Position Responsive Patents (Class 700/13)
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Patent number: 7720364Abstract: Methods and apparatus for triggering directional data capture based on pointing direction are described. In an embodiment, the data captured is an image and a camera is described which includes a sensor for detecting the direction in which the image sensor of the camera is pointing. When the sensed pointing direction is one in which a worthwhile image is likely to be taken, the camera is triggered to capture a new image. The determination of when to capture a new image uses a metric based on the sensed direction and one or more specified trigger conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: James W. Scott, Ignas Budvytis, Stephen E. Hodges
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Patent number: 7712831Abstract: A vehicle seat, an adjusting system and a method for moving at least one vehicle seat arranged in a vehicle cabin, particularly an aircraft seat, comprising seat components that are coupled or guided together, such as a seat part, a backrest and a leg rest, the location and/or inclination of which can be adjusted by means of at least one or more adjusting units. The adjusting system allows a separation of the basic functions from driving devices, with an electronic device for collision-free movement and for adjusting custom-designed functions and facilitating the adaptation of the custom-designed functions. The movement sequences and movements of the respective individual seat components and the seat components in relation to one another and the movements of the components or seats within an environment or group of seats are accomplished by means of a movement model in a coordinate system.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Bühler Motor GmbHInventors: Hans-Dieter Abt, Arno Schieweck, Wolfgang Troelenberg
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Publication number: 20100109400Abstract: A seating system may comprise a seat base, a seat back, and a width adjustable section. The width adjustable section may be located within the seat base and the seat back. The width adjustable section may be capable of being configured to change a width of the seat base and the seat back.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Shawn A. Claflin
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Publication number: 20100094499Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling and coordinating multiple vehicles. In one illustrative embodiment, machine behaviors are assigned to multiple vehicles performing a task. The vehicles are coordinated to perform the task using the assigned behaviors and a number of signals received from other vehicles and the environment during performance of the task. In another illustrative embodiment, a role is identified for each vehicle in a group of vehicles. A number of machine behaviors are assigned to each vehicle depending upon the identified role for the vehicle. The machine behaviors are selected from coordinating machine behaviors stored in a behavior library. Each vehicle is then coordinated to perform the task according to the role and machine behaviors assigned.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2008Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventor: Noel Wayne Anderson
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Patent number: 7684759Abstract: The present invention is a novel device, system, and method for determining the damped natural frequencies of a dynamic system whose characteristics are available in the form of a “frequency response function” FRF. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method identifies the dampened natural frequencies associated with the poles and zeros of a transfer function. The method is especially useful for analysis of measurements that contain some degree of contamination due to noise or non-linear effects. It is based on a set of rules that may be more successful than a direct approach based on a least squares criteria.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Yutkowitz
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Patent number: 7653443Abstract: Methods of controlling activation of electrical appliances can include reducing overlapping activation time of different electrical appliances located at a single customer location of an electrical service provider during at least one time interval during a day. Related systems, circuits, and computer program products are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Inventor: Daniel Flohr
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Patent number: 7647125Abstract: A time-based controller provides control for a controlled system including a plant having an integration response. The time-based controller includes a comparator that detects a polarity change in a comparison of a sensed signal from the plant and a reference signal while a control signal is in a first state, time calculation logic that, responsive to detection of the change in the comparison, determines a time at which to change a state of a control signal supplied to the plant, and a modulator that, at the determined time, changes the state of the control signal supplied to the plant from the first state to a second state.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventor: John L. Melanson
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Publication number: 20100004760Abstract: In a numerical controller that controls axes based on tabular data, the tabular data is created to be used for operating one arbitrary axis without axis assignment and shared by a plurality of axes assigned based on an NC program, signals, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2009Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: FANUC LTDInventors: Takahiko Endo, Yasushi Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20090319057Abstract: The present invention includes a lighting control system provided with two or more lighting devices and one or more illumination comparing devices; wherein the illumination comparing device supplies to the lighting devices a comparison result in which a sampled illumination of an arbitrary position and a target illumination are compared; the two or more lighting devices carry out a judgment based on the comparison result obtained from the illumination comparing device and repetitively increase/decrease their respective light intensities; and the illumination of the arbitrary position is substantially controlled to the target illumination, and with this lighting control system, a predetermined position can be controlled to a desired illumination.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2009Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: The DoshishaInventor: Mitsunori MIKI
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Publication number: 20090271004Abstract: In order for a user to control a machine using hand gestures, free of any contact with the machine, an apparatus generates one or more electromagnetic field, employing receivers to measure an electromagnetic signature caused by gestures of a person's hand within the electromagnetic field. The gestures include variations of hand position, proximity, configuration, and movement. For each measured signature, the apparatus cross-references the electromagnetic signature in a predetermined library to identify a corresponding predefined machine-readable input. Ultimately, the apparatus controls a designated machine pursuant to the person's hand gestures by transmitting the identified input to the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Reese Zecchin, Brendan Nystedt, Spencer Sands, Maurice Bizzarri, William C. Cross
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Patent number: 7596420Abstract: A method is provided wherein a lithographic projection apparatus is used to print a series of test patterns on a test substrate to measure printed critical dimension as function of exposure dose setting and focus setting. A full-substrate analysis of measured critical dimension data is modeled by a response model of critical dimension. The response model includes an additive term which expresses a spatial variability of the response with respect to the surface of the test substrate. The method further includes fitting the model by fitting model parameters using measured critical dimension data, and controlling critical dimension using the fitted model.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2006Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Antoine Gaston Marie Kiers, Johannes Anna Quaedackers
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Publication number: 20090189032Abstract: A monitor attitude adjustment apparatus used in an electronic apparatus comprises a mount base; an attitude adjusting mechanism consisting of a plurality of actuating devices, each actuating device comprising a driver and a displacement mechanism, the driver being the force source for driving the movement of corresponding displacement mechanism, and each displacement mechanism having a constrained degree of freedom for mechanical motion; and a suspension mount with one end mechanically connected to the attitude adjusting mechanism and the other end securing the electronic apparatus; wherein the actuating devices in the attitude adjusting mechanism constitute an integrated mechanical state and the position or orientation of the electronic apparatus corresponds to the integrated mechanical state of the attitude adjusting mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: EVER CASE TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventor: Yi Chung Su
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Publication number: 20090190914Abstract: Methods and apparatus for triggering directional data capture based on pointing direction are described. In an embodiment, the data captured is an image and a camera is described which includes a sensor for detecting the direction in which the image sensor of the camera is pointing. When the sensed pointing direction is one in which a worthwhile image is likely to be taken, the camera is triggered to capture a new image. The determination of when to capture a new image uses a metric based on the sensed direction and one or more specified trigger conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: James W. Scott, Ignas Budvytis, Stephen E. Hodges
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Patent number: 7558640Abstract: The present invention relates to abstract product descriptions and methods. In a first general aspect, a method comprises a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, perform operations for configuring a logistic unit for planning and processing in a logistic environment. The method may comprise accessing a template database object that may be compatible with a modeled logistic environment process, and receiving a user assignment of defined attributes for the accessed template object. The defined attributes may describe a feature common to multiple different physical receptacles used to contain stock in a logistic environment or a feature common to contents of the receptacles.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: SAP AGInventors: Noam Tamarkin, Yuval Morad, Tami Amir, Ami Heitner
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Publication number: 20090171478Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for controlling an electrical device are provided. At least one image of at least one moving entity is processed, for determining if the at least one moving entity is at least one of entering and exiting a monitored area, and for determining if the at least one moving entity comprises at least one triggering shape. If the at least one moving entity is determined to be at least one of entering and exiting the monitored area, and the at least one moving entity comprises the at least one triggering shape, then control of the electrical device is triggered and a counter for counting triggering shapes present in the monitored area is triggered.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2007Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventor: Larry Wong
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Patent number: 7541767Abstract: The invention relates to a method for error response when an error occurs in response to a motion, particularly of a drive mechanism in a machine, the motion taking place while using at least one master axis and at least one cam disk having at least one input and one output and being controlled by the master axis, in which, in response to the occurrence of the error at the least one input of the at least one cam disk, current process variables that are present are used for the initiation and the execution of the error response. The invention also relates to a corresponding computer system.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AGInventors: Wolfgang Rüppel, Stephan Schultze
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Publication number: 20090125123Abstract: A computer having an auto-flipping screen and a method for automatically flipping the screen of the computer are disclosed. The computer includes a base, a transmission module, and a screen. In the base, there is a motherboard, and the motherboard is installed with a BIOS, a south bridge chip, and a transmission controller. The south bridge chip controls the communication between the BIOS and the transmission controller. The transmission module is controlled by the transmission controller. The screen performs a flipping operation to the base according to the operation of the transmission module. The transmission controller controls the transmission module according to a default value in the BIOS to automatically flip the screen to a location with an angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2007Publication date: May 14, 2009Inventor: Ting-Chun Lu
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Publication number: 20090113775Abstract: A media system for distributing visual content includes a display and a host. The host is remotely located from the display and coupled to the display over a communication network. The display is supported by an article. The host includes a computer storage medium including visual content. At least a portion of the visual content is submitted to the host by a client. The host includes a processor configured to selectively transmit visual content to the display and configured to receive data corresponding to display activity of the selected visual content on the display. A reporting module reports the data corresponding to the display activity to the client and the subscriber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventor: Jessica Dee Netter
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Patent number: 7511448Abstract: In a motor control device according to the invention, upon velocity control of a motor, a superimposed signal generating unit 9 outputs a superimposed signal idh of a repetitive waveform, such as a triangular wave or a sine wave. A d-axis current command generating unit 10 adds the superimposed signal idh generated by the superimposed signal generating unit 9d to a d-axis current command idc*0 and outputs a d-axis current command idc*. An axial misalignment detecting unit 11 (11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d) receives the d-axis current command idc* and a q-axis current command iqc* and outputs an axial misalignment angle estimation value ??^. An axial misalignment correction unit 12 receives the axial misalignment angle estimation value ??^ and an actual detected position ?m and outputs a position after correction ?m?. Therefore, detection and correction can be performed in real time through calculation at a given timing during a normal operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2004Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kei Terada, Tetsuaki Nagano, Yasunobu Harada, Kazutaka Takahashi
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Patent number: 7507296Abstract: In a scrubber adapted to clean a semiconductor wafer, the torque of a brush rotation motor is monitored while a scrubber brush is in contact with the wafer and is being rotated by the motor. The position of the brush relative to the wafer may be adjusted based on the monitored torque to regulate the pressure applied to the wafer by the brush. Open loop positioning or closed loop control may be employed.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Michael N. Sugarman, Vladimir Galburt
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Publication number: 20090024247Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a sensor having a roller adapted on a shaft to roll along a workpiece surface, a compliant member adapted around at least a portion of the roller, and an encoder to code information regarding movement of the roller. In some implementations, the encoder may be in communication with a processor of a machine to provide information regarding workpiece movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2007Publication date: January 22, 2009Inventors: Christopher Scott Lovchik, Chris Rawls, Christopher G. Morlier
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Patent number: 7466101Abstract: A positioning control device based on an observer control has a disturbance suppression function to which a disturbance suppression function is added without affecting the control characteristics of the observer. Models of an actuator and a disturbance model are separated, and for the disturbance model, state information is generated using an estimated gain determined from a disturbance model defined by a transfer function of which denominator is a numerator of a filter in which degrees of denominator and numerator for shaping a sensitivity function are the same, and the disturbance suppression value of the actuator is computed from the state information. The vibration of the head can be prevented adapting to a wide range of disturbance frequencies without affecting the control characteristics of the observer.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Kazuhiko Takaishi
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Patent number: 7463936Abstract: A method and device for adapting a stop of an electrically triggered actuator are provided, which may be implemented in a precise and simple manner and allow for a continuous adaptation. For this purpose, a check is performed to determine whether a setpoint value for a position of the actuator to be set corresponds to a stop of the actuator. In this case, a characteristic variable of the trigger signal for triggering the actuator formed for implementing the setpoint value is compared with a predefined value. Depending on the result of the comparison, a position of the stop of the actuator is adapted.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Torsten Baumann, Mattias Hallor
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Publication number: 20080269915Abstract: A numerical controller capable of avoiding a shock to a machine by a controlled axis when a command of an alarm, a reset or a feed hold is issued in a path table operation. The numerical controller performs the path table operation where position of a controlled axis of a machine is controlled in synchronism with an input value of a reference variable indicative of time, a position of an axis or a position of a spindle according to a data table that stores command positions of the controlled axis respective for set values of the reference variable. The numerical controller comprises deceleration/stop command receiving means that receives a command to decelerate and stop the controlled axis in the path table operation; and decelerating means that gradually reduces a rate of increase of the reference variable to zero so that the controlled axis is decelerated and stopped in response to the deceleration/stop command.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: FANUC LTDInventors: Takahiko Endo, Yasushi Takeuchi
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Patent number: 7437765Abstract: A sensitive display system is described. The sensitive display system allows for mediation of content provided from a source to a recipient, such as from a web server to a web browser. Mediation may involve intercepting and augmenting the content so as to restrict or otherwise control information displayed on a display of the recipient device. In this way, the sensitive display system allows restricted information to be replaced with security status messages, or removed entirely. For example, when a user comes within a specified distance from the sensitive display area, a security classification level of the approaching user is used to determine whether there should be any change in the display. If so, a mediating device causes a browser push to occur, to thereby block or otherwise restrict some or all of the display.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: SAP AktiengesellschaftInventors: Kim Elms, Rainer Ruggaber, Elmar Dorner
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Publication number: 20080193207Abstract: A ball and socket joint, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle. The ball and socket joint has an essentially ring-shaped or pot-shaped joint housing (1), in the essentially cylindrical interior space of which a ball shell (3) is arranged. The ball (4) of a ball pivot is accommodated in the ball shell (3) in a slidingly movable manner. The ball and socket joint has, furthermore, a sealing bellows (6) as well as a sensor means for monitoring the tightness of the ball and socket joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2006Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank
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Publication number: 20080184690Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, John Michael Flenniken, Mark Alvin Schmidt
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Publication number: 20080121489Abstract: A centrifugal clutch for coupling a drive shaft to a driven member at rotary speeds above a predetermined threshold, comprising: a centrifugal slider (302) with a massive enlargement (320) at one end and a first coupling formation; a frame (301) formed to carry the centrifugal slider on formations to constrain it to sliding motion between an extended radial position and a retracted radial position, and to fit fixedly on the drive shaft to be driven by it, with the shaft at right-angles to the axis of sliding motion of the frame, whereby the frame (301) and the slider (302) cooperate to constitute a flywheel (3) on the drive shaft axis and the centre of inertia of the centrifugal clutch is axial only when the centrifugal slider is at its extended radial position, whereby its rotation is fully balanced when the clutch is engaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2006Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventor: John Phillip Chevalier
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Publication number: 20080077255Abstract: There is described a method for enabling the operation of automation components of a technical system via a mobile control and monitoring device. In a first step, the control and monitoring device receives a first identification from a first transponder device, with the first transponder device being attached to the technical system, with the first transponder device having been activated by the automation components and with the first identification having been transmitted via a wireless communication connection from the automation components to the mobile control and monitoring device. In a further step the communication connection between the control and monitoring device and the automation components is deactivated. The mobile control and monitoring device sends a carrier signal and following that receives the carrier signal modulated by the first transponder device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2007Publication date: March 27, 2008Inventors: Janos Gila, Wolfgang Konrad, Gottfried Rieger, Ulrich Sinn
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Patent number: 7346400Abstract: An optical scope with a position-based on/off switch preserves power by automatically deactivating one or more electrical components when the scope is not in use. The scope includes an orientation sensor that determines when the scope is in an inactive position by sensing when the scope is rolled left or right to a predetermined angle of inclination from an upright position. A power switch receives an indicia of orientation from the orientation sensor and deactivates the one or more electrical components when the scope is in the inactive position, thus preserving power and extending the life of a battery.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Bushnell Inc.Inventors: Bill Cross, Chris Lalik, Scott Nyhart
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Patent number: 7310566Abstract: A quality control method for two-dimensional matrix codes on metallic workpieces, the codes being in the form of stamped marking dots is disclosed. The stamping process for the marking dots is carried out by a marking tool (17) with the aid of predetermined digital positional data. The corresponding image data is then recorded for analysis by an image processing device (22), exclusively at the locations that have been predetermined by the positional data, or additional image data that has been previously generated is also used for the analysis, to establish whether a correct marking dot with the required quality characteristics is present.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2003Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Borries Markier-Systeme GmbHInventor: Konrad Fröhlich
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Patent number: 7302301Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring and determining preceding states of at least one terminal of an automation system are provided. The automation system includes one or more terminals (1, 2), each of which can assume two or more states and each of which outputs a monitoring message that depends on the two or more states, and a control unit (3) that reads in the monitoring message from the one or more terminals (1, 2). Each of the one or more terminals (1, 2) outputs another monitoring message only after it has received an acknowledgment signal (Q) from the control unit (3). In order to be able, even subsequently, to reconstruct at least some of the preceding state changes, the monitoring message contains, in addition to each state value, at least one additional component (S1_Z, S2_Z; S1_OV, S2_OV) whose value is changed during a transition of the state value and which is reset to an initial value when a monitoring message is output.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2004Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Peter Becker
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Patent number: 7286895Abstract: A safety device for a machine has a first machine part for carrying out a working movement towards a second machine part. It also has at least a first and a second optical barrier moving along with the first machine part during the working movement. The first optical barrier runs ahead of the first machine part by a first distance, and the second optical barrier is arranged at a second distance from the first optical barrier. A control unit is designed to stop the working movement of the first machine part when the first optical barrier is interrupted. A test unit allows to test whether the second optical barrier has been interrupted once the first machine part has been stopped. A blocking unit serves for blocking the working movement as a function of the test result from the test unit. Using this safety device it is possible to determine an overtravel of the first machine part in a simple and reliable manner.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Martin Krieg
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Patent number: 7283886Abstract: A complete Direct Digital Numerical Control (DDNC) automation system for a practical measurement system for a manufacturing process where a given slide or ram is moved under power by input of GO-TO location commands to cause a cascade of motion events to an approximate position, then relax, as a low-cost precision lock system completes the power move into exact absolute final position. This low-cost system uses simple switches & drive systems to operate without computer micro-processor (CNC) or program-logic-controllers (PLC), yet provide accurate final positioning. Position commands are simple real number digits meaningful to the Operator in work-station terms. Add-on Digital Readout Displays (DRO) are optional, as is remote input by other digital programs to augment the simple manual control panel GO-TO commands. This system is engineered for small shops in rural communities; for affordable automation of tiny devices; machines; & even provide numerical control (DDNC) for monster-machines.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2004Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Inventor: Richard G. Bowman
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Patent number: 7239991Abstract: A process simulation system that simulates the operation of the manufacturing and measurement systems used to produce and measure the articles being analyzed relative to engineering design targets, engineering design tolerances, producibility and/or quality. In one embodiment, the user is able to assess, without risk or production cost while accelerating speed-to-market, the effect of contemplated changes (i.) to engineering design targets, (ii.) to engineering design tolerances, (iii.) to tooling, (iv.) to part pre-process dimensions and (v.) to the measurement system—on manufactured part dimensions, producibility and quality (i.) without modifying tooling, (ii.) without changing part pre-process dimensions, (iii.) without producing new parts, (iv.) without measuring article characteristics on the new parts and (v.) without changing the measurement system.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2004Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Inventor: Steve W. Tuszynski
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Patent number: 7236611Abstract: Apparatus for operating home appliances using gesture recognition are disclosed. An image receiver receives a continuous stream of images of a gesture made within the image receiver's field of view. An image processor is connected to the image receiver for sampling the received stream of gesture images to form a gesture image sequence, and for recognizing whether the gesture image sequence corresponds to one of a predefined set of gestures. If the input gesture is recognized as being one of the predefined gestures, an operations processor, which is connected to the image processor, identifies a home appliance operation associated with the recognized gesture. An appliance controller is connected to the operations processor for causing the predefined home appliance operation to be performed. Home appliances and methods for operating home appliances using gesture recognition are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc.Inventors: Linda Ann Roberts, Hong Thi Nguyen, Edward Michael Silver
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Patent number: 7221984Abstract: An automation system for programming appliances having programmable controllers, programmable devices and trigger devices that communicate over a communication link. The user programs the programmable devices by placing the programmable controller in its training mode, activating the trigger device to generate a trigger signed and places select programmable devices in their programmed state. After all of the desired programmable devices have been put in then programmed states, the user takes the programmable controller out of its training mode. When the programmable controller is out of its training mode, it monitors the communication link for the trigger event. Upon detecting the trigger event, the programmable controller sends messages to the selected programmable devices instructing them to go to their programmed state.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2006Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: Ameritech Services, Inc.Inventor: Raymond W. Bennett
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Patent number: 7209862Abstract: A self-diagnosing system for an encoder. The system includes an encoder circuit for outputting information detected by an encoder; a data preparing section provided in the encoder circuit and preparing data representing a state of an abnormal-state judgment factor in connection with at least one of the encoder and an electric motor combined with the encoder; a signal generating section provided in the encoder circuit and generating an abnormal-state signal when the data prepared in the data preparing section represents an abnormal state of the abnormal-state judgment factor; and a storage section provided in the encoder circuit and storing the data representing a state of the abnormal-state judgment factor when the signal generating section generates the abnormal-state signal. The storage section may store the data prepared in the data preparing section at a desired timing not later than the instant the signal generating section generates the abnormal-state signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Mitsuyuki Taniguchi, Hirofumi Kikouchi, Hajime Miyamoto
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Patent number: 7173390Abstract: A method and a device are provided for detecting the occurrence of a malfunction upon movement of an element by a driving system. While the element is being moved, a difference between a predetermined value and an actual value is determined at regular intervals by means of a processor. A derivative of the difference is determined by the processor at regular intervals. The difference and the derivative both fluctuate around an equilibrium value. Subsequently, only the values on one side of the equilibrium value of both the difference and the derivative are sampled. The sampled values are multiplied and the result is compared with a reference value by means of the processor. The occurrence of a malfunction is established if the result of the multiplication is higher than the reference value.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2003Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Assembléon N.V.Inventor: Koen A. J. de Graaff
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Patent number: 7155603Abstract: Circuit arrangement for detecting the state of at least one electrical switch having at least one set input (Set1, Set2, Set3) in each case and at least one sensor output (Sensor1, Sensor2, Sensor3) in each case, each of which is allocated to an electrical switch (S1, S2, S3), wherein the sensor output (Sensor1, Sensor2, Sensor3) is connected via a first current path to a first potential if a signal with the value logic “1” is present at the set input (Set1, Set2, Set3) and is connected via a second current path to a second potential if a signal with the value logic “0” is present at the set input (Set1, Set2, Set3), and wherein a wake-up signal is generated at a wake-up signal output (wakeup) if a current which is greater than a predetermined threshold current is detected in the first or second current path.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2003Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Johannes Ilg
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Patent number: 7152789Abstract: A commodity information provision method for detecting a customer in a store who is in trouble and for providing such a customer with information about an appropriate commodity. A position detection device which the customer carries when shopping transmits position information indicative of current position, and customer position information acquiring unit periodically acquires the position information from the position detection device. Stop judging unit judges whether the customer has stopped or not in accordance with the position information. When the customer is at a stop, message determining unit determines a guidance message to be presented to the customer in accordance with a commodity displayed on a rack near the stop position, and message transmitting unit transmits the determined guidance message to the position detection device.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Takahiro Hasegawa, Tomohisa Misawa
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Patent number: 7146265Abstract: A control device with a time measuring function measures a turned-off time of an ignition switch with a low consumption current and high accuracy at a level adapted for a demand from the controlling side, as well as a turned-on time of the ignition switch. The control device also measures an accumulative turned-on time of the ignition switch. The control device comprises a battery, a microcomputer for computing a control variable to control a control target, a time measuring unit, a clock source for the microcomputer, a clock source for the time measuring unit, and a unit for changing over operation of the time measuring unit depending on an intended use. The time measuring unit operates regardless of run/stop of the microcomputer.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Katsuya Oyama, Shoji Sasaki, Mitsuhiko Watanabe
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Patent number: 7120266Abstract: The present invention provides an audio player wearable around the neck which comprises vertical direction recognition sensor 2 for recognizing hanging state wherein a casing 10 is hung from the neck using a neck strap 11 and holding state wherein the casing 10 is turned upside down from said hanging state and is held in the hand, and a control circuit 3 for change-over-controlling the presentation state of the display 8 in accordance with the recognition result obtained by the vertical direction recognition sensor 2. This can avoid the problem when the display is turned upside down between the hanging state and the holding state of the casing.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihide Iwasa, Toru Kamimura
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Patent number: 7072734Abstract: When a command radius r of a circular interpolation control exceeds a threshold value, a computer computes a speed limit for the circular speed at which the acceleration becomes constant. When the command radius r of the circular interpolation control is less than or equal to the threshold value, the computer 100 computes another speed limit for the circular speed at which r?3 or r?4 becomes constant, where ? is the angular frequency. The computer performs the circular interpolation control by safeguarding the circular speed from exceeding one of the speed limits in accordance with the command radius r of the circular interpolation control.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak CorporationInventors: Yasuhiko Suzuki, Katsuki Sugiura, Masahiro Kurata, Makoto Tanahashi
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Patent number: 7069613Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for aligning a door of an aircraft to a passenger loading bridge. A final parking position of the aircraft is defined as being immediately adjacent to a position of the passenger loading bridge, such that when the aircraft is stopped at the final parking position, the passenger loading bridge requires only a telescopic extension of less than about 1 meter to complete the alignment operation. To this end, an indicating device that works cooperatively with an aircraft-engaging end of the passenger loading bridge is provided for displaying human intelligible instructions for use by a pilot of the aircraft to guide the aircraft to the final parking position.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: DEW Engineering and Development LimitedInventor: Neil Hutton
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Patent number: 7035694Abstract: System and method for user configuration of an autotuning algorithm for a controller in a motion control system. A desired trajectory in one or more dimensions for the motion control system is received. Values of one or more gains for a controller are initialized. A response trajectory of the controller and motion control system in response to the desired trajectory is received, and an error determined between the response trajectory and the desired trajectory. A gain space is then experimentally searched to determine final values of the one or more gains for the controller that minimize the error (e.g., Euclidean norm) between the response trajectory and the desired trajectory, e.g., via simulated annealing, or other stochastic, quasi-random, and/or deterministic approaches. After experimentally searching, the controller is operable to control the motion control system substantially in accordance with the desired trajectory using the determined values of the one or more gains.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Subramanian Ramamoorthy, Jeanne S. Falcon
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Patent number: 7010360Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for automatically converting dates and times in electronic text messages to the local dates and times of the message recipients. For example, when a text message is sent to an intended recipient, a messaging server can recognize date and time strings in the message text string, if any. The server can parse the date/time information into Coordinated Universal Time (“UTC”) form. The server also receives locale and time zone information from the intended recipient's client application, and can send this information to the originating client application. The originating client application can use this locale and time zone information to convert the UTC date/time information from the message string, if any, to the localized date and time of the message recipient. The localized date/time information is inserted into the message string, and the resulting message is forwarded to the recipient.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2003Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Edward Atkin, Cornell G. Wright, Jr.
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Patent number: 7006876Abstract: The invention pertains to a safety cabinet with an interior that is enclosed by a housing and a housing front side with a work opening that can be closed with a height-adjustable window. The safety cabinet contains an operating unit for controlling device functions which is integrated into the housing. The operating unit comprises at least one rocker button, the button assignment of which changes depending on the operating state of the safety cabinet in such a way that a certain device function can be controlled in the respective operating state by actuating a button of the rocker button.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products GmbHInventor: Gerd Ross
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Patent number: 6999823Abstract: Even when a power switch is turned off, the controller of an injection molding machine does not shut off a power supply immediately. The controller determines whether the present state of the injection molding machine is a previously-set confirmation-requiring state, such as a lockup state of a mold clamping unit using a toggle link mechanism, or a nozzle touch state of an injection unit. When the present state is not the confirmation-requiring state, the controller shuts off the power supply. When the present state is the confirmation-requiring state, the controller displays on a display screen a confirmation window for confirmation of power shut off. The controller shuts off the power supply in accordance with a shut-off operation performed on the basis of the confirmation window.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2003Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chiharu Nishizawa, Osamu Ichikawa
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Patent number: 6965801Abstract: A method and device that controls one or more apparatus in relation to the expected time of sunrise and sunset at the location of the apparatus. The operator enters a geographic location identifier, such as a zip code or telephone area code, and the controller computes the expected time of sunrise and sunset at the corresponding geographic location. The controller is configured to translate the entered geographic location code into the offset times, based upon the latitude and longitude of the location. The controller is able to either directly retrieve stored time offsets or it retrieves the latitude and longitude that corresponds to the entered geographic location code and determines the time offset from that latitude and longitude.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2002Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Inventor: Christopher R. Hall