s) transmits the data to a repository and generates a second route to the destination, based on the driver profile and relevant data from the repository data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Leigh Williamson, Vijay Ekambaram, Shinoj Zacharias, Roger Snook, Howard N. Anglin
  • Publication number: 20200056898
    Abstract: A system and method for cognitive journey monitoring are presented. Embodiments comprise journey prediction, parsing of data sources, risk assessment and mitigation, and natural-language user interaction by a cognitive processor. Data is gathered from a plurality of data sources and analyzed in the context of one or more of the user's intention(s). A dialogue with the user, in natural language, aims to provide and select one or more suggestions relating to the one or more user intention(s) such that the risk(s) relating to the one or more user's intention(s) is reduced. During the dialogue, cognitive reasoning may be performed, wherein the cognitive reasoning includes the ability to justify each suggestion and the ability to infer information from the interaction such as, for example, data obtained in a dialogue may inform subsequent inferences. The embodiments may use speech synthesis and speech recognition in an interactive spoken dialogue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan EPPERLEIN, Claudio GAMBELLA, Wynita M. GRIGGS, Yassine LASSOUED, Jakub MARECEK, Martin MEVISSEN, Julien MONTEIL, Rodrigo H. ORDONEZ-HURTADO, Giovanni RUSSO, Robert SHORTEN
  • Publication number: 20200056899
    Abstract: The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for routing following vehicles toward a lead vehicle in a vehicle caravan. GPS locations can be shared between caravanning vehicles moving towards a destination. Routes (e.g., turn-by-turn navigation) for individual vehicles participating in a caravan can be dynamically updated. Within a group of GPS devices, one GPS device (e.g., a GPS device at a designated lead vehicle) can be selected as a master GPS device. As the designated lead vehicle travels towards the destination, the master GPS device can continually share its GPS coordinates (i.e., share its location) with the other GPS devices. The other GPS devices use the shared GPS coordinates to continually adjust routes to progress towards the master GPS device (and thus progress towards the lead vehicle). That is, the other GPS devices are continually updating navigation routes to follow the master GPS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Sandeep Raj Gandiga
  • Publication number: 20200056900
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described that relate to managing and/or generating a travel route for an electronic device. Some example methods may include generating travel routes for the device with respect to a defined geographic area based on a total travel time for the device to traverse the defined geographic area, selecting a first travel route from the travel routes, and employing the first travel route for the device in response to a determination that the first travel route satisfies a defined security criterion related to an estimated time difference between a first time for the device to reach a location along the first travel route and a second time for the device to reach the location along a second travel route previously employed by the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Xinova, LLC
    Inventor: Hyoung-Gon LEE
  • Publication number: 20200056901
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle including a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a steering system, and a computing system. The computing system includes a processor and memory that stores computer-executable instructions that cause the processor to select a route for a passenger of the autonomous vehicle for a trip to a destination. The route for the passenger is selected from a plurality of potential routes. The route for the passenger is selected based on a preference of the passenger and aggregate ride quality feedback from passengers of autonomous vehicles in a fleet at locations along the potential routes to the destination. The processor is further configured to control at least one of the vehicle propulsion system, the braking system, or the steering system to move the autonomous vehicle along the route as selected for the trip to the destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Stephanie Olivia Engle, Bradley David Ryan, Kathryn Alexis Tuason
  • Publication number: 20200056902
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a detector configured to collect a biological signal of a driver and driving information of the vehicle; a communication device configured to communicate with an external server; a storage configured to store situation information and emotion tagged data received through the communication device and the biological signal of the driver; and a controller configured to acquire information about current emotion of the driver based on the biological signal of the driver, acquire information about inclination of the driver based on the driving information of the vehicle, extract emotion information corresponding to a current situation of the driver and the inclination of the driver from the emotion tagged data, compare the extracted emotion information with the current emotion information of the driver, and extract a primary situation factor having an influence on the emotion of the driver based on the comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seunghyun WOO, Dong-Seon CHANG, Daeyun AN
  • Publication number: 20200056903
    Abstract: Driving support systems and programs obtain congestion information specifying any congested link where there is congestion and provide driving support based on the congestion information. The systems and programs determine if the congested link has two or more lanes in each direction and if there is a branch at an end of the congested link, and if the congested link has two or more lanes in each direction and there is a branch at the end of the congested link, determine whether connected links include one or more links where there is congestion and one or more links where there is no congestion. If the connected links include one or more links where there is congestion and one or more links where there is no congestion, the systems and programs determine driving support according to the link onto which a vehicle exits at the branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke TANIZAKI, Xin JIN
  • Publication number: 20200056904
    Abstract: Technologies for determining a user's location include a mobile computing device to determine, based on sensed inertial characteristics of the device, a walking gait of a user. The walking gait is one of a first gait indicative of the user holding the g device to the user's side or a second gait indicative of the user swinging the device along the user's side. The device further detects that the user has taken a physical step based on the inertial characteristics and the determined walking gait of the user, and determines a raw directional heading of the device indicative of a direction of the physical step. The device determines an estimated location of the user based on the determined raw directional heading, an estimated step length, and the user's previous location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Ke Han, Xun Wang, Xiaodong Cai, Liang Li
  • Publication number: 20200056905
    Abstract: A position detecting apparatus has: a first bridge circuit (31) configured to output a SIN signal depending on a movement of a magnet that is movable in a magnetization direction, a second bridge circuit (32) configured to output a COS signal. Area-identifying means having a magnetic-field direction-detecting sensor is configured to determine whether the magnet is in an area defined on one side from a center of a bridge circuit in a moving direction of the magnet, or in an area defined on the other side from the center of the bridge circuit in the moving direction of the magnet. An ATAN2 signal having a main area signal and a shift area signal is computed on the basis of the sin signal and the cos signal, and a position of the magnet is computed on the basis of a signal of the magnetic direction-detecting sensor and the ATAN2 signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20200056906
    Abstract: A code plate including a pattern thereon is provided. The pattern includes a first set of codes and a second set of codes. The first set of codes is associated with a first waveform. The second set of codes is associated with a second waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: YUEH TENG HSU, LIN WU
  • Publication number: 20200056907
    Abstract: This application relates to a fibre optic cable (104, 300) suitable for use with a distributed fibre optic sensor apparatus (106). The fibre optic cable includes at least one optical fibre (301) and a force transformer (304) mechanically coupled to the at least one optical fibre. The cable may also include at least one cladding later (302) and/or a compliant material (303). The cable may be surrounded by a jacket layer (306). The force transformer (304) is configured to transform transverse forces due to dimension changes of the cable arising from a temperature variation of the cable into longitudinal forces to counteract the longitudinal component of said dimension change over a tuned temperature range. In this way optical path length changes due to a change of temperature can be reduced or eliminated providing a cable which is insensitive to temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Alastair Godfrey
  • Publication number: 20200056908
    Abstract: This marking system is provided with: a marking device which has a marking unit which gives a mark for managing the quality of a product, a housing part which houses one or more temperature indicating materials, and a providing unit which provides, to the marking unit, a temperature indicating material selected by the housing part; and a control device which has a storage unit that stores temperature-indicating material information on a developing temperature or/and a decoloring temperature of each of the temperature-indicating materials included in the housing part; and a processing unit that acquires, from a server or an input unit, an appropriate temperature of the product, selects, on the basis of the acquired appropriate temperature of the product and the temperature-indicating material information, a temperature-indicating material, and notifies the providing unit of details of providing the selected temperature-indicating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Shunsuke MORI, Kohhei AIDA, Masahiro KAWASAKI, Yuya TOKUDA
  • Publication number: 20200056909
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating active protection of peripheral sensors. An example vehicle includes a sensor and a sensor protector. The example sensor protector is configured to, responsive to a vehicle collision, obtain diagnostic information from the sensor. The example sensor protector is also configured to determine whether to move the sensor from a first position to a second position based on the diagnostic information. The example sensor protector is also configured to cause the sensor to from the first position to the second position based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Somak Datta Gupta, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm
  • Publication number: 20200056910
    Abstract: A sensor package including a metal carrier and a sensor chip arranged on the metal carrier and having a first sensor element. In an orthogonal projection of the sensor chip onto a surface of the metal carrier, at least two edge sections of the sensor chip are free of overlap with the surface of the metal carrier. The sensor chip is designed to detect a magnetic field induced by an electric current flowing through a current conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Volker Strutz, Rainer Markus Schaller
  • Publication number: 20200056911
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a field device of automation technology, comprising a housing and a sensor unit sensitive for a process variable of a medium. The housing has a passageway to accommodate the sensor unit and the sensor unit protrudes from the housing through a terminal opening of the passageway. A clamping angle and a screw are introduced into the housing in a region of the housing adjoining the opening of the passageway. By means of the screw the clamping angle is shiftable in the housing a predeterminable distance in the direction of the sensor unit, and the clamping angle shifted in the direction of the sensor unit is embodied to press with a first clamping angle section of the clamping angle radially on a clamping region of the sensor unit arranged in the housing and facing the opening of the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Lais, Raphael Schonhardt
  • Publication number: 20200056912
    Abstract: A chemical delivery system connects to a chemical tank and includes a union connected to the tank outlet and providing an antirotation feature, in addition to threads, to prevent rotation of the assembly in response to asymmetric loads. A measuring tube alternately receives liquid from the tank and is isolated from the tank. While isolated from the tank, liquid is withdrawn from the tube by a pump under conditions allowing the pump to be calibrated. The assembly is cantilevered from the tank outlet and is of reduced length and weight producing a device which is not prone to overstress the tank outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Clay L. Hammond
  • Publication number: 20200056913
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining the flow velocity of a fluid in a hollow body, including at least one disturbance device disposed in the hollow body and at least one sensor for identifying disturbances that are induced in the flow by the disturbance device, which is disposed at a certain distance downstream in the direction of flow from the disturbance device, wherein the disturbance device includes means for generating changeable disturbances in the fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Bastian Wilke
  • Publication number: 20200056914
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flowmeter includes a flow path housing having a measurement flow path; a pair of electrode accommodating holes formed in the flow path housing and communicating with the measurement flow path in a direction intersecting a magnetic field; a pair of sensing electrodes fitted in the pair of electrode accommodating holes; a seal member providing a seal between an inner surface of each electrode accommodating hole and an outer surface of each of the sensing electrodes; a submersion distal-end part of each sensing electrode located closer to the measurement flow path than the seal member; a pair of submersion chambers that are parts of the pair of electrode accommodating holes each located closer to the measurement flow path than the seal member and accommodating the submersion distal-end part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: AICHI TOKEI DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi KIMURA, Hisao ITO, Hideyuki SUZUKI, Ryo SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20200056915
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter includes a flow tube, and first and second ultrasound transducers that transmit ultrasonic pulses through a liquid flowing through the tube. The flow tube includes a reflector assembly that reflects pulses from the first transducer to the second transducer, and from the second transducer to the first transducer, thereby facilitating different sequences of time-of-flight measurements. A microcontroller obtains multiple sequences of measurements, where all the measurements in a single sequence are of the same measurement type, and each sequence uses a different type of measurement than that used by the other sequences. The microcontroller filters out the longest and shortest time-of-flights and, using an average of the remaining time-of-flights, calculates a volumetric flow rate of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Virgilijus Pamakstis, Rimas Wolyniec, Gintautas Lengvinas, Vainius Repsys, Arminas Ragauskas
  • Publication number: 20200056916
    Abstract: A gas meter includes meter body having meter inlet into which a fluid-to-be-measured flows and meter outlet from which the fluid-to-be-measured flows out, and extended section extended from meter outlet to the interior of meter body. The gas meter further includes flow rate measurement unit disposed inside meter body, flow rate measurement unit having measurement flow passage having a straight tubular shape and provided with lead-in port and lead-out port for the fluid-to-be-measured, and shutoff valve disposed in internal passage of extended section. In flow rate measurement unit, lead-in port is airtightly connected to extended section to communicate with internal passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: MASAKI SUGIYAMA, HIROAKI KATASE, NAOTO NAGANUMA
  • Publication number: 20200056917
    Abstract: Propagation of leaky Lamb waves in pipe walls is used to provide a clamp-on acoustic flow meter for single-phase fluid flow in pipes. The received acoustic signals can be analyzed analytically, or by matching to numerical models, or with machine learning. In a preferred embodiment, variation of penetration depth of the leaky Lamb waves into the fluid flow with frequency provides an approach for measuring flow rate vs. radius with a clamp-on flow meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kamyar Firouzi, Butrus T. Khuri-Yakub
  • Publication number: 20200056918
    Abstract: A device (1) for determining the mass flow rate of milk turbulently flowing with air in a pipe (2) in pulsed milk slugs comprises sampling a signal from a microphone (8) of the device (1) indicative of sonic signals produced by the milk flow. The sampled signals are read by a microprocessor (15) which applies a Fast Fourier Transform to the sampled signal to produce the frequency domain of the sampled signal. The microprocessor (15) is configured to compute the average energy value of the sampled signal in the frequency bandwidth of 6 kHz to 15 kHz during consecutive monitoring periods. The average energy values are inserted into a calibration equation, which may be a power law equation, a polynomial equation, a logarithmic equation or any other such suitable equation in order to convert the average energy value to a mass flow rate of the milk flowing through the pipe 2 during that predefined monitoring period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: John Gerard Daly, Edmond Patrick Harty, Christopher Kinsella
  • Publication number: 20200056919
    Abstract: A liquid product distribution network includes a liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus for operation in association with a tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus. The liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus includes a radio transmitter device and sensing circuitry for sensing and communicating physical properties associating with the keg. A tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus senses flow of a liquid through a tap includes a tap handle radio transmitter device for fitting within and protected by a tap handle and a low-energy consumption tap handle radio/processing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy Leonard Jones
  • Publication number: 20200056920
    Abstract: A sight glass column is described. The sight glass column is configured to be indirectly attachable to a machine via a machine connector such that machine fluid is transferable from the machine to the sight glass column. The sight glass column further has a remote sensing port, and a lockable oil level ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: James Chester Fitch, Thomas Chester Fitch, James Bennett Fitch, Jeremy J. Wright
  • Publication number: 20200056921
    Abstract: A hub, sight glass column and bottom sediment and water bowl are described. The hub is adapted to interconnect multiple machine fluid equipment to a single port on a machine. The hub is provided with an adjustable fitting connectable to a housing, and recessed within the hub. The sight glass column is configured to be indirectly attachable to a machine via a machine connector such that machine fluid is transferable from the machine to the sight glass column. The sight glass column further has a remote sensing port, and a lockable oil level ring. The bottom sediment and water bowl has a conically shaped bottom to direct fluid to a drain valve, and an indicator located on an upper tip of the drain valve. The indicator is configured to provide information with respect to one or more contaminant or property of machine fluid within the bottom sediment and water bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: James Chester Fitch, Thomas Chester Fitch, James Bennett Fitch, Jeremy J. Wright
  • Publication number: 20200056922
    Abstract: An illustrative example level detector for a hot melt system includes a scale having a load cell and a controller having an indicator configured to alert an operator when a weight detected by the load cell has decreased by a user-selected maximum allowable amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Bryan Tanury, Ed Spearing, Colin Holzman
  • Publication number: 20200056923
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for determining a remaining operating period of a detector unit for a radiometric, density- or fill-level measuring device. The detector unit includes a photomultiplier. In such method, the control voltage of the photomultiplier is registered over at least one predetermined time period, a time rate of change function is ascertained based on control voltage registered during the predetermined time period, and the remaining operating period until reaching a maximum control voltage is calculated by means of the time rate of change function and a current control voltage, which is present at the current operating time. The method of the present disclosure permits approximation of the remaining operating period of the detector unit and, thus, timely learning of when required maintenance measures, especially aging related replacement of the photomultiplier, must be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Hartmut Damm, Mingzheng Jiang, Narcisse Michel Nzitchieu Gadeu, Simon Weidenbruch
  • Publication number: 20200056924
    Abstract: A system for measuring a filling level in a container for liquids that can be installed in a vehicle, which comprises a sound conductor, a vibration sensor for measuring a natural frequency of the sound conductor, a sound transmitter, in particular an ultrasound transmitter, for subjecting the sound conductor to sound, a sound receiver for receiving sound from the sound conductor, and an evaluation unit, which has a data connection to the sound transmitter and the sound receiver, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to determine a distance between the sound transmitter and a boundary surface of the liquid, and to evaluate the distance with regard to a filling level of the container, and to evaluate the natural frequency of the sound conductor with regard to a density of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Georg Tenckhoff
  • Publication number: 20200056925
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for gas safety management by registering gas equipment information in a gas meter. The specific working step includes the following steps: a1: determining whether one startup is an illegal startup; a2: making safety judgment in flow increase; a3: determining that a flow rate should be lower than a sum of maximum flow rates and should not be higher than a range flow rate; and a4: Startup characteristic judgment is made for a startup process and superposition judgment is made for flow increase, in order to prevent accidents caused by leakage in the startup process and the using process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Changsong YU, Junzheng LIAN, Huilai PANG
  • Publication number: 20200056926
    Abstract: A system and a method for fault detection for a liquid level sensing device are provided. The liquid level sensing device comprising a plurality of switches arranged to measure variance in a liquid level. A sensing signal comprising a plurality of measurements indicative of the liquid level is received from the liquid level sensing device. Each measurement is obtained in response to one or more of the plurality of switches being in a given position at a given liquid level. It is determined, based on the sensing signal, whether the liquid level changed according to one or more expected change patterns. A fault signal is output in response to determining that the liquid level changed according to an abnormal change pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Sean McCarthy, Olivier Bibor
  • Publication number: 20200056927
    Abstract: A warehouse system includes N carriers, N gravity sensor sets, a scale device, and a computer device. Each carrier is used for disposing at least one load. Each gravity sensor set is disposed below each carrier for detecting a loading weight of each carrier. The scale device is disposed below the N carriers and the N gravity sensor sets for detecting a total weight of the N carriers, the N gravity sensor sets, and all loads. The computer device is coupled to the N gravity sensor sets and the scale device for generating load quantity variations by using the N gravity sensor sets and the scale device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Chung-Hao Hsu
  • Publication number: 20200056928
    Abstract: A magnetic levitation conveying system conveys products on trays and measures the weight of the product without requiring removal of the product or tray. A track below the trays has magnetic levitation coils that generate a magnetic field when energized. The trays include magnets or other levitation elements that interact with the magnetic levitation coils to generate a propulsive levitating force on the tray. A sensor measures a parameter in the system to correlate the parameter with the weight of the conveyed product. The parameter can be a floating height of the tray above the track, an amount of energy necessary to maintain a particular floating height of the tray above the track, a force resulting from accelerating or decelerating the tray, a force required to maintain a desired curve radius when the tray moves around a curve, a force that counteracts an acceleration caused by an incline or other suitable indicator of weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: John F. Landrum, Lazlo Kleczewski
  • Publication number: 20200056929
    Abstract: A weighing scale (1) for a retail store counter includes a housing (2), a load-receiving platform (3) on top of the housing, and operating components (27) enclosed therein, including a weighing cell (24). A load-transmitting mechanical connection (25) couples the weighing cell to the load-receiving platform. Analog and digital weighing electronics convert electrical weight signals of the weighing cell into digital weighing results. A touchscreen display panel (7, 22, 23) interacts with a human operator, and is configured as a layered assembly with a liquid crystal display (23), a projected capacitive (PCAP) touch screen (22) with a plurality of touch-sensing points, and a protective glass plate (21) on top of each other. The layered assembly is integrated horizontally in the load-receiving platform facing the human operator. The top surface operates as a load-receiving surface (45) a touch field keyboard (40, 41, 42, 47) and a display window (43, 46, 48).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Edgar Kempf, Alexander Witt, Walter Ehresmann, Denis Huber
  • Publication number: 20200056930
    Abstract: A load cell that includes a beam extending from a fixed section to a load section including a deflection section that moves under a load and a central beam section spaced from the deflection section. At least one strain gauge is coupled to the beam for detecting movement of the beam. A stop element including a bearing surface is also provided and coupled to the beam and configured such that the bearing surface does not engage the beam in a first position and engages the beam in a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Hai Mei, Qineng Hu
  • Publication number: 20200056931
    Abstract: A conveyor and metering device having a continuous conveyor belt or conveyor band, sub-regions of this conveyor belt or conveyor band being mounted on weighing devices for determining the mass of the conveyed material, which are connected to an electronic evaluation device, the weighing devices generating a signal proportional to the load of the conveyor belt or conveyor band and transmitting it to the evaluation device, weighing devices are provided, each of which includes a bearing bracket, which is used to receive an attachment in a form-filling manner from the outside, preferably from above, through an opening in the frame of the conveyor and metering device during the operation of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: SCHENCK PROCESS EUROPE GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Schuetz
  • Publication number: 20200056932
    Abstract: A light projection system is a light projection system projecting light on a plurality of processing apparatuses installed in a factory, and includes an acquisition unit acquiring, from each of the processing apparatuses, state information indicating abnormality in the processing apparatus, a light emission unit capable of projecting the light on each of the processing apparatuses, and a projection controller controlling a mode of the light projected from the light emission unit such that the mode of the light reflected from each of the processing apparatuses is changed, on the basis of the state information indicating abnormality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seisaku IWASA
  • Publication number: 20200056933
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for detecting a bandwidth of a linear vibration motor, including a linear vibration motor which comprises a housing and a motor vibrator. The method includes the following steps: step S1: setting a target displacement level of the linear vibration motor; step S2: measuring a displacement frequency response curve of the motor vibrator with reference to the target displacement level; step S3: comparing the displacement frequency response curve obtained in step S2 with a preset standard target displacement frequency response curve, determining whether the displacement frequency response curve is qualified, and if it is qualified, entering step S4; step S4: measuring a bandwidth of the linear vibration motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Hanlin Deng, Liang Jiang, Zheng Xiang, Xiang Lu
  • Publication number: 20200056934
    Abstract: An alternate venting path can be employed in a sensor device for pressure equalization. A sensor component of the device can comprise a diaphragm component and/or backplate component disposed over an acoustic port of the device. The diaphragm component can be formed with no holes to prevent liquid or particles from entering a back cavity of the device, or gap between the diaphragm component and backplate component. A venting port can be formed in the device to create an alternate venting path to the back cavity for pressure equalization for the diaphragm component. A venting component, comprising a filter, membrane, and/or hydrophobic coating, can be associated with the venting port to inhibit liquid and particles from entering the back cavity via the venting port, without degrading performance of the device. The venting component can be designed to achieve a desired low frequency corner of the sensor frequency response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Jeremy Parker, Kieran Harney
  • Publication number: 20200056935
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor can comprise a substantially rigid layer having a center. The MEMS sensor can further comprise a movable membrane that can be separated by a gap from, and be disposed substantially parallel to, the substantially rigid layer. The MEMS sensor can further include a plurality of pedestals extending into the gap, where a first pedestal of the plurality of pedestals can be of a first size, and be disposed a first distance from the center, and a second pedestal of the plurality of pedestals can be a second size different from the first size, and be disposed at a second distance from the center. In another aspect, the substantially rigid layer and the movable membrane can be suspended by a plurality of suspension points. In another aspect, at least one of the plurality of pedestals can be disposed so as to limit a deformation of the movable membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Pirmin Rombach, Sushil Bharatan
  • Publication number: 20200056936
    Abstract: A method of sensing ambient light intensity of an ambient in which an electronic device is located, can include: providing a plurality of light sensing elements under a display screen of the electronic device; displaying a solid color image during an operating period of the display screen; obtaining first data of each of the plurality of light sensing elements in response to a current ambient light during the display screen displaying the solid color image; obtaining second data of each of the plurality of light sensing elements in response to the current ambient light during the display screen displaying a normal image; and performing mathematical operations on the first data and the second data to obtain an intensity value of the ambient light of the ambient in which the electronic device is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Suyi Lin
  • Publication number: 20200056937
    Abstract: An object detector including a light-emitting system to emit light to an object, a light detector, a signal detector, and a threshold adjuster. The light detector receives the light emitted from the light-emitting system and reflected by the object, and output a signal. The signal detector detects the signal output from the light detector based on a threshold value of voltage. The threshold adjuster changes the threshold value between when the light-emitting system emits light to a part of a light-emission range of the light-emitting system and when the light-emitting system emits light to other part of the light-emission range other than the part of the light-emission range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuei NISHIO
  • Publication number: 20200056938
    Abstract: Optical systems have uses, such as in spectrometers, for directing a beam. A spectrometer, for example, utilizes an optical system for directing an incident beam toward a sample and receiving a spectroscopy signal from the sample. In various implementations, for example, an optical system may be further configured to move a beam with respect to a target, such as a sample, and still provide a home position where the beam is directed in a stationary configuration. A self-homing (e.g., self-centering) optical system may provide a “home” position in which the beam is directed in a first stationary mode while still allowing a focused beam to be moved with respect to a target in a second dynamic mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Danial Clark BARKHURST, Sean Patrick Woodward, Keith Thompson Carron, Shane Alan Buller
  • Publication number: 20200056939
    Abstract: Calibrating a spectrometer module includes performing measurements using the spectrometer module to generate wavelength-versus-operating parameter calibration data for the spectrometer module, performing measurements using the spectrometer module to generate optical crosstalk and dark noise calibration data for the spectrometer module, and performing measurements using the spectrometer module to generate full system response calibration data, against a known reflectivity standard, for the spectrometer module. The method further includes storing in memory, coupled to the spectrometer module, a calibration record that incorporates the wavelength-versus-operating parameter calibration data, the optical crosstalk and dark noise calibration data, and the full system response calibration data, and applying the calibration record to measurements by the spectrometer module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kotaro Ishizaki, Javier Miguel-Sánchez, Peter Roentgen