Patents Issued in January 2, 2024
  • Patent number: 11860617
    Abstract: By accurately predicting industrial aging processes (IAP), such as the slow deactivation of a catalyst in a chemical plant, it is possible to schedule maintenance events further in advance, thereby ensuring a cost-efficient and reliable operation of the plant. So far, these degradation processes were usually described by mechanistic models or simple empirical prediction models. In order to accurately predict IAP, data-driven models are proposed, comparing some traditional stateless models (linear and kernel ridge regression, as well as feed-forward neural networks) to more complex stateful recurrent neural networks (echo state networks and long short-term memory networks). Additionally, variations of the stateful models are discussed. In particular, stateful models using mechanistical pre-knowledge about the degradation dynamics (hybrid models).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Technische Universitaet Berlin
    Inventors: Nataliya Yakut, Simeon Sauer, Mihail Bogojeski, Franziska Horn, Klaus-Robert Mueller
  • Patent number: 11860618
    Abstract: The embodiments are and include at least an apparatus, system and method for forming print material particles for additive manufacturing (AM) printing. The apparatus, system and method include at least a melt chamber comprising a polymer melt; a vertical extruder that fluidically receives the polymer melt; an atomizer that atomizes the polymer melt from the vertical extruder and that distributes the atomized polymer melt; a fall chamber comprising a plurality of zones into which the atomized polymer melt is distributed; and a collector to receive the print material particles formed of the atomized polymer melt after falling through the plurality of zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Dippel, Thomas Gardner, Daryn York
  • Patent number: 11860619
    Abstract: Disclosed are a fault early-warning method and a fault early-warning system applied to a gas turbine unit, and an apparatus. The method includes: calculating, by means of a mechanism model, predicted data of prediction parameters in a gas turbine unit, and performing data comparison on the predicted data and real data of the prediction parameters, so as to obtain an error matrix; constructing several Kriging primary functions according to the mechanism model; screening an optimal Kriging primary function from the several Kriging primary functions according to the error matrix, and performing error compensation on the mechanism model by using the optimal Kriging primary function; and performing fault early warning on the gas turbine unit by means of the mechanism model after error compensation. By means of the present application, the problem of a large number of fault false alarms in fault early warning of an existing gas turbine is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HUADIAN ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Hongren Li, Pingyang Zi, Wei Li, Liang Sun
  • Patent number: 11860621
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a travel control device includes a passing order determiner configured to determine passing order of a plurality of mobile objects in a first area through which the plurality of mobile objects pass on a basis of a conflict condition at which conflict among the mobile objects occurs; and a controller configured to control traveling of the plurality of mobile objects on a basis of the passing order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Aisu, Shizu Sakakibara, Michio Yamashita, Noriyuki Hirayama
  • Patent number: 11860622
    Abstract: A multi-rotor aircraft includes a fuselage, a propulsion engine coupled to the fuselage that generates thnist to propel the aircraft along a first vector during forward flight, and rotors coupled to the fuselage, each rotor comprising blades, each rotor coupled to a motor, and each motor configured to supply power to and draw power from the coupled rotor. The aircraft includes a flight control system configured to control the motors coupled to the rotors in a power managed regime in which a net electrical power, consisting of a sum of the power being supplied to or drawn from each rotor by its motor, is maintained within a range determined by a feedback control system of the flight control system. The flight control system can also be leveraged to adjust rotor control inputs to modify at least one of thrust, roll, pitch, or yaw of the multi-rotor aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Aergility Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Vander Mey, Lawrence Winston Yonge, III
  • Patent number: 11860623
    Abstract: A method for depressurizing a pipe includes forming, by an ejector assembly, a seal between a first pipe and a second pipe fluidically coupled to the tee pipe fitting. The first pipe flows a first fluid at a first pressure, and the second pipe flows a second fluid at a second pressure lower than the first pressure. The ejector assembly includes a nozzle converging along a flow direction of the first fluid flowing in the first pipe, and a mixing chamber at an outlet of the nozzle, the mixing chamber comprising an outlet is in fluid communication with the second pipe. The method also includes flowing the first fluid from the first pipe into the ejector assembly through the nozzle so that the pressure of the first fluid decreases to a third pressure lower than the second pressure to draw the second fluid into the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Abdulaziz M. Al Otaibi
  • Patent number: 11860624
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: a vehicle control unit that remotely controls a PW, which is a control object, based on a signal from a mobile device; a mobile-side stop processing unit that performs stop process for stopping the PW upon transition to a predetermined operation state in which user operations are restricted while the PW is in operation by the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shigenori Hiruta
  • Patent number: 11860625
    Abstract: Technologies disclosed relate to a remote intervention system for the operation of a vehicle, which can be an autonomous vehicle, a vehicle that includes driver assist features, a vehicle used for ride sharing services or the like. The system includes a vehicle sending a request for remote intervention to a remote operator when the operation of the vehicle is suspended. The request for remote intervention can include a request for object identification or a request for decision confirmation. The vehicle can update vehicle operation based in part on vehicle-based sensor data and a response to the remote intervention request from the remote operator. The remote operator can be a human operator or an AI operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qi Chen
  • Patent number: 11860626
    Abstract: An example method involves detecting a sensor-testing trigger. Detecting the sensor-testing trigger may comprise determining that a vehicle is within a threshold distance to a target in an environment of the vehicle. The method also involves obtaining sensor data collected by a sensor of the vehicle after the detection of the sensor-testing trigger. The sensor data is indicative of a scan of a region of the environment that includes the target. The method also involves comparing the sensor data with previously-collected sensor data indicating detection of the target by one or more sensors during one or more previous scans of the environment. The method also involves generating performance metrics related to the sensor of the vehicle based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Stephanie McArthur, Mark Alexander Shand, Colin Braley
  • Patent number: 11860627
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus applies predetermined image processing to an actual image captured by an image capturing device and recognizes a target within the captured image with use of the image which the predetermined image processing has been applied to. The image processing apparatus applies, to tones of the actual image, the predetermined image processing for reducing a difference from tones of a CG image which shows the same scene and which is presented through computer graphics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Tokitomo Ariyoshi, Hideki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11860628
    Abstract: To determine a path through a pose configuration space, trajectories of poses may be evaluated in parallel based at least on translating the trajectories along at least one axis of the pose configuration space (e.g., an orientation axis). A trajectory may include at least a portion of a turn having a fixed turn radius. Turns or turn portions that have the same turn radius and initial orientation can be translatively shifted along and processed in parallel along the orientation axis as they are translated copies of each other, but with different starting points. Trajectories may be evaluated based at least on processing variables used to evaluate reachability as bit vectors with threads effectively performing large vector operations in synchronization. A parallel reduction pattern may be used to account for dependencies that may exist between sections of a trajectory for evaluating reachability, allowing for the sections to be processed in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: David Nister, Yizhou Wang, Jaikrishna Soundararajan, Sachit Kadle
  • Patent number: 11860629
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods that apply neural networks such as, for example, convolutional neural networks, to sparse imagery in an improved manner. For example, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can be included in or otherwise leveraged by an autonomous vehicle. In one example, a computing system can extract one or more relevant portions from imagery, where the relevant portions are less than an entirety of the imagery. The computing system can provide the relevant portions of the imagery to a machine-learned convolutional neural network and receive at least one prediction from the machine-learned convolutional neural network based at least in part on the one or more relevant portions of the imagery. Thus, the computing system can skip performing convolutions over regions of the imagery where the imagery is sparse and/or regions of the imagery that are not relevant to the prediction being sought.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Raquel Urtasun, Mengye Ren, Andrei Pokrovsky, Bin Yang
  • Patent number: 11860631
    Abstract: The technology relates to detecting and responding to processions. For instance, sensor data identifying two or more objects in an environment of a vehicle may be received. The two or more objects may be determined to be disobeying a predetermined rule in a same way. Based on the determination that the two or more objects are disobeying a predetermined rule, that the two or more objects are involved in a procession may be determined. The vehicle may then be controlled autonomously in order to respond to the procession based on the determination that the two or more objects are involved in a procession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: David Harrison Silver, Qichi Yang
  • Patent number: 11860632
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a weapon system for use on a vehicle, comprising: a control system, the control system configured to, in response to a determination that a line-of-sight from the weapon system to a target of the weapon system is currently, or going to be obscured, trigger an alteration of a configuration of the vehicle such that the line-of-sight to the target is not obscured. Thus, the weapon system can ensure a line-of-sight of the target, allowing it to be successfully engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Keith Antony Rigby
  • Patent number: 11860633
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for receiving, by a processor having addressable memory, data representing a geographical area for imaging by one or more sensors of an aerial vehicle; determining one or more straight-line segments covering the geographical area; determining one or more waypoints located at an end of each determined straight-line segment, where each waypoint comprises a geographical location, an altitude, and a direction of travel; determining one or more turnarounds connecting each of the straight-line segments, where each turnaround comprises one or more connecting segments; and generating, by the processor, a flight plan for the aerial vehicle comprising: the determined one or more straight-line segments and the determined one or more turnarounds connecting each straight-line segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Quentin Lindsey, Henry Thome Won
  • Patent number: 11860634
    Abstract: An obstacle state evolution of a spatial position of a moving obstacle over a period of time is determined. A lane-obstacle relation evolution of the moving obstacle with each of one or more lanes near the moving obstacle over the period of time is further determined. An intended movement of the moving obstacle is predicted based on the obstacle state evolution and the lane-obstacle evolution. Thereafter, a trajectory of the ADV is planned to control the ADV to avoid a collision with the moving obstacle based on the predicted intended movement of the moving obstacle. The above process is iteratively performed for each of the moving obstacles detected within a predetermined proximity of the ADV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Jiacheng Pan, Hongyi Sun, Kecheng Xu, Yifei Jiang, Xiangquan Xiao, Jiangtao Hu, Jinghao Miao
  • Patent number: 11860635
    Abstract: A method of area coverage planning for an autonomous vehicle includes, at a computer system, receiving information of a boundary of a work area, and laying a plurality of tracks within the boundary of the work area. The plurality of tracks is spaced apart from each other by a spacing. Laying the plurality of tracks includes, based on the information of the boundary of the work area, performing a multivariate optimization to: (i) determine an optimal direction of the plurality of tracks, and (ii) an optimal offset for a first track from the boundary, so as to minimize a total distance of the plurality of tracks. The method further includes generating a trajectory that is traversable by the autonomous vehicle to traverse the plurality of tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil Tahiliani, Juan Carlos Santamaria, Shantnu Kakkar, Eric Paul Boehlke
  • Patent number: 11860636
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting objects of interest. A computing system can input sensor data to one or more first machine-learned models associated with detecting objects external to an autonomous vehicle. The computing system can obtain as an output of the first machine-learned models, data indicative of one or more detected objects. The computing system can determine data indicative of at least one uncertainty associated with the one or more detected objects and input the data indicative of the one or more detected objects and the data indicative of the at least one uncertainty to one or more second machine-learned models. The computing system can obtain as an output of the second machine-learned models, data indicative of at least one prediction associated with the one or more detected objects. The at least one prediction can be based at least in part on the detected objects and the uncertainty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Cole Christian Gulino, Alexander Rashid Ansari
  • Patent number: 11860637
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for a mobile docking station. In some implementations, a method for a mobile docking station includes receiving a service request from a first user; determining assignment details based on the service request; determining a plurality of devices to send to a location based on the assignment details; deploying the plurality of devices to the location; receiving data from a first device of the plurality of devices; based on the data, scheduling a pickup of the first device; and deploying a second device for the pickup of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Todd Kerzner, Donald Gerard Madden, Babak Rezvani, Ahmad Seyfi, Glenn Tournier
  • Patent number: 11860638
    Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot can include a robot body, a bumper, and a bumper impact system. The bumper can be connected to and supported by the robot body. The bumper impact system can include a first sensor connected to the body in a first orientation with respect to the body and the bumper. The bumper impact system can include a second sensor connected to the body in a second orientation with respect to the body and the bumper different from the first orientation. The first sensor and the second sensor can together be configured to sense an impact region of the bumper based on a magnitude and a direction of movement of the bumper relative to the robot body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Dexter Bautista, Isaac Fowler, Andrew Graziani, Marcus R. Williams, Ping-Hong Lu, Erik Schembor
  • Patent number: 11860639
    Abstract: A vehicle can include an on-board data processing system that receives sensor data captured by various sensors of the vehicle. As a vehicle travels along a route, the on-board data processing system can process the captured sensor data to identify a potential vehicle stop. The on-board data processing system can then identify geographical coordinates of the location at which the potential vehicle stop occurred, use artificial intelligence to classify a situation of the vehicle at the potential stop, and determine whether the stop was caused by a road obstacle, such as a speed bump, a gutter, an unmarked crosswalk, or any other obstacle not at an intersection. If the stop was caused by the road obstacle, the on-board data processing system can generate virtual stop or yield line data corresponding to the identified geographic coordinates and transmit this data to a server over a network for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qi Chen
  • Patent number: 11860640
    Abstract: On the basis of semantic labeling information in an image captured by a camera an area in which a boundary of a movable area of a mobile body exists in the image is estimated as an image movable area boundary, on the basis of a distance image detected by a depth sensor an area in which the boundary of the movable area of the mobile body exists in the distance image is estimated as a distance image movable area boundary, the boundary of the movable area is determined on the basis of the image movable area boundary and of the distance image movable area boundary, and an environment map is generated on the basis of the determined boundary of the movable area. The present disclosure can be applied to an in-vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takuto Motoyama
  • Patent number: 11860641
    Abstract: A device may determine, based on image data of an environment that includes a ground surface, depth information indicating distances from a vehicle to different areas of the ground surface. The device may generate, based on the depth information, an overlay to indicate a range of distances from the vehicle. The range of distances may be associated with an area. The device may provide, for display, a video feed including the image data with the overlay on the ground surface. The overlay may provide the perception of depth, with respect to the area, during an operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Bridenbaugh, Craig Allan Lehocky, Jeffrey J. Baker, Jeffrey Kent Berry, Brad Robert Van De Veer
  • Patent number: 11860642
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed relate to autonomous vehicle technology. A follow vehicle having driving controls for use by humans may be equipped with a wireless transceiver, controller, sensors, and interfaces for use with control systems such that the follow vehicle may be caused to follow the lead vehicle without human interaction with the follow vehicle. The follow vehicle may wirelessly receive information from the lead vehicle regarding position, movement, acceleration or deceleration, steering, or other information relevant to following the lead vehicle. The follow vehicle may include sensors for sensing the position, movement, acceleration, deceleration, steering, or other properties of the lead vehicle. The lead vehicle may be equipped with RF transmitters that provide indicators to the follow vehicle, such that the sensors can more readily sense the lead vehicle. Multiple follow vehicles may be wirelessly linked to form a train that is not mechanically linked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AVISHTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Tarun Amla, Jyoti Amla, Keshav Amla
  • Patent number: 11860643
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of autonomous vehicles on a mine site comprises a centralized platform configured to store an inventory list of vehicles travelling on the mine site and configured to determine and communicate missions to the vehicles of a plurality of autonomous vehicles. The autonomous vehicles may comprise an interface configured to communicate with the centralized platform for receiving a predetermined mission, a trajectory control system configured to autonomously control the autonomous vehicle according to the predetermined mission, a detection system configured to detect other vehicles by evaluating sensor information received from at least one sensor of the vehicle, a collision prediction system configured to predict collisions with the other vehicles detected by the detection system, and a V2V communication interface for directly communicating with a V2V communication interface of at least one of the other vehicles on the mine site for exchanging information between the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LIEBHERR MINING EQUIPMENT NEWPORT NEWS CO.
    Inventors: James Whitfield, Jr., Bryan Harper, Jason Altice
  • Patent number: 11860644
    Abstract: A flying device is provided, which includes: an acquisition unit that acquires communication quality information with which position information indicating a position and the communication quality at a position indicated by the position information are associated; a flight position identification unit that identifies a flight position, which is an in-flight position; a path determination unit that determines a flight path on the basis of the communication quality associated with the position information corresponding to the flight position in the communication quality information; and a flight control unit that controls a flying mechanism on the basis of the flight path determined by the path determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KDDI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki Matsuki, Masafumi Hirono
  • Patent number: 11860645
    Abstract: Unmanned vehicles can be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may be used to survey a property in response to or in anticipation of a threat. For example, an unmanned vehicle may analyze information about the property and based on the information deter theft of items on the property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Graham, Kade Scott, Matthew Flachsbart
  • Patent number: 11860646
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a pressure-regulating device, systems that include the device, and related methods. For example, the pressure-regulating device may receive gas from a gas supply at a first pressure (e.g., on a supply side of the pressure-regulating device) and may regulate or reduce the pressure of the received gas to a selected or suitable second, different pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MOBILE I.V. SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Gessler, Fred Vreeman
  • Patent number: 11860647
    Abstract: A thermostatic mixing valve includes a first cold water inlet, a first cold water outlet, a second hot water inlet, a second mixed cold/hot water outlet, a thermostatic member and a shutter operated by the thermostatic member to ensure that the mixed water is kept at a predetermined temperature. A hollow insert is provided along the first cold water inlet and includes longitudinal fins on the outer wall thereof to obtain two separate coaxial passages, for sending the cold water both directly to the first cold water outlet and to the area for mixing it with the hot water through the shutter to supply the mixed water to the second hot water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CALEFFI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Marco Caleffi
  • Patent number: 11860648
    Abstract: A device management system includes a device information transmitting apparatus that collects information about a device, and a management apparatus that communicates with the device information transmitting apparatus via a communication network. At least one of the management apparatus and the device information transmitting apparatus includes an anomaly state input unit that receives an anomaly state of the device, and a designating unit that designates, in accordance with the received anomaly state, first information to be used to identify a cause of the anomaly state of the device. The device information transmitting apparatus includes a first information transmitting unit that transmits the first information to the management apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayasu Kitamura
  • Patent number: 11860649
    Abstract: One variation of a method for monitoring cooling units in a store includes: at a robotic system, during a first scan routine, autonomously navigating toward a cooling unit in the store, recording a color image of the cooling unit, and scanning a set of temperatures within the cooling unit; identifying a set of products stocked in the cooling unit based on features detected in the color image; mapping the set of temperatures to the set of products at a first time during the first scan routine based on positions of products in the set of products identified in the color image; and generating a record of temperatures of the set of products stocked in the cooling unit at the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Simbe Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Durgesh Tiwari, Bradley Bogolea
  • Patent number: 11860650
    Abstract: A monitoring and controlling method for a supporting pose of a hydraulic support includes reading length parameters of props; establishing a pose monitoring mathematic model; based on an interpolation algorithm, obtaining pose parameters including associated pose parameters of an angle of height, an angle of roof attachment, and angles of inclination of the props. The method further includes based on the support pose monitoring process, determining a current supporting pose; obtaining a contour line of a roof above the support, and determining a bulging edge of the roof; obtaining a height difference of a support canopy and the roof; calculating a target height and a target angle of roof attachment of the hydraulic support; based on a pose control mathematic model, calculating a target angle of height of the support; and substituting the target parameters into the pose monitoring mathematic model to solve target lengths of the props.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SHANDONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yunyue Xie, Shaoqi Zhang, Weikang Song, Maolin Tian, Hongtian Xiao, Zhaosheng Meng
  • Patent number: 11860651
    Abstract: An adjustment position of a water output device is provided. A flow volume adjustment component of the water output device has a first position corresponding to a flow volume greater than zero; upon detecting that the flow volume adjustment component reduces the flow volume to that corresponding to the first position, a detection component sends a signal to a control component; and the control component-turns off an electronic waterway switch according to the signal. In this way, when the flow volume is reduced, the electronic waterway switch can be turned off by signal control, and in this case, the flow volume adjusted by the flow volume adjustment component is kept at a particular value, such that the next time water is output by a user using an electronic mode, the failure of water output would not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: XIAMEN AXENT CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Yimin Fang, Dongsheng Yao, Guanjin Zhong
  • Patent number: 11860652
    Abstract: An irrigation controller is disclosed together with associated methods and computer program products. The watering schedule may be formulated based on catch cup data for one or more watering zones of a property to be watered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Brad J. Wardle, Stuart J. Eyring, Jason R. Sims
  • Patent number: 11860653
    Abstract: A system and method prevent product-type contamination in a bulk liquid storage tank. A control unit receives an indication of a storage product type in the bulk storage and a delivery product type in the tanker truck. The control unit compares the delivery product type with the storage product type and controls delivery based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KNAPPCO, LLC
    Inventor: Avraham Shmuel Lichtash
  • Patent number: 11860654
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method, and computer program product embodiments for modifying the functionality of an alternating current (AC) controlling device. An example computer-implemented method includes determining whether an electrical terminal of an AC controlling device is connected to a grounded conductor. In response to determining that the electrical terminal is connected to the grounded conductor, the example computer-implemented method includes generating a first control signal configured to permit the AC controlling device to perform a function. In response to determining that the electrical terminal is not connected to the grounded conductor, the example computer-implemented method includes generating a second control signal configured to prevent the AC controlling device from performing the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventor: Gregory Mack Garner
  • Patent number: 11860656
    Abstract: A low-dropout voltage regulator is provided. The low-dropout voltage regulator includes a differential amplifier pair, a secondary amplification circuit that is self-stabilized, an output circuit, and a frequency compensation circuit. The secondary amplification circuit includes a first amplification transistor and a second amplification transistor. The first amplification transistor includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The second amplification transistor includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The second terminal of the first amplification transistor is electrically connected to the second terminal of the second amplification transistor to form an input terminal of the secondary amplification circuit to be connected to an output terminal of the differential amplifier pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LITE-ON SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: You-Fa Wang, Wei Shi, Darmayuda Imade
  • Patent number: 11860657
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a regulator circuit, a wire, n load circuits, and an analog circuit. The wire is connected to the regulator circuit and including n connection nodes (n is an integer of 2 or more). The n load circuits are connected to the n connection nodes, respectively. The analog circuit is connected between the n connection nodes and the regulator circuit. The analog circuit is configured to generate an average voltage of n voltages at the n connection nodes. The regulator circuit is configured to generate an output voltage supplied to the wire based on the average voltage generated by the analog circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Takada
  • Patent number: 11860658
    Abstract: A regulating circuit including a first direct current (DC)-DC converter configured to apply a first supply voltage to a first node in a first mode and apply the first supply voltage to a second node in a second mode, a first low drop output (LDO) regulator connected to the first node, the first LDO regulator configured to provide an output voltage to an output node by regulating the first supply voltage of the first node, and a second LDO regulator connected to the first node, the second LDO regulator configured to provide an auxiliary current to the first node in the second mode may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikhwan Kim, Takahiro Nomiyama, Jiseon Paek, Jaeyeol Han
  • Patent number: 11860659
    Abstract: A low drop-out (LDO) linear regulator includes: a pass transistor coupled between an input terminal and an output terminal; an error amplifier suitable for amplifying and outputting a difference between a feedback voltage corresponding to an output voltage of the output terminal and a predetermined reference voltage; a buffer including an input terminal which is coupled to an output node of the error amplifier and an output terminal which is coupled to a gate of the pass transistor; a first compensation circuit suitable for driving an equivalent resistance of the output node of the error amplifier to be in inverse proportion to a load current; and a second compensation circuit suitable for driving an equivalent resistance of an output node of the buffer to be in inverse proportion to the load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Joongho Choi, Minsu Park, Jiteck Jung, Seungwoo Shin, Chankyu Bae, Kibaek Kwon, Myunsik Kim, Jiwon Son, Heain Kim
  • Patent number: 11860660
    Abstract: A sub-circuit of a voltage regulator includes a load condition detection circuit and a controllable circuit. The load condition detection circuit is arranged to detect a load transient frequency of a load powered by the voltage regulator, and generate a control signal according to a detection result of the load transient frequency. The controllable circuit is arranged to receive the control signal, wherein an operational behavior of the controllable circuit dynamically changes in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Man Pun Chan, Hao-Ping Hong, Yung-Chih Yen, Chien-Hui Wang, Cheng-Hsuan Fan, Jian-Rong Huang
  • Patent number: 11860661
    Abstract: Systems and methods dynamically assess energy efficiency by obtaining a minimum energy consumption of a system, receiving in a substantially continuous way a measurement of actual energy consumption of the system, and comparing the minimum energy consumption to the measurement of actual energy consumption to calculate a substantially continuous energy performance assessment. The system further provides at least one of a theoretical minimum energy consumption based at least in part on theoretical performance limits of system components, an achievable minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for high energy efficient equivalents of the system components, and the designed minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for the system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MelRok, LLC
    Inventors: Michel Roger Kamel, Paul W. Donahue
  • Patent number: 11860662
    Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to control devices for controlling features or functions of apparatuses and devices. At a high level, the control devices described herein provide an input locus that is positioned within a handle of the control devices. The input locus may have a fixed position such that the control device may resist movement in response to forces applied to the handle in force vectors passing through the input locus. Further, the handle may pivot or rotate about the input locus in response to forces applied to the handle in force vectors that are offset from the input locus to generate inputs and/or controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: EXCEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Harlan J. Bartel, Brian L Nebel
  • Patent number: 11860663
    Abstract: A throttle control mechanism for a surfacing machine, the control mechanism comprising a control member (310) arranged movable (M, D) in a support structure (320), wherein the control member (310) is arranged to be tensely attached to a throttle actuator (330) of the surfacing machine via a tensile engagement member (340), wherein the control member (310) is arranged to be held fixed in the support structure in at least a first throttle position (350), where the control member is arranged biased towards an idle throttle position (370) when released from the first throttle position (350), and wherein the first throttle position (350) and the idle throttle position (370) are configurable to provide an engine speed margin with respect to a clutch engagement engine speed range of the surfacing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Andreas Fogelberg
  • Patent number: 11860664
    Abstract: A control apparatus for actuating hydraulic valve systems includes an actuation section including an oscillating control element and a plurality of control rods provided with a pusher capable of interacting with the control element so as to translate the control rods in a longitudinal direction, a sensor section including a plurality of sensor elements for detecting a movement in a longitudinal direction of said control rods, and an auxiliary section capable of generating a force opposing the motion of the control rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: WALVOIL S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Beneventi, Alessandro Cervi, Matteo Gibellini
  • Patent number: 11860665
    Abstract: An active operating module comprising an operating lever that is pivotably mounted about at least one pivot axis and for each of the at least one pivot axis at least one first active actuating force module, which generates a torque acting on the operating lever, against which a user has to deflect the operating lever out of a rest position. The at least one first active actuating force module is arranged below the at least one pivot axis and is effectively connected directly to the operating lever by a transmission. The active operating module further comprises at least two first active actuating force modules, wherein these comprise in particular a conical region and are arranged at a 90° angle to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ELOBAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Dorn, Ulrich Morent
  • Patent number: 11860666
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing matrix operations using a photonic processor are provided. The photonic processor includes encoders configured to encode a numerical value into an optical signal and optical multiplication devices configured to output an electrical signal proportional to a product of one or more encoded values. The optical multiplication devices include a first input waveguide, a second input waveguide, a coupler circuit coupled to the first input waveguide and the second input waveguide, a first detector and a second detector coupled to the coupler circuit, and a circuit coupled to the first detector and second detector and configured to output a current that is proportional to a product of a first input value and a second input value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lightmatter, Inc.
    Inventors: Darius Bunandar, Nicholas C. Harris, Tyler J. Kenney
  • Patent number: 11860667
    Abstract: A display device comprises: a display panel; a window; and a first pressure sensor. The display panel comprises: a planar portion; a first curved portion connected to one side of the planar portion; and a first side portion connected to one side of the first curved portion. The window is on the display panel. The first pressure sensor overlaps with the first side portion. Here, the first side portion is in a plane different from each of the planar portion and the first curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Choon Hyop Lee, Sang Chul Lee, Ga Young Kim, Kang Won Lee, Seung Hwan Chung, Do Ik Kim
  • Patent number: 11860668
    Abstract: Systems and methods enable a computing system to recognize a sequence of repeated actions and offer to automatically repeat any such recognized actions. An example method includes determining a current sequence of user actions is similar to previous sequence of user actions, determining whether the previous sequence is reproducible and, when reproducible, initiating display of a prompt that requests approval for completing the current sequence based on the previous sequence and, responsive to receiving an indication of approval, completing the previous sequence. Another example method included determining that a first current sequence of user interactions is complete and is not similar to any saved sequence of user interactions, saving the first current sequence as a previous sequence, identifying a second sequence as satisfying a similarity threshold with the previous sequence, and initiating display of a prompt that requests approval for saving the previous sequence as a shortcut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Victor Carbune, Daniel Keysers, Thomas Deselaers
  • Patent number: 11860669
    Abstract: The invention introduces a method, an apparatus and a non-transitory computer program product for storing data in flash memory. The method is performed by a processing unit when loading and executing program code of a flash translation layer to include: dividing storage space of a flash module into a first region and a second region; programming data belonging to a first partition type received from a host side into first physical blocks of the first region only; and programming data belonging to a second partition type received from the host side into the first physical blocks of the first region and the second physical blocks of the second region. With the region division and the policy for writing data into the regions in terms of data characteristics of different partition types, storage space of the flash module would be used more effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SILICON MOTION, INC.
    Inventor: Kuan-Yu Ke