Positional (e.g., Velocity, Acceleration) Patents (Class 700/69)
  • Patent number: 11353843
    Abstract: An actuator of a machine is controlled by a control device with a controller structure in a normal operating mode and a special operating mode. The control device determines from a position setpoint value and a position actual value a control signal for the actuator. In the normal operating mode, the setpoint values are determined using a utility program, and in the special operating mode by a system program that is different from the normal operating program. In the special operating mode, a frequency characteristic for the actuator is determined on the basis of the sequence of setpoint values and associated actual values, and an evaluation for the actuator and/or of the controller structure is performed using the frequency characteristic and parameters of the controller structure. Depending on the evaluation, a message is transmitted to an operator of the machine or to a computing device over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Alexander Kubik, Philipp Rost, Elmar Schäfers, Torsten Schür, Stephen J. Yutkowitz
  • Patent number: 10918001
    Abstract: A component placing device to place a component on a board, including: a shaft having a lower portion and an upper portion; a component holder that is attached to the lower portion of the shaft in a state of being vertically displaceable and has a suction hole for holding the component by a negative pressure; an elastic body that biases the component holder downward with respect to the shaft; a servo motor that raises and lowers the shaft; and a controller that sets a thrust limit value for limiting a thrust of the servo motor and limits the thrust of the servo motor to be equal to or lower than the thrust limit value when the component holder is lowered toward the board. The thrust limit value is set within a range in which a load is smaller than a force by which the elastic body biases the component holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Furukawa, Koichi Obayashi, Seiichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 10747200
    Abstract: This method includes a step for the extraction of robot control program creation data from an animation program displaying an assembly sequence for the manufacturing of an assembled product with a plurality of parts, a step for the addition of predetermined robot control data to the robot control program creation data, and a step for the creation of a robot control program relating to the assembly operations of the assembled product using the robot control program creation data and the predetermined robot control data. A robot control program for manufacturing an assembled product with a plurality of parts can be easily generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Watanabe, Katsushi Kitaarashi
  • Patent number: 10650300
    Abstract: A method for decision-making by an electronic system comprising a plurality of components is provided herein. The components of the system are given tunable voting authority v=[Vmin . . . Vmax], typically [?1 . . . 1]. A singleton officiating member manages the notification and voting process. A current representation of the entire system is stored in the model. The model is a state storage system that tracks the existence and condition of a group of tracked data items, called Entities. The model is managed by the singleton officiating member but may be queried by any component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Nova Dynamics, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Dotson, Joseph Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10203679
    Abstract: An automation interface is provided for interacting with industrial controllers. The automation interface provides for programming, editing, monitoring and maintenance of industrial controllers programmatically from a local or remote location. The automation interface component is adapted to communicate with industrial controllers by integrating a computer process interface library into the automation interface component. The computer process interface library exposes the automation interface component to client application processes, so that the client application processes can communicate with the at least one industrial controller programmatically. The automation interface is provided with functionality for downloading, uploading and programming of control programs to the processors of the industrial controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. McKelvey, Mike D'Amico
  • Patent number: 10120359
    Abstract: In a device and a method for the automated detection of an interface between a position-measuring device and sequential electronics that are interconnected via a data-transmission channel, the position-measuring device includes an interface unit and a position-measuring unit. The interface unit is connected first of all to the data-transmission channel, and secondly to the position-measuring unit for the purpose of an internal data exchange. The interface to the sequential electronics is selectable in the interface unit from at least two interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventors: Elmar Mayer, Alexander Kobler
  • Patent number: 9852152
    Abstract: A system and method for employing a file system and file system services on the industrial controller. The file system allows industrial control programs to implement many functions previously performed within the industrial control program and stored in the same memory as the industrial control program. An execution engine is provided that interprets instructions included in an industrial control program. The instructions utilize services in the file system for including user defined routine files loaded from local or remote locations, to load and unload recipe files from local and remote locations, to log and retrieve measured data and trend data to files at local or remote locations, to select different operating systems and to select a running program from a plurality of running programs utilizing the file system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Kay, David Allen Johnston, Shelly Lynn Urdaneta, Stuart Blair Siegel
  • Patent number: 9684347
    Abstract: Certain embodiments herein relate to automated display of permissive logic in control systems associated with a power generation unit. A control device may be configured to provide automated updates of system data, such as signals received from power generation equipment, to a human machine interface (HMI) or a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) display, as non-limiting examples. A logic builder block may receive permissive logic configurations, including one or more combinational logic blocks. A logic builder block may be associated with power generation equipment to facilitate the identification of related system data and the subsequent association of the system data to corresponding input pins for the combinational logic blocks. The permissive logic configurations may be compiled into object code and downloaded to the control device, where it may be executed to perform the above described functions, among other functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert William Grubbs, Lester D. Childs, Adam Foard, Muhammad Adnan, Timothy Joseph Rhode
  • Patent number: 9279370
    Abstract: A turbomachine is provided and includes a compressor to compress inlet gas to produce compressed gas, a combustor coupled to the compressor in which the compressed gas is combusted along with a first fuel and/or a second fuel to produce a fluid flow, a turbine coupled to the combustor through which the fluid flow is directed for power and/or electricity generation and first and second supply circuits to supply the first fuel and the second fuel to the combustor, respectively. The first and second supply circuits are operable to enable transfers between operations associated with the first fuel and the second fuel being respectively supplied to the combustor at a high load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gerardo Fidel Varillas, Mustafa Ahmed Abdullah, Scott Arthur Day, Stephen Robert Thomas
  • Patent number: 9200801
    Abstract: A valve assembly can include a housing, which can define a first fuel input for receiving a first fuel from a first fuel source and a second fuel input for receiving a second fuel from a second fuel source. The housing can define a first fuel output for directing fuel toward a control valve, and can define a third fuel input for receiving a portion of either the first fuel or the second fuel from the control valve. The housing can define a first egress flow path and a second egress flow path, each for directing fuel to the burner. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a valve body configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the first and second inputs and the output and between the third input and the egress flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PROCOM HEATING, INC.
    Inventor: David Deng
  • Patent number: 9103284
    Abstract: An approach for utilizing fuel gas to purge a dormant fuel gas circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, there is a fuel gas supply that supplies fuel to fuel gas circuits. Gas control valves, each coupled to one of the fuel gas circuits control the flow of fuel gas thereto from the fuel gas supply. A fuel purge system selectively purges fuel gas circuits from the fuel gas circuits that are dormant with fuel gas from the fuel gas supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Robert Lester Brooks, Douglas Scott Byrd, Joseph Robert Law
  • Patent number: 9020618
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for controlling a device to perform a function, for example, window washing. A controller device may be adapted to control a controlled device. In response to hand movement, an accelerometer in the controller may obtain acceleration and/or angle signals. The signals may be processed in order to identify a command that may be used to control the controlled device. The controlled device may be secured to, for example, a window. Upon identifying command(s) initiated from the controller device, the controlled device may respond to the commands. The controlled device may include, for example, a cleaning unit. The command(s) may be instructions for the controlled device to move about the window and activate the cleaning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Xin Wu, Liang Gao, Kewan Chen
  • Patent number: 9014829
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include an occupancy sensing unit configured to monitor an environment illuminated by a lighting fixture. An inventive occupancy sensing unit may include an occupancy sensor to detect radiation indicative of at least one occupancy event in the environment illuminated by the lighting fixture according to sensing parameters. The occupancy sensor can be coupled to a memory that logs sensor data, which represent the occupancy events, provided by the occupancy sensor. A processor coupled to the memory performs an analysis of the sensor data logged in the memory and adjusts the sensing parameters of the occupancy sensor based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Digital Lumens, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Chemel, Colin N. Piepgras, Frederick Morgan
  • Patent number: 8972032
    Abstract: A method for detecting a mechanical overload condition of an energized linear actuator to prevent commanding an activation signal to the linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator includes monitoring feedback variation of a movable element associated with the linear actuator including monitoring a present feedback signal of the movable element, monitoring a previous feedback signal of the movable element, comparing the present feedback signal and the previous feedback signal and determining the feedback variation based on the comparing. The feedback variation is compared to a feedback variation threshold. An input signal associated with the activation signal for controlling the linear actuator is monitored and the input signal compared to an input signal threshold. The electrical overload condition is detected when the feedback variation is less than the feedback variation threshold and the input signal is greater than the input signal threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Xiujie Gao, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Patent number: 8872064
    Abstract: A positioning control system for positioning a moving element on a basis of position command data is provided with a feedback loop. The system is also provided with a loop gain modifier for determining a loop gain, which is to be used in a following positioning operation, on a basis of a difference between an amount of overshoot measured in a current positioning operation and a predetermined tolerance or on a basis of a difference between an amount of overshoot measured in a current positioning operation and a first predetermined tolerance and a difference between an amount of undershoot measured in the current positioning operation and a second predetermined tolerance. The first and second tolerances may preferably be the same in absolute value. The moving element may specifically be a steerable mirror for drilling holes in a work by reflecting a laser beam. Also disclosed is a laser drilling machine including the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Via Mechanics, Ltd., National University Corporation Nagoya Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Takashi Ono, Souichi Toyama, Yaichi Okubo, Hiromu Hirai
  • Patent number: 8768491
    Abstract: A method for axis correction in a processing machine, in particular a shaftless printing machine, has at least one axis for processing and/or transporting a material, at least one detection device for detecting a processing parameter and at least one controller device for calculating a controller output variable for axis correction of the at least one axis using the detected processing parameter. The method is implemented iteratively, with the result that feedforward control output values for the feedforward control of the axis correction are determined during an (n+1)-th change in rotation speed of the at least one axis using observation of the controller output variable and/or the processing parameter during an n-th change in rotation speed of the at least one axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Schultze, Holger Schnabel, Joachim Thurner
  • Patent number: 8751162
    Abstract: A prediction method that estimates the real-time position of a mobile device based on previously observed data is provided. The present invention can be used in real-time navigation, including providing real-time alerts of an upcoming destination and notifications of emergency events in close geographic proximity. The prediction method utilizes neural networks and/or functions generated using genetic algorithms in estimating the mobile device's real-time position. The prediction method provides reliable Location-Based Services (LBS) in events where traditional positioning technologies become unreliable. It is also seamless, as the user remains unaware of any interruption in accessing the positioning technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Sean J. Barbeau, Philip L. Winters, Rafael Perez, Miguel Labrador, Nevine Georggi
  • Patent number: 8706269
    Abstract: A controller which generates a driving instruction to control driving of an object while detecting a position of the object based on two periodic signals that are provided by an encoder and have different phases, comprises a counter configured to count periods of one of the two periodic signals, and a processor configured to detect the position of the object based on an arctangent value of a ratio of values of the two periodic signals and a count value provided by the counter, and to generate the driving instruction based on the position, wherein the processor is configured to compensates an error in the count value based on the driving instruction generated in the past and an acceleration of the object computed based on the arctangent value and the count value, and to compute the position of the object based on the compensated count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Kawamata
  • Patent number: 8706264
    Abstract: A method for use in a part tracking system including a camera and a motion controller, the method comprising the steps of time synchronizing the motion controller and the camera at a trigger time when it is anticipated that a part is within the field of view of the camera, causing the camera to obtain an image, using the obtained image to determine an actual location of the part at the trigger time, comparing the actual location and the anticipated location of the part to identify a position difference and at the motion controller, using the position difference at the trigger time to adjust at least one operating characteristic of the automated system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventor: Dale Peterson
  • Patent number: 8690516
    Abstract: Provided is a method of adjusting a velocity of a transfer arm in a transfer member. The method includes, accelerating the transfer arm from a start point to a first point where a movement velocity reaches a preset reference velocity, dividing a division from the first point to a second point into movement divisions to move the transfer arm in any one of a deceleration motion, an acceleration motion, and a uniform motion according to the respective movement divisions, and decelerating the transfer arm from the second point to a target point. The motion of the transfer arm in the current movement division is different from that in the movement division just before the current movement division. Thus, a different impulse from that in the precedent movement division is applied to a substrate loaded on the transfer arm. Accordingly, the impulse response superposition cancels residual vibration of the substrate, so as to improve transfer efficiency of the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Semes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin Hong, Sang-Eun Jun
  • Patent number: 8634863
    Abstract: There are obtained a mobile terminal device and a data transfer control program that, even in the case where a plurality of data that become a target of transfer exist, can simply carry out an operation to select data to be transferred from them and to start transfer itself without a mistake. An acceleration sensor 118 fixedly provided in the device is activated at a state where the data to be transferred are displayed on a first liquid crystal display 104 and selected by an operation section 112. A control section 121 starts the transfer of the data using an infrared communication section 105 at the time when to become a posture of a specific angle range continuously more than once. Since a predetermined melody comes out from a speaker 110 during the transfer of the data, it is possible to know that the transfer is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Motoyoshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8600674
    Abstract: A prediction method that estimates the real-time position of a mobile device based on previously observed data is provided. The present invention can be used in real-time navigation, including providing real-time alerts of an upcoming destination and notifications of emergency events in close geographic proximity. The prediction method utilizes neural networks and/or functions generated using genetic algorithms in estimating the mobile device's real-time position. The prediction method provides reliable Location-Based Services (LBS) in events where traditional positioning technologies become unreliable. It is also seamless, as the user remains unaware of any interruption in accessing the positioning technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Sean J. Barbeau, Philip L. Winters, Rafael Perez, Miguel Labrador, Nevine Georggi
  • Patent number: 8600527
    Abstract: A residual-velocity calculating unit calculates a residual velocity that corresponds to a velocity increment when an acceleration is reduced from a current command acceleration to zero according to an acceleration reduction curve. A differential-velocity calculating unit calculates a differential velocity vs=v0-vn, which is a difference between a target velocity v0 and a current velocity command for every command generation period. An acceleration-reduction-start-timing determining unit compares the residual velocity to the differential velocity for determining whether acceleration reduction starts. When a condition that the residual velocity is equal to or larger than the differential velocity is satisfied, the acceleration-reduction-start-timing determining unit determines the start of the acceleration reduction and starts to reduce the command acceleration according to the acceleration reduction curve generated by the command generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Maekawa, Yuko Takehana, Satoshi Mizogami, Masahiko Hirano
  • Patent number: 8554344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact motorized rotational stage for microscopy applications and control methods for automated sample orientation/rotation. The rotational stage includes a motor, a rotational motion transmission mechanism, and a rotating sample holder for accommodating a holding device such as glass slides/Petri dishes of different sizes. Mouse embryos are used as an example to explain the control methods. A pattern recognition utility was developed for identifying mouse embryo structures. The transformation between the holding device rotational coordinate frame and the translational positioning stage coordinate frame is calibrated during image-based visual servo control. The polar body of an embryo is oriented through purely image-based visual servo control or through coordinate transformation and closed-loop position control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Yu Sun, Xinyu Liu
  • Patent number: 8086330
    Abstract: Systems and processes for accessing acceleration data may include an accelerometer coupled to a nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory may be coupled to a processor. Acceleration data may be obtained from the accelerometer via a bus coupling the nonvolatile memory to the accelerometer. Acceleration data may be sent from the nonvolatile memory to a processor. One or more operations may be performed based on the acceleration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J Cornwell, Christopher P. Dudte
  • Patent number: 8078295
    Abstract: A method for controlling acceleration and deceleration before interpolating is provided. The method includes steps of previewing and analyzing a processing program to estimate a limitation of a processing velocity and distributing a processing velocity according to the limitation. The step of previewing and analyzing a processing program includes sub-steps of providing the processing program including a pathway formed by plural blocks, unitizing the motion vector of each block into the unit vector ( N ^ i = N _ i ? N _ i ? ) , calculating a length (DVi=?{right arrow over (DV)}i?) of a vector difference in the unit vectors between each block and its next block ({right arrow over (DV)}i={circumflex over (N)}i?{circumflex over (N)}i+1), calculating a sum of the length of the vector difference in a distance from a starting block (S=?DVn), and calculating the limitation of the processing velocity for an end of each block (Vlim) according to an inverse ratio of the sum (1/S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chin-Chu Sun, Shih-Chang Liang, Wan-Kun Chang, Yung-Ming Kao, Cheng-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8068924
    Abstract: A coordinative control method for adjusting the back and knee bottom sections of an adjustable bed or the like, and a computer program for implementing the method, are provided. Specifically, a method for adjusting the back and knee bottom section is provided, in which the angular positions thereof are adjusted according to a preset action pattern. The initial starting positions of the adjustable sections are taken into account, and adjusted to a position corresponding to the closest point on a curve representing angular movement of the sections during the adjustment process. Then, the sections are adjusted in a manner that prevents exertion of uncomfortable pressure upon the torso of a user, and prevents sliding of a user relative to the foot of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Paramount Bed Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nagaoka, Masao Horitani, Satoru Inoue
  • Patent number: 8065024
    Abstract: A bottom adjusting action control system for an adjustable bed is provided that facilitates adjustment of the adjustable bottom sections of the bed via a predetermined path of angular adjustment in reaching final set positions for the back and knee bottom sections. In particular, the control system of the present invention provides a means of adjusting the angular positions of adjustable bottom sections of the bed to predetermined final positions via preset bottom coordinative action patterns carried out by a controller means. The preset bottom coordinative action patterns raise and lower adjustable back and knee bottom sections of the bed in a coordinated manner, so as to adjust the bottom sections of the bed to the chosen angular positions without causing the user to slide relative to the bed, and without exerting uncomfortable abdominal pressure on the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nagaoka, Masao Horitani, Satoru Inoue
  • Patent number: 8024061
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus to generate a position profile using lower-order polynomials. The device includes a pattern coefficient generator to generate pattern and time coefficients of a position pattern that is classified by velocity change, a contour generator to generate a pattern polynomial to define a contour of each section of the position pattern using the generated pattern and time coefficients, and a dual filter for generating a position profile by selectively activating one of a plurality of filters, which receive the pattern polynomial generated by the contour generator. The device uses lower-order polynomials and a small number of coefficients, thereby reducing the number of calculations required in the procedure to generate the position profile. The device generates a seamless and smooth position profile by preventing switching errors due to the difference between filter sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Ik Ha
  • Patent number: 8022646
    Abstract: Information indicative of the placement of spindle motor components may be obtained and used to provide a correction to one or more BEMF-derived attributes used to control the spindle speed. In some implementations, first and second signals indicative of BEMF of different stator windings may be used to determine a speed-related characteristic. The speed related characteristic may be used to determine an error amount, which may be used to determine a correction factor to control the speed of the spindle motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Pantas Sutardja, Jerry Richgels
  • Patent number: 7925373
    Abstract: An acceleration/deceleration control method of a CNC machine tool includes receiving an acceleration/deceleration timing signal and a velocity signal. The acceleration/deceleration timing signal is calculated to acquire a plurality of different first weight values and different second weight values by a first formula and a second formula. A velocity variation of the velocity signal is determined to be zero, positive or negative. The velocity signal is acquired, if the velocity variation is zero. A plurality of acceleration signals are acquired by the velocity signal multiplying each of the first weight values, if the velocity variable is positive. A plurality of deceleration signals are acquired by the velocity signal multiplying each of the second weight values, if the velocity variation is negative. The velocity signal, the acceleration signal and the deceleration signal are converted into a first driving signal, a second driving signal and a third driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Ming Hsu, Jhy-Hau Chiu
  • Patent number: 7877210
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for detecting collisions in a three-dimension environment, comprising the steps of establishing a projection path along a translational path of a first object toward a second object; projecting a first object outline from said first object with a second object outline from said second object to obtain an intersection; calculating a collision along said translational path from said intersection of said first object outline and said second object outline; and checking for a static collision between said first object and said second object at an end of said translational path and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: John Owen, Haralabos Gouzinis
  • Patent number: 7856282
    Abstract: A member of a machine, such as a boom on construction equipment for example, is pivoted by a first actuator and has a length that is alterable by a second actuator. A control method allows an operator of the machine to command a point on the member to move along a straight line path. The operator command specifies velocities along two orthogonal axes and those velocities are transformed into an angular velocity and a length velocity for the member. The angular velocity and a length velocity then are converted into individual velocities for the first and second actuators. Each actuator is operated at its respective velocity to achieve the commanded movement of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: INCOVA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith A. Tabor
  • Patent number: 7800329
    Abstract: There are provided a motor control device and a method for deciding a velocity instruction shape within the limit of a movement range, a velocity, and an acceleration of an object device while maintaining the acceleration as high as possible in inertia identification. The motor control device includes a position control unit for generating a velocity instruction based on a position instruction and a motor position, a velocity control unit for generating a torque instruction based on the velocity instruction and a motor velocity, and a motor drive unit for generating motor current from the torque instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Umeda, Eri Yamanaka, Dai Fukuda, Yuko Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20100229217
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein allow a requesting party to control use of another user's mobile station. In some aspects, a server is configured to communicate with a plurality of remote computer systems and target mobile stations. The server includes a memory device and a processor configured to access data and logic instructions embedded on the memory device. The server authenticates a requesting party accessing the computer server from one of the remote communication systems. The requesting party is not a user of a selected one of the target mobile stations. The server receives selective availability attributes for the selected one of the target mobile stations from the requesting party. The selective availability attributes indicate conditions under which the target mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the target mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Ashok Bhatia
  • Patent number: 7768225
    Abstract: A difference between each position command data outputted in a form of a step signal from a high-level controller and its corresponding detected position data of a movable body is integrated by an integral compensator to position the movable body. Assuming, for example, that the movable body is a steerable mirror, digital filters are arranged to compensate the value of an initial state of an angular displacement and the value of an initial state of an angular velocity, respectively, and respective impulse responses of the digital filters as additional input elements are added to an output terminal of the integral compensator. For higher effectiveness, internal state variables of the digital filters can desirably be cleared to zero whenever an angle (position) command data is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Via Mechanics Ltd.
    Inventors: Souichi Toyama, Yaichi Okubo, Hiromu Hirai, Makoto Iwasaki, Motohiro Kawafuku, Noriaki Hirose
  • Patent number: 7693587
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for control of friction at the nanoscale. A method of controlling frictional dynamics of a plurality of particles using non-Lipschitzian control includes determining an attribute of the plurality of particles; calculating an attribute deviation by subtracting the attribute of the plurality of particles from a target attribute; calculating a non-Lipschitzian feedback control term by raising the attribute deviation to a fractionary power ?=(2m+1)/(2n+1) where n=1, 2, 3 . . . and m=0, 1, 2, 3 . . . , with m strictly less than n and then multiplying by a control amplitude; and imposing the non-Lipschitzian feedback control term globally on each of the plurality of particles; imposing causes a subsequent magnitude of the attribute deviation to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Barhen, Yehuda Y. Braiman, Vladimir Protopopescu
  • Patent number: 7689300
    Abstract: When causing manual movement of a moving section of a machine tool, shape data of the moving section is made to move in a movement direction that has been input manually, and it is confirmed whether there is no interference with shape data of a surrounding interfering object. If interference occurs, a position returned a specified distance from the position where interference occurs is made a stop position, the moving section is moved to this stop position, and stopped at that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Naganawa, Yasushi Fukaya, Yoshiichi Ichikawa, Mamoru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7672741
    Abstract: A position/force control device includes position detectors on a master 1 side and on a slave 3 side. Reaction force estimation observers 2 and 4 estimate reaction force based on outputs of the position detectors. A position control part 5 generates acceleration signals apm, aps for controlling positions on the master side and on the slave side on the basis of the position signals outputted by the position detectors. The operation force control part 6 generates acceleration signals afm, afs for controlling forces applied to the master side and to the slave side based upon the outputs from reaction force estimation observers 2 and 4. The acceleration composition part 7 composes the two sets of acceleration signals apm, aps, and afm, afs, and outputs the driving signals for the master side and the slave side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Keio University
    Inventors: Kouhei Ohnishi, Masaki Kitajima, Yasuhide Morikawa, Souji Ozawa, Toshiharu Furukawa, Toshiyuki Murakami, Kazuo Nakazawa, Wataru Iida, Tomoko Yano
  • Patent number: 7627387
    Abstract: A command generating device includes a command shape calculating unit for calculating an nth derivative command shape which is a fixed multiple of the nth derivative with respect to time of a position command for causing a machine to reach a target position at a positioning time so that a convolution of a velocity command which is the first derivative with respect to time of the position command and the impulse response of a transfer function determined from the frequency of a vibration which occurs in the machine becomes equal to zero, the convolution being calculated over the time period from the positioning time onward, and an associating processing unit for integrating the nth derivative command shape n times with respect to time, and for multiplying the integral result by a constant which associates the position command at the positioning time with the target position so as to determine the position command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Ueda, Hidetoshi Ikeda, Kiyoshi Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20090240350
    Abstract: A device for controlling movement of an object relative to an environment is disclosed. The device may include a ball configured to store data for determining at least an orientation of the object relative to the environment. The data may pertain to a plurality of possible orientations of the object. The device may also include a speed control unit configured to determine at least a speed of the object relative to the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: YI-MING TSENG
  • Patent number: 7576503
    Abstract: A brushless motor controller for use in a fuel pump detects a rotor phase based on an induced voltage in each phase coil of a brushless motor, and controls energization of the each phase coil based on the detected rotor phase. A control circuit of the controller is arranged to check the induced voltage by using three reference voltages as judgment values, convert a result of the check into a logic signal, and detect the rotor phase based on a prescribed change of the logic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Nakanishi, Masahiro Kako
  • Patent number: 7570006
    Abstract: A computer (20) that determines a sequence of control vectors (16) using predetermined functional instructions. Each vector includes a number of vector elements (17). Each vector element (17) is designed for a maximum of one final drive unit (2 to 4) of a machine (1). Each control vector (16) comprises at least one vector element (17) for each final drive unit (2 to 4) of the machine (1). There is at least one positioning element (s*) for each final drive unit (2 to 4). The computer (20) stores the determined sequence of control vectors (16) as a control file (11). Once the file has been transmitted to a control unit (6) of the machine (1), the control unit retrieves the control file (11) and executes the stored sequence of control vectors (16). The control unit staggers the execution of successive control vectors (16) by a predetermined clock interval (delta t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jochen Bretschneider
  • Publication number: 20090138103
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a body, a triaxial acceleration sensor which is built in the body and includes a long axis and a short axis, a disk device built in the body, a calculation unit that calculates a value on a basis of an acceleration value which is detected by the triaxial acceleration sensor and is output in a direction perpendicular to the long axis and to the short axis, a setting unit that sets a threshold in a state of the body in which a plane formed by the long axis and the short axis is approximately parallel to a direction of action of gravitational acceleration, and a controller that starts protection of the disk device on a basis of a result of comparison between the value calculated by the calculation unit and the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Koji Nakamura, Tatsuya Aoyagi, Toru Mamata, Kinji Taki
  • Patent number: 7480540
    Abstract: The invention discloses a device and a method for producing microstructures with a spindle, which is adapted to be driven for rotation about its longitudinal axis and which is provided with a fixture for clamping a workpiece, having an actuator provided with a fast drive, in particular a piezo drive, adapted to produce fast movement of a tool in a direction substantially perpendicular to the workpiece surface, which actuator can be positioned along a workpiece surface to be worked with the aid of an additional drive adapted to produce a linear feed motion in a first direction, the fast drive being coupled with the tool via guide means that allow feeding of the tool in axial direction of the fast drive, against the action of a restoring force, and that is highly rigid in a plane perpendicular to that direction. The control technology used permits microstructures to be produced precisely and reproducibly utilizing the dynamic properties of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventor: Heinrich Ostendarp
  • Publication number: 20080281441
    Abstract: There is described a method and a device for positioning an element of a machine. A setpoint position variable is generated, said setpoint position variable is reduced by means of a limiting variable and a modified setpoint position variable which is forwarded as a setpoint variable to a controller for positioning the element is formed in this manner. An expected setpoint position variable is determined from the modified setpoint position variable, the braking distance of the element is determined from the expected setpoint position variable, and a braking process of the element is initiated if the braking distance matches a target position which is reduced by the expected setpoint position variable. An element of a machine can so be positioned with accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Kay Grammatke, Tino Heber, Raimund Kram
  • Publication number: 20080243274
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for a mechanical-hydraulic system having a degree of freedom per hydraulic actuator which is embodied as a control path, and a measuring sensor which is used to measure the pressure ph of a hydraulic cylinder and a measuring sensor which is used to measure the position xh of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder. A control unit which can receive input variables of hydraulic pressure ph, and hydraulic actuator position xh, is provided. An observer, which determines the desired pressure of the hydraulic system and the speed vh of the hydraulic actuator, is implemented in the system. The desired pressure in the control element is in taken into account in the set of rules of the control element and the speed vh of the hydraulic actuator can be over-ridden for attenuating the control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Georg Keintzel, Gernot Grabmair, Kurt Schlacher
  • Publication number: 20080172134
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for detecting collisions in a three-dimension environment, comprising the steps of establishing a projection path along a translational path of a first object toward a second object; projecting a first object outline from said first object with a second object outline from said second object to obtain an intersection; calculating a collision along said translational path from said intersection of said first object outline and said second object outline; and checking for a static collision between said first object and said second object at an end of said translational path and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: John Owen, Haralabos Gouzinis
  • Patent number: 7373396
    Abstract: An information delivery system and its method and a program of the system, in which plural robots are used and users can obtain information effectively via the plural robots from the wider range than the range where only one robot moves, are provided. Each of the plural robots provides an information delivering means to users and an information exchanging means with an information server. The plural robots and the information server connect to a network. The robot obtains information to be delivered to an identified person from the information storing in the information server. And the robot delivers the obtained information to the identified person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Miki Sato
  • Patent number: 7366576
    Abstract: A machine tool moves a driven member by use of a servomotor. A position control device controls the position of the driven member in accordance with full closed loop control. The position control device computes an integrated feedback value g in correspondence with a function F (VM, PM, Vm, Pm) in which four state amounts, motor speed VM, motor position PM, driven member speed Vm, and driven member position Pm are independent variables. The thrust instruction ?*, which is inputted to the servomotor, is compensated with the integrated feedback value g. The servomotor is thus optimally driven and controlled in accordance with full closed loop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Tanahashi, Yasuhiko Suzuki