External Device Patents (Class 367/96)
  • Patent number: 11486993
    Abstract: A system for estimating a distance between vehicles may include an oscillator, a transmitter, a receiver, a summing circuit, a signal analyzer, a tunable phase shifter, a distance estimator, and/or a vehicle identifier. The oscillator may generate a generated oscillating signal, transmitted by the transmitter. The receiver may receive a processed signal derived by a system of a second vehicle. The summing circuit may add the generated oscillating signal to the received signal to produce the updated oscillating signal. The signal analyzer may detect a spike in amplitude associated with the updated oscillating signal. The tunable phase shifter may shift a phase of the generated oscillating signal by an incremental phase shift amount until a spike in amplitude is detected. The distance estimator may estimate the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on a total phase shift amount and the predetermined wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ahsan Habib
  • Patent number: 11266126
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bat exhibition and viewing system for providing habitat-based bat ecological viewing contents includes: a bat detector including an ultrasonic communication module for detecting an ultrasonic signal of a bat and radiating the ultrasonic signal generated therein to the outside, a signal conversion module for converting the ultrasonic signal of the bat into a social call of an audible band, and an interface module communicating with an external information communication terminal to transmit data received from the signal conversion module; and a viewing contents providing unit installed in the information communication terminal, audibly outputting sound of the bat in accordance with the social call, and extracting intention information matching the social call from pre-learned bat species-specific intention information to visually display the intention information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY
    Inventors: Sun-Sook Kim, Yu-Seong Choi, Lyoun Kim, Byeori Kim
  • Patent number: 11225761
    Abstract: A milling machine, system, and method for adjusting a rotor cutting height adjusts the rotor cutting height to a target cutting height responsive to a control input received at an operator control interface. One or more legs of the milling machine and/or a height of the rotor can be adjusted to adjust the rotor cutting height to the target cutting height. The rotor cutting height can be adjusted based on data from one or more sensors. Each sensor may be a sonic sensor or an image capturing sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Doy, Jason W. Muir, Lee M. Hogan
  • Patent number: 11164078
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product for model selection for training a new dataset is provided. The present invention may include choosing a model from a set of models to be evaluated for training the new dataset, selecting a sample input from a subset of the new dataset, calculating a model activation score for each of the sample inputs in the chosen model, calculating an accumulated model activation score for the chosen model, depending on the model activation score of each of the sample inputs in the chosen model, calculating an accumulated model activation score for each model from the set of models to be evaluated for training the new dataset, and selecting the model for training the new dataset with the highest accumulated model activation score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ke Jin, Yubo Li, Yonghua Lin, Junsong Wang, Qing Wang
  • Patent number: 11078937
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments for a system including an adaptive controller, wherein the system includes a hydraulic actuator including a fluid medium, and a sensor that is disposed on the hydraulic actuator, wherein the sensor is configured to obtain sensor data of the actuator. The system also includes a processor configured to calculate an ultrasonic velocity in the fluid medium using the sensor data, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a temperature of the fluid medium based at least in part on the calculated velocity, and a controller coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator based at least in part on the calculated velocity and determined temperature. Also provided are embodiments for a method for operating the adaptive controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashish Vijay, Harish Venkatesha, Anil Prasad Josyula
  • Patent number: 11067688
    Abstract: An obstacle detection apparatus for vehicles includes: a first ultrasonic sensor for detecting a distance to an obstacle; a second ultrasonic sensor at a position of the vehicle for receiving a reflection wave from the obstacle of an ultrasonic wave from the first ultrasonic wave; a notifier that gives a notification of detecting the obstacle present within a preset distance in one or more of predetermined notification areas including a first notification area for the first ultrasonic sensor, and a second notification area for the second ultrasonic sensor detects the obstacle for the vehicle; and a controller that controls contents to be notified by the notifier. Furthermore, the controller determines whether a first indirect wave distance and a second indirect wave distance are used to determine whether to give the notification of detecting the obstacle in the first notification area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Yasutaka Atarashi, Tsuyoshi Ando, Motonari Ohbayashi
  • Patent number: 10989694
    Abstract: Provided is a rail inspection system capable of accurately detecting a defect of a railroad rail. The system includes: a sensor part group that has a plurality of sensor parts having receiver coils, and first oscillator coils and second oscillator coils corresponding to the receiver coils being arranged in a line parallel in a width direction of a railroad rail to be inspected; an oscillation part that supplies an oscillation signal to each of the first oscillator coils and the second oscillator coils; and a detection part group that has a plurality of detection parts to detect, with respect to an output signal from each of the receiver coils when the sensor part group moves in a laying direction of the railroad rail, a first inspection signal corresponding to a first phase of the output signal and a second inspection signal corresponding to a second phase of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Fine Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuzo Kawabata, Hiroshi Suzuki, Kenji Yamamoto, Akihiko Kandori
  • Patent number: 10986765
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a soil roughness measure. A transducer transmits an ultrasonic signal towards a soil surface and receives a first echo signal of the ultrasonic signal and a second echo signal of the ultrasonic signal. A first distance between the transducer and a first point on the soil surface is calculated based on the first echo signal of the ultrasonic signal. A second distance between the transducer and a second point on the soil surface is calculated based on the second echo signal of the ultrasonic signal. A soil roughness measure of the soil surface is determined based on a difference between the first distance and the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Schnaider, Kevin Crowe
  • Patent number: 10956114
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) hub that selectively determines one or more acoustic characteristics of an environment that includes the A/V hub is described. In particular, the A/V hub may detect, using wireless communication, an electronic device (such as a speaker) in the environment. Then, the A/V hub may determine a change condition, such as when the electronic device was not previously detected in the environment and/or a change in a location of the electronic device. In response to determining the change condition, the A/V hub may transition into a characterization mode. During the characterization mode, the A/V hub may: provide instructions to the electronic device to playback audio content at a specified playback time; determine one or more acoustic characteristics of the environment based on acoustic measurements in the environment; and store the one or more acoustic characteristics and/or a location of the electronic device in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: B&W Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Gaylord Yu, Steven Stupp
  • Patent number: 10940917
    Abstract: A modular, weight-shift controlled watercraft device is disclosed which includes: a modular board removably attachable to a power system. The power system includes a modular power supply system, and a modular propulsion system. The power supply system includes a housing including a battery. The propulsion system includes a modular strut, a modular propulsion pod, and a modular hydrofoil. In one embodiment, the power supply system is removably and mechanically attachable directly to the propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kai Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Montague, Joseph Andrew Brock, Jamieson Edward Schulte, Daniel Elliot Schabb
  • Patent number: 10891499
    Abstract: A target detection method, system and controller. The method comprises: receiving first scan data transmitted by a radar, the first scan data being obtained after the radar performs a first type of scanning on a first target region; receiving image data transmitted by a digital image device, the image data being obtained after the digital image device images a second target region, an overlapping region existing between the second target region and the first target region; according to the first scan data, finding image information corresponding to obstacle targets from the image data so as to identify the types of the target obstacles; when it is determined according to the types of the target obstacles that an obstacle target that needs to be avoided exists, controlling the radar to perform a second type of scanning on the obstacle target that needs to be avoided and tracking same, the precision of the second type of scanning being greater than the precision of the first type of scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Yingying Zhang
  • Patent number: 10836407
    Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a rail is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic transducer positioned to emit an ultrasonic beam onto the rail and receive a refraction beam, the ultrasonic transducer being movable between a first position and a second position. A sensor is operable to measure an angle of a carriage, the carriage being positioned on the rail. A controller is operably coupled to the sensor, the controller having a processor that is responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on the processor to cause the ultrasonic transducer to move to receive refraction beam in response to the measured angle indicating a rail radius of less than a predetermined first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SPERRY RAIL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Alastair James Veitch
  • Patent number: 10787230
    Abstract: A modular, weight-shift controlled watercraft device is disclosed which includes: a modular board removably attachable to a power system. The power system includes a modular power supply system, and a modular propulsion system. The power supply system includes a housing including a battery. The propulsion system includes a modular strut, a modular propulsion pod, and a modular hydrofoil. In one embodiment, the power supply system is removably and mechanically attachable directly to the propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: KAI Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Montague, Joseph Andrew Brock, Jamieson Edward Schulte, Daniel Elliot Schabb
  • Patent number: 10780548
    Abstract: Disclosed is a surface plate cleaning apparatus which cleans the surfaces of surface plates having grooves. The surface plate cleaning apparatus includes an injection unit including an injection head, and at least one first injection nozzle and at least one second injection nozzle, and a moving unit configured to move the injection unit, the at least one first injection nozzle includes a first injection hole to inject a first cleaning solution, the at least one second injection nozzle includes a second injection hole to inject a second cleaning solution, a first separation distance from the upper surface of the injection head to the first injection hole and a second separation distance from the upper surface of the injection head to the second injection hole are different, and a first injection angle of the first cleaning solution and a second injection angle of the second cleaning solution are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SK Siltron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan Min Jung
  • Patent number: 10479383
    Abstract: A system for controlling a level crossing between a railway track and a road, the system comprising a first couple of transmitters and a second couple of transmitters in proximity of a level crossing area; a first couple of receivers and a second couple of receivers opposite to the transmitters with respect to the railway track, the first couple of transmitters and receivers located on a first side of the road and the second couple of transmitters and receivers located opposite to the first side, a control unit sending and receiving signals from said transmitters and receivers, wherein each couple of transmitters transmits a first beam from a first transmitter towards a corresponding first receiver, and a second beam from a second transmitter towards an opposite second receiver, the control unit activates sending at least one second beam and sends a warning message and/or close bars of the level crossing upon interruption of at least one first beam due to the presence of the train on the railway track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jeffrey Fries, William Shields
  • Patent number: 10370888
    Abstract: A door system for a public transit vehicle with at least one door opening and a door that closes this door opening includes a sensor unit, which does three-dimensional and touch-free scanning of a passenger compartment in the area of the door opening and at least one communication element for the context-based communication with passengers based on readings by the sensor unit. A process for monitoring and controlling door systems of a public transit vehicle are also provided including the steps of touch-free and three-dimensional scanning of a passenger compartment in the area of a door opening with a sensor unit and measuring distances, shapes, and movements of objects by evaluating the readings of the touch-free and three-dimensional scanning. The process also includes issuing context-based information to affected passengers via a communications system, whereby the information is based on readings from the sensor unit. A process for monitoring and controlling such a door system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: GEBR. BODE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alfons Harding, Benjamin Scheffer
  • Patent number: 10281260
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products related to a cable-based measuring system. The cable-based measuring system includes a cable, comprising an inner cable member configured to move linearly within an outer cable housing. The measuring system also includes a measuring device configured to generate measurement information regarding movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing using one or more encoders. A computer system receives the measurement information from the measuring device. The measurement information indicates length as a function of time, and represents three orthogonal dimensional measurements of a three-dimensional object. Based on the measurement information, the computer system identifies a length of each dimensional measurement, including a length, a width, and a height of the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Packsize LLC
    Inventor: Niklas Pettersson
  • Patent number: 10259097
    Abstract: An embodiment comprises: a lower plate; an upper plate which is disposed on the lower plate and rotates; a carrier which receives a wafer and is disposed on the lower plate; and a sensor unit for irradiating light to the wafer received in the carrier, detecting light reflected by the wafer, and outputting detection data according to the detection result, wherein the sensor unit rotates together with the upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SK SILTRON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Shik Park
  • Patent number: 10227738
    Abstract: A road paver includes a screed for applying a material layer to a foundation and a layer thickness detecting device for detecting the thickness of the applied material layer. The layer thickness detecting device includes a first sensor for detecting a first distance from the applied material layer and a second sensor for detecting a second distance from the foundation. The layer thickness detecting device is securely attached to the screed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: MOBA MOBILE AUTOMATION AG
    Inventors: Alfons Horn, Dominik Horn, Thomas Hiltenkamp, Marcus Watermann
  • Patent number: 9888357
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying a user of a smart object inside a moving vehicle and as well as automatic detection and calculation of a time and a location when and where the vehicle has been parked. The systems and methods are capable to enable the identification of the user of an object inside a moving entity based on the orientation of the object to be localized as well as the movement direction of the moving entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: QATAR UNIVERSITY QSTP-B
    Inventor: Hamid Menouar
  • Patent number: 9630629
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed to provide a sensor unit configured to sense a living body within a vehicle and to control the vehicle according to the sensed data. A sensor unit is configured to sense infrared light emitted from one or more areas inside the vehicle. A blocking unit is located between the sensor unit and the one or more areas inside the vehicle. A controller is configured to control at least one of the blocking unit or the sensor unit so as to vary an amount of infrared light that the sensor unit is able to receive through the blocking unit from the one or more areas inside the vehicle. The controller determines, based on a variation in the amount of infrared light received by the sensor unit, whether or not a living body is present inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungmin Kim, Byeongrim Jo, Juhnho Park
  • Patent number: 9601020
    Abstract: A collision determination device determines the possibility of collision between a host vehicle and the other object on the basis of a shortest arrival time calculated by a shortest arrival time calculation unit and a passage time at each point of the host vehicle acquired by a vehicle route candidate acquisition unit. In this way, even if a locus to be taken by the other object is not generated, the shortest arrival time at which the other object can arrive at each point of the route candidate of the host vehicle with a predetermined first displacement is calculated, thereby determining the possibility of collision between the host vehicle and the other object. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a computational load for determining collision and to accurately determine collision between the host vehicle and the other object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Aso, Toshiki Kindo, Katsuhiro Sakai, Masahiro Harada
  • Patent number: 9581694
    Abstract: A method for operating an ultrasonic system having a multiplicity of ultrasonic sensors is disclosed. The sensors are arranged distributed on a motor vehicle and are actuated in measuring cycles for the emission of an ultrasonic signal, where the measuring cycles are repeated. An object in the surroundings of the motor vehicle is detected by a detection device, different from the ultrasonic system, of the motor vehicle, and a relative position of the object relative to the motor vehicle is determined. The number of ultrasonic sensors which are actuated within one measuring cycle is then defined as a function of the current relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Heimberger, Heinrich Gotzig
  • Patent number: 9565503
    Abstract: In one arrangement, a person's position in a movie auditorium is discerned by detection of audio signals from two or more speakers, and the person is then assigned a role or task in a game based on this discerned location. In another arrangement, a person's current position in a home listening environment is similarly discerned; this position information is used to control the balance of complementary audio channels of a home audio system, so that the audio “sweet spot” is located at the person's current position. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Tony F. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9488723
    Abstract: A method of controlling a drive-thru operation of a quick-service restaurant (QSR) includes detecting using a range finding device, when a vehicle enters a drive-thru proximity zone of the QSR; measuring a plurality of range data of the vehicle entering the drive-thru proximity zone; transmitting simultaneously the plurality of range data to a controller device; calculating at the controller device, a dwell time of the vehicle based on the plurality of range data; determining at the controller device, whether the dwell time of the vehicle exceeds a pre-set dwell time threshold; transmitting the dwell time of the vehicle to a cloud server when a violation occurs; and instructing a central station from the cloud server to send a notification message to the QSR when the dwell time of the vehicle exceeds the pre-set threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Universal Atlantic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Elkins, Stuart Bercun
  • Patent number: 9403278
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and picking up a waste receptacle, the system being mountable on a waste-collection vehicle, and including an arm for grasping the waste receptacle, a processor, a camera, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and an arm-actuation module. The processor is configured for generating a pose candidate based on an image captured by the camera, verifying that the pose candidate matches a template representation stored on the medium, and calculating a location of the waste receptacle. The arm-actuation module can be configured to automatically move the arm in response to the calculated location, in order to grasp the waste receptacle, lift, and dump the waste receptacle into a waste-collection vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Waterloo Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Leo Peter Van Kampen, Justin Szoke-Sieswerda, Brandon Castellano, Kenneth Alexander McIsaac
  • Patent number: 9399276
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus which can perform power supply, signal transmission, and communication in a non-contact type to respective equipments in a polishing head and/or a polishing table by providing a non-contact type transmission connector having no physical contact point on at least one of the polishing head and the polishing table is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes a non-contact transmission connector provided on at least one of the polishing table and the polishing head and configured to transfer electric power or signals or to perform communication between a stationary unit and a rotating unit which face each other in a non-contact manner. The electric power or the signals are transmitted or communication is performed between equipment provided in at least one of the polishing table and the polishing head, and the outside of the polishing table or the polishing head through the non-contact transmission connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Keisuke Sakata
  • Patent number: 9261361
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods enhance depth perception, e.g., the depth perception of a human being using an apparatus worn on the user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventor: Kenneth Cottrell
  • Patent number: 9165462
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling traffic, the method comprising: when a sensing terminal sends a wireless signal, the intensity of the wireless signal sent by the sensing terminal is determined by wireless sensor nodes (101) located on both sides of a road, and the determined intensity is passed to an information processing module (102); the information processing module (102); the information processing module (102) controls the state of a traffic light according to the change in the intensity determined by the wireless sensor nodes (101). By means of the present application, the state of pedestrians crossing the road can be automatically determined, and the traffic light can be automatically adjusted, so as to ensure the safety of pedestrians effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: CHINA ACADEMY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Weiguo Ma
  • Patent number: 9152526
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating the state of health of an object sensing fusion system. Target data from a vision system and a radar system, which are used by an object sensing fusion system, are also stored in a context queue. The context queue maintains the vision and radar target data for a sequence of many frames covering a sliding window of time. The target data from the context queue are used to compute matching scores, which are indicative of how well vision targets correlate with radar targets, and vice versa. The matching scores are computed within individual frames of vision and radar data, and across a sequence of multiple frames. The matching scores are used to assess the state of health of the object sensing fusion system. If the fusion system state of health is below a certain threshold, one or more faulty sensors are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shuqing Zeng, Yilu Zhang, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi, Mutasim A. Salman
  • Patent number: 9145286
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an autonomous industrial truck (1), having the following method steps: determining, by means of a measuring apparatus (6) of the autonomous industrial truck (1), whether the industrial truck potentially hits at least one obstacle (7) on the basis of the present movement of said industrial truck (1), determining that point (14) of the industrial truck (1), and determining a maximum velocity for the present movement of the industrial truck (1) on the basis of the determined distance (d), with the result that the industrial truck reliably comes to a standstill in front of the obstacle (7) on the basis of possible braking of the industrial truck (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Pfaff, Christoph Sprunk
  • Patent number: 9030916
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system for monitoring a fire based on a detection of sound field variation. The system for monitoring a fire based on a detection of sound field variation includes: a sound generator outputting a sound wave within a defined space according to input voltage; a sound receiver receiving the sound wave within the defined space and obtaining a sound pressure from the received sound wave; and a fire monitor using a sound transfer function representing a ratio of the sound pressure obtained by the sound receiver to input voltage of the sound generator in a preparation mode to calculate reference sound pressure information, using the sound transfer function in a monitoring mode to calculate current sound pressure information, and comparing the reference sound pressure information with the current sound pressure information to determine whether a fire occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kang-Ho Park, Sung Q Lee
  • Patent number: 9013958
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for positioning submarine pipeline robots and method. The device comprises a pressure wave generator and a device for pressure wave acquiring and processing. The method comprises the following steps of (1) determining the generation mode; (2) acquiring pressure signals; (3) filtering pressure signals; (4) dividing the filtered pressure signals of into the same group; (5) identifying the data during this period in real time; (6) determining the moving state of the robot in the pipeline; (7) calculating the position of the robot in the pipeline; (8) ending the operations, otherwise repeating Step 4 to Step 7 continuously. The present invention has the advantages that the position of submarine pipeline robots can be located in real time. In addition, the severe environment around the pipelines can hardly affect the performance under this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Huaguang Zhang, Jinhai Liu, Jian Feng, Jilei Li, Xiangxiang Wei, Da zhong Ma, Zhen wei Liu, Xin gang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8766846
    Abstract: A vehicle with an accident prevention system is disclosed. The vehicle also has a foot brake for stopping the vehicle. The system includes a sensor arrangement for sensing an object behind a rear end of the vehicle that generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object within range behind the vehicle. The sensor arrangement includes passive IR sensors or reflected pulse sensors such as sonar or radar sensors on the rear end. A controller generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement. A brake applicator is operatively coupled to the brake to stop the vehicle when the controller generates a response signal. Conveniently the system includes an alarm for sounding an alarm signal. A method for preventing an accident where a vehicle which is reversing at low speed collides with a person is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Surveillance Guard Co Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Bruce Leigh Kiehne
  • Patent number: 8693285
    Abstract: Disclosed are a sound generation system, an ultrasonic wave emitting device, and an ultrasonic wave emitting method which utilize the principle of parametric speakers (which uses the difference between frequencies of two ultrasonic waves) and which are capable of allowing target persons in a prescribed area to hear a sound only when a mobile body approaches said prescribed area. An alert system (10) has an ultrasonic wave emitting device (100) mounted on a mobile body (200), and an ultrasonic wave emitting device (300) permanently installed near an area (A101). The ultrasonic wave emitting device (300) emits a first ultrasonic wave towards an area at least including the aforementioned area (A101), and meanwhile, the ultrasonic wave emitting device (100) emits a second ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic emitting device (100) forms the second ultrasonic wave by means of modulating the ultrasonic wave of frequency f1 with an audible signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ayase Watanabe, Takashi Motoyama, Koji Arata, Tatsuyuki Negishi, Takafumi Tokuhiro
  • Patent number: 8686326
    Abstract: In certain aspects, this invention is a “control system” that detects and minimizes (or otherwise optimizes) an angle between vehicle centerline (or other reference axis) and vehicle velocity vector—as for JDAM penetration. Preferably detection is exclusively by optical flow (which herein encompasses sonic and other imaging), without data influence by navigation. In other aspects, the invention is a “guidance system”, with optical-flow subsystem to detect an angle between the vehicle velocity vector and line of sight to a destination—either a desired or an undesired destination. Here, vehicle trajectory is adjusted in response to detected angle, for optimum angle, e.g. to either home in on a desired destination or avoid an undesired destination (or rendezvous), and follow a path that's ideal for the particular mission—preferably by controlling an autopilot or applying information from navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Arete Associates
    Inventors: John C. Dennison, David C. Campion
  • Patent number: 8531916
    Abstract: A human-machine interface system adapted to track movement of an object in air is disclosed. In one aspect, the human-machine interface includes an acoustic transmitter, an acoustic receiver, and logic configured to apply a calculated inverse matrix of an impulse signal transmitted by the acoustic transmitter to a signal received by the acoustic receiver, wherein movement of the object is used to control the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Tobias Gulden Dahl, Gudbrand Eggen
  • Patent number: 8451689
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultrasonic apparatus with an adjustable horn. The ultrasonic apparatus comprises a transmission device, a horn and an ultrasonic transceiver device. The horn and the transmission device are geared by a helical gear. The ultrasonic transceiver device is connected to the end of the helical gear. When the transmission device moves the horn to a first position, the ultrasonic transceiver device is applied for on/off control; while the transmission device moves the horn to a second position, the ultrasonic sensor is applied for digital control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Lite-On It Corporation
    Inventors: Tzu-Nan Chen, Yi-Min Lin
  • Patent number: 8451690
    Abstract: A control method for use with a lighting system is provided. The lighting system includes a light source and an ultrasonic transceiver. The control method includes steps of: measuring the time of an ultrasonic signal emitted from the ultrasonic transceiver and reflected by the object to reach the ultrasonic sensor to obtain a time of flight; calculating a distance between the object and the ultrasonic transceiver according to the time of flight; defining at least one control region according to the distance; and moving the object to the control region, thereby performing a controlling operation corresponding to the control region and adjusting an optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Lite-On It Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng-Fa Hou, Tzu-Nan Chen
  • Patent number: 8406082
    Abstract: A structure intrusion may be determined. For example, a signal may be received corresponding to a wave propagating in the structure. Next, the received signal may be analyzed. Based on the analysis in a “passive mode”, a breach may be determined to have occurred in the structure when the received signal indicates that at least one aspect of the received signal crosses a predetermined threshold. Furthermore, based on the analysis in an “active mode”, a breach may be determined to have occurred in the structure when comparing the received signal to a baseline waveform indicates that at least one aspect of the received signal varies from the baseline waveform by a predetermined amount. The wave propagating in the structure may comprise an elastic wave and may be in an acoustic frequency range or in an ultrasonic frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer Michaels, Thomas Michaels, Gisele Bennett
  • Publication number: 20130070563
    Abstract: Detecting an object using sound waves includes outputting a sound wave from a transducer, receiving an echo after outputting the sound wave, obtaining a threshold value based on the echo and plural other echoes that are within a predetermined range of the echo, and determining if the echo is a result of the sound wave based on the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: IROBOT CORPORATION
    Inventor: IROBOT CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8385153
    Abstract: A lighting system comprising a lamp arranged to transform electricity into a light beam having properties such as intensity, colour, colour temperature, direction and beam cone angle; a light control means arranged to adjust said light beam properties; at least one ultrasonic transmitter arranged to transmit ultrasonic signals; a plurality of spaced apart ultrasonic receivers arranged to receive reflected ultrasonic signals; and a processing means arranged to determine for each of said receivers time-of-flight signals representing the time differences between said transmitted signals from said at least one transmitter and the associated received reflected ultrasonic signals from said receiver, and to send control signals to said light control means in dependence of the combination of said time-of-flight signals for each of said receivers. Said ultrasonic transmitter and one of said ultrasonic receivers are arranged on a rotating means for moving along the circumference of said lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Lite-On IT Corporation
    Inventors: Tony Petrus Van Endert, Tzu-Nan Chen
  • Patent number: 8351296
    Abstract: An ultrasonic lamp control method is provided. The control method includes the following steps. The ultrasonic lamp emits a first burst, and detects whether a first echo is received within a fixed period of time after the emission of the first burst. If the first echo is received within the fixed period of time, then the ultrasonic lamp neglects the first echo and emits a second burst. The ultrasonic lamp detects whether a second echo is received within the fixed period of time after the emission of the second burst. If the second echo is received within the fixed period of time, then the ultrasonic lamp enters a control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Lite-On IT Corporation
    Inventors: Chao-Wen Hu, Yi-Chung Lee
  • Publication number: 20120326917
    Abstract: A vehicle with an accident prevention system is disclosed. The vehicle also has a foot brake for stopping the vehicle. The system includes a sensor arrangement for sensing an object behind a rear end of the vehicle that generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object within range behind the vehicle. The sensor arrangement includes passive IR sensors or reflected pulse sensors such as sonar or radar sensors on the rear end. A controller generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement. A brake applicator is operatively coupled to the brake to stop the vehicle when the controller generates a response signal. Conveniently the system includes an alarm for sounding an alarm signal. A method for preventing an accident where a vehicle which is reversing at low speed collides with a person is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: PRESERVATION SOLUTIONS PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Bruce Leigh KIEHNE
  • Patent number: 8331193
    Abstract: A lighting system comprising a lamp arranged to transform electricity into a light beam having properties such as intensity, color, color temperature, direction and beam cone angle; a light control means arranged to adjust said light beam properties; an ultrasonic transmitter arranged to transmit ultrasonic signals; an ultrasonic receiver arranged to receive reflected ultrasonic signals; wherein said ultrasonic transmitter and/or receiver are mounted on a rotatable carrier, wherein driving means are present to rotate said carrier; and a processing means arranged to send an ultrasonic pulse repeatedly through said transmitter during rotation at a multitude of angular positions of said carrier and to determine after each pulse is sent if said receiver receives a reflected ultrasonic signal with an amplitude exceeding a predetermined threshold within a predetermined period, and to send control signals to said light control means in dependence of said determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Lite-On It Corporation
    Inventors: Tony Petrus Van Endert, Tzu-Nan Chen
  • Patent number: 8332181
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a small size hand-held device for aligning two or more structures by attaching the device to master and slave structures and providing real-time position/orientation data to enable the accurate alignment of the structures. The handheld device includes a sensor box containing at least one inertial sensor, such as for example, a gyroscope (such as a disc resonator gyroscope) or an accelerometer. The handheld device further includes an alignment socket designed to mate with an alignment key that may be fixed to the structures to be aligned, and a display for showing a position data output received from the at least one inertial sensor. The handheld device may further include a processor for processing and outputting data to the display and/or the handheld device may include a transmitter for transmitting the data to a central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Yong Liu, A. Dorian Challoner
  • Patent number: 8305843
    Abstract: A human-machine interface system adapted to track movement of an object in air is disclosed. In one aspect, the human-machine interface includes an acoustic transmitter, an acoustic receiver, and logic configured to apply a calculated inverse matrix of an impulse signal transmitted by the acoustic transmitter to a signal received by the acoustic receiver, wherein movement of the object is used to control the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Tobias Dahl, Gudbrand Eggen
  • Patent number: 8289810
    Abstract: A winding state evaluation method of a tape film includes a step of determining the attenuation rate of ultrasonic wave for the tape film (2) by sending an ultrasonic wave to the tape film (2) in parallel with the direction of the axis of rotation of a core (1) and receiving its reflected wave or transmitted wave, and a step of evaluating the winding state of the tape film (2) from the distribution state of the attenuation rate in the tape film (2). The method can judge the winding state of the tape film objectively by presenting its numerical representation concretely without relying upon sensual evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisatsugu Tokunaga, Masanori Higano
  • Patent number: 8223589
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a gesture recognition apparatus and method. The gesture recognition apparatus includes an ultrasound transmitter, an ultrasound receiver, a dividing module, a computing module, a gesture library, and a recognition module. The dividing module is configured to divide reflected ultrasound signals into a plurality of frames according to time intervals. The computing module is configured to obtain an eigenvalue of each frame. The classifying module is configured to filter the eigenvalues to obtain gesture eigenvalues, and to obtain a matrix of probabilities of the gesture eigenvalues. The recognition module is configured to search reference matrices of probabilities from the gesture library for matching with the matrix of probabilities, and to recognize the gesture eigenvalues as a reference gesture corresponding to the reference matrix of probabilities if the reference matrix of probabilities is found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Ling-Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 8154953
    Abstract: A fish locating system combines the functionality of a remote controlled miniature electric boat with an underwater sonar system. The watercraft is provided with a sonar transponder attached to an exterior deck. The sonar transponder wirelessly transmits sonar readings including bottom depth and terrain, schools of fish, underwater obstructions, water temperature, and the like, to the watercraft's wireless remote controller's display screen. The remote controller comprises a display screen that visually depicts the sonar scan in real-time. In use, a person can be on shore or on an anchored boat while performing underwater reconnaissance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventors: Henry F. Sims, Rex P. Cooper