Speed Patents (Class 702/142)
  • Patent number: 8255101
    Abstract: A method and a device for estimating on an aircraft at least one wind characteristic. The device (1) comprises means (7) for determining a corrective term being representative of an apparent wind created upon a rotation of the aircraft and means (4) for determining the wind characteristic taking into account such a corrective term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Pierre Virelizier, Thomas Bochot
  • Publication number: 20120215484
    Abstract: A velocity measuring device emitting a laser beam at a web; a photodiode converting an optical output of the laser into an electric signal; a laser driver operating the laser to alternate a first emitting interval wherein the oscillating wavelength increases and a second emitting interval wherein the oscillating wavelength decreases; a current-voltage converting/amplifying portion converting the electric current from the photodiode into a voltage; a filter portion removing a carrier wave from the output of the current-voltage converting/amplifying portion; a signal extracting portion calculating a number of interference waveforms in the output of the filter portion; and a calculator calculating the velocity of the web based on the result of the extracting portion. The laser driver operates so the absolute values for the rates of change, in respect to time, of the oscillating wavelengths during the first emitting interval and during the second emitting interval are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ueno
  • Patent number: 8246294
    Abstract: An overspeed protection system for a gas turbine engine comprises: a plurality of engine speed sensors that generate engine speed signals; and a plurality of engine overspeed detection channels, each channel comprising an overspeed detector that receives and generates an overspeed signal when it detects the engine speed signal exceeding a selected value of overspeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald H. Rosenfield, Wayne T. Tran, Charles Spatafore
  • Patent number: 8246554
    Abstract: Motion of fingers of a subject is dynamically analyzed to provide an estimation index in a hardness of a muscle used in the motion of the fingers. A processing part calculates a speed and acceleration of two fingers on the basis of the motion data of the fingers obtained by a tapping detecting unit, calculates a ratio between the speed and the acceleration, and calculates as an estimation index a mechanical impedance regarding extending force of the fingers and a mechanical impedance regarding opening and closing force of the fingers by applying the calculated ratio to a predetermined equation based on a muscle dynamic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kandori, Tsuyoshi Miyashita, Yuko Sano
  • Patent number: 8234092
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring a lead edge and/or a trail edge media curl utilizing a dual cross beam sensor. The dual cross beam sensor includes one or more pairs of emitters (e.g., a pair to two pairs of emitters) and one or more detectors positioned sequentially in a media path so that a media passes via dual cross beams. Timing data with respect to the media can be measured as the media crosses via the dual cross beam sensor from a leading edge and/or trailing edge. A true instantaneous media speed and a curl height (i.e., media tip height or media curvature) can be simultaneously calculated from the timing data associated with the lead edge/trail edge with respect to each single cross beams of the dual cross beam sensor. An average curl height can be then calculated to enhance the accuracy of the media curl measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ming Yang, Thomas Jay Wyble, Keith Andrew Buddendeck
  • Patent number: 8234399
    Abstract: A serial ATA interface calibrates serially connected components of a computer system linked by the interface to a negotiated data transmission speed. The interface negotiates the fastest data transmission speed supported by the serially connected components. Link parameters associated with the negotiated data transmission speed are calibrated and implemented in a Phy layer of the interface before data is transmitted across the interface. The calibrated link parameters include signal transmission settings for amplitude, pre-emphasis, equalization and timing. Default settings of the link parameters correspond to the slowest data transmission speed supported by the serially connected components. The serially connected components are calibrated each time system power is initialized. The serially connected components can be a host computer linked to a data storage device such as a backplane-based storage subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Robert B. Wood
  • Patent number: 8234090
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating vehicle lateral velocity that defines a relationship between front and rear axle lateral forces and front and rear axle side-slip angles. The method includes providing measurements of vehicle yaw-rate, lateral acceleration, longitudinal speed, and steering angle. The method also includes using these measurements to provide a measurement of the front and rear axle forces. The method calculates a front axle lateral velocity and a rear axle lateral velocity, and calculates a front axle side-slip angle based on the rear axle lateral velocity and a rear axle side-slip angle based on the front axle lateral velocity. The method then estimates front and rear axle forces, and selects a virtual lateral velocity that minimizes an error between the estimated and measured lateral axle forces. The method then provides an estimated vehicle lateral velocity using the selected virtual lateral velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Flavio Nardi, Jihan Ryu, Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Kevin A. O'Dea
  • Patent number: 8229720
    Abstract: Provided is an atmospheric flow simulation method for reducing a simulation error of wind speed caused due to an influence of different terrain resolutions using a numerical simulation; and, more particularly, an atmospheric flow simulation method which can compensate the wind speed of the atmospheric flow field using low-resolution terrain data by introducing an influence of different terrain resolutions as a terrain roughness and adding it to the terrain condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventor: Hyun-Goo Kim
  • Patent number: 8229697
    Abstract: A method and a device are described for determining the rotational direction and/or rotational speed of a rotatable body on the basis of a sine signal and cosine signal, which is assignable to the rotational direction and/or rotational speed of the rotatable body and are output by a sensor, having at least one of the following steps: recording a sine signal and cosine signal, which is assignable to the rotational direction and/or rotational speed, at a point in time; determining a phase value from the sine signal and cosine signal; recording sine signals and cosine signals, which is assignable to the rotational direction and/or rotational speed, at points in time; determining phase values from the corresponding sine signals and cosine signals; calculating phase differences from the phase values and the phase value; and determining the rotational direction and/or rotational speed from the phase differences on the basis of a Vernier method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Axel Wenzler
  • Publication number: 20120173191
    Abstract: A velocity relevant to a body may be accurately measured using sound waves. Such velocity relevant to a body may be airspeed, i.e., the velocity of the body with respect to the surrounding air, or the velocity of air in the vicinity of the body or along its desired travel path. More specifically, the speed of two or more sounds may be correlated so that an airspeed, or the velocity of air, may be determined by taking into account the fact that sound traveling in the same direction as airflow travels faster than sound traveling in the direction opposite to airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Lothar B. Moeller
  • Publication number: 20120166135
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a physical parameter representative of a point P of a plate by means of a device comprising a first receiver for measuring a wave propagating in the plate, and a calculation unit. The method includes the following steps: measuring, by means of the first receiver, a first signal s1(t) representative of a wave propagating in the plate; defining a closed contour C on the plate surrounding said point P, the contour C being the location on the plate on which either a wave is generated by a first emitter, or the first signal s1(t) is measured; and determining the physical parameter at point P on the plate by identifying, thanks to at least said first signal, a shape function fshape(f), in the following equation: formula (I), where Wcontour and Gplate are functions of Green, and the shape function fshape(f) is dependent on the frequency f of the wave and on the physical parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicants: Mathias Fink
    Inventors: Ros Kiri Ing, Nicolas Etaix, Alexandre LeBlanc, Mathias Fink
  • Patent number: 8209147
    Abstract: An example geolocation system for mounting on a mammal incorporates simple sensing sleeves on the calves of the body support members, combined with an accelerometer based gravity direction and force sensing at the center of mass of the body. The example system is connected to a digital processing unit and a battery power supply to integrate the sensing to determine kinetic and potential energy of the body locomotion over time in a method that integrates out the aperiodic motion of the body about the center of mass, and uses the residual motion to measure the center of mass locomotion from a known point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: James Solinsky
    Inventor: James Solinsky
  • Patent number: 8200435
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for a forecast of wind-resources of a wind-farm are provided. The forecast is done by a numerical weather-prediction-tool, the weather-prediction-tool using a long-term data-set of meteorological data. The data are related to the location of the wind-farm. A wind-speed measurement is done by a wind-turbine of the wind-farm to do a parameterization of an atmospheric turbulence. The wind-speed measurement is used to generate a data-stream, which is combined with the data-set of the meteorological data to do the forecast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Henrik Stiesdal
  • Patent number: 8200452
    Abstract: To provide an attitude-angle detecting apparatus, which detects an attitude angle of a mobile object during movement with good accuracy by correcting an output value from an acceleration sensor, and to provide a method for the same. It is characterized in that it comprises an acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration being applied to a mobile object, a yaw-rate sensor for measuring a yaw rate of the mobile object, a speed sensor for measuring a speed of the mobile object, a mobile-component acceleration calculating means for calculating an actual acceleration from the speed, calculating a centrifugal force from the yaw rate and the speed and calculating a mobile-component acceleration, a resultant force of the actual speed and the centrifugal force, and an attitude-angle calculating means for calculating an attitude angle from a gravitational acceleration, which is obtainable by correcting the acceleration with the mobile-component acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Ueda, Iwao Maeda, Kiyomi Nagamiya, Naoto Shibata
  • Patent number: 8195421
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining the velocity and direction of a moving object, the apparatus comprising: a coherent light (L) source arranged to generate an incident beam (B) of coherent light; an optical imaging system arranged to receive light reflected from a moving object passing through the incident beam and to focus the reflected light into a magnified image of the moving image; a first optical mask (M) through which the magnified image is projected, the mask having a first region of alternating opaque and non-opaque areas having a first spacing and second region of alternating opaque and non-opaque areas having a second spacing different from the first spacing; a first light detector (D) arranged to receive the light signal transmitted through the optical mask, the light signal comprising a series of pulses, and to calculate the velocity and direction of the moving object as a function of the pulse frequency and the spacing of the opaque areas of the optical mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher I. Moir
  • Patent number: 8195341
    Abstract: An adaptive vehicle control system that classifies a drivers driving style based on highway on/off ramp maneuvers. Once the maneuver has been determined to be an on-ramp maneuver or an off-ramp maneuver, a style characterization processor can classify the maneuver using selected discriminant features obtained or derived from the maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jihua Huang, William C. Lin, Yuen-Kwok Chin
  • Patent number: 8170810
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring the load on rotor blades of wind energy installations by measuring acceleration on at least one rotor blade of a wind energy installation and determining load on the rotor blade from the picked-up acceleration signals, dynamic, even uncritical load states can be detected, in differentiated fashion, and combined in a suitable form for evaluation in order to influence, if possible prior to the onset of damage to the rotor blade, the mode of operation of the wind energy installation, in particular the design of the pitch control or angle setting of stall-regulated rotor blades, on the basis both of all of the rotor blades together and of a single rotor blade. Frequency of occurrence of the load values over a certain period of time is determined from amplitudes of the acceleration signal or amplitudes of selected natural oscillations of the frequency spectra are obtained by Fourier transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Igus—Innovative Technische Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Volkmer
  • Publication number: 20120101770
    Abstract: A fall detection device may be uniquely associated with a wearer. The fall detection device may predict whether a fall event is imminent based on kinematic information of the wearer's body. The device may also confirm whether the wearer actually experienced a fall event based on additional kinematic information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicants: The BOARD of TRUSTEES of the UNIVERSITY of ILLINOIS, MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
    Inventors: Mark D. Grabiner, Kenton R. Kaufman, Barry K. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8165842
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring the speed of a vehicle running on wheels has a first sensor and a second sensor. The two sensors are arranged on the same wheel of a vehicle and rotate with this wheel. Both sensors are arranged in such a way that they measure forces which are each perpendicular to the axis of the wheel and at an angle to one another, and act on the same point. An evaluation device is provided to which the measured values of the two sensors are fed, with the evaluation device obtaining the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of travel therefrom, and calculating the current vehicle speed from it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: TraJet GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Helck
  • Patent number: 8140214
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a speed of a vehicle (1), whereby at least two images (A, B) of an area surrounding the vehicle are recorded in time succession using a camera on the vehicle (1), and between the images (A, B) changes (2) in a position and/or a size of at least one object (X) contained in the images (X) are determined, and from the changes, a speed of the vehicle (1) is determined relative to the object (X).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Krökel, Thomas Fechner, Helmut Riedel, Holger Grunleithner, Robert Thiel
  • Publication number: 20120046803
    Abstract: In an obtainer for obtaining speed feeling of a driver of a movable object, a gaze point setter sets a gaze point of the driver, and a motion detector detects relative motion of an environmental field around the mobile object with respect to the mobile object. A divergent component calculator projects the relative motion of the environmental field in a coordinate system. The coordinate system is formed by modeling a retina sphere of the driver of the mobile object. The divergent calculator calculates each of divergent components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field radially expanding from the gaze point. A speed feeling calculator calculates speed feeling of the driver based on the divergent components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field radially expanding from the gaze point calculated by the divergent component calculator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inou, Mamoru Sawada, Seiji Totsuka
  • Patent number: 8111032
    Abstract: An indicating instrument for a vehicle includes a step motor including a field winding, a pointer, a stopper device for stopping the pointer, which is rotating in a zero-reset direction, at a stopper position, a detecting device for detecting induced voltage of the field winding at each of detecting points, a control device for performing zero-reset control, whereby a drive signal is controlled to rotate the pointer in the zero-reset direction. In a state of abnormal detection in which the induced voltage larger than a predetermined set value is detected at a zero point; and the induced voltage equal to or smaller than the set value is detected at a next detecting point to the zero point, the control device assumes synchronization loss of the step motor and continues the zero-reset control until an assumptive electrical angle corresponding to a rotational position of the pointer reaches the zero point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Nakane
  • Patent number: 8095309
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a GPS system and a longitudinal accelerometer. Accelerometer corrections are derived based on GPS velocity data. Individual wheel speeds are determined based on GPS velocity data. Longitudinal vehicle velocity may be determined based on accelerometer data or individual wheel speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jihan Ryu, Cheng-Foo Chen
  • Publication number: 20120004883
    Abstract: An activity monitor, comprises housing for attachment to a person; at least one accelerometer disposed within the housing; and a processor disposed within the housing, for processing signals from the accelerometer to assess activity of the person. A method assesses activity of a person, including: sensing acceleration at a first location on the person; processing the acceleration, over time, to assess activity of the person; and wirelessly communicating information indicative of the activity to a second location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Curtis A. Vock, Peter Flentov, Dennis M. Darcy
  • Patent number: 8078351
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating surface coefficient of friction in a vehicle system. The method includes providing a kinematics relationship between vehicle yaw-rate, vehicle speed, vehicle steering angle and vehicle front and rear axle side-slip angles that is accurate for all surface coefficient of frictions on which the vehicle may be traveling. The method defines a nonlinear function for the front and rear axle side-slip angles relating to front and rear lateral forces and coefficient of friction, and uses the nonlinear function in the kinematics relationship. The method also provides a linear relationship of the front and rear axle side-slip angles and the front and rear lateral forces using the kinematics relationship. The method determines that the vehicle dynamics have become nonlinear using the linear relationship and then estimates the surface coefficient of friction when the vehicle dynamics are nonlinear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Flavio Nardi, Jihan Ryu, Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Kevin A. O'Dea
  • Publication number: 20110295549
    Abstract: An angular velocity estimation apparatus of the invention is provided to estimate the angular velocity of a moving object with good accuracy. A peripheral object observation device (radar) 811 repeatedly observes a relative position of an object relative to the moving object, located in the vicinity of the moving object. A relative position acquisition unit 211 obtains a result of the observation by the peripheral object observation device 811. A stationary object determination unit (stationary object identification unit) 220 determines whether or not the object the relative position of which have been observed by the peripheral object observation device 811 is still. An object correlation unit (stationary object tracking unit) 230 determines a plurality of the relative positions of an identical object observed by the peripheral object observation device 811, from among the relative positions observed by the peripheral object observation device 811.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki TAKABAYASHI, Takashi Matsuzaki, Hiroshi Kameda
  • Publication number: 20110295548
    Abstract: There is provided a road configuration estimation apparatus that precludes influences of erroneous detection of an object and erroneous still determination and estimates a road configuration. A radar (peripheral object observation device) 110 repeatedly observes a relative position of an object relative to the moving object, which is located in the vicinity of a moving object. A stationary object identification unit (stationary object determination unit) 130 determines whether or not the object the relative positions of which have been observed by the radar 110 is still. A road approximate curve temporary computation unit (object correlation unit) 140 determines a plurality of the relative positions of an identical object observed by the radar 110 from among the relative positions observed by the radar 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki TAKABAYASHI, Takashi Matsuzaki, Hiroshi Kameda, Yasushi Obata
  • Publication number: 20110276401
    Abstract: The present disclosure described herein relates to a system and method for distributing messages to an electronic device. The method comprises: analyzing data relating to the device to determine a correlation of data relating to a user of the device; selecting an advertisement from a set of advertisements based on the correlation of data; and transmitting the advertisement to the device. The correlation of data may be determined from analyzing movement data and at least one status indicator relating to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Knowles, Bhavuk Kaul, Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott
  • Patent number: 8055419
    Abstract: A novel display apparatus and method that enables the operator to shift gears smoothly on motor vehicles is described. The display shows engine revolutions per minute (RPM) at various traveling speeds for any gears all in one dial. The display may also show shifting paths for different driving styles. The static version of the display may be overlaid on top of existing tachometer. The dynamic version of display runs on portable devices with Global Positioning System (GPS) will show optimal RPM and shift indicator continuously. Further, the dynamic display is wireless networked to provide real-time driving instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Jianhao Meng
  • Patent number: 8050838
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating vehicle lateral velocity. The method uses a kinematic estimator constructed as a closed-loop Leunberger observer. The kinematic estimator is based on a kinematic relationship between lateral acceleration measurement and rate of change of lateral velocity. The method provides measurement updates based on virtual lateral velocity measurements from front and rear axle lateral force versus axle side-slip angle tables using the lateral acceleration, yaw-rate, longitudinal speed, and steering angle measurements. The method calculates front and rear axle lateral forces from the lateral acceleration and yaw-rate measurements. The method estimates front and rear axle side-slip angles from the calculated front and rear axle lateral forces using the tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jihan Ryu, Flavio Nardi, Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Kevin A. O'Dea
  • Patent number: 8050887
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method and system for detecting icing on at least one wind turbine blade. An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a software application and process that utilizes the measured wind speed to detect icing on at least one wind turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Udo Ahmann
  • Patent number: 8041532
    Abstract: In a measured-value converting process, a shape-condition converting process and an absolute coordinate system converting process (S16) are performed on a value measured by a sensor. In the shape-condition converting process, when a mobile terminal has a shape 1 and shape 2, the converting process is not performed (S12 and S13). When the mobile terminal has a shape 3, a converting process of rotating through 180° around YS axis is performed (S14). Moreover, when the mobile terminal has a shape 4, a converting process of rotating through 180° around ZS axis (S15) is performed. Therefore, even in an information processing apparatus of which a shape changes, a sensor which detects a movement of the information processing apparatus can be used as an input device, irrespective of the shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
    Inventors: Hirohisa Kusuda, Daisuke Tsujino, Jun Yamazaki, Yasuhiro Nishide
  • Publication number: 20110238457
    Abstract: Vehicle management systems and associated processes can consider energy consumption when selecting routes for fleet vehicles. Vehicle management systems and associated processes are described that, in certain embodiments, evaluate vehicle energy usage based on factors such as terrain or elevation, vehicle characteristics, driver characteristics, road conditions, traffic, speed limits, stop time, turn information, traffic information, and weather information, and the like. The features described herein may also be implemented for non-fleet vehicles, such as in personal vehicle navigation systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: TELOGIS, INC.
    Inventors: Ralph Mason, Jason Koch, Howard Jelinek
  • Patent number: 8005602
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle speed control device for controlling a speed of a vehicle. The vehicle speed control device includes a current location error estimation section for extracting area attribute information from the map information, for producing a location error probability distribution, a target speed calculation section for receiving the target speed correction instruction, for accessing preset data that shows an acceleration or a gradient of an acceleration which allows a driver not to feel uncomfortable, and for computing target speed values at nodes over the distance in such a way that the target speed values create a continuous curve, and a speed control section for sensing a speed of a vehicle, and for controlling a driving torque of the vehicle so that the sensed speed traces the continuous curve composed of the target speed values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Bando, Takeshi Inoue, Koichiro Tanikoshi, Masao Sakata, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Masato Imai
  • Publication number: 20110202204
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods of navigation. In on embodiment, a plurality of position and motion states of a vehicle are estimated. The states may be estimated based on information received from a satellite receiver and an inertial measurement sensor. Estimating the states comprises performing one or more of a plurality of update steps at the rate that information is received from the satellite receiver. The states are estimated at a rate greater than the rate at which the update steps are performed. In one embodiment, the states are estimated using a stepped extended Kalman filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Aaron D. Kahn
  • Publication number: 20110196644
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geofenced area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that (a) corresponds to a geographic area and (b) comprises one or more street segments is defined. Speed parameters can be assigned to the geofenced area. After receiving speed data, it can be determined whether the speed parameters have been exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Mark J. Davidson, John A. Olsen, III
  • Patent number: 7979231
    Abstract: A method and system for estimation of inertial sensor errors is provided. The method includes receiving first inertial output data from a master inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on a host platform, with the first inertial output data comprising a change in velocity (delta V) and a change in angle (delta theta), and receiving second inertial output data from a remote IMU mounted on the host platform at a predetermined fixed distance from the master IMU, with the second inertial output data comprising a delta V and a delta theta. The first inertial output data is compared with the second inertial output data to determine a difference between the delta V of the first inertial output data and the delta V of the second inertial output data, and to determine a difference between the delta theta of the first inertial output data and the delta theta of the second inertial output data. The determined differences are applied to estimate inertial sensor errors in the remote IMU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Charles P. Eckert
  • Patent number: 7970572
    Abstract: A method of detecting a free fall of a device includes measuring an acceleration of the device, calculating an integral of the acceleration, and determining whether the acceleration is periodic. If the acceleration is not periodic, the integral of the acceleration is compared with a first critical value to determine whether the device falls freely. If the acceleration is periodic, the integral of the acceleration is compared with a second critical value to determine whether the device falls freely. The first and second critical values are different. Since whether the device is periodically accelerated is considered, free fall of the device can be correctly detected, and thus malfunction of the device can be prevented. For example, an unnecessary protection operation for a hard disk drive of the device can be prevented, and thus a user can conveniently use the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu-nam Cho, Jun-Seok Shim
  • Publication number: 20110150649
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the deflection or curvature of a rotating blade, such as a wind turbine blade or a helicopter blade. Also, methods and apparatus for establishing an inertial reference system on a rotating blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Jon Raymond White, Douglas E. Adams, Josh Paquette
  • Patent number: 7962312
    Abstract: A method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to automatically measure amounts of time taken by the user to complete respective distance intervals. During the outing, data representing the automatically measured amounts of time may be automatically stored in memory of the least one device. Another method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to automatically identify occasions on which a user completes respective distance intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Darley, Thomas P. Blackadar
  • Patent number: 7962310
    Abstract: A method for estimating longitudinal speed of a motor vehicle, including two drive wheels and at least one central electronic unit, based on rotational speeds of the four wheels two of which are drive wheels, such that, after arranging the rotational speeds in descending order: in an acceleration phase, the vehicle longitudinal speed is compared with the speed of the third fastest wheel, and its acceleration should not exceed that of the slowest wheel; in a deceleration phase, the longitudinal speed is compared with the speed of the fastest wheel and its acceleration in absolute value should not exceed that of the second fastest wheel; when the longitudinal speed ranges between the speed of the third fastest wheel and that of the fastest wheel, its value remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Stephane Guegan, Gabriel Toffolo
  • Publication number: 20110125455
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating vehicle lateral velocity that defines a relationship between front and rear axle lateral forces and front and rear axle side-slip angles. The method includes providing measurements of vehicle yaw-rate, lateral acceleration, longitudinal speed, and steering angle. The method also includes using these measurements to provide a measurement of the front and rear axle forces. The method calculates a front axle lateral velocity and a rear axle lateral velocity, and calculates a front axle side-slip angle based on the rear axle lateral velocity and a rear axle side-slip angle based on the front axle lateral velocity. The method then estimates front and rear axle forces, and selects a virtual lateral velocity that minimizes an error between the estimated and measured lateral axle forces. The method then provides an estimated vehicle lateral velocity using the selected virtual lateral velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Flavio Nardi, Jihan Ryu, Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Kevin A. O'Dea
  • Publication number: 20110119013
    Abstract: A method for verifying the speed of a vehicle having at least a front axle and a rear axle, using sensors separated by a distance. The presence of the vehicle is sensed and an image of the vehicle is recorded to enable the vehicle to be identified. The sensors are triggered to emit signals which are received by the system to enable the speed of the vehicle to be determined. The signals are also used to determine a wheel base measurement for the vehicle. The determined wheel base measurement is compared to an actual wheel base measurement of the vehicle being sensed and any discrepancy between them is taken to be indicative of potential errors in the speed of the vehicle determined by the method. In one embodiment, the a database is provided, the database containing data relating to various vehicle types associated with vehicle specifications including a validated wheel base measurement for each vehicle type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Adrian Onea, Ricardo John Fiusco
  • Publication number: 20110117903
    Abstract: An arrangement for disabling suitably equipped mobile devices senses at least one of: acceleration, jerk, velocity, position, orientation relative to a vehicle location trend, and orientation of a direction of motion. Position and orientation sensing elements are becoming increasingly prevalent in mobile devices, be they cell phones, smart phones, portable Internet devices, portable wireless devices, mobile Internet devices, Portable Navigation Devices (PND), iPhones, tablet computers, iPads, or Portable Digital Assistants (PDA). Although the operation of which while driving is illegal in many jurisdictions, mobile devices continue to be used by drivers of motor vehicles. Common perception is that it is dangerous to divide one's attention to activities other than the task of operating motor vehicles, while driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: James Roy Bradley
  • Patent number: 7945419
    Abstract: In a method of electronically measuring reel off-center run-out and reel hub mismatch, tape speed data related to a tape coupled with an operating drive reel is electronically measured. The tape speed data is correlated with drive reel rotation angles. The correlated tape speed data is translated to drive reel hub radii variations with respect to the drive reel rotation angles. The drive reel hub radii variations comprise an operational measure of reel off-center run-out and reel hub mismatch of the drive reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-chih Weng, Turguy Goker, James Mark Decot, Minh Vu, John A. Hamming
  • Patent number: 7940963
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes: an image capturing section capturing a motion image of a monitor region; a condition storing section storing a condition of an object to be extracted from the motion image; a matching judging section judging whether an object that matches the condition exists in the motion image; an object region identifying section identifying an object region including the object, if the matching judging section judges positively; an output section outputting an image of the object region, if the matching judging section judges positively; an image retaining section retaining an image of a region other than the object region, if the matching judging section judges positively; and an output control section controlling the output section to output the image of the region, if the image of the region is judged to be transmitted, after the image retaining section retained the image of the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori Noguchi, Tetsuya Takamori
  • Publication number: 20110105920
    Abstract: An apparatus, a method, and a computer program are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a processor. The processor is configured to obtain exercise data of a user from a measurement sensor, to identify a present exercise phase of an exercise from among a plurality of exercise phases on the basis of the exercise data, and to select a relevant display mode from among a plurality of display modes on the basis of the present exercise phase and a mapping between the display modes and the exercise phases, wherein the relevant display mode defines a set of display elements associated with the present exercise phase to be displayed to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: POLAR ELECTRO OY
    Inventor: Jarkko Haataja
  • Publication number: 20110106487
    Abstract: In order to acquire positioning results (position and azimuth) of a moving body and reducing cumulative errors in integration processing of the positioning results, a moving body positioning apparatus includes: movement detecting means for detecting whether or not a moving body is moving; position acquiring means for acquiring a position of the moving body; integrating means for integrally processing a plurality of positions acquired by the position acquiring means as positioning results; and preprocessing means for preprocessing the positioning results to be inputted into the integrating means. In accordance with output from the movement detecting means, the preprocessing means inputs the positioning results obtained from the position acquiring means into the integrating means, which integrally processes the positioning results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE
    Inventor: Masakatsu KOUROGI
  • Patent number: 7925466
    Abstract: A speed measuring system for measuring the speed of a wireless communication terminal communicating with a base station includes an angle measuring unit, a distance measuring unit, a time measuring unit, and a speed calculator. The base station includes a signal tower and an antenna on the signal tower. The signal tower defines a central longitudinal axis perpendicular to the antenna, and the axis intersects the antenna at a point. The angle measuring unit measures an included angle between signal from the wireless communication terminal at any location and the antenna. The distance measuring unit measures a distance between the wireless communication terminal at any location and the point. The time measuring unit measures the time the wireless communication terminal takes from a first location to a second location. The speed calculator calculates the speed of the wireless communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Sheng Ge, Chen-Huang Fan, Min-Wei Tseng
  • Patent number: 7920959
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for determining the velocity vector, speed, and direction of moving vehicles traveling on roadways which change elevation and have curves. A camera mounted above a roadway observes at least one vehicles traveling in different directions on different roads. Each pixel in the two-dimensional optical image is mapped into a three-dimensional real world location to enable the moving vehicles to be analyzed in the three-dimensional real world as they travel on roads, which may change elevation and may have curves. The estimated vehicle velocities may be displayed on an image near the moving vehicle. Individual images with vehicle velocities may be posted on an Internet site. The sequence of optical images, or streaming video, with the displayed vehicle velocities may also be used for television news programs that show traffic moving on the roadways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Christopher Reed Williams