Angular Position Patents (Class 702/151)
  • Publication number: 20150134294
    Abstract: An attitude calculation apparatus includes a gyro sensor that detects angular velocity in a first coordinate system for an inertial coordinate system, of a living body or a moving object which moves by using energy of the living body as a power source, an attitude change calculation unit that calculates an attitude change of the moving object on the basis of the angular velocity which is input at a first frequency f1, and an attitude update unit that updates an attitude of the moving object on the basis of the attitude change which is input at a second frequency f2, in which the first frequency and the second frequency satisfy f1>f2?20 Hz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Shunichi MIZUOCHI, Katsuhiko Maki, Katsuhito Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9024772
    Abstract: A system is invented to combine different signals from various sensors together so that an object (such as a car, an airplane etc.)'s position and/or orientation can be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventors: Xianghui Wang, Wensheng Hua
  • Patent number: 9026398
    Abstract: A motion analysis device includes two posture angle sensors attached to a measurement object at locations distant from each other, a data acquisition section, a posture angle correction section, and a deformation amount calculation section. The data acquisition section acquires data of a first posture angle and a second posture angle respectively detected by the posture angle sensors. The posture angle correction section corrects a difference between the first posture angle and the second posture angle after starting a motion of the measurement object in accordance with a difference between the first posture angle and the second posture angle before starting the motion of the measurement object. The deformation amount calculation section calculates a deformation amount of the measurement object based on a difference between the first posture angle and the second posture angle corrected by the posture angle correction section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Takasugi, Masatoshi Sato, Kazuo Nomura
  • Patent number: 9020774
    Abstract: An encoder system includes: a first single-rotation absolute encoder that outputs a first signal corresponding to an angular position of a first rotatable shaft; a power transmission device that transmits the power of the first shaft to a second rotatable shaft with a predetermined transmission ratio; a second single-rotation absolute encoder that outputs a second signal corresponding to an angular position of the second shaft; and a signal processing section that generates data related to the rotation count of the first shaft based on at least the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kishida, Toru Morita, Yoshiji Takahashi, Kou Ohno, Takashi Nagase, Kenji Omata, Hirofumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9020775
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for measuring a shape and area of a ship block, which may accurately recognize a piling location of a ship block by measuring a shape and area of the ship block piled up in a yard. The apparatus for measuring a shape and area of a ship block includes a direction angle sensor, a range finder, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and a block shape and area measuring system. The block shape and area measuring system includes a block shape and area measuring server, a vector calculating module, a coordinate calculating module, a shape and area extraction module and a memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Hyun Baek, Ji Hwang Jang, Ji On Kim, Moon Young Chung, Byeong Yeol Lee, Sang Gyu Min
  • Publication number: 20150112634
    Abstract: An angle detection device which includes multiple sensors to output multiple sinusoidal signals having different phases according to the rotation angle of a rotating body; a rotation calculation device to detect the rotation angle based on the multiple sinusoidal signals and detect an amplitude of the multiple sinusoidal signals to output the amplitude of the multiple sinusoidal signals as amplitude signal; and an amplitude comparison device to compare the amplitude signal with a predetermined amplitude target value and output an amplitude error signal indicating the comparison result; wherein the error of amplitude of the multiple sinusoidal signals is corrected by increasing or decreasing a drive input of a sensor driving unit based on the amplitude error signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Fumihiro SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20150108878
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring angular position include measuring an angular position within one rotation of a primary gear and a secondary gear that are meshed together. The primary gear and secondary gear have a first and second number of teeth respectively, where the first number of teeth and the second number of teeth are different. An angular position for the secondary gear is estimated using the measured primary gear angle and a reference value for each of the primary and secondary angle sensors. A number of primary gear rotations is calculated using the estimated angular position for the secondary gear and the measured angular position of the secondary gear. An angular position of the primary gear is calculated over multiple rotations using the calculated number of primary gear rotations, a reference value for the primary angle sensor, and the measured angle value of the primary gear within one rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Sean Rodger, Erwin Rodger, Rob Koch, Tom Quartararo
  • Patent number: 9009516
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes determining, based on motion data generated by a motion sensor of a wearable computing device, a plurality of motion vectors, wherein one or more components operatively coupled to the wearable computing device are operating in a first power mode during a first time period; determining, based on the plurality of motion vectors, a plurality of values. In this example, the method also includes, responsive to determining that each of the plurality of values satisfies a corresponding threshold, transitioning, by at least one component of the one or more components, from operating in the first power mode to operating in a second power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Gabayan, William Haldean Brown
  • Publication number: 20150098786
    Abstract: A work tool position sensing assembly for an earth moving machine is disclosed. The earth moving machine has a pivotally movable work tool connected to the pivotally movable stick. The work tool and the stick are interconnected by a tilt linkage. Angular position of the work tool is determined by a work tool position sensing assembly. The work tool position sensing assembly includes a pivot pin, a first gear, a second gear and a rotatory position sensor. The pivot pin is configured to attach the stick with the tilt linkage and is permitted to rotate proportionally with the angular rotation of the work tool. The rotation of the pivot pin is transmitted to the rotatory position sensor via the first gear and the second gear. The rotatory position sensor is configured to measure the angular rotation of the pivot pin. The rotatory position sensor is disposed inside the body of the stick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Subrt
  • Patent number: 9002675
    Abstract: A method and system for locating the position of a source that emits a rotating magnetic field. Three or more receivers are deployed or positioned in known position relative to each other, which may be along a common axis in some cases. Phase differences between the magnetic fields measured by the receivers are detected. The phase shifts are used to determine the location of the source. With three receivers, a range and bearing angle relative to a middle receiver may be determined. With five or more receivers, a range and two bearing angles may be determined, thereby providing a three-dimensional position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Graham Mark McIntyre, Sebastien Bourdage, Olivier Beslin, Jean Pierre Quirion
  • Publication number: 20150094980
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inertial unit for being attached to a rotatable part of a vehicle, the rotatable part being coupled to a power equipment of the vehicle, the inertial unit including: at least one acceleration sensor and/or at least one magnetometer arranged to detect a tilting angle of the rotatable part, and/or at least one counter device arranged to detect rotations of the rotatable part, and at least one gyroscope arranged to detect directions at a rim level of the rotatable part for providing angular information for positioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Jussi Collin
  • Publication number: 20150094979
    Abstract: A misalignment calculation system comprising a misalignment calculator for calculating a misalignment occurring in butt welding of end portions of a first steel pipe and a second steel pipe by using profile data measured in a circumferential direction on the first steel pipe end portion by presetting a first angle datum, and profile data measured in a circumferential direction on the second steel pipe end portion by presetting a second angle datum. The misalignment calculator calculates the misalignment amount in a state in which an angle formed between the first and second angle datums is adjusted to an input angle and in which the center of profile data showing an external surface geometry at the first steel pipe end portion is aligned with the center of the profile data showing an external surface geometry at an end portion of the second steel pipe so that misalignment can be evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Masaki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150088453
    Abstract: A device for determining the attitude or variation in attitude of a satellite fitted with an attitude control system comprising at least one inertial actuator. The inertial actuator comprises a rotary element mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation. The rotation of the rotary element is controlled to generate a torque to control controlling the attitude of the satellite. The angular sensor of the device measures the angular rotation of the rotary element about its axis of rotation. The computation unit determines the attitude or variation in attitude of the satellite induced by the rotation of the rotary element as a function of the measurements of angular rotation of the rotary element by the angular sensor. A satellite carrying such a device and a method for determining the attitude or variation in attitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Airbus Defence And Space SAS
    Inventors: Kristen Lagadec, Anaïs Ardan
  • Patent number: 8989518
    Abstract: From a sequence of images captured by an image pickup unit, images necessary for measuring placement information regarding markers and/or a sensor are automatically determined and obtained. To this end, using position and orientation information regarding the image pickup unit at the time the image pickup unit has captured an obtained image and placement information regarding detected markers, whether to use the captured image corresponding to the position and orientation is determined. Using the captured image determined to be used, the marker placement information, placement information regarding a measurement target, or the position and orientation of the image pickup unit serving as an unknown parameter is obtained so as to minimize the error between the measured image coordinates and theoretical image coordinates of each marker, which are estimated on the basis of a rough value of the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Aratani, Daisuke Kotake, Shinji Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8990044
    Abstract: A revolution counter including sensors, which generate position values that define an angular position of a shaft, and a determination unit that receives the position values and generates decision signals therefrom, wherein the decision signals determine counting sectors. The revolution counter includes a counting control unit that receives the counting sectors, and operates the revolution counter in a first mode or a second mode of operation. The counting control unit switches over to the second mode, if after a length of time no change in one of the counting sectors takes place, and switches over to the first mode if a change in one of the counting sectors does take place. The determination unit determines an uncertainty range between each pairing of the counting sectors. The counting control unit does not take the uncertainty ranges into account for the switchover from the second mode to the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Oberhauser
  • Patent number: 8988033
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a main axis 30 to which a touch probe 17 is attached, a motor 15 that rotationally drives the main axis 30, a rotation angle position detector 16 that detects a rotation angle position of the motor 15, and a control device 20. The control device, when a measurement mode command for performing measurement of a workpiece by the touch probe 17 is input, multiplies a d-axis current command value Idc by a d-axis current correction coefficient K that is less than 1 to reduce the d-axis current command value Idc to a d-axis current command correction value Idc?, using a d-axis current command correction section 4. Thus, in the machine tool, small rotation vibrations of the main axis, generated when rotating the main axis to which the probe is attached and performing measurements of a workpiece, can be suppressed to thereby increase the measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: OKUMA Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Shibata, Tomohisa Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8988069
    Abstract: A non-contact sensor system is provided that comprises a first sensor element and a rotary member disposed proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element. The rotary member may be configured to he rotated about an axis Y by a shaft configured to pass through the rotary member along the axis Y at a value X. The non-con act sensor system further comprises a second sensor element disposed on the rotary member proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element, and the first sensor element and the second sensor element may be operatively coupled to facilitate sensing the value X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Staffan Erickson, Eric Cahill, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20150081168
    Abstract: A bank angle of a vehicle can be accurately calculated using yaw axis data and roll axis data, and based on the calculated bank angle, vehicle illumination optics can be controlled to maintain a pattern of distributed light from the illumination optics to be generally horizontal. The calculated bank angle may be zeroed when the yaw axis data equals zero. The improved pattern of distributed light from the illumination optics illuminates a more natural field of view for the vehicle driver during a bank. In some embodiments, the vehicle illumination optics can include a primary illumination group and a plurality of side illumination groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin Jay McWithey, Bradley William Kay, Dragolsav Popovic
  • Patent number: 8983794
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection system for a structure is described. The inspection system includes a local positioning system (LPS) configured for determining position and orientation of objects relative to a structure coordinate system, a six degree-of-freedom digitizer operable for at least one of temporary attachment to the structure and placement proximate the structure, a non-destructive sensor array, and a processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William P. Motzer, Gary E. Georgeson, Scott W. Lea, James J. Troy
  • Publication number: 20150073744
    Abstract: A method of angle estimation for use in a vehicle which is travelling on a surface. The vehicle includes a vehicle body having a first axis and being attached to at least two wheels. The method includes the steps of: providing a first height sensor for measuring h1, the height of the vehicle body with respect to the first wheel; providing a second height sensor for measuring h2, the height of the vehicle body with respect to the second wheel; providing a surface angle sensor for measuring ?road, the angle of the surface in relation to a horizontal plane; measuring the values of h1, h2 and ?road; using the values of h1 and h2 to calculate ?rel, the angle of the vehicle body relative to the surface; and calculating an estimate of ?glob, the angle between the first axis and the horizontal plane, from ?road and ?rel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Juan Herrera, Mark Flinders, Nick Solomon
  • Patent number: 8977445
    Abstract: A system for determining an operational state of a machine is provided. The system includes an implement position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of an implement. The system further includes a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure of a cylinder of the machine. The system also includes a controller communicably coupled to the implement position sensor and the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive the position signal and the pressure signal. The controller is further configured to determine a weight of a payload of the machine based on the received signals. Further, the controller is configured to determine a dig status of the machine based, at least in part, on a rate of change of the weight of the payload and the position of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey E. Buettner
  • Patent number: 8977516
    Abstract: An encoder system includes: a first single-rotation absolute encoder that outputs a first signal corresponding to an angular position of a first rotatable shaft; a power transmission device that transmits the power of the first shaft to a second rotatable shaft with a predetermined transmission ratio; a second single-rotation absolute encoder that outputs a second signal corresponding to an angular position of the second shaft; and a signal processing section that generates data related to the rotation count of the first shaft based on at least the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kishida, Toru Morita, Yoshiji Takahashi, Kou Ohno, Takashi Nagase, Kenji Omata, Hirofumi Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20150066427
    Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for assisting a user in determining a real-world distance. Hardware-based sensors (e.g., present in a mobile electronic device) may allow for a fast low-power determination of distances. In one embodiment, one or more telemetry-related sensors may be incorporated into a device. For example, data detected by a frequently-calibrated integrated accelerometer may be used to determine a tilt of the device. A device height may be estimated based on empirical data or based on a time difference between a signal (e.g., a sonar signal) emitted towards the ground and a corresponding detected signal. A triangulation technique may use the estimated tilt and height to estimate other real-world distances (e.g., from the device to an endpoint or between endpoints).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Sundeep Vaddadi, John H. Hong, Chong U. Lee
  • Publication number: 20150066426
    Abstract: A first, a second, and a third computing circuit respectively generate a first post-computation signal with a second harmonic component reduced as compared with first and second signals, a second post-computation signal with the second harmonic component reduced as compared with third and fourth signals, and a third post-computation signal with the second harmonic component reduced as compared with fifth and sixth signals. A fourth and a fifth computing circuit respectively generate a fourth post-computation signal with a third harmonic component reduced as compared with the first and second post-computation signals, and a fifth post-computation signal with the third harmonic component reduced as compared with the second and third post-computation signals. A sixth computing circuit determines a detected angle value based on the fourth and fifth post-computation signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yohei HIROTA, Homare TOKIDA, Hiraku HIRABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150057970
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a rotor position of an electrically excited electrical machine by injecting voltage test signals at a plurality of space vector angles with a fundamental frequency which lies in a frequency range in which there is a difference in admittance in space vector angles; calculating resulting values of an excitation current indicator variable as Fourier coefficients of the excitation current resulting from the voltage test signal with reference to the fundamental frequency of the voltage test signal at the corresponding space vector angles; and determining the rotor position on the basis of the profile of the excitation current indicator variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Simon FEUERSAENGER, Mario PACAS, Christian STULZ
  • Publication number: 20150057903
    Abstract: A system and method of calculating a heading angle for a trailer that is being backed by a vehicle. A trailer backup assist control module, in communication with a hitch angle detecting apparatus, receives a hitch angle and determines displacement of left and right vehicle wheels using information supplied by vehicle wheel speed sensors while the vehicle is backing the trailer. A vehicle heading angle is determined using left and right wheel displacement information and a known vehicle track width. A trailer heading angle is then calculated using the vehicle heading angle and the hitch angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Doug Scott Rhode, Darrel Alan Recker, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20150046117
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for contactlessly measuring a relative position of a magnetic field source (102) which produces a magnetic field and a magnetic field sensor (100) in relation to each other. The present invention further also relates to a corresponding displacement sensor. The invention describes an operating principle of a sensor which is based on the Hall effect and which achieves an increase in the sensor output range with a magnet which is simultaneously reduced in size by storing the earlier value when control by the magnetic field is lost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Schaaf
  • Patent number: 8949071
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a center deviation amount, which is an amount of deviation (distance) between the center line of a reference measurement target and the detection point is calculated using the reference measurement target having a known diameter, and a measurement value of a diameter of an arbitrary measurement target is corrected using the center deviation amount. Therefore, an accurate diameter value can be calculated even in the case of a measurement target having a diameter value different from the diameter value of the reference measurement target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryo Takanashi
  • Patent number: 8949069
    Abstract: Methods and systems to determine at multi-dimensional coordinates of an object based on propagation delay differences of multiple signals received from the object by each of a plurality of sensors. The signals may include optical signals in a human visible spectrum, which may be amplitude modulated with corresponding frequency tones. An envelope may be detected with respect to each of the sensors, and signals within each envelope may be separated. A phase difference of arrival may be determined for each of the signals, based on a difference in propagation delay times of the signal with respect to multiple sensors. The phase differences of arrival may be converted to corresponding distance differences between a corresponding transmitter and the corresponding sensors. A linear distance and a perpendicular offset distance may be determined from a combination the distance differences, a distance between the corresponding transmitters, and a distance between the corresponding sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Praveen Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8949068
    Abstract: A rotation angle detection device uses a control unit to acquire output signals Vx1, Vx2, Vy1, Vy2 that are from four half-bridges, from the four half-bridges. The control unit calculates a rotation angle ? of a detection target based on the acquired output signals Vx1, Vx2, Vy1, Vy2. The control unit checks whether a mean value fixation abnormality is caused to any one of the four output signals Vx1, Vx2, Vy1, Vy2, based on calculation values C1 or C4 that are derived/yielded from the four output signals Vx1, Vx2, Vy1, Vy2. The mean value fixation abnormality caused to the output signals Vx1, Vx2, Vy1, Vy2 that yielded the calculation values C1 and C4 is appropriately determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Satou, Nobuhiko Uryu
  • Publication number: 20150032409
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for calculating azimuth, and a method and an apparatus for determining an offset from geomagnetic field are provided. An apparatus for calculating azimuth includes a magnetic sensor configured to sense magnetic field, a data selecting unit configured to select offset data items, an offset calculating unit configured to calculate an offset by a geometrical method that uses the selected offset data items, and an azimuth calculating unit configured to calculate an azimuth by using the calculated offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR, LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Ho KIM, Ki Seok CHO
  • Patent number: 8942952
    Abstract: A first third harmonic component removing portion calculates an approximate value (sin ?)n of a signal sin ? that is an output signal of a first magnetic sensor from which third harmonic components have been removed. A second third harmonic component removing portion calculates an approximate value (cos ?)n of a signal cos ? that is an output signal of a second magnetic sensor from which third harmonic components have been removed. A rotation angle calculation portion calculates a rotation angle ? of a rotor based on the approximate value (sin ?)n of sin ?, which has been calculated by the first third harmonic component removing portion and the approximate value (cos ?)n of cos ?, which has been calculated by the second third harmonic component removing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Ueda
  • Publication number: 20150022131
    Abstract: Electric circuit for estimating the angular position of a rotor of an electric motor, including: a sensing module configured to receive at least one electric signal representative of a drive current of the electric motor and to generate a measurement signal indicative of a switching of the at least one electric signal and a switching index indicative of the type of switching, rising or falling, of the at least one electric signal; and a computing module configured to supply, from the measurement signal and switching index a position signal representative of an angular position of the electric motor rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe D'Angelo, Giovanni Moselli, Virginia Clemente
  • Publication number: 20150019163
    Abstract: A computing device including orientation sensors is provided herein. The computing device includes a base and a lid pivotally attached to the base. The computing device also includes an orientation sensing system configured to determine an orientation of the base and the lid relative to an environment of the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Bradford Needham
  • Publication number: 20150012242
    Abstract: A planar motor rotor displacement measuring device and its measuring method are provided. The motor is a moving-coil type planar motor. The device comprises probes, two sets of sine sensors, two sets of cosine sensors, a signal lead wire and a signal processing circuit. The method is arranging two sets of magnetic flux density sensors within a magnetic field pitch ? along two vertical movement directions in the rotor located in the sine magnetic field area. Sampled signals of the four sets of sensors are respectively processed with a frequency multiplication operation, four subdivision signals are obtained, the zero-crossing points of the four subdivision signals are detected, and then two sets of orthogonal pulse signals are generated. The pulse number of the orthogonal pulse signals is counted, and phase difference of the two sets of orthogonal pulse signals is respectively detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Jinchun Hu, Yu Zhu, Wensheng Yin, Longmin Chen, Kaiming Yang, Ming Zhang, Dengfeng Xu, Haihua Mu, Chuxiong Hu, Zhao Liu
  • Publication number: 20150009517
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a rotation-angle detection device for detecting a rotation angle of a rotor includes: plural rotation detectors that output detection signals which vary with the rotation angle of the rotor; a rotation calculator that outputs a rotated vector by rotating a vector expressed by the detection signals; an amplitude detector that outputs an amplitude signal indicating amplitude of the detection signals by performing computation on at least one of signals expressing the rotated vector using a predetermined target amplitude; a drive-power adjuster that adjusts the amplitude of the detection signals by changing drive power applied to the rotation detectors according to the amplitude signal; a corrector that corrects the amplitude based on the amplitude signal and outputs a corrected detection signal; and a rotation angle detector that detects a rotation angle of the rotor based on the corrected detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumihiro SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20150006107
    Abstract: In a first optical measurement device, light which is output from a light source is subject to linear polarizing in a polarizing unit, and is input to a test object A. Transmitted light which has passed through the test object A is orthogonally separated in an orthogonal separation unit, and the light which is orthogonally separated in the orthogonal separation. unit is received in two light receiving units. In addition, amount of light of the transmitted light is determined by a control unit, and a difference between received light levels which are received in the light receiving unit is normalized using the amount of light which is determined in a transmitted amount of light determination unit, and then the angle of optical rotation is calculated by the angle of optical rotation calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kenji GOTO, Hideaki YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8922144
    Abstract: Methods and systems of processing sensor signals to determine motion of a motor shaft are disclosed. This disclosure relates to the processing of sequences of pulses from a sensor for computing the motion of an electric motor output shaft. Furthermore, this disclosure relates to the processing of two sequences of pulses from sensor outputs, which may be separated by only a few electrical degrees, to compute the motion of an electrical motor output shaft while using a limited bandwidth controller. Motor shaft direction, displacement, speed, phase, and phase offset may be determined from processing the sensor signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Feisel Weslati, Behrouz Ashrafi, Chandan Lakshmanaiah
  • Patent number: 8924179
    Abstract: An assembly and a method determine the angular position of a rotating machine by way of an inductive sensor. From the excitation signal for a primary winding of a sensor and voltages induced in the two secondary windings of the sensor, three more signals are derived using phase shifters and polarity sign determination units. The six signals in total are sampled using a sample and hold sampling unit and provided to a processor for evaluation, which then calculates the current angular position of the rotating machine at the sampling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Ehrmann, Bernhard Wagner
  • Publication number: 20140375340
    Abstract: A capacitor based sensor for angular position detection having two fixed plates arranged at an angle and a semicircular rotating plate in between. The sensor can determine any angular position in the full 0-360 degrees range. The sensor may be temperature compensated, and integrated with electronics such that sensor module only has two electrical leads, one for input power and one for input/output digital data. A method for converting capacitance measurements to an angle is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Mohamed Naushad Mohamed Zuhair, Jiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 8913252
    Abstract: A computing device is electronically connected to a measurement machine and a controller. The controller is connected to a sensor installed on the measurement machine. The computing device receives spectral signal data sent from the controller and generates an intensity distribution diagram according to the spectral signal data. Furthermore, the computing device sends control commands to the measurement machine, to adjust a position of the sensor on the measurement machine according to variation of a peak value of a wave in the intensity distribution diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Chang, Li Jiang, Zhong-Kui Yuan, Wei-Wen Wu, Xiao-Guang Xue, Jian-Hua Liu
  • Publication number: 20140365167
    Abstract: An angle detection device includes a vector generating unit that generates a vector based on the sine wave signals output by a plurality of sensors, a vector rotating unit that rotate the vector based on the vector and reference sine waves with different phases, a sign determining unit that determines whether the rotated vector is located in a positive direction or in a negative direction with respect to a predetermined reference angle and outputs a result of determination as a sign determination signal, and an angle counter that increments or decrements a count value of angular data of a predetermined bit length based on the sign determination signal, and outputs the count value as angular data. A deadband with a predetermined reference angle as a center is provided for a process performed by the sign determining unit to determine one of the positive direction and the negative direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Fumihiro SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 8909439
    Abstract: An excavation control system includes a working unit having a bucket, a designed landform data storage part storing designed landform data, a bucket position data generation part that generates bucket position data, a designed surface data generation part, and an excavation limit control part. The designed surface data generation part generates superior and subordinate designed surface data based on the designed landform and bucket position data. The superior designed surface data indicates a superior designed surface corresponding to a prescribed position on the bucket. The subordinate designed surface data indicates a plurality of subordinate designed surfaces linked to the superior designed surface. The designed surface data generation part generates shape data based on the superior and subordinate designed surface data. The shape data indicates shapes of the superior designed surface and the plurality of subordinate designed surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Matsuyama, Yoshiki Kami, Shin Kashiwabara, Masashi Ichihara
  • Patent number: 8909500
    Abstract: Method and system for measuring an angle between a first member and a second member under dynamic conditions is provided. A first and second acceleration sensor and an angle measuring device (goniometer) are connected to the first and second member. Under dynamic and static conditions, the angle (?) is measured by the goniometer. Under static conditions, the inclination angle of the first member is measured using the first acceleration sensor and the inclination angle of the second member using the second acceleration sensor and the angle (??) between the first and second members is calculated. Then the deviation is calculated between the angle (?) and the angle (??). An error correction factor is calculated from the deviation between both angles (?,??). The error correction factor is applied to future and/or previous measurements of the angle (?) between the first and second member done by the goniometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Ralf Guillaume Jean Catharina Heijkants, Caroline van der Horst, Merijn Wijnen, Marcus Benedictus Hoppenbrouwers
  • Publication number: 20140355007
    Abstract: A method of determining rotor blade axial displacement (bij). The rotor blade tip (34) comprises first and second measurement features (36, 38) arranged to make an acute angle therebetween. Measure time of arrival (tijk) of the once per revolution feature (1), first and second edges (40, 42) of the first measurement feature (36), and first and second edges (44, 46) of the second measurement feature (38), for at least two revolutions of the rotor (2). Convert these to circumferential distances (dijk) for each revolution. Calculate a feature angle (?ijk) between each measurement feature (36, 38) and the once per revolution feature (1) for each revolution. Calculate blade untwist angle (?ij) from the change in feature angle (?ijk) between measured revolutions. Calculate the rotor blade axial displacement (bij) from the blade untwist angle (?ij) and the circumferential distance (dijk) of the point from one of the measurement features (36, 38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Olivier Y J P JOUSSELIN
  • Patent number: 8902079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for scanning the division mark of a mechanical roller-type counter (1), for any type of counter, comprising a number of rotatably driven ciphering rollers (2), each ciphering roller carrying a number of digits (3) or symbols that are distributed homogeneously over the circumference and can be detected and evaluated with a fixed reading device arranged opposite. Said device is characterized in that at least one transponder (6) is associated with each digit (3) or each symbol in the respective ciphering roller (2) of the roller-type counter (1). An RFID antenna field (15) is located opposite the transponder, at a small distance therefrom, said field being controlled by a circuit in such a way that a ciphering roller of the roller-type counter (1) can be read respectively by an antenna (16, 17, 18) of the RFID antenna field (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hengstler GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Deichmeyer, Frieder Liebermann, Norbert Hoffmann, Jörg Luttmer
  • Patent number: 8887566
    Abstract: A miniaturized inertial measurement and navigation sensor device and a flexible, simplified GUI operating in real time are provided to create an optimum IMU/INS. The IMU includes multiple angle rate sensors, accelerometers, and temperature sensors to provide stability device. A navigation GUI tests algorithms prior to embedding them in real-time IMU hardware. MATLAB code is converted to C++ code tailored for real-time operation. Any point in the algorithm suite structure can be brought out as a data channel to investigate the pattern of operation. The data channels permit zooming in on the algorithm's operation for the open-loop angle, velocity and position drift measurements for bias-compensated channels. The GUI can be used to verify results of an extended Kalman filter solution as well as the implementation of the real-time attitude and heading reference system. When the code has been verified, it is compiled and downloaded into a target processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tanenhaus & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin E. Tanenhaus
  • Patent number: 8892390
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining a motion state of a mobile device. Accelerometer data is received from accelerometer sensors onboard the mobile device, wherein the accelerometer data represents acceleration of the mobile device in three-dimensional space. An accelerometer signal vector representing at least a force due to gravity on the mobile device is determined. Two-dimensional accelerometer data orthogonal to the accelerometer signal vector is calculated. A motion state of the mobile device is determined based on the two-dimensional accelerometer data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Donald MacGougan, Robert Mayor, Ronald K. Huang
  • Patent number: 8892395
    Abstract: An angular position of a rotating device is detected by sensing and counting high-resolution transitions of high-resolution digital sensors in response to the rotating device rotating; sensing low-resolution transitions of a low-resolution digital sensor in response to the rotating device rotating, the low-resolutions transitions being unevenly spaced apart; determining an angular position of the rotating device in response to determining a number of high-resolution transitions between pairs of low-resolution transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick A. O'Gorman, Rene Vivanco, Alex Kurnia
  • Publication number: 20140336878
    Abstract: When a shaft misalignment detection part detects occurrence of a shaft misalignment that is a misalignment in a relative position in a radial direction of a rotary shaft between a magnet part and a sensor part, the shaft misalignment detection part outputs a shaft misalignment determination flag to a correction part and a control change instruction part. The correction part calculates a motor rotational angle so as to reduce a detection error caused by the shaft misalignment. The control change instruction part outputs instructions of changing calculation methods so that influence by the detection error decreases to an assist torque setting part and an assist current instruction part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Yanai, Kenichiro Aoki