Inclinometer Patents (Class 702/154)
-
Patent number: 8489333Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to obtain hole azimuth data or inclination data associated with a chassis (e.g., comprising a measurement or logging tool) in a borehole using interpolated data or survey data, and to determine magnetic field orientation of the chassis using a portion of the hole azimuth data, a portion of the inclination data, relative bearing data, and Earth magnetic field orientation data by reconstructing at least a portion of borehole magnetic field data that is corrupt or missing. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2009Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Clovis Bonavides, Philip William Tracadas
-
Patent number: 8489359Abstract: A surface measurement instrument for obtaining surface characteristic data of a sample surface is described. Relative movement between a reference surface and a sample support is caused to occur while a sensor senses light intensity at intervals along a scan path to provide a series of intensity values representing interference fringes produced by a region of a sample surface during said relative movement and from which series of intensity values surface characteristic data can be derived. The sample support is both translatable and tiltable in at least one direction perpendicular to a scan direction so that the sample support can be both tilted to cause the scan path to be normal to the sample surface region and translated to compensate for translation movement due to the tilting.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Taylor Hobson LimitedInventors: Ivor McDonnell, Andrew Douglas Bankhead, Daniel Ian Mansfield
-
Publication number: 20130138393Abstract: An inclinometer and method for use in the same are disclosed herein. An example of such an inclinometer includes a substrate and a heater on the substrate. The inclinometer also includes a plurality of fluid passageways coupled to the substrate and configured to conduct fluid past the heater to an exit. The inclinometer additionally includes a. temperature sensor adjacent the exit which is configured to measure a temperature in each of the fluid passageways. The inclinometer may further include a processor coupled to the temperature sensor to receive the temperature measured in each of the fluid passageway's which is configured to determine an angle of inclination based on the measured temperatures. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium may store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the angle of inclination based on the measured temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventor: Karl S. Weibezahn
-
Publication number: 20130080112Abstract: An inclination angle compensation system for determining an inclination angle of a machine is disclosed. The inclination angle compensation system may have a non-gravitational acceleration estimator configured to estimate a non-gravitational acceleration of a machine based on an estimated inclination angle and an acceleration output from a forward acceleration sensor. The inclination angle compensation system may also have an inclination angle sensor corrector configured to receive an inclination angle output from an inclination angle sensor, determine an inclination angle sensor acceleration based on the inclination angle output, and calculate a corrected inclination angle of the machine based on the non-gravitational acceleration and the inclination angle sensor acceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Inventor: Paul Russell FRIEND
-
Patent number: 8405013Abstract: A solar tracking device including a solar panel, an orientation control device, and an inclination sensing device is provided. The solar panel is suitable for converting solar energy into electric energy. The orientation control device controls an orientation of the solar panel according to the position and time of the solar panel. The inclination sensing device is disposed on the solar panel for detecting an inclination direction of the solar panel. The inclination sensing device is suitable for outputting a feedback signal to the orientation control device to adjust the orientation of the solar panel. The solar tracking device has a simple tracking mechanism because of a simple feedback mechanism of the inclination sensing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Sunplus mMedia Inc.Inventors: Yarn-Chen Chen, Yi-Chieh Chang
-
Publication number: 20130060520Abstract: A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location includes providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor and positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location. The method also includes interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track and determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags. The method further includes determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags and determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2011Publication date: March 7, 2013Applicant: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: Miguel Amor, Martin Holmgren
-
Patent number: 8392087Abstract: When a vehicle is started on an uphill road, slip may easily occur between vehicle wheels and a sloping road surface. When vehicle condition is changed from its stopping condition to its traveling condition on the uphill road, vehicle acceleration is controlled in a feed-back operation in such a manner that a target acceleration is made smaller as road gradient becomes larger or coefficient of friction becomes smaller.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2008Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Advics Co., LtdInventors: Hiroyuki Kodama, Masayoshi Takeda, Yasuhiro Nakai
-
Publication number: 20130054158Abstract: A railcar has an on-board system for detecting conditions of the railcar. The on-board system. Includes a plurality of condition sensors positioned on the railcar. A transceiver is in communication with each of the plurality of condition sensors so as to receive condition data from the plurality of condition sensors. The transceiver transmits the condition data to a receiving station remote from the railcar tor review and analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Inventor: ROBERT S. TOMS
-
Publication number: 20130054183Abstract: Techniques for determining conditions of power lines in a power distribution system based on measurements collected by a plurality of sensor units deployed in the power distribution system. Techniques include obtaining first transformed data associated with a first set of one or more measurements collected by a first sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units and second transformed data associated with a second set of one or more measurements collected by a second sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units, and determining, by using at least one processor and based at least in part on one or more features calculated from the first transformed data and the second transformed data, at least one condition of at least one power line in the power distribution system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: Tollgrade Communications, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad A. Afzal, Venkat Pothamsetty, Roger A. Smith, Rebecca Ross
-
Patent number: 8384665Abstract: Techniques for selecting a portion of a 3D virtual environment are disclosed, where the portion of the 3D virtual environment may be one or more objects in the 3D virtual environment or one of scenes in the 3D virtual environment. A motion sensitive device (controller) is used. The controller generates sensor data sufficient to derive position and orientation of the controller in six degrees of freedom. In one embodiment, when selecting the portion of the 3D virtual environment, the controller generates a ray to an interaction of a display screen provided to display the 3D virtual environment, wherein the ray is further projected into the 3D virtual environment by a ray tracing technique as if the user had a real laser pointer that crosses from the physical world into the 3D virtual environment being displayed. Further a user is optionally to use a secondary input device to select one or more points or objects in a 3D space to control a distance along the ray being used.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: AiLive, Inc.Inventors: William Robert Powers, III, Charles Musick, Jr., Dana Wilkinson
-
Publication number: 20120310443Abstract: An orientation-based wireless sensor includes a transmitter unit having a body housing a microprocessor, a transmitter, and an accelerometer for detecting the orientation of the transmitter unit relative to one-, two- or three-axis of the direction of the pull of earth's gravity. The transmitter body is mounted on a feature of a vehicle that it is desirable to monitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: LAT-LON, LLC.Inventor: David A. Baker
-
Publication number: 20120310594Abstract: An inclination angle calculation device comprises a motion detector for detecting motions of a traveling object during travel, in two directions included in a cross-section surface of the traveling object, the two directions being orthogonal with each other; and an arithmetic unit for calculating an inclination angle of the traveling object during travel in the cross-section surface, using a frequency of the motion in one of the two directions and a rolling frequency in the other direction of the two directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2010Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventor: Yutaka Watanabe
-
Patent number: 8306684Abstract: An autonomous moving apparatus arranged to travel autonomously in a surrounding environment preferably includes: a distance measuring sensor arranged to output detection waves, detect a distance between the apparatus and an object which has reflected the detection wave based on a reflection state of the detection wave, and acquire information about the distance between the apparatus and the object which exists in the surroundings of the apparatus; an inclination sensor arranged to detect an inclination of the distance measuring sensor; and a control unit arranged to estimate the self-position in the surrounding environment and generate the global map of the surrounding environment based on the distance information. When the distance measuring sensor is determined to be inclined based on a detection result of the inclination sensor, the control unit stops estimating the self-position based on the distance information and stops generating the global map based on the distance information.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nakano
-
Patent number: 8306776Abstract: In a method of calculating misalignment of a rotational body, radial displacement values are measured using a displacement gauge. A calculation part performs the steps of deriving radial displacement amounts of the rotational body for at least four or more measurement points along an outer surface while rotating the rotational body, selecting three arbitrary points to calculate a circle, calculating circle values for all the measurement points, calculating differences between the calculated circle values and the radial displacement amounts as error amounts, summing the error amounts to derive a total error amount, repeating circle calculation for different combinations and calculating a total error amount for each calculated circle, selecting a circle with a minimum total error amount as a most probable circle, and calculating deviation between the center of the most probable circle and the center of rotation of the rotational body.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Keisuke Ihara, Toshiyuki Sakae
-
Patent number: 8296099Abstract: A vehicle tilt detecting apparatus includes a load sensor provided for detecting a load acts on a supporting portion, a load detecting portion detecting a partial load value of the load placed on the seat on the basis of an output from the load sensor and outputting a detected load value, first interrelating portion indicates a relation between a detected load value of no-load and a front-rear tilt angle of the vehicle, unoccupied seat determining portion determining an unoccupied state, where no-load is placed on the seat, when the detected load value outputted from the load detecting portion is less than an unoccupied seat determining value and front-rear tilt angle calculating portion calculating the front-rear tilt angle corresponding to the detected load value outputted from the load detecting portion, on the basis of the first interrelating portion, when the unoccupied seat determining portion determines the unoccupied state.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2010Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Ito, Muneto Inayoshi, Akira Enomoto, Hiroyuki Fujii
-
Publication number: 20120265480Abstract: A body movement detection device is provided with a main body, a display unit, and a control unit, the control unit including an ascent/descent method detection unit that detects whether a user who is wearing or carrying the main body is ascending/descending using a lift device, a counting unit that counts the number of times that the user ascends/descends using the lift device and the number of times that the user ascends/descends without using the lift device, based on the detection result of the ascent/descent method detection unit, and a display control unit that causes the display unit to display each of the values counted by the counting unit. The method by which the user ascends/descends can thereby be clearly displayed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.Inventor: Yoshitake OSHIMA
-
Publication number: 20120259577Abstract: A fall detection device includes a fall detection circuit to detect a fall by a user and a verification circuit to verify the initial indication of a fall from the fall detection circuit. The device is sized to be worn by the user and includes an orientation sensor to track the orientation of the device relative to one or more axes. The device averages the average inclination values for one or more axes for time periods before, during, and after the fall. A fall is determined to have occurred when differences in the average values of the inclination values exceed threshold values.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2011Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: Transrex AGInventor: Tibor Ganyi
-
Patent number: 8234091Abstract: A measuring unit obtains measurement data of an object measured on the basis of a signal from a GPS satellite and angular velocity of an object output from an angular velocity sensor. An offset value computing unit estimates a running condition of the object on the basis of the measurement data and the angular velocity. The offset value computing unit sequentially derives temporary offset values while changing combination of the measurement data and the angular velocity in accordance with the estimated running condition of the object and, after that, executes statistical process on the temporary offset values, thereby deriving an offset value. An angular velocity conversion coefficient computing unit sequentially derives temporary angular velocity conversion coefficients on the basis of the measurement data and the angular velocity and, after that, executes statistical process on the temporary angular velocity conversion coefficients, thereby deriving an angular velocity conversion coefficient.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: JVC KENWOOD CorporationInventor: Takahiro Kondoh
-
Publication number: 20120173197Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring runout of using a distance measuring sensor mounted to a rotor and targeted at a circular wall, an electronic inclinometer mounted within a diameter of a hub of the rotor, and a microcontroller in data communication with the inclinometer and the sensor. A computer may be operably connected to the microcontroller and used for programming the microcontroller. A rotatable fixture including a bar mounted to the hub may be used to mount the sensor to a distal end of the bar and the microcontroller and the inclinometer may be mounted on the bar. Runout of a fan shroud circumscribing fan blades of an engine rotor may be measured with the apparatus and method and the bar angularly located between a pair of adjacent blades. The computer may be used to gather data from inclinometer and sensor and calculate runout.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventors: Terry Allen Craig, Jimmie Melvin Clark
-
Patent number: 8199192Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an observation unit which efficiently cools apparatus members in a reaction chamber of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in a high-temperature atmosphere and reduces overexposure. An observation unit comprising: an imaging apparatus for imaging the inside of a reaction chamber of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in an atmosphere of a high temperature; a housing case which houses the imaging apparatus and is attached with a translucent member which guides an optical image of the inside of the reaction chamber to the imaging apparatus; and a cooling medium supplying apparatus for supplying a cooling medium to the inside of the housing case, wherein the translucent member is a silica glass plate having a gold film on both sides or one side.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2006Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Epicrew CorporationInventor: Akira Okabe
-
Patent number: 8195423Abstract: A joystick module has a joystick and a sensor for generating a signal in response to sensing a magnetic field representative of a position and/or orientation of the joystick. Using a linear dependence of the sensor's sensitivity on a distance between the joystick and the sensor, the sensor's signal representative of a tilt angle of the joystick can be calibrated in a simple manner.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: NXP, B.V.Inventor: Hans Von Zon
-
Publication number: 20120130675Abstract: A building surveying device comprising a base, an upper part supported on the base such that it can rotate about a rotation axis, a sighting unit with a laser source designed for emitting a laser beam, and a laser light detector and an evaluation and control unit. The building surveying device has a plumb point finding functionality which, after being triggered, runs automatically, at least in part, and in the course of which the alignment of the sighting unit is changed under automatic control by the evaluation and control unit with the aid of the first and/or the second rotary drive and as a function of a known, defined first spatial point in such a way that precisely one such second spatial point lying on an object surface is approached and marked by the laser beam, which lies on a vertical plumb line containing the first spatial point.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AGInventors: Christian SCHORR, Frank SCHROEDER
-
Publication number: 20120102659Abstract: A tool useful for measuring the shortest distance from a point in space to an imaginary line having any inclination and in the same vertical plane as the point. An embodiment requires a form of contact with only a single point on the line, uses an inclinometer, may use a length measuring system, and performs a trigonometric calculation to report data related to the shortest distance. Variants include integration of an inclinometer with a form of length measurement device. One embodiment integrates a manually powered excavation, fill and/or grading implement such as a shovel with an inclinometer attached to or imbedded in the shovel handle. Trigonometric functions of incline angles and length measurements report data related to the shortest distance in general, and in particular to ongoing depth of manual excavations, cuts or fills relative to a desired slope or grade.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Inventor: John Paul Ingham
-
Patent number: 8155918Abstract: The present invention relates to ambulance cots, cot systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides an ambulance cot comprising a hydraulic system and a tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system, and methods of using the same (e.g., to transport subjects and/or to detect and/or record operational data related to cot usage).Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Rauch & Romanshek Industries, LLCInventors: Jaime C. Reed, Jeffrey J. Krieger, Richard T. Seizer, Shawn G. Bhend, Jarod M. Sulik
-
Patent number: 8155920Abstract: In one aspect, a method for the determination of a nacelle-inclination is provided. A first difference-signal is formed from the difference of a measured nacelle acceleration and an offset-value from a calibration. A second difference-signal is formed from a difference of the first difference-signal and a feedback signal. A first sum-signal is formed from adding an integrated second difference-signal with the product of the second difference signal and a factor. A second sum signal is formed from adding an integrated first sum-signal with the product of the first-sum-signal and the factor. A corrected signal is formed by a product of the second sum-signal and an equivalent tower height. A first nacelle-signal is formed by the arc-tangent of the corrected signal. A nacelle inclination is obtained from filtering the first nacelle-signal by a low-pass-filter. The feedback-signal is formed by multiplying the acceleration of gravity with the sine of the first nacelle-signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Per Egedal
-
Patent number: 8150651Abstract: An inclinometer using a speedometer and a forward-looking accelerometer for measuring inclination angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventor: Peter Van Wyck Loomis
-
Publication number: 20120066920Abstract: The invention provides methods, devices, and systems for autoleveling of an apparatus. In particular, the invention provides devices and systems for autoleveling support apparatuses, such as hospital-type beds, and methods of use thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: RAFFEL SYSTEMS, LLCInventors: Paul Stangl, Ken Seidl, Ed Nowak
-
Patent number: 8117002Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring a damaged vehicle, in which inclination of the vehicle is measured with the measuring device and the measured inclination of the vehicle is used as a datum plane, distances of measuring points (9a, 9b) of the damaged vehicle (8) are measured with a measuring sensor of the measuring device and the measured data are compared to registered reference values of the measuring points, and inclination of the measuring device is measured with an inclination sensor of the measuring device. According to the invention, the measuring device simultaneously measures the distance between the measuring points and the inclination of the damaged vehicle and height difference of the measuring points is calculated from the values of distance between the measuring points and inclination.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Autorobot Finland OyInventor: Jarkko Venäläinen
-
Publication number: 20120001722Abstract: Orientation-sensitive signal output, in which a neutral position of a device is automatically determined in relation to at least a first axis, an angular displacement of the device is measured about at least the first axis, and shaking of the device is detected. A selection of the first control is received, and an output signal is output based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement or based upon detecting the shaking of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATEDInventors: Riten Jaiswal, Francis MacDougall
-
Publication number: 20110295553Abstract: A gravity direction calculating apparatus for calculating a direction of gravity with respect to an input device, including: an obtaining logic unit for successively obtaining acceleration data output from a multi-axis acceleration sensor included in the input device; a period detecting logic unit for detecting a period from start to end of movement of the input device, as a movement period, based on the obtained acceleration data; and a gravity direction calculating logic unit for calculating a sum of one or more acceleration vectors corresponding to one or more pieces of acceleration data obtained during the movement period, a direction determined by a vector indicated by the sum being the gravity direction, wherein the acceleration vector is a vector whose components are acceleration values with respect to a plurality of axes of acceleration values with respect to axes indicated by the acceleration data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.Inventor: Kenta SATO
-
Publication number: 20110288693Abstract: In a method for determining the angle of inclination of a two-wheeled vehicle of the type of a bicycle, a scooter or a motorcycle with respect to the roadway normal, the angle of inclination is able to be determined simply and accurately if the transverse acceleration of the vehicle is measured using a transverse acceleration sensor and the acceleration in the direction of the vertical axis of the vehicle is ascertained and the angle of inclination with respect to the roadway normal is calculated based on the two acceleration values.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2009Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Frank Niewels, Markus Lemejda
-
Patent number: 8065105Abstract: A system including a platform having a receptacle adapted to a bottom of a shoe or foot; securing mechanism, associated therewith; a sole for contacting a ground surface; a mechanism associated with the sole and a platform bottom, including: motor and a thrusting element, activated by the motor, the thrusting element adapted to move between the sole and the platform to apply an upward force against the platform bottom, thereby changing a platform height with respect to the sole; a sensor device adapted to associate with a lower limb, and to produce a locomotion data signal, and a microprocessor, operatively connected to the sensor device and motor, adapted to: receive locomotion information based on the signal; process the locomotion information to determine a locomotion phase, and control a timing of the mechanism, based on the determination, to change the height during a locomotion swing phase.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Step of Mind Ltd.Inventors: Simona Bar-Haim, Mark Belokopytov
-
Publication number: 20110282624Abstract: A method for determining an incline angle of electromagnetic pointer is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, an electromagnetic input pen/stylus is provided over antennas Xn/Yn along X/Y axes. Then a plurality of antennas at two sides of the antennas Xn/Yn are scanned. Next the signal distributions of the antennas Xn/Yn and the antennas at two side are analyzed. Then the number of antenna sampled of the signal distributions of the antennas at two side is determined. Next the antennas at two side are selected and the signal distributions are sampled and received according to the number of antenna sampled. Finally, an incline angle of the electromagnetic pointer is determined according to the sampled signal distributions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: WALTOP INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Cheng-Liang Hsieh, Yun-Hsiang Yeh, Chia-Jui Yeh
-
Publication number: 20110241954Abstract: A physical angle of a portion of a variable element, such as a phase shifter, is used to determine a desired antenna beam attribute, such as beam downtilt. In one example, a variable element includes a stationary circuit board and a rotatable circuit board. The stationary circuit board has at least one transmission line having a first output and a second output. The rotatable circuit board includes an input and a coupling section, the coupling section located to capacitively couple an input signal to the at least one transmission line between the first output and the second output, and the accelerometer being oriented such that it provides a signal indicative of a physical angle of the rotatable circuit board with respect to vertical.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventor: Quoc M. Le
-
Publication number: 20110238368Abstract: An inclination calculation apparatus calculates an inclination of an input device operable in terms of a posture thereof. The input device includes an acceleration sensor and an imaging element. In one non-limiting example implementation, the inclination calculation apparatus computes first inclination information representing an inclination of the input device based upon a coordinate position of an imaging target in an acquired image obtained by the imaging element and an estimated coordinate position of a second imaging target not acquired by the imaging element. The inclination calculation apparatus also computes second inclination information representing an inclination of the input device solely from an acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor. The inclination calculation apparatus then calculates an inclination of the input device using the first inclination information and the second inclination information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keizo OHTA
-
Publication number: 20110202289Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring one or more parameters of a structure. The system includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a processing portion. The first sensor can detect the parameter of a first portion of the structure at a first location and can wirelessly transmit a first detected signal based on the detected parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location. The second sensor can detect the parameter of a second portion of the structure at a second location and can wirelessly transmit a second detected signal based on the detected parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location. The processing portion has an electromagnetic energy radiation portion. The processing portion can receive a first signal and a second signal and can wirelessly transfer energy to the first sensor and the second sensor. The first signal is based on the first detected signal, whereas the second signal is based on the second detected signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventor: Mehdi Kalantari Khandani
-
Patent number: 8000925Abstract: A moving body with a tilt angle estimating mechanism capable of estimating a tilt angle of a vehicle body with high accuracy. The moving body includes: an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration in two axial directions; a gyro sensor for detecting an angular velocity of a vehicle body; and a tilt angle estimating mechanism for estimating a tilt angle of the vehicle body. The tilt angle estimating mechanism includes: a device for estimating a tilt angle in response to the acceleration sensor based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor; a device for estimating a second tilt angle based on the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor; and a device for estimating a tilt angle with a linear model equation of the moving body being regarded as an observer, in accordance with the tilt angle based on the acceleration sensor and the tilt angle based on the gyro sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Fuwa, Issei Nakashima
-
Publication number: 20110191061Abstract: A system for inspecting the hull of a vessel includes a movable machine which moves on the hull and a positioning element to determine an instantaneous position of the machine in a reference point. The positioning element includes: —first and second coaxial encoding wheels separated from each other by an inter-wheel spacing and in contact with the hull, and are capable of measuring first and second linear movements of the machine; —first and second inclinometers arranged so as to measure inclinations, relative to a reference direction, of a first axis and a second axis of a frame of reference linked to the machine; and, —a processing element, which receives data measured in order to calculate a variation of the position of the machine in the frame of reference, and in order to integrate the successive position variations in order to obtain the instantaneous position of the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: DCNSInventor: Olivier Myx
-
Publication number: 20110178766Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine can include a base, a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, an electronic circuit that receives the position signals from the transducers, a first inclinometer coupled to the base, wherein the inclinometer is configured to produce a first electrical signal responsive to an angle of tilt of the base and an electrical system configured to record a first reading of the first inclinometer and a second reading of the first inclinometer, wherein the first reading is in response to at least one of a first force applied to the base and a third force applied to the mounting structure, wherein the second reading is in response to at least one of a second force applied to the base and a fourth force applied to the mounting structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Frederick John York, Brent Bailey
-
Patent number: 7979231Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Charles P. Eckert
-
Publication number: 20110166823Abstract: A surface measurement instrument for obtaining surface characteristic data of a sample surface is described. Relative movement between a reference surface and a sample support is caused to occur while a sensor senses light intensity at intervals along a scan path to provide a series of intensity values representing interference fringes produced by a region of a sample surface during said relative movement and from which series of intensity values surface characteristic data can be derived. The sample support is both translatable and tiltable in at least one direction perpendicular to a scan direction so that the sample support can be both tilted to cause the scan path to be normal to the sample surface region and translated to compensate for translation movement due to the tilting.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: Taylor Hobson LimitedInventors: Ivor McDonnell, Andrew Douglas Bankhead, Daniel Ian Mansfield
-
Publication number: 20110119028Abstract: The present invention provides a weighing apparatus comprising a load cell and an inclinometer and a method of weighing with and calibrating the weighing apparatus that tilt compensates for component parts of load cell readings that vary according to different relationships with load cell inclination. The present invention further provides a weighing apparatus and method of weighing with and calibrating the weighing apparatus that compensates for residual errors in a measured weight that has been pre-compensated for load cell inclination.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventor: Kelvin Dennis Bishop
-
Publication number: 20110106490Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conveyor diagnostic device diagnoses an abnormal state of a cyclically moving conveyor. The conveyor diagnostic device includes a first tilt sensor, a second tilt sensor, a table, and a processing unit. The first and second tilt sensors are attached to a predetermined position of the conveyor and detect tilt angles of the conveyor in a vertical direction and horizontal direction, respectively. The table indicates a relationship between a tilt angle which changes in the vertical direction and sections included in one revolution of the conveyor. The processing unit specifies an abnormality occurrence position of the conveyor based on a tilt angle in the vertical direction, the table, and an elapsed time after ingression for a section corresponding to the tilt angle in the vertical direction, when a tilt angle in the horizontal direction exceeds a predetermined management limit value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: Kimito IDEMORI, Takahiro Shirota, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Sumi, Tomohiko Tanimoto, Nobutaka Nishimura
-
Publication number: 20110093238Abstract: An electromechanical device for measuring the inclination of a support plane with high resolution, high accuracy and low sensitivity to outside disturbances, comprising a first electromechanical pendulum system, controlled in a closed loop to measure the static rotations of an inverted pendulum pivoted to a supporting structure which can be associated with the support plane whose inclination is to be measured. The measurement is performed by measuring the mechanical torque required to keep the inverted pendulum in a neutral position, i.e., in a position which is substantially perpendicular to the support plane. This is made possible by a first motor which is associated with the inverted pendulum and turns it as a function of its angular deviation from the neutral position measured by a first position sensor associated with the inverted pendulum.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2008Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Roberto Biasi, Dietrich Pescoller
-
Patent number: 7920985Abstract: An inclination calculation apparatus within a game machine computes inclination of an input device having an acceleration sensor/detector capable of detecting acceleration in at least two axial directions. Programmed logic circuitry within the apparatus generates preliminary data which is representative of a current inclination and which is uniquely determined from acceleration data obtained from the acceleration sensor/detector.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keizo Ohta
-
Publication number: 20110050570Abstract: Orientation-sensitive signal output, in which a neutral position of a device is automatically determined in relation to at least a first axis, an angular displacement of the device is measured about at least the first axis, and shaking of the device is detected. A selection of the first control is received, and an output signal is output based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement or based upon detecting the shaking of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: GESTURETEK, INC.Inventors: Riten Jaiswal, Francis MacDougall
-
Publication number: 20110040962Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device comprising a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a ringer, the device also comprising at least one inclination detector used for setting sound volume, the volume setting having at least two ranges, a first range (1) with a loud volume setting corresponding to circumstances in which the device is positioned horizontally and face-up, enabling it to operate in a hands-free mode, and a second range (2) with the volume set to low volume that is activated when the device departs from said horizontal position so as to operate in listener mode. Furthermore, the volume setting includes a third range defining a silent mode when the device is positioned horizontally and face-down.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2009Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventor: Jean-Francois Peyre
-
Portable terminal for measuring reference tilt and method of measuring reference tilt using the same
Patent number: 7890289Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable terminal that measures a reference tilt and a method of measuring the reference tilt using the same. The portable terminal includes a movement sensor for measuring a tilt of the portable terminal using a gravitational acceleration value, and a controller for dividing a preset time into separate time sections and measuring an acceleration value in each separate time section by using the movement sensor, calculating a standard deviation of the accelerations in each separate time section and determining one time section in which movement is minimal, and calculating a tilt of the portable terminal from an average of the accelerations in the determined one time section or a sum of weight acceleration values therein and setting the calculated tilt as the reference tilt of the portable terminal.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2006Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Young-Wan Kim, Won-Chul Bang, Dong-Yoon Kim -
Publication number: 20110029275Abstract: A method and system for testing and calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is method of testing and calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device, comprising: levelling a test fixture; placing the electronic device in a nest of the test fixture; detecting the electronic device within the nest; calculating an offset value for each sensing axis of the accelerometer in response to detecting the electronic device within the nest; and storing the offset values in a memory of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Marc Adam Kennedy, Arkady Ivannikov, Aleksandar Papo
-
Publication number: 20110029276Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a procedure for the carrying out of the ongoing monitoring in time of the distortions in a stationary or moving structure, due to the various effects acting thereupon, such as frictional forces, forces produced by loads, resistance forces, etc. The disturbances exerted on a structure may cause distortions, which may be calculated by using the warp and twist angles. When the disturbance acts on the structure for a period of time, these measured values may be used by a processor integrated in the system which, by means of mathematical analysis, will determine the necessary parameters, such as resistance, fatigue, acceleration, elastic potential energy, direction of the forces, speed, elasticity, etc., in order to determine the state of the structure and to establish its useful life span.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2008Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: STRUCTURAL DATA, S.L.Inventor: Miguel Luis Cabral Martin