Position Measurement Patents (Class 702/94)
  • Patent number: 11430223
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assist apparatus comprises at least one surrounding sensor and at least one vehicle element. The surrounding sensor memorizes at least one axis difference adjustment value which adjusts at least one axis difference of a detection axis of the surrounding sensor relative to a predetermined base detection axis and provides the vehicle element with information on the axis difference adjustment value memorized in the surrounding sensor as adjustment value information. The vehicle element memorizes the axis difference adjustment value included in the adjustment value information provided from the surrounding sensor and provides the surrounding sensor with information on the axis difference adjustment value memorized in the vehicle element as the adjustment value information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobutaka Funahara, Hiroshi Harada
  • Patent number: 11421989
    Abstract: A surveying instrument include a surveying instrument including a surveying instrument main body, a measuring direction image pickup module for acquiring a first image, a distance measuring unit for measuring a distance to the object, a projecting direction detecting module for detecting a projecting direction of the distance measuring light, a time detector for generating a signal of a reference time, a downward image pickup module for acquiring a second image, an attitude detector for detecting a tilt of the surveying instrument main body and an arithmetic control module, wherein the arithmetic control module is configured to detect a change between the first images or the second images, determine a measuring point of the object with respect to the vertical lower image based on the change between the images and the detection results of the distance measuring unit and the projecting direction detecting module and the reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOPCON Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Tetsuji Anai, Kaoru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 11415681
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling illumination power of a LIDAR based, three dimensional imaging system based on discrete illumination power tiers are described herein. In one aspect, the illumination intensity of a pulsed beam of illumination light emitted from a LIDAR system is varied in accordance with a set of illumination power tiers based on the difference between a desired and a measured return pulse. In a further aspect, the illumination power tier is selected based on whether an intensity difference exceeds one of a sequence of predetermined, tiered threshold values. In this manner, the intensity of measured return pulses is maintained within a linear range of the analog to digital converter for objects detected over a wide range of distances from the LIDAR system and a wide range of environmental conditions in the optical path between the LIDAR system and the detected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: VELODYNE LIDAR USA, INC.
    Inventor: Kiran K. Gunnam
  • Patent number: 11408735
    Abstract: A positioning system includes: a gyro sensor configured to detect an angular velocity of a moving body; a geomagnetic sensor configured to detect a direction in which the moving body is placed; an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration of the moving body; and a gyro sensor output correction part configured to correct an output of the gyro sensor, wherein the gyro sensor output correction part is configured to convert output components of the gyro sensor into at least one of a rotation matrix and a quaternion based on output components of the geomagnetic sensor and output components of the acceleration sensor, and to calculate a posture of the moving body based on the rotation matrix or the quaternion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11402402
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides substantially magnetometer-free systems and methods for motion capture of a subject including 3-D localization and posture tracking by fusing inertial sensors with a localization system and a biomechanical model of the subject. Using the novel Kalman filter based fusion techniques disclosed herein, the localization data aided with the biomechanical model can eliminate the drift in inertial yaw angle estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: BigMotion Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Wook Park, Shaghayegh Zihajehzadeh
  • Patent number: 11378419
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a design for operating an angle sensor. A first sensor signal is output from a first sensor element on the basis of a magnetic field, which is dependent on an angle of rotation of a measurement object, at the location of the first sensor element. A second sensor signal is output from a second sensor element on the basis of the magnetic field that is dependent on the angle of rotation of the measurement object at the location of the second sensor element. During a calibration mode of the angle sensor, in which a rotation of the measurement object is performed, a first offset value of the first sensor signal, a second offset value of the second sensor signal and an amplitude correction value are determined on the basis of signal amplitudes of the first and second sensor signals. The first and second offset values ascertained during the calibration mode and the amplitude correction value are stored for use in an operating mode of the angle sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventors: Helmut Koeck, Ahsan Ali, Torsten Andre, Johannes Janschitz
  • Patent number: 11333764
    Abstract: The survey system includes a mobile body equipped with a scanner configured to perform scanning by a distance measuring light, a position measuring device configured to measure a position of the scanner, and a posture detecting device configured to detect a posture of the scanner, the posture detecting device includes an imaging unit configured to periodically acquire image data, a 3-axis angular velocity sensor configured to detect 3-axis posture angles of the scanner, and an arithmetic control unit, and the arithmetic control unit is configured to calculate posture information of the scanner by summing photographing-time 3-axis posture angles (SP0, SP1, SPn) of the scanner acquired in each photographing by image analysis of the image data, and 3-axis posture relative displacement angles of the scanner calculated from detection values of the 3-axis angular velocity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TOPCON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nishita, You Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11326904
    Abstract: An assembly for measuring a relative position of two movable elements with respect to one another. The assembly includes a ribbon having a magnetic strip, and two magnetic sensors. The ribbon is intended to be fastened to one of the two elements, and the magnetic sensors both to be fastened to the other element. One of the two magnetic sensors serves to precisely measure a relative position of the two elements within a period of orientation alternation of magnetic poles, and the other magnetic sensor serves to define an origin of the measurements in order to obtain an absolute-measurement result for the relative position of the two elements with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventor: Camille David
  • Patent number: 11324558
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electromagnetic (EM) distortion detection and compensation are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes an instrument, the system configured to: determine a reference position of the distal end of the instrument at a first time based on EM location data, determine that the distal end of the instrument at a second time is static, and determine that the EM location data at the second time is indicative of a position of the distal end of the instrument having changed from the reference position by greater than a threshold distance. The system is further configured to: determine a current offset based on the distance between the position at the second time and the reference position at the first time, and determine a compensated position of the distal end of the instrument based on the EM location data and the current offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Chauncey F. Graetzel, Subashini Srinivasan, Yuriy Malinin, Shyamprasad Konduri
  • Patent number: 11266328
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards computer-based systems and methods for evaluating a user's body motion based on motion data obtained via a series of wireless sensors attached to a user's body. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. A server system receives motion data from one or more input devices. The motion data corresponds to movement of a user. The server system generates a motion profile based on at least the motion data received from the one or more input devices. The server system retrieves a pre-defined target motion profile from a database structure. The server system objectively evaluating the extracted motion profile by comparing one or more parameters of the generated motion profile with one or more parameters of the retrieved pre-defined target motion profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Latella Sports Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Frank A. Latella, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11262213
    Abstract: Examples include systems and methods for decomposition of error components between angular, forward, and sideways errors in estimated positions of a computing device. One method includes determining an estimation of a current position of the computing device based on a previous position of the computing device, an estimated speed over an elapsed time, and a direction of travel of the computing device, determining a forward, sideways, and orientation change error component of the estimation of the current position of the computing device, determining a weight to apply to the forward, sideways, and orientation change error components based on average observed movement of the computing device, and using the weighted forward, sideways, and orientation change error components as constraints for determination of an updated estimation of the current position of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Etienne Le Grand, Brian Patrick Williams
  • Patent number: 11212724
    Abstract: A cell reselection method applied to a base station, includes: configuring a measurement parameter adjustment rule to be used by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in cell reselection, the measurement parameter adjustment rule including at least one UAV altitude level and each UAV altitude level corresponding to at least one altitude adjustment parameter; and sending the measurement parameter adjustment rule to the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Hong
  • Patent number: 11210936
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may receive different sets of image or sensor data that may be compared for inconsistencies. Each of these sets of received data may include images of a roadway or intersection that are processed to identify objects and object locations at or near the roadway/intersection. In certain instances data received from a camera at a traffic control system may be compared with data received from a computer at a vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, different sets of data acquired by a same or by different cameras may be compared for discrepancies. When one or more discrepancies are identified in different sets of received data, corrective actions may be initiated. In certain instances, such corrective actions may include recalibrating an image acquisition system or may include sending message to a vehicle computer that identifies the discrepancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Malkes, William S. Overstreet, Jeffery R. Price, Michael J. Tourville
  • Patent number: 11204258
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a rotating body includes a unit to be detected, including a first pattern portion having at least one first pattern and a second pattern portion having at least one second pattern, and configured to rotate around a rotating shaft, a sensor module comprising a first sensor disposed opposite to the first pattern portion and a second sensor disposed opposite to the second pattern portion, and a rotation information calculator configured to calculate a difference value by differentiating output signals of the first sensor and the second sensor, and to compare comparison values, determined according to a target sensing angle and a size of the first pattern and the second pattern, with the difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11199424
    Abstract: In one aspect, a magnetic field angle sensor includes a bridge structure that include a sine bridge configured to generate a sinusoidal signal indicative of a magnetic field along a first axis and a cosine bridge configured to generate a cosinusoidal signal indicative of the magnetic field along a second axis that is orthogonal with respect to the first axis. One of the sine bridge or the cosine bridge includes a first set of at least two magnetoresistance elements, a second set of at least one magnetoresistance element, a third set of at least one magnetoresistance element and a fourth set of at least one magnetoresistance element. An average reference direction of the first set of at least two magnetoresistance elements is equal to an average reference direction of the third set of at least one magnetoresistance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC, COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Rémy Lassalle-Balier, Claude Fermon, Damien Dehu, Kamil Akmaldinov
  • Patent number: 11186043
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of a construction platform for additive manufacturing of a component, includes marking a construction platform for additive manufacturing, providing a marking region of the construction platform with reference features, wherein the reference features are arranged and designed in such a way that a position of the reference features relative to a reference point are captured using an optical scanning method, and optically scanning the construction platform in the marking region and capturing the relative position with the aid of the reference features and the reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Ole Geisen
  • Patent number: 11163308
    Abstract: A method for creating a digital map for an automated vehicle, including identifying a first vehicle by a second vehicle or the second vehicle by the first vehicle, the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle being identified as data-detecting members of a creation process of the digital map; ascertaining a distance of the first vehicle from the second vehicle and/or a distance of the second vehicle from the first vehicle; and transmitting defined data of the vehicles and the distance between the vehicles to a creation unit for creating the digital map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ali Alawieh, Daniel Zaum, Peter Christian Abeling
  • Patent number: 11081223
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for the collection and display of athletic information. Athletic data relating to a single person or group of people is collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed at a desired remote location so that the person or people can review and critique their performance. In addition, athletic data for multiple persons can be collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed to a user at a desired remote location, so that the user can compare his or her athletic activities to others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Roberto Tagliabue
  • Patent number: 11064320
    Abstract: Using a pressure sensor of a mobile device to improve the reliability of determined contexts. Particular embodiments described herein include machines that determine a context of a mobile device, and determine if the determined context is accurate using one or more measurements of pressure from a pressure sensor of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: NextNav, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Dormody, Arun Raghupathy, Badrinath Nagarajan, Guiyuan Han
  • Patent number: 11016305
    Abstract: Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) devices can track pose of a wearer's head or pose of a hand-held user input device to enable wearer interaction in a three-dimensional AR environment. A pose sensor (e.g., an inertial measurement unit) in the user input device can provide data on pose (e.g., position or orientation) of the user input device. An electromagnetic (EM) tracking system can also provide pose data. For example, the handheld user input device can include an EM emitter that generates an EM field, and the head-mounted AR device can include an EM sensor that senses the EM field. The AR device can combine the output of the pose sensor and the EM tracking system to reduce drift in the estimated pose of the user input device or to transform the pose into a world coordinate system used by the AR device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng Wan, Michael Janusz Woods
  • Patent number: 11009371
    Abstract: A method for automatic calibration of a camshaft sensor for a motor vehicle. The sensor includes a processing module configured to generate, from a raw signal indicative of the variations in a magnetic field which are caused by the rotation of a toothed target and measured by a cell, an output signal indicative of the moments at which the teeth pass past the cell. The calibration method makes it possible, for each tooth, to determine a switching threshold not only as a function of a local minimum and of a local maximum for the tooth during the preceding revolution of the target, but also as a function of a corrective value calculated from a local maximum and/or a local minimum of the raw signal during the passage of a preceding tooth past the cell during a new revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Denis Bouscaren
  • Patent number: 10820152
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes acquiring a plurality of received signal strength indicators obtained by a target wireless terminal which observes a plurality of wireless signals transmitted from a plurality of transmitters, selecting a set of received signal strength indicators which is a portion of the plurality of received signal strength indicators, acquiring a set of reference received signal strength indicators corresponding to the set of received signal strength indicators, from a database of a plurality of reference received signal strength indicators that serve as a reference for the plurality of received signal strength indicators, and estimating a received signal strength indicator offset of the target wireless terminal, based on the set of received signal strength indicators and the set of reference received signal strength indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Murata
  • Patent number: 10775488
    Abstract: A LIDAR calibration module can detect a set of return signals from a plurality of fiducial targets for a set of laser scanners of an autonomous vehicle's LIDAR module. The autonomous vehicle can rest on an inclined platform of a rotating turntable to increase range variation in the return signals. Based on the set of return signals, the LIDAR calibration system can generate a set of calibration transforms to adjust a set of intrinsic parameters of the LIDAR module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: David McAllister Bradley, Gehua Yang
  • Patent number: 10747191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for creating or machining toothings on workpieces in rolling machining engagement, in particular by gear shaping, in which an NC control of the rotary spindle drives of workpiece and tool comprises regulation of the rotation angle position of each particular spindle to setpoints depending on the process parameters associated with the process design underlying the method, wherein data containing information relating to a deflection, caused by the process forces that arise during machining and resulting in profile shape deviations on the workpiece, of the position of the tool flanks of tool and workpiece out of their position intended as per the process design, are used to determine a correction, taking the deflection into account, of the rotation angle position of workpiece spindle and/or tool spindle and thus to modify the setpoints of the regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GLEASON-PFAUTER MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Kienzle, Sven Mayer
  • Patent number: 10705113
    Abstract: A system including: a sensor module having an inertial measurement unit and attached to an arm of a user. The sensor module is initially calibrated to measure its orientation relative an initial reference pose. To recalibrate the sensor module, the arm of the user is moved to obtain a measurement of an orientation of the arm at a calibration pose relative to the reference pose. The arm is in a horizontal plan in both the calibration pose and the reference pose. Preferably, both arms are straight in the horizontal plane; and the hands meet each other at the calibration pose. The arm module may have twisted around the arm of the user from the time of the initial calibration and the time of recalibration. A twist of the arm module around the arm of the user is computed from the orientation measurement at the reference pose for recalibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Finch Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Viktor Vladimirovich Erivantcev, Rustam Rafikovich Kulchurin, Ravil Salavatovich Shafikov, Alexander Sergeevich Lobanov, Iakov Evgenevich Sergeev, Alexey Ivanovich Kartashov
  • Patent number: 10674932
    Abstract: An orientation tracking device includes a memory for storing data including magnetic reference data relating to the direction of a static magnetic field of a magnetic imaging scanner in a selected principle co-ordinate frame and earth gravitational reference data relating to the direction of the gravitational field of the earth in the principle co-ordinate frame. The device also includes an accelerometer, magnetometer and communication module. A processor is adapted for receiving from the magnetometer measured magnetic field vector and from the accelerometer a measured acceleration vector. These vectors are in a co-ordinate frame of the orientation tracking device, within the magnetic imaging scanner in which the orientation tracking device is placed in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: University of Cape Town
    Inventor: Adam Marthinus Johannes van Niekerk
  • Patent number: 10651840
    Abstract: A device for providing a reset signal to one or more sequential logic circuits in an electronic system responsive to a supply voltage condition includes a first voltage detector circuit to generate a first pulse after the supply voltage rises to a first threshold voltage level. The device further includes a second voltage detector circuit to generate a second pulse after the supply voltage falls below a second threshold voltage level. The device additionally includes a latch circuit to store a first value based on the first pulse after the supply voltage rises to the first threshold voltage level, disable the first voltage detector circuit after storing the first value, reset to store a second value based on the second pulse after the supply voltage falls below the second threshold voltage level, and to disable the second voltage detector circuit after the resetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Felix Qin, Eric C. Gaalaas, Bikiran Goswami, Jason Ma
  • Patent number: 10578979
    Abstract: A method involving a radiation intensity distribution for a target measured using an optical component at a gap from the target, the method including: determining a value of a parameter of interest using the measured radiation intensity distribution and a mathematical model describing the target, the model including an effective medium approximation for roughness of a surface of the optical component or a part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Sietse Thijmen Van Der Post, Ferry Zijp, Sander Bas Roobol
  • Patent number: 10578986
    Abstract: A dual-layer alignment apparatus is disclosed which includes: a fixed frame (40) and, disposed thereon, a first measuring device (50) and a mark plate (41), the mark plate (41) having a fixed-frame mark (20); and a motion stage (60) and, disposed thereon, a reference mark (30), a motion-stage mark (70) and a second measuring device (10). The first measuring device (50) is configured to measure a relative positional relationship between the reference mark (30) and the motion-stage mark (70), the second measuring device (10) is configured to measure a relative positional relationship between the reference mark (30) and the fixed-frame mark (20), from which a final relative positional relationship between the motion-stage mark (70) and the fixed-frame mark (20) is derived, based on which the motion stage (60) is displaced to a target location. A corresponding dual-layer alignment method is also disclosed. In the apparatus, the motion stage (60) is the only movable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI MICRO ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT (GROUP) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xuchao Zhou, Liandong Pan, Shucun Zhu
  • Patent number: 10460177
    Abstract: A media system generally includes a memory device that stores an event datastore that stores a plurality of event records, each event record corresponding to a respective event and event metadata describing at least one feature of the event. The media system (a) receives a request to generate an aggregated clip comprised of one or more media segments, where each media segment depicts a respective event; (b) for each event record from at least a subset of the plurality of event records, determines an interest level of the event corresponding to the event record; (c) determines one or more events to depict in the aggregated clip based on the respective interest levels of the one or more events; (d) generates the aggregated clip based on the respective media segments that depict the one or more events; and (e) transmits the aggregated clip to a user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Second Spectrum, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Shek Chan, Yu-Han Chang, Rajiv Tharmeswaran Maheswaran, Jeffrey Wayne Su
  • Patent number: 10422658
    Abstract: A method, a system, and a use of the system, for fusing sensor signals with different temporal signal output delays into a fusion data set. Each of at least three different sensor signals describe a measured value of at least three different sensor systems. The signal output delays are unique to the sensor. Each sensor signal includes a timestamp describing a detection time of the measured value. Erroneous measured values of a first sensor system are determined by a comparison with the measured values of other sensor systems. The erroneous values are considered constant at least for the duration between two consecutive comparisons. The erroneous values and/or the measured values are available for a specified time. The erroneous values and/or the measured values of the first sensor system constant are corrected by a correction process, and corrections carried out during the time period are considered when applying additional corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Nico Steinhardt
  • Patent number: 10384353
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a robotic manipulator arm deployment and control system. The system comprises at least a vertical mast, a mast deployment system comprising at least two cams, an elbow, an arm wherein the arm is operable to deploy tools, and one or more sensors including a non-contact sensor and a dynamic measurement unit. The cams cause the vertical mast and the arm to remain vertical during deployment into an operating space. The non-contact sensor may be used for measuring range and bearing to objects in the operating space in polar coordinates. The dynamic measurement unit comprises accelerometers and rate sensors and is configured as a six degree of freedom three axis sensor operating in a Cartesian coordinate system. The system further comprises a controller operable to receive the polar and Cartesian coordinates from the sensors and convert them to a Cartesian coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Kurion, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Martin, Paul Linnebur, Marc Rood, Matt Denver Cole
  • Patent number: 10309775
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a pressure sensor for measuring barometric pressure. Pressure measurements may be calibrated using crowd-sourced pressure data to remove any weather bias or sensor bias associated with the pressure measurements. Altitude of the electronic device may be determined using the calibrated pressure measurement. When it is desired to estimate altitude, the electronic device may transmit a query to a server, which returns a local reference pressure value for the electronic device based on crowd-sourced pressure data from electronic devices in the vicinity of the electronic device making the query. To determine the local reference pressure value, the server may correlate the crowd-sourced pressure data with space, taking into account variations in terrain using digital elevation models to determine location-specific reference pressures. The local reference pressure value for a given electronic device is then determined using crowd-sourced reference pressures at nearby locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn D. MacGougan, Changlin Ma, Robert W. Mayor
  • Patent number: 10267922
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving positioning signals comprises an antenna configured to output a plurality of antenna signals and a multipath compensation module for detecting multipath interference, and if multipath interference is detected, selecting one or more of the antenna signals and combining the selected one or more antenna signals to obtain a compensated signal. The antenna is arranged to distinguish between ones of the positioning signals received at different incident angles, and each antenna signal includes ones of the positioning signals received in a predetermined range of incident angles. The multipath compensation module may determine whether multipath interference is present in each antenna signal, and may not select any antenna signals which include interference when selecting the antenna signals to be combined. The gain of each antenna signal may be adjusted before the signals are combined, to maintain the noise power of each antenna signal below a predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Thind Surinder
  • Patent number: 10256754
    Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for a position error of a resolver has a controller which is configured to: receive position information of a rotor of a motor, which is detected by the resolver, to measure a first position error, convert the first position error to a second position error at an electrical angular velocity of 0, and to store the second position error; receive a current electrical angular velocity and the second position error, convert the second position error to a third position error at the current electrical angular velocity, and compensate for the third position error; and perform determination of false position error compensation when a magnitude of a ripple at an electrical angular velocity, which is measured after the third position error has been compensated for, is equal to or greater than a reference magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joo Young Park, Ho Joon Shin, Jun Mo An, Sung Kyu Kim, Su Hyun Bae
  • Patent number: 10245180
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device (10) for treating eye tissue (6) with laser pulses (L) comprises a projection optical unit (3) for focused projection of the laser pulses (L), a scanner system (1) for dynamically deflecting the laser pulses (L) and a zoom system (20), which is arranged between the projection optical unit (3) and the scanner system (1) and which is configured to adjust the focused projection of the laser pulses (L) in the projection direction (r) in different zoom settings (z). The ophthalmological device (10) moreover comprises a displacement device (4), which is configured to displace the scanner system (1) depending on the zoom setting (z) of the zoom system (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10238463
    Abstract: The invention relates to a processing system (200) that is arranged to cooperate with an optical-shape-sensing-enabled elongated interventional device (1020, 1120, 1220, 1320, 1420), such as a catheter comprising an optical fiber. A reconstructed shape data providing unit (130) provides reconstructed shape data for the interventional device (1020, 1120, 1220, 1320, 1420). A virtual marking provider unit (140) provides at least one virtual marking (1020A, 1020B, 1101, 1102, 1103, 1201, 1203, 1204, 1301, 1302, 1401) based on the reconstructed shape data, for example as overlay to a x-ray image. The present invention thus turns any OSS-enabled device into a calibrated device, suitable for all kinds of live 3D measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Marco Verstege, Jeroen Gerard Scheepens, Neriman Nicoletta Kahya
  • Patent number: 10168159
    Abstract: Examples of arrays of magnetometers that can be used as or as part of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) are disclosed herein. Various methods for using such arrays in order to obtain highly precise and locationally unique data, which can be used to correct for drift effects, are also disclosed. In certain embodiments, the Jacobian matrix of the magnetic field is computed from the magnetometer measurements. This Jacobian matrix data can be used to generate a magnetic field map for a particular environment and/or to locate position, velocity, and acceleration of the IMU by referencing such a magnetic field map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Flavio Protasio Ribeiro, Anatoly Churikov
  • Patent number: 10155316
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a manipulator including a joint portion, a drive unit that generates a driving force for driving the joint portion, and a driving force transmission member that is inserted into a tubular member and transmits the driving force generated from the drive unit to the joint portion includes: an arrangement step of arranging the manipulator in a usable state; a load-measuring step of issuing an operation command based on a predetermined calibrating drive pattern to the drive unit and measuring a load generated in the manipulator at that time; and a control parameter-setting step of setting a main-driving control parameter based on the load measured in the load-measuring step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Wakai, Masatoshi Iida, Naoya Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 10095215
    Abstract: A thermal displacement correction apparatus for a machine tool first determines the coefficient k in E=a+k|F| where F is a thermal displacement correction amount and E is an adjustment value (first step). Next, in actual processing, a is set if a has not been set yet (second step). After a and the coefficient k are determined in advance, thermal displacement correction unit is enabled and an operation of a machining program is started. The thermal displacement correction amount F is calculated, the adjustment value E is calculated based on E=a+k|F|, a thermal displacement correction amount F? after adjustment (=E×F) is calculated, and F? is sent to the thermal displacement correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Xiaoguang Qi
  • Patent number: 10073437
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for compensating thermal displacement of a machine tool, the apparatus including: a compensation quantity calculating unit configured to calculate a compensation quantity by using temperature data and a predetermined compensation parameter; a smoothing filter configured to exponentially smooth the calculated compensation quantity; a scaling unit configured to scale the exponentially smoothed compensation quantity; a time-dispersion compensating unit configured to calculate a final compensation quantity by time-dispersion compensation for the scaled compensation quantity according to a time-dispersion compensating period; and a control unit configured to compensate each axis of equipment according to the final compensation quantity, and adjusts the time-dispersion compensating period of the time-dispersion compensating unit according to an error absolute value representing a difference between an input value and an output value of the time-dispersion compensating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN MACHINE TOOLS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 10060772
    Abstract: A method corrects errors in position-measuring devices having material measures which are scanned by at least one scanning unit. Correction values are obtained in a calibration performed prior to a measurement operation. The correction values from the calibration are compressed for the measurement operation. The correction values are kept available for a defined number of correction points on the material measure and used during the measurement operation to correct acquired position values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Drescher, Ulrich Bichlmeier
  • Patent number: 10060724
    Abstract: A method, a computer program product and a measuring system are provided for operating a triangulation laser scanner to identify surface properties of a workpiece. The scanner has a CMOS sensor chip, an imaging optical unit, and a laser line light source configured to generate a laser line on the workpiece in compliance with a Scheimpflug condition. Data generated on the sensor chip is reduced to an amount of data only including actual lateral positions of image points of the laser line and a quality criterion for each of the image points. The quality criterion is a measure of an intensity distribution along a direction transverse to a local direction of extent of the image points of the laser line on the sensor chip and the reduced amount of data is analyzed with respect to the quality criterion regarding a presence of barcode and/or detection code information and/or texture information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Held, Daniel Plohmann, Oliver Rettenmaier
  • Patent number: 10013761
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems may provide for using the motion of a vehicle to estimate the orientation of a camera system of a vehicle relative to the vehicle. Image data may be received from a plurality of cameras positioned on the vehicle, and a first constraint set may be determined for the plurality of cameras based on a plurality of feature points in a ground plane proximate to the vehicle. A second constraint set may be determined based on one or more borders of the vehicle. One or more of the cameras may be automatically calibrated based on the first constraint set and the second constraint set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Koba Natroshvili, Kay-Ulrich Scholl
  • Patent number: 9983002
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for determining floors at a geographic location using barometric air pressure sensors in a mobile phone. An exemplary method includes identifying a first height associated with a location based on a client device. The first height indicates an entry level of the client device at the location. Using information regarding an amount of outside air pressure at the location, a pressure sensor in the client device is calibrated. A pressure offset for the location is calculated. The pressure offset identifies a difference between air pressure readings inside the location and the amount of outside air pressure at the location. Using the calibrated pressure sensor, a second height associated with the location is determined based on readings from the calibrated pressure sensor and the pressure offset. The second height indicates a different level at the location that the client device is currently on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Dean Kenneth Jackson, Daniel Victor Klein, John Richard Kochmar
  • Patent number: 9791298
    Abstract: A rotation angle detector has a rotation angle sensor and a microcomputer, where the sensor detects a change of a magnetic field of a magnet that rotates with a shaft. The microcomputer has a first corrector for correcting a pre-correction mechanical angle, based on a first correction value that corrects an error due to an assembly process for assembling the magnet and the sensor, and a second corrector for correcting the pre-correction mechanical angle based on a second correction value that corrects an error due to a spill magnetic flux that is generated by a supply of an electric current to a winding wire. In such configuration, the rotation angle detector may correct the error due to the spill magnetic flux, thereby enabling an accurate detection of a mechanical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuta Kadoike, Shuhei Miyachi, Takafumi Satou
  • Patent number: 9751484
    Abstract: A protective device such as a seat or helmet contains impact attenuating fluid (e.g., CO2, Air or Water) containing cells, sensors and electrically actuated exhaust valves for cushioning impact and decelerating a user (e.g., the contacting body part of the user) after an impact. Accelerometers and a pressure sensor supply signals to a microcontroller, which opens an exhaust valve if accelerations (or pressure) exceed a threshold. Expelling fluid provides a cushioning and damping effect, decelerating the wearer's head. Acceleration data, fluid pressure data and GPS position data may be wirelessly communicated to a monitor computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: William R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9746304
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting errors in a bearing cartridge used in a portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) is provided. The method includes providing a cartridge having a first bearing and a second bearing arranged in a fixed relationship to define an axis, the cartridge further including an angle measurement device configured to measure a rotation of a portion of the cartridge about the axis. A plurality of angles is measured with the angle measurement device. A first plurality of displacements is determined at a first position along the axis, each of the first plurality of displacements being associated with one of the plurality of angles. Compensation values are determined based at least in part on the plurality of angles and the first plurality of displacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Bridges, Raymond Sullivan, Eric J. Moy, Michael J. Hale
  • Patent number: 9746848
    Abstract: The Invention is a system and method for adaptively attaching a work piece, especially an imprecise work piece, to a non-adaptive fixture that can be repeatably attached to one or more CNC machines. The Invention allows a work piece to be set up once for multiple machining operations. The Invention avoids the potential for errors and the cost and complexity inherent in adaptive machining and adaptive fixturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew T. Jarvis, Mark A. Rogers, Steven B. Lelinski, Alvin Potter
  • Patent number: 9643816
    Abstract: A method for determining the degree service life end of a support cable of an elevator, wherein the support cable is routed over a drive sheave and/or one or more return pulleys and connects a car to a counterweight, includes the steps of: the support cable is subdivided into a plurality of sections; and for each of the sections, a determination is made as to whether the section passes over the drive sheave and/or one or more of the return pulleys during a trip, and if this is the case, a usage level representing the degree of service life use is increased accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Herbert Bachmann, Tobias Noseda