Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are described that facilitate the detection of errors within a remote control for a controlled device. A remote control detects an error condition during operation and transmits information regarding the error to a controlled device. The information regarding the error may be analyzed to determine the source of the problem in the remote control and/or possible solutions.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an object is provided which detects the pitching of a vehicle, and detects the presence of an object the front of the vehicle itself with the pitching being taken into consideration. The apparatus includes a microcomputer that performs image processing for the image of the object to compute the velocity and acceleration of the object present in the picked-up image, and based on the computed acceleration of the object, to determine whether the image was captured when the vehicle itself was balanced. If the image is judged to be an image captured when the vehicle itself was not balanced, then the position of the object present in the picked-up image is computed based on another picked-up image that was captured when the vehicle itself was balanced.

Abstract: A method for navigating a remote control vehicle carrying a video camera which produces a sequence of images, the method comprising tracking a current position of the vehicle as the vehicle moves along a path of motion, determining a location of the current position within a prior image, the prior image having been acquired by the video camera at a previously visited point along the path of motion, and displaying to the operator a graphic display including a representation of the vehicle shown at the location within the prior image.

Abstract: A device includes a sensor which generates a value representative of a position of the device relative to an object surface. The device then uses the value obtained from the sensor to automatically transition from a first state in which the input interface is enabled to a second state in which at least a portion of the input interface is inhibited.

Abstract: A control system includes a controlled apparatus adjusting its operation based on a control signal from an independently cased control apparatus. The controlled apparatus includes an indicator light projector projecting indicator light in an invisible wavelength region so that an exiting direction thereof has a known regularity and change over time, a response signal receiver receiving a response signal in response to light reception from the control apparatus having received the indicator light, a relative position recognizer recognizing a relative position of the control apparatus to its housing based on the response signal, and an adjuster performing predetermined adjustment based on the recognition.

Abstract: A voice-activated, or voice-operated, remote control is adapted to reduce or eliminate the sound output of one or more entertainment appliances in order quiet the environment and thereby improve the effectiveness and accuracy its voice recognition functions. In one aspect of the present invention, the remote control sends a mute command to an appliance under control and listens for a voice command during an ensuing predetermined time period. In a further aspect of the present invention, the remote control determines which one of a plurality of unmute sequences is to be transmitted.

Abstract: A video magnifier includes a body including a base, a table on which an object to be read is placed, the table being disposed on the base, a video camera disposed over the table, an illumination lamp illuminating the object placed on the table and a pointer irradiating a part of the object photographed by the video camera, and a monitor television displaying a video image delivered from the video camera. In the video magnifier, in synchronization with irradiation of the photographed part of the object by the pointer, an illuminance of the illumination lamp is rendered lower than an illuminance of the pointer.

Abstract: A signal transmitting/receiving system and method, signal transmitting apparatus and method, signal processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program are provided. A signal transmitting/receiving system includes a transmitter configured to transmit signals; and a receiver configured to receive the signals transmitted from the transmitter. The transmitter transmits signals using a first signal having an edge at a position that is 1/n from the beginning of a unit segment and a second signal having an edge at a position of (n?1)/n from the beginning of a unit segment, where n is an integer greater than or equal to three, one of the first signal and the second signal representing logic “0” and the other representing logic “1”. The receiver determines a signal type based on a length of an edge interval of either rising edges or falling edges of the signals received.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for guiding from a remote control center a vehicle towards a target object, said remote control center communicating with the vehicle by means of a lagged communication channel, comprising: At the vehicle: (a) Periodically capturing frame images by a camera, assigning to each of said captured frames an associated unique time stamp, and saving within a storage at the vehicle full frame data or partial frame data of captured frames and their associated time stamps; (b) For a plurality of saved frames, sending to the control center via the lagged communication channel full frame data, partial frame data or a combination thereof with the corresponding associated time stamp for each sent frame so that approximate or exact version of the sent frames can be reconstructed and displayed at the control center; At the control center: (c) Receiving said frame data and associated time stamps, sequentially reconstructing frame images from each said sent full and/or partial frame data, a

Abstract: A user interface for displaying information to a user of a universal remote control. The user interface displays to the user a list having a plurality of items each being associated with one or more devices that can be controlled using the remote control and, in response to the user selecting one of the plurality of items from the list, the remote control is caused to access at least one command code for transmission to at least one device setup within the remote control as being associated with the user selected one of the plurality of items and, simultaneously, retrieve Web content which has also been associated within the remote control to the user selected one of the plurality of items from a Web content server which retrieved Web content is displayed in a display of the remote control.

Abstract: A telepresence server is for connection to a telecommunications network for providing access to a reality engine for a plurality of passive users. The reality engine can be controlled by an active user or a professional director through the network or by a local professional director. Active/passive mode displays can be used by the passive users in a passive mode and an active/passive mode display can be used by the active user in an active mode.

Abstract: A robot system and method have been developed which are able to automatically load balls in semi-autogenous grinding mills so as to reduce the time used for maintenance. The robotic system is comprised of a robotic manipulator of at least 5 degrees of freedom, a grip mechanism which allows, in a sequential and programmed way, to take, manipulate and release a ball from a ball holder rack located at one of its sides.

Abstract: An electronic system is presented which includes a remote control device and a first electronic device. In one embodiment, the remote control device is configured to accept a user input signifying a command for a second electronic device, as well as generate the command for the second electronic device, and an indication of the command. In another embodiment, the remote control device is configured to accept a user input that causes a mode change of the remote control device, wherein the mode identifies one of a plurality of electronic devices that receive commands from the remote control device. The remote control device is also configured to transmit the command to the second electronic device, if applicable, and transmit the indication of the command or mode change to the first electronic device. The first electronic device is configured to receive and process the indication to alter operation of the first electronic device.

Abstract: Type-ahead keypad input is described. In an embodiment, keypad inputs that are entered as characters of a search term on a keypad of an input device, such as a television remote control, are received by a television-based client device. A user interface displays the keypad inputs as they are received, and displays an alphanumeric keypad as a representation of the keypad of the input device. The keypad representation of the input device has input keys that include a display of characters, any of which can change after each keypad input is received.

Abstract: A program guidance apparatus includes a recognition word storage unit (105) operable to store a past recognition word that is recognized by speech recognition in the past, a viewing history word storage unit (106) operable to store viewing history words that are the information of a viewed program and a dictionary creating unit (103) operable to create a customized recognition dictionary that is created by adding the past recognition word and viewing history words that are not included in the basic recognition dictionary to the basic recognition dictionary and another customized recognition dictionary to which weights are assigned using “item weight coefficient” according to the categories of words and “history weight coefficient” according to whether or not the word is recorded as a past recognition word or viewing history words.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a virtual pan/tilt camera system and method for use with vehicles, and particularly ground vehicles (MGVs). The disclosure utilizes autonomous navigation systems (ANSs) used with pan/tilt cameras, but eliminates the pan/tilt cameras substituting a plurality of video cameras. Each video camera is mounted in a fixed orientation on the vehicle and covers a selected angular range of lateral view. Commands from the ANS are mapped to selected addresses where the video data from the video cameras are stored, and appropriately transformed data from the selected addresses are input to the ANS. Computers and software in the MGV receive video data from the cameras and stitch the imagery together into a single panoramic view. Video data from cameras with overlapping fields of view are used to simulate the view of stereo cameras.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display device with a reflective mode using external light and a transmissive mode using a light source comprising a light source (11) used in the transmissive mode, a liquid crystal panel (12), arranged over the light source, for operating as display element and a diffusing optical element (13), arranged over the liquid crystal panel, for having a scattering state in the reflective mode and having a non-scattering state in the transmissive mode.

Abstract: A simulation and control system for a machine is disclosed. The simulation and control system may have a user interface configured to display a simulated environment. The machine simulation and control system may also have a controller in communication with the user interface and a remotely located machine. The controller may be configured to receive from the machine real-time information related to operation of the machine at a worksite. The controller may also be configured to simulate the worksite, operation of the machine, and movement of a machine tool based on the received information. The controller may further be configured to provide to the user interface the simulated worksite, operation, and movement in the simulated environment.

Abstract: A video processing apparatus and a method capable of selecting various video signals are provided. The video processing apparatus includes an input unit which receives a video signal select key value by which a video signal select command to select one of the plurality of video signals is recognized; a storage unit which stores a plurality of video signal names corresponding to the plurality of video signals; and a control unit which sets a first display mode or a second display mode according to the duration of the video signal select key value, the first and second display modes indicating opposite orders in which the video signal names corresponding to the plurality of video signal units are displayed, and displays the video signal names sequentially in the set display mode. Thus, a user can conveniently select the video signal.

Abstract: A telepresence server is for connection to a telecommunications network for providing access to a reality engine for a plurality of passive users. The reality engine can be controlled by an active user or a professional director through the network or by a local professional director. Active/passive mode displays can be used by the passive users in a passive mode and an active/passive mode display can be used by the active user in an active mode.

Abstract: A game control unit includes a computer processor for executing game logic stored on a removable memory device. Rich, audiovisual content for the interactive gaming experience is provided on a digital video disk (DVD) in small clips which are selectively played back in a standard DVD player under control of the game control unit. Specifically, the game control unit mimics standard remote control signals to control playback of the audiovisual content by the DVD player.

Abstract: A distributed control system for local or remote control of equipment. The distributed control system provides a communication bridge through a local control panel between a non-real-time network, and a real-time network, such as a controller area network. Both soft real-time and hard real-time networks are suitable, but hard real-time is preferred. Multiple distributed control units are used to control various equipment components. The distributed control system may be applied in any environment. The distributed control system may be applied to a skid-mounted coiled tubing unit.

Abstract: A remote control toy car set comprising a toy car with a housing having a driving device, a camera system, and a first radio module. The camera system is fixed on the housing for taking images of the toy car in motion and generating corresponding image signals, and the first radio module is fixed on the housing and electrically connects with both the driving device and the camera system. The first radio module transfers the image signals from the camera system and receives radio control signals in order to control the operations of the driving device. The remote control toy car set also includes a remote control device for controlling the toy car. The remote control device includes a display for displaying images, a remote control interface for generating control signals, and a second radio module for transferring both the image signals from the toy car to the display and the control signals from the remote control interface to the toy car.

Abstract: A method for navigating in an electronic broadcast channel periodical is proposed. Such an electronic broadcast channel periodical can be transmitted, in addition to a number of video channels, in a corresponding separate channel or can be transmitted integrated in the video channels. In order to control the display, cursor control keys (13-16) of an input means (11) are used in the method. In the method, when the up key (15) or down key (16) is activated, the display is changed in such a way that the list of represented programs of a selected broadcast channel provider is changed in such a way that the chronologically next or preceding program is displayed or it becomes possible to see (30, 60) the chronologically next or preceding list of programs. When the left key (13) or right key (14) is activated, the display is changed in such a way that a list of programs of a different broadcast channel provider is displayed (40).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preprocessing and preprocessing content in an interactive information distribution system. Content is retrieved from a storage medium and encapsulated in accordance to an Internet Protocol (IP) format. The encapsulated content is then uploaded for storage in a stream caching server and for future streaming of content to different types of access networks.

Abstract: A channel loop controller is disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a processor operably associated with a television, an input device operably connected to the processor, a memory device operably connected to the processor, and an output device operably connected to the processor for displaying output data. The input device may be a keypad incorporated within the television, or it may be a remote control unit. If a remote control unit is used, a loop button and a save button may be included within the remote control unit. Executable code stored in memory and executable by the processor enables the apparatus to, in combination with user input, configure one or more channel lists having channels selected by the user. The save button may be used to save a channel to a channel list. The loop button may be used to increment or decrement to the next channel in a channel list.

Abstract: A control device for making safe a fast vehicle comprises a servomechanism that, in response to a reference variable relating to the longitudinal speed of the vehicle, adapts in real time an actuator variable of a motor element of the vehicle until an actuator variable of a steering element corresponds to a reference variable relating to the transverse displacement of the vehicle, which makes it possible to make safe the longitudinal and transverse displacements of the vehicle, even at high longitudinal speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows a remote aircraft to be controlled by a remotely located pilot who is presented with a synthesized three-dimensional projected view representing the environment around the remote aircraft. According to one aspect of the invention, a remote aircraft transmits its three-dimensional position and orientation to a remote pilot station. The remote pilot station applies this information to a digital database containing a three dimensional description of the environment around the remote aircraft to present the remote pilot with a three dimensional projected view of this environment. The remote pilot reacts to this view and interacts with the pilot controls, whose signals are transmitted back to the remote aircraft. In addition, the system compensates for the communications delay between the remote aircraft and the remote pilot station by controlling the sensitivity of the pilot controls.

Abstract: A method of controlling remote control electronic apparatus coupled to a network and a remote control electronic apparatus to be coupled to a network are disclosed. Each remote control electronic apparatus has a CPU and a ROM including a local control program expressed by an independent language which is interpretable by the CPU, a remote control program expressed by a virtual language, a virtual language processing program for processing the virtual language to make it interpretable by the CPU. When one remote control electronic apparatus is required to control another remote control electronic apparatus coupled to the network, the remote control electronic apparatus requests to transmit the remote control program of another remote control apparatus.

Abstract: An enhanced reality maintenance system for operating in a hazardous environment employs an environment modeler which creates a computer model of the environment. An environment renderer creates a plurality of images, each corresponding to a viewing location and orientation, `viewpoint`. A remotely operated manipulator arm is attached at a fixed end to a stationary structure, has a utility package, such as a video camera, attached to a distal end, and actuators which move the manipulator arm to desired locations within the environment. The position and orientation of the manipulator arm, are determined by a position and attitude (P&A) sensing unit. This information is passed to an manipulator arm renderer which creates an image from a prestored model of the manipulator arm, viewed from several different viewpoints. The may be interactively determined as an offset from the current position and orientation of the utility package.

Abstract: An enhanced reality maintenance system operates one or more remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in a hazardous or inaccessible environment. A computer model of the environment is created from spatial parameters provided to the system. Positions and orientations of moving objects are monitored. The projected course of the moving objects is extrapolated and constantly updated. An automated flight planner, receives desired destinations from an operator, analyzes the environment, the projected courses of moving objects and planned trajectories of other ROVs, and selects a planned trajectory of a selected ROV through the environment without collision.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a surface-based vehicle provides three operational modes: a manual operation, a tele-operation, and an autonomous operation. In manual operation, an operator directly manipulates vehicle controls on the vehicle. In tele-operation, the operator controls the vehicle from a remote position. In autonomous operation, the vehicle controls itself based on its position and a predetermined path. The apparatus and method of the present invention provides an orderly transition between manual operation, tele-operation, and autonomous operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic system for controlling the steering of a non-railed transfer crane travelling along a lane indicant. The system comprises a vision sensor for continuously photographing the condition of a crane's actual travelling direction with respect to lanes represented by the lane indicant, and outputting predetermined deviations (distance as well as angle) showing off-centered degrees between the crane's actual travelling direction and the lanes based on the photographed image signal, and a deviation processor for outputting a control signal to a motor driver so that the crane can travel toward removing the deviation distance. By properly changing a rotative velocity of the crane's wheels, the present invention prevents the crane's travelling direction from being off-centered from the lanes.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling equipment from a remote location is disclosed. A control keypad having a distinctive key arrangement such as an array is used to interact with a display device (e.g. TV), located independently from the control keypad. A control menu is displayed on the display device where the control menu has a background image which substantially matches the distinctive arrangement of the keypad, and a foreground image which is overlaid on the background image to associate menu options with each actuator on the keypad. Finally, responsive to the option selected by the keypad, the corresponding function is executed. The menu system is implemented in the context of a home-bus system such as CEBus.

Abstract: A vehicle remote control system includes at least one remote controlled vehicle and a remote control station for each of the at least one remotely controlled vehicles. Each control station allows a user to control the operation of one of the remote control vehicles. Each remote controlled vehicle includes a camera having a lens with a field of view in a direction toward a forward path of travel for that vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle is a car and includes various sensors for monitoring the operation of various parameters of the vehicle, such as speed. Each car is equipped with an instrument panel located in the field of view of the lens as well as two side rear view mirrors, one attached to a left fender and the other to a right fender, which are also located in the field of view of the lens.

Abstract: A collision avoidance ability for UAV (42) during its non-VFR pre-programmed autonomous flight is achieved by using a forward-looking TV camera (20) which senses visual obstacles in direction of flight. The UAV is equipped with an autopilot which is able of maneuvering and incorporated in a form of flight/mission computer's (10) program. Image processor (18) locks and tracks obstacles in the camera's field of view in real time. It provides the autopilot with information about level of threat and generates appropriate commands. Being warned by the TV camera (20), flight/mission computer (10) initiates appropriate maneuver, in order to avoid possible collision. After that, it returns to interrupted pre-programmed flight. Two forward-looking TV cameras are used to measure a distance between the UAV (42) and the obstacle considering that the level of threat is higher if this distance is less.

Abstract: A radio control toy incorporating a module containing a compact television camera, radio frequency transmitter and radio control receiver is described. The camera incorporates a lens system designed to record point of view impressions from the toy and a microphone to provide impressions of the audio environment for transmission by the radio frequency transmitter to a remote television module. The television module incorporates means to receive the video and audio transmissions from the camera and reproduce them via a television system and audio speaker associated with the television module. A control module allows an operator, viewing the television screen and hearing the audio sounds reproduced, to operate a set of controls associated with a control module and control signals derived from the position of the controls are transmitted by a radio control transmitter in the television module to the radio control receiver in the camera module.

Abstract: An underwater maneuverable vehicle is presented which carries an explosive charge and can be used for immediate removal or destruction of various menaces to navigation and other underwater hazards. The battery powered vehicle is air dropped from a platform which carries an imaging lidar system for detection and is operated and navigationally controlled in conjunction with an imaging lidar system. In accordance with an important feature of this invention, an optical lidar downlink is used to control the submerged underwater maneuverable vehicle from an airborne platform. The downlink is pulse spaced modulated. Command signals are secure, and are decoded aboard the vehicle. Control in speed, heading and depth, as well as command detonation are available using this technique.

Abstract: Real-time video presentations are provided in the field of operator-supervised automation and teleoperation, particularly in control stations having movable cameras for optimal viewing of a region of interest in robotics and teleoperations for performing different types of tasks. Movable monitors to match the corresponding camera orientations (pan, tilt and roll) are provided in order to match the coordinate systems of all the monitors to the operator internal coordinate system. Automated control of the arrangement of cameras and monitors, and of the configuration of system parameters, is provided for optimal viewing and performance of each type of task for each operator since operators have different individual characteristics. The optimal viewing arrangement and system parameter configuration is determined and stored for each operator in performing each of many types of tasks in order to aid the automation of setting up optimal arrangements and configurations for successive tasks in real time.

Abstract: A method of controlling remote control electronic apparatus coupled to a network and a remote control electronic apparatus to be coupled to a network are disclosed. Each remote control electronic apparatus has a CPU and a ROM including a local control program expressed by an independent language which is interpretable by the CPU, a remote control program expressed by a virtual language, a virtual language processing program for processing the virtual language to make it interpretable by the CPU. When one remote control electronic apparatus is required to control another remote control electronic apparatus coupled to the network, the remote control electronic apparatus requests to transmit the remote control program of another remote control apparatus.