Automatic And/or With Time-delay Means (e.g., Automatic Starting And/or Stopping) Patents (Class 318/445)
  • Patent number: 12043121
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Nikolai Romanov, Michael J. Dooley, Paolo Pirjanian
  • Patent number: 12045051
    Abstract: An autonomous running vehicle transmits a camera image around the vehicle photographed by a camera to a remote monitoring center. An obstacle is detected on the basis of information obtained from autonomous sensors including the camera. When an obstacle is detected, the autonomous running vehicle is automatically stopped. The remote monitoring center determines, when the autonomous running vehicle automatically stops, whether or not the run of the autonomous running vehicle is permitted to restart on the basis of the received camera video. When it is determined that the autonomous running vehicle can be restarted, a departure signal is transmitted to the autonomous running vehicle. When the departure signal is received from the remote monitoring center, the autonomous running vehicle restarts running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Taguchi, Makoto Morita
  • Patent number: 12032371
    Abstract: An autonomous running vehicle transmits a camera image around the vehicle photographed by a camera to a remote monitoring center. An obstacle is detected on the basis of information obtained from autonomous sensors including the camera. When an obstacle is detected, the autonomous running vehicle is automatically stopped. The remote monitoring center determines, when the autonomous running vehicle automatically stops, whether or not the run of the autonomous running vehicle is permitted to restart on the basis of the received camera video. When it is determined that the autonomous running vehicle can be restarted, a departure signal is transmitted to the autonomous running vehicle. When the departure signal is received from the remote monitoring center, the autonomous running vehicle restarts running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Taguchi, Makoto Morita
  • Patent number: 12024069
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an interior configuration of a vehicle following a collision. Sensor data that includes, or is derived from data that includes, data collected by one or more sensors is received, and a vehicle accident condition indicative of an accident having occurred is detected by processing the sensor data. After detecting the vehicle accident condition, an actuator component is caused to prevent a passenger from adjusting an interior vehicle component outside a predetermined range of physical configurations, while allowing the passenger to adjust the interior vehicle component within the predetermined range of physical configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott T. Christensen, Brian M. Fields, Stephen R. Prevatt, Steve Roberson
  • Patent number: 11970089
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an interior configuration of a vehicle following a collision. Sensor data that includes, or is derived from data that includes, data collected by one or more sensors is received, and a vehicle accident condition indicative of an accident having occurred is detected by processing the sensor data. After detecting the vehicle accident condition, an actuator component is caused to prevent a passenger from adjusting an interior vehicle component outside a predetermined range of physical configurations, while allowing the passenger to adjust the interior vehicle component within the predetermined range of physical configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott T. Christensen, Brian M. Fields, Stephen R. Prevatt, Steve Roberson
  • Patent number: 11961610
    Abstract: A digital communication module for transmission of data from a medical device is disclosed. In an example, a digital communication apparatus includes an input interface configured for communicative coupling to a medical device and an output interface configured for communicative coupling to a medical network. A processor of the digital communication apparatus receives a configuration file that specifies one input port of the input interface and at least one output port of the output interface, a first data format, and a second data format. The processor installs drivers for the input and output ports specified by the configuration file, provisions the input interface with the specified input port to receive medical data from the medical device in the first data format, and provisions the output interface with the at least one specified output port to transmit the received medical data using the first data format and the second data format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Bhavesh S. Padmani, Vithoba Hugar, Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy Golla
  • Patent number: 11953899
    Abstract: An autonomous running vehicle transmits a camera image around the vehicle photographed by a camera to a remote monitoring center. An obstacle is detected on the basis of information obtained from autonomous sensors including the camera. When an obstacle is detected, the autonomous running vehicle is automatically stopped. The remote monitoring center determines, when the autonomous running vehicle automatically stops, whether or not the run of the autonomous running vehicle is permitted to restart on the basis of the received camera video. When it is determined that the autonomous running vehicle can be restarted, a departure signal is transmitted to the autonomous running vehicle. When the departure signal is received from the remote monitoring center, the autonomous running vehicle restarts running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Taguchi, Makoto Morita
  • Patent number: 11881798
    Abstract: A motor drive control apparatus includes energization systems for energizing a motor having a plurality of independent winding sets, with the energization systems corresponding one-to-one to the winding sets. A plurality of sensors is provided for each of the energization systems. A controller is provided for each of the energization systems and controls energization of the corresponding winding set based on output signals of the corresponding sensors. A plurality of sub power supply paths is provided for their respective energization systems. Each sub power supply path connects a power supply path for supplying power to the corresponding sensors and a power supply path in another energization system. A semiconductor switch is provided for each of the sub power supply paths, and, between two different energization systems, when one of the two energization systems exhibits a sensor power supply failure, electrically connects the power supply paths of these two energization systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomio Sakashita
  • Patent number: 11881805
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an interface circuit of a motor driving apparatus, the interface circuit comprising a power circuit unit for controlling driving of a motor, and a control panel unit which controls the power circuit unit and provides a user interface, wherein the power circuit unit further comprises a second MCU which controls a relay and an additional device unit and detects an operation state of the additional device unit, and the second MCU can communicate with a first MCU of the control panel unit via a communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Gyu Ryu, Chun Suk Yang, Jong Wook Jeon, Min Hun Chi
  • Patent number: 11658597
    Abstract: A method comprising: receiving a first current measurement that is taken at a first predetermined time instant; receiving a second current measurement that is taken at a second predetermined time instant; classifying the first current measurement as corresponding to one of a plurality of electrical signals, the first current measurement being classified based, at least in part, on a duty cycle pattern of the plurality of electrical signals; classifying the second current measurement as corresponding to another one of the plurality of electrical signals, the second current measurement being classified based, at least in part, on the duty cycle pattern of the plurality of electrical signals; and adjusting a duty cycle of at least one of the electrical signals based on the first current measurement, the classification of the first current measurement, the second current measurement, and the classification of the second current measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Anton Babushkin, Serhii Korol, Yaroslav Smirnov, Dmytro Sakharov, Masahira Kurihara, Kamyar Khosravi, Vadym Khudobets
  • Patent number: 11513516
    Abstract: An autonomous running vehicle transmits a camera image around the vehicle photographed by a camera to a remote monitoring center. An obstacle is detected on the basis of information obtained from autonomous sensors including the camera. When an obstacle is detected, the autonomous running vehicle is automatically stopped. The remote monitoring center determines, when the autonomous running vehicle automatically stops, whether or not the run of the autonomous running vehicle is permitted to restart on the basis of the received camera video. When it is determined that the autonomous running vehicle can be restarted, a departure signal is transmitted to the autonomous running vehicle. When the departure signal is received from the remote monitoring center, the autonomous running vehicle restarts running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Taguchi, Makoto Morita
  • Patent number: 11431274
    Abstract: A closed-loop circuit is detected based on a short-circuit failure of a motor control switching element of a motor drive circuit and a cutoff switching element. A motor control device including a motor, a motor drive circuit (10a) that is connected to a power supply device and the motor and controls the output of the motor, and a processing unit for detecting a closed-loop circuit formed by the motor and the motor drive circuit (10a) based on a short-circuit failure of switching elements arranged in the motor drive circuit (10a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsunori Okubo
  • Patent number: 11404992
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a plurality of control units corresponding to a plurality of windings which is provided in a motor. The plurality of control units includes a master control unit, a slave control unit, and at least one abnormality monitoring unit. The slave control unit is configured to generate a power supply control command value using information which is acquired through a path other than communication between the control units and which is held for use in control of supply of electric power to the windings in a normal state in which an abnormality in communication between the control units is not detected and to perform backup control for holding the power supply control command value until the abnormality monitoring unit fixes an abnormality in communication between the control units after detecting the abnormality in communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Nakamura, Hiroshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11381194
    Abstract: An electromechanical motor vehicle power steering system having a multiphase, permanently excited electric motor via a controller and supply lines from an onboard power supply of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Gábor Nagy
  • Patent number: 11365580
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an adjusting part on a vehicle, wherein a possible obstacle in an adjustment path of the adjusting part which is to be adjusted can be detected by means of at least one sensor device, in order to block, stop and/or reverse an adjustment movement of the adjusting part. There is provision that at least one status indicator for the at least one sensor device is generated electronically, by means of which data indicator at least two different first and second operating states of the sensor device can be signaled, and for the adjustment movement of the adjusting part at least one current status information item of at least two different status information items relating to the current operating state of the at least one sensor device is signaled in accordance with the status indicator, in order to be perceived by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERG
    Inventors: Matthias Gempel, Manfred Stenzel
  • Patent number: 11354182
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system comprises a computer system comprising a processing unit, an interrupt controller, an internal watchdog, and a computer system reset interface. The system further comprises a watchdog controller comprising a secondary watchdog timer. Expiry of the computer system internal watchdog triggers the interrupt controller to cause the processing unit to collect debug information and triggers the watchdog controller to start a secondary watchdog timer. Expiry of the secondary watchdog timer triggers the watchdog controller to reset the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gaurav Gupta, Sachin Naik, Stefan Martin Schaeckeler, Surajit Ghoshal, Titian Lau
  • Patent number: 11313458
    Abstract: A shift range control apparatus acquires a motor rotation angle signal corresponding to a rotation position of a motor, calculates a motor angle based on a motor rotation angle signal, acquires an output shaft signal corresponding to the rotation position of an output shaft, sets a target rotation angle based on a target shift range and the output shaft signal, drives the motor to cause the motor angle to reach the target rotation angle, determines the shift range based on the output shaft signal, monitors a fault in the output shaft signal, and learns a P-side reference position corresponding to the motor angle in a situation where the engagement member abuts against a first wall portion of the shift range switching mechanism, in a condition that the fault occurs in the output shaft signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11285892
    Abstract: A seat module attached to a seat having mechanical parts for seat actuation in a motor vehicle includes at least one mechanical control cable for the seat actuation, and a module plate formed with a mounting feature for attaching to the seat and a retention feature for attaching the mechanical control cable. An end portion of the mechanical control cable is temporarily stowed on the module plate in a pre-assembled state where the mechanical control cable is attached to the module plate, and the end portion of the mechanical control cable is connected to the mechanical parts of the seat in an assembled state where the module plate with the attached mechanical control cable is securely mounted to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Ann Golen, Kevin Richard Koneval, Ichiro Okuno, Ellen Marisa Kauten
  • Patent number: 11162294
    Abstract: A door control device includes: an electric motor control unit configured to drive, in response to a closing command for closing a door that is driven to be opened and closed by an electric motor, the electric motor; a door closed state detection unit configured to detect a closed state of the door; and a lock command output unit configured to output a lock command to lock a locking device of the door, upon the closed state being detected when a predetermined waiting time has passed after the electric motor was driven by the electric motor control unit in response to the closing command and the closed state was detected by the door closed state detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Fujita, Atsushi Kitabata
  • Patent number: 11149973
    Abstract: A thermostat that is configured to be releasably secured to a wall mountable connector, wherein the wall mountable connector includes a jumper switch that permits an installer or other professional to easily form an electrical connection between different wiring terminals of the wall mountable connector in accordance with how particular field wires are connected to the wiring terminals of the wall mountable connector. The thermostat is further configured to automatically determine the position of the jumper switch of the wall mountable connector, and in some cases, change the control of at least some functionality of the thermostat and/or HVAC equipment depending on the position of the jumper switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Emmons, Travis J. Read
  • Patent number: 11064661
    Abstract: The present invention can provide an optimum sensory temperature and can increase productivity by a system having a variable fan provided in a vinyl greenhouse, receiving optimum temperature (A) and humidity (B), detecting internal temperature (A?) and humidity (B?), calculating temperature (A?) according to the humidity, and providing the temperature (A?) suitable for the humidity (B?) detected through an operational control of the variable fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: KyungHwa Park
  • Patent number: 10934763
    Abstract: A movable barrier operator includes a communication interface configured to receive commands that cause the motor to move the movable barrier. The movable barrier operator further includes a processing circuit configured to cause the motor to automatically move the movable barrier from a first open position toward a closed position and then from the closed position toward a second open position different from the first open position in response to receipt of an intermediate open command by the communication interface. The processing circuit can also cause the motor of the movable barrier operator to move the movable barrier toward the first open position in response to the processing circuit determining that the movable barrier had been obstructed while moving from the first open position toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
  • Patent number: 10870330
    Abstract: In a method for protecting vehicle occupants in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle. It is provided as essential to the invention that at least one structure-borne sound signal is captured by at least one structure-borne sound sensor, the captured structure-borne sound signal is evaluated by at least one evaluation device, the structure-borne sound signal can be produced by at least one person located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and after the capture and evaluation of the structure-borne sound signal at least one control signal is sent to a triggering device of an air supply device to introduce air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Thomas Niemann, Christian Jurgens, Patrick Fuchs, Hauke Baumgartel
  • Patent number: 10844952
    Abstract: A shift range control apparatus switches a shift range by controlling a motor and is applied to a vehicle shift-by-wire system. The shift range control apparatus is configured to: switch an energization phase of a motor for one step of a predetermined energization pattern to one rotation direction or a different rotation direction of the motor in a control for learning a play decrease angle; determine whether a detection value of the output shaft sensor has changed; and learn, as the play decrease angle, an angle of the motor shaft when it is determined that the detection value of the output shaft sensor has changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 10844954
    Abstract: A shift range control device switches a shift range by controlling a drive of a motor, and includes an abnormality monitoring unit and a torque control command unit. The abnormality monitoring unit detects an abnormality occurrence of an intermediate range stop in which the output shaft to which the drive of the motor is transmitted stops in an intermediate range region. The intermediate range region is a range outside a range guarantee region that guarantees the function of each range. When an abnormality of the intermediate range stop occurs, the torque control command unit commands suppression of the torque applied to the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 10753365
    Abstract: A cooling fan module for a heat exchanger or the like, has a motor, a fan driven by the motor and a speed controller connected between the motor and a power supply. The speed controller is configured to operate the motor in a high speed mode and a low speed mode. The speed controller includes a high speed branch and a low speed branch connected in parallel. The low speed branch includes a pulse width modulation circuit configured to reduce an average voltage by a fixed duty ratio to achieve a low speed operation of the motor. By eliminating the conventional voltage dropping resistor, the speed controller reduces the power consumption, thus increasing the efficiency of the module, in the low speed mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Kwok Kuen Tse, Long Yu, Jian Dong, Qiu Yang Zhang, Rui Feng Qin
  • Patent number: 10675762
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for using certain simulated sensors constructed with an accurate localization sensor and a mobile phone to replace/enhance many existing real-life sensors. By using “simulated sensor” to convert localization sensor measurement to real signal outputs that are similar to real distance-sensor outputs, real direction sensor outputs, or real line following sensor outputs, one or more embodiments of the invention may be used to upgrade traditional robots by plugging these simulated outputs to robots' corresponding sensor inputs without the need to rewire or add customized hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shang Ma, Qiong Liu, Patrick Chiu
  • Patent number: 10602007
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a casing, a cover that is movable to an open position to provide access to an interior of the casing, an operation panel configured to receive an input operation and mounted on the casing to be movable between a first position at which the operation panel interferes with the opening of the cover and a second position at which the operation panel does not interfere with the opening of the cover, and a control unit including a processor that is configured to block any input operation received by the operation unit when the operation panel moves to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBE TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Takano
  • Patent number: 10550620
    Abstract: An entrapment detection sensor that detects entrapment caused by an opening/closing body includes an anode sensor electrode and a cathode sensor electrode. The anode sensor electrode is set on the opening/closing body at a location where entrapment caused by the opening/closing body occurs. The cathode sensor electrode is set on the opening/closing body at a location spaced apart by a gap from the anode sensor electrode. The entrapment detection sensor detects a charged object that approaches the anode sensor electrode as an entrapment subject and cancels detection of the charged object that approaches the cathode sensor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Shuji Shitara
  • Patent number: 10554165
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus includes a converter configured to convert AC power of an AC power supply into DC power and outputs the DC power, a DC link unit including capacitors connected in series with each other, an inverter connected in parallel with the DC link unit, and configured to convert the DC power of the DC link unit into AC power for driving a motor, and outputs the AC power, and a short-circuit judgment unit configured to judge that at least one of the capacitors in the DC link unit has shorted in the case where, when the value of a voltage applied to a positive and negative bipolar terminal of the DC link unit is smaller than a first threshold, the value of an input current flowing from the AC power supply into the DC link unit via the converter is larger than a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuta Gotou, Yasuyuki Matsumoto, Masaya Tateda
  • Patent number: 10545469
    Abstract: A system for self-provisioning building equipment includes a main control unit having a processing circuit and a data communications interface and an auxiliary control unit connected with the main control unit via a communications network. The system includes a memory device having an update file stored therein. The update file includes a plurality of partitions, each partition containing provisioning data for a programmable component of the main control unit or the auxiliary control unit. The processing circuit includes a provisioning manager configured to monitor the main control unit and the auxiliary control unit for a predetermined trigger and automatically initiate a provisioning process in response to detecting the predetermined trigger. The provisioning process includes providing the provisioning data from the update file to the programmable component of the main control unit or the auxiliary control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Vivek V. Gupta, Jameel Ahmed, Harrison J. Palzewicz
  • Patent number: 10511241
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a motor driver and a control unit. The motor driver supplies a drive current to a stepping motor. The control unit is configured to control the motor driver to start a supply of the drive current to the stepping motor in response to a start instruction, and increase the drive current to the stepping motor from zero to a predetermined current value stepwise over a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahide Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10325502
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to parking systems and parking methods. One parking system may include: a vehicle having an accelerator, brakes, wheels, sensors, a display, a processor, and memory; a parking assist program stored in the memory and configured to: receive dimensions of a parallel parking spot and the vehicle, project, based on the received dimensions, whether the vehicle can: exit the parallel parking spot with a future leading block, and exit the parallel parking spot with a future trailing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Colella, Nunzio DeCia, Stephen Jay Orris, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10259449
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a hybrid drive device (2) which has an internal combustion engine (3) and an electric machine (4) which can be or is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine (3) and can be operated as a generator, wherein in a normal operating mode a temperature of the electric machine (4) is determined by means of a temperature sensor (14), and operation of the electric machine (4) is permitted only if the temperature is lower than a predefined maximum temperature. There is provision here that in the event of a defect in the temperature sensor (14) an emergency operating mode is carried out in which operation of the electric machine (4) is permitted only with limited power, limited torque and/or over a limited time period. The invention further relates to a hybrid drive device (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Martin Adam, Stefan Schlederer
  • Patent number: 10169975
    Abstract: In a method for detecting carbon dioxide in an enclosed volume, a CO2 detection system is triggered to awaken from a deep sleep state. Once awake, the system queries system sensors to determine the current system parameters, including current CO2 level and temperature. Current and expected CO2 decay rates are calculated, and the system determines whether the current CO2 decay rate is within an expected normal range for an unoccupied enclosed volume. If the volume is static, i.e., not moving, and the CO2 rate is rising and the temperature is rising, a series of alerts are sent to contacts previously set up by the user. If the alerts are not cleared by a user, emergency management personnel are notified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: VI-ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Victor Payment
  • Patent number: 10154822
    Abstract: A computer controlled robot system for positioning a patient for radiation therapy or other medical procedures and the like. The robot is mounted at the top of a vertical shaft extending from the treatment room floor and includes horizontal arms arranged to maximize the available work envelope and eliminate “dead spots” in the envelope that the robot cannot reach. A double redundant coupling system for coupling devices to the robot is provided. A vision based docking system is employed for automatically coupling devices to the robot. Various enhanced safety features are provided, including device specific collision avoidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventors: Toby D. Henderson, Niek Schreuder, Brian Broderick
  • Patent number: 10060527
    Abstract: During changing of a shift range (for example, from P-range to NotP-range), an SBW-ECU determines whether it is in a range-change delay condition (a switching completion time of the shift range is delayed than a normal switching completion time). When it is determined that it is in the range-change delay condition, it is determined whether a target range should be changed to a safer range (for example, P-range). As a result, when it is determined that the target range should be changed to the safer range, the target range is changed to the safer range. Thereby, even if a driver determines that the shift range cannot be changed before the switching completion of the shift range and the driver gets off the vehicle, the shift range can be changed to the safer range (P-range).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Nagata, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 9992367
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a rotatable operation unit for information display and data input and configured to form an image on a sheet includes a tilt drive unit configured to rotate the operation unit, a tilt motor configured to drive the tilt drive unit, a volume sensor configured to detect a rotation position at which the operation unit is rotated, and a CPU configured to control rotation of the operation unit by driving the tilt motor based on a detection result acquired by the volume sensor, wherein the CPU prohibits a first rotation operation for rotating the operation unit to a predetermined position if the first rotation operation is not finished within a first predetermined time, and cancels the prohibition of the first rotation operation if a second rotation operation for rotating the operation unit to a standby position is finished within a second predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Nimura
  • Patent number: 9817385
    Abstract: A machining assistance method and an apparatus using the same are provided. The machining assistance method comprises following steps. Firstly, a circle correction path is received for driving a platform to perform a circular motion. Next, a driving torque of the server driver driving the platform is obtained. Then, whether the driving torque is changed to 0 is determined; if yes, a first position of the platform is recorded. Then, whether the driving torque is changed to a peak is determined; if yes, a second position of the platform is recorded. After that, the server driver is controlled to drive the platform according to a first position and a second position in a machining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shih-Je Shiu, Chien-Yi Lee, Yi-Ying Lin, Po-Hsun Wu, Tsung-Yi Bai
  • Patent number: 9737992
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic automated installation in which at least one robot (2) is used in at least one mode of operation in at least one work zone (3). The installation comprises a closed space (1) equipped with at least one door (4) offering access to at least one operator intervention work station (6) which is situated in said work zone (3) of said robot, and means (7) for detecting the presence of an element (25; 26) in said closed space (1) at said operator intervention work station (6). The detection means (7) are arranged in said closed space (1) to delimit at least two zones (8, 9, 10) and are also associated with means (21) for control of said at least one mode of operation of the robot (2), each zone (8, 9, 10) being associated with one mode of operation of the robot (2). The detection means (7) are positioned a predetermined height from a floor (18) of said space (1), said height being greater than the height of an empty pallet (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: C.E.R.M.E.X. CONSTRUCTIONS ETUDES ET RECHERCHES DE MATERIELS POUR L'EMBALLAGE D'EXPEDITION
    Inventors: Didier Mougin, Gael Cheron
  • Patent number: 9735696
    Abstract: Methods and power conversion systems in which a capacitor degradation detection system includes an adjustable gain amplifier circuit is calibrated by automatic adjustment of at least one amplifier gain to accommodate current and voltage levels of a particular filter circuit in a first mode. Capacitance values of filter capacitors are calculated according to amplified current signals and compared with an acceptable tolerance range to selectively identify a filter capacitor fault or to store calculated capacitance values as base values in an electronic memory in the first mode. During operation in a second mode with the rectifier and inverter on, the adjusted amplifier gain is used to amplify current sensor signals and/or voltage signals, and capacitance values of the filter capacitors are used to selectively identify capacitor degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh M. Bhandarkar, Sinuhe Imuris Benitez Escobar, Nikhil Prasad
  • Patent number: 9706508
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for synchronizing data in a mobile platform. In one embodiment, a method for synchronizing data in a mobile platform is provided. The method includes: receiving a first synchronization signal at a first remote interface unit from a signal generator; receiving a second synchronization signal at a second remote interface unit from the signal generator; and executing a synchronization state machine of the first and second remote interface units based on the first and second synchronization signals to synchronize outputs of the first and second remote interface units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Mitch Fletcher, Thom Kreider, Walter Edward Rupp
  • Patent number: 9327684
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and assistance system for warning of an unauthorized access to a parked vehicle. The process includes a first step for providing a communication as to whether the vehicle is at least partially unlocked. In a second step, in the case of an affirmative communication, the transmission of the current location of the vehicle takes place. In a third step, a comparison is made between the current location with at least one predetermined home location. In a fourth step, in the case in which the current location does not correspond with at least one home location, a wireless transmission of a warning signal to a mobile unit is given. In a fifth step, following the receipt of the warning signal by the mobile unit, a warning that is perceptible optically and/or acoustically and/or haptically is undertaken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Lutz Kleinstück
  • Patent number: 9130495
    Abstract: A motor controller is configured to perform positioning of a rotor of a brushless motor immediately when power supply is turned on, and not after actually receiving a target value related to control for the brushless motor from a main ECU, which determines the target value. The motor controller finishes or is performing the rotor positioning, when the target value is received from the main ECU. For this reason, the motor controller can start rotation control for the brushless motor in accordance with the received target value in a short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirokazu Toyoda
  • Patent number: 9035592
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for controlling a speed of a motor. An apparatus for controlling a spaced of a motor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a PWM conversion unit detecting a hall sensor signal from a motor to output a pulse width modulated signal corresponding to the detected hall sensor signal; a duty detection unit detecting a duty value of the pulse width modulated signal output by the PWM conversion unit; an error calculation unit comparing a PWM duty input from the outside with a duty detected by the duty detection unit to obtain an error; and a speed control unit controlling a speed of a motor based on an error obtained by the error calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bon Young Gu
  • Publication number: 20150115854
    Abstract: A variable frequency motor drive comprises a converter including a rectifier having an input for connection to an AC power source and converting the AC power to DC power. A DC bus is connected to the rectifier circuit. At least one bus capacitor is across the DC bus. An inverter receives DC power from the DC bus and converts the DC power to AC power to drive a motor. A controller is operatively connected to the converter. The controller comprises a speed control controlling the inverter responsive to a speed command to maintain a desired motor speed. A speed foldback control measures DC bus ripple voltage and regulates the speed command responsive to the measured DC bus ripple voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: YASKAWA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Raymond Pottebaum, JOHN ALAN CAIRO, BRIAN W. GEOFFREY, WILLIAM C. PHILLIPS
  • Patent number: 9010549
    Abstract: An apparatus for raising and lowering a carrier for supporting clothes hangers or other hanging articles within a wardrobe closet that includes a tube, brackets for rotatable mounting of the tube, a tubular motor coupled to the tube for rotating the tube, and a base that attaches to a side panel of the wardrobe closet. Two arms each lie on a plane parallel to the base and to the side panel, attach at their ends to the carrier, and are mounted on the base so that they may oscillate and pivot in the plane between two positions, raising and lowering the carrier. At the lowest position the carrier releases from the arms and drop further. Fabric straps are wound onto and unwound from the tube to raise and lower the arms as the tube is rotated. A remote control receiver or programmable device may be used to control operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Kurtis Roland Krohn
  • Patent number: 8973303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (10) for use in an ambient light control system (20) for controlling ambient light entering a space (1) through an opening (2). An ambient light prediction unit (11) provides ambient light prediction values, which are predictions of an ambient light property at the opening (2). An ambient light adjusting unit (12) provides, at different ambient light adjusting time points, an ambient light adjusting signal depending on the ambient light prediction values for an upcoming ambient light prediction time period. The ambient light adjusting signal is adapted for use by an ambient light modifying element (22) for modifying the entering of ambient light into the space (1) through the opening (2). By taking the predicted ambient light conditions at the opening (2) into account, necessary adjustments can be made at temporally spaced ambient light adjusting time points, resulting in fewer disturbances of the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijkle Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Dagnachew Birru
  • Patent number: 8952642
    Abstract: Temperature rise in semiconductor switching element that is part of a power conversion device is estimated to assess the degradation and remaining lifetime of the switching element. This is accomplished with a heat generation amount calculation unit in a calculation processor, where current command values Id* and Iq* and voltage command values vu*, vv* and vw* are used to calculate a chip loss. Current values iu*, iv* and iw* of all output phases are estimated from the current command values. The ON/OFF loss of the chip is represented by a function of an estimated value for a current flowing in each output phase, and the loss can be derived by integration with a PWM carrier frequency f. With respect to a conduction loss, a conduction time is integrated with the estimated current value and a saturation voltage, which is a function of the estimated current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Ayano, Katsumi Ishikawa, Kazutoshi Ogawa, Tsutomu Kominami, Mami Kunihiro
  • Patent number: RE45388
    Abstract: A compact field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based digital motor controller (102), a method, and a design structure are provided. The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) includes a sensor interface (206) configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors (104) and generate conditioned sensor data. The one or more sensors (104) provide position information for a DC brushless motor (108). The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) also includes a commutation control (210) configured to create switching commands to control commutation for the DC brushless motor (108). The commutation control (210) generates commutation pulses from the conditioned sensor data of the sensor interface (206). The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) also includes a time inverter (208) configured to receive the commutation pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wichowski, Harold J. Hansen, Kevin G. Hawes