Position Measurement Patents (Class 702/94)
  • Patent number: 8688397
    Abstract: An angle detection device formed in the shape of a disk includes: a graduation plate having a plurality of graduation lines being provided radially from the center toward the circumference thereof; and two detectors being disposed along the circumference of the graduation plate in a manner to be opposite to each other in a radial direction, the detectors detecting the graduation lines. The angle detection device is configured to calculate a center error based on angles detected by the detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Kiyotani
  • Patent number: 8683850
    Abstract: A bias value associated with a sensor, e.g., a time-varying, non-zero value which is output from a sensor when it is motionless, is estimated using at least two, different bias estimating techniques. A resultant combined or selected bias estimate may then be used to compensate the biased output of the sensor in, e.g., a 3D pointing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Hua Sheng, Matthew G. Liberty, Christopher D. Roller, Charles W. K. Gritton
  • Publication number: 20140088904
    Abstract: A system may be provided for limiting false detections of occupancy caused by air flow. The system may include control unit and sensors that detect motion in one or more areas, where the control unit and the sensors are connected by a network. The control unit may determine that the area or areas are unoccupied, and autotune parameters of the sensors so that the sensors indicate that the area or areas are unoccupied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: REDWOOD SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Covaro
  • Publication number: 20140081588
    Abstract: A positioning method and an electronic device utilizing the same are disclosed. The positioning method, adopted by an electronic device for positioning a mobile device, includes: determining a preliminary plane location of the mobile device; obtaining a tilt angle of the mobile device; and correcting an error in the preliminary plane location based on the tilt angle, to obtain the correct plane location of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Kai-Wen Tien, Jie-Min Chen, Chin-Lien Hsu, Tsung-Ying Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8664951
    Abstract: A tuning fork gyroscope that is insensitive to magnetic field gradients is provided. The tuning fork gyroscope includes a first electrically conducting proof mass and a second electrically conducting proof mass connected through electrically conducting suspensions to anchors attached to one or more insulating substrates, and an electrical-resistance mid-point electrically connected to opposing ends of the first electrically conducting proof mass and to opposing ends of the second electrically conducting proof mass. The tuning fork gyroscope provides an input to a sense charge amplifier. The sense charge amplifier generates an output signal indicative of a rotation of the tuning fork gyroscope. The output signal is independent of a magnetic field gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Burgess R. Johnson, Bharat Pant
  • Patent number: 8666556
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of using feedforward to control a system component may include determining if a feedforward term exists in a feedforward table for a received operating set point. If a feedforward term does not exist, the system component may be incremented until the system is within a first acceptable tolerance of the desired set point. In some embodiments, a measure of steady state error may be determined and compared to a second acceptable tolerance. If within the acceptable tolerance, the corresponding feedforward term may be recorded in the feedforward table. In some embodiments, if the feedforward term exists for the operating set point, the system component may be controlled using controller output that corresponds to the feedforward term. When a change to the system is detected that is associated with possible changes to the feedforward values, new feedforward values may be generated for the feedforward table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daryush Agahi
  • Patent number: 8649991
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide not only a technical solution for calibrating a positioning device but also a technical solution for characterizing an area of interest in a space. Specifically, there is provided a system, which may include: a tag capable of emitting ranging signals, placed at location points which are selected as space feature points in the space; a positioning device in the space, configured to obtain relative coordinates of the space feature points in relation to the positioning device based on the ranging signals from the tag; and a server, configured to determine location parameters of the positioning device in the space based on the relative coordinates, so as to calibrate the positioning device. The positioning device can be calibrated automatically, fast and accurately using the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: NEC (China) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongcai Wang, Junhui Zhao, Toshikazu Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20140039823
    Abstract: Positioning systems and methods comprise a network of transmitters that broadcast positioning signals comprising ranging signals and positioning system information. A ranging signal comprises information used to measure a distance to a transmitter broadcasting the ranging signal. A reference sensor array comprising at least one reference sensor unit is positioned at a known location. A remote receiver includes an atmospheric sensor collecting atmospheric data at a position of the remote receiver. A positioning application is coupled to the remote receiver and generates a reference pressure estimate at the position of the remote receiver using the atmospheric and reference data from the reference sensor array. The positioning application computes the position of the remote receiver using the reference pressure estimate and information derived from at least one of the positioning signals and satellite signals that are signals of a satellite-based positioning system. The position includes an elevation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: NextNav, LLC
    Inventors: Arun Raghupathy, Subramanian S. Meiyappan, Thomas Wolf
  • Patent number: 8638296
    Abstract: A method of calibration and a calibration machine is provided for calibrating sensory controls of an ultrasonic navigation system. It can include an enclosure for containing a paired device group to minimize air flow therein, one or more holder mechanisms for rigidly mounting the paired devices at specific and adjustable orientations, and a rail system for holding the one or more holder mechanisms at specific locations within the enclosure. A computer communicatively coupled to the calibration machine can precisely adjust actuators for configuring the distances and orientations of the holding mechanisms and control a transmission and reception of the paired devices for calibrating the paired devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventors: Jason McIntosh, Marc Boillot
  • Publication number: 20140025329
    Abstract: An example information processing device calculates an attitude of an input unit having a magnetic sensor. The information processing device repeatedly obtains detected magnetic vectors detected by the magnetic sensor. The information processing device repeatedly estimates a center position of a spherical body having a curved surface which is estimated based on end point positions of the detected magnetic vectors. The attitude of the input unit is calculated based on a direction vector representing a direction from the center position to the end point position of the detected magnetic vector. The information processing device calculates the attitude while relatively decreasing an influence of a newly-obtained detected magnetic vector as the end point position of the newly-obtained detected magnetic vector is farther away from the end point positions of the detected magnetic vectors used for the estimation of the center position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keizo OHTA
  • Patent number: 8635042
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a medical device operable in at least one axis of movement, such as a footpedal or footswitch, is provided. The design includes instructing a user to operate the device to a first predetermined position in a first axis of movement while concurrently monitoring movement of the device to establish a set of movement responses, prompting the user to indicate when the first predetermined position in the first axis is attained modifying the set of movement responses when movement response irregularities are detected, thereby establishing a modified set of movement responses, and employing the modified set of movement responses during a medical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Dung Ma, Abraham Hajishah, James Gerg
  • Publication number: 20140012529
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of measuring an altitude and an altitude measurement method using the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal capable of measuring an altitude includes a barometric pressure information reception unit for receiving barometric pressure information, a barometric pressure correction unit for calculating a bias barometric pressure using the barometric pressure information received by the barometric pressure information reception unit, and a barometric pressure sensor for outputting a corrected barometric pressure to which the bias barometric pressure is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicants: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  • Publication number: 20140012528
    Abstract: Described are methods and systems for estimating a baseline of a proximity sensor on an electronic device comprising: collecting proximity sensor data at the electronic device using the proximity sensor; collecting second data using a second source at the electronic device; obtaining a sample of the proximity sensor data at the electronic device when it is determined that no object is proximal to a first face of the electronic device based on the proximity sensor data and based on the second data; and approximating the baseline of the proximity sensor using the obtained sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Tennessee CARMEL-VEILLEUX, Andrew Martin GARBER
  • Patent number: 8626422
    Abstract: An electronic oil pump has at least one lubricant inlet, at least one lubricant outlet, at least one piston being movable between a full stroke position and a fully retracted position, an electrical actuator operatively connected to the at least one piston, a first electrical lead connected to a first element of the pump for electrically connecting the first element to an electronic control unit (ECU), and a second electrical lead connected to a second element of the pump for electrically connecting the second element to the ECU. When the at least one piston is in the full stroke position, an electrical path between the first and second electrical leads is closed. When the at least one piston is in a position other than the full stroke position, the electrical path is opened. A method of controlling an engine having the oil pump is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yvon Bedard, Benoit Pion
  • Publication number: 20130325385
    Abstract: A method of measuring an altitude in a portable terminal is provided. The method includes receiving a reference altitude from an information providing device fixed and installed at a certain point, measuring a current atmospheric pressure of the certain point, calculating an altitude of the certain position using the measured current atmospheric pressure and a reference atmospheric pressure, and storing a difference between the reference altitude and the calculated altitude of the certain point as an altitude error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Gyejoong SHIN, Dohyoung CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20130325384
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a value of a physical variable in a position transducer system includes the steps of providing a computation model, which maps a response of the position transducer system, wherein the computation model includes a model function and one or multiple parameter(s); ascertaining a value of at least one system variable at one or multiple points in time; determining the parameters of the computation model from one or multiple value(s) of the at least one system variable determined at different points in time; and determining the value of the physical variable as a function of the one or the multiple determined parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Alexandre WAGNER, Ralf BUEHRLE
  • Patent number: 8600523
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an operation of a coordinate measuring device, at least one operational parameter is determined. One value of the operational parameter is allocated to a plurality of components. A sequence for determining the operational parameter is provided for the majority of the components. The method for determining the operational parameter in the predetermined sequence for each component is now described. It starts with the component that is first in the sequence: i) if the value of the operational parameter is allocated to the component, the value is adopted as a value of the operational parameter that is available for the operation, ii) if no value of the operational parameter is allocated to the components, one available value of the operational parameter that was available until then still remains available, iii) if another component is provided in the sequence, the method is carried out with the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Otto Ruck
  • Patent number: 8594964
    Abstract: In a method for determining an offset of measured values of a multiaxial directional sensor using a superposed signal, a large number of multiaxial measured values are recorded first. Measured values, which are recorded in different orientations of the directional sensor, form a geometric figure in a coordinate system resulting from the measuring axes of the sensor, the ideal form of the geometric figure being known and the ideal center point of which being located at the origin of the measuring axes. In the case of a biaxial sensor, the geometric figure is a circle; in the case of a triaxial sensor, it is a sphere around the origin. The superposition caused by the interference is reflected in that the center point of the geometric figure is shifted in relation to the origin of the measuring axes. The offset is measured by determining this shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Julian Bartholomeyczik, Sergej Scheiermann
  • Publication number: 20130311123
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for determining a target variable to be measured in a mobile device. A first physical variable is measured with the aid of a first sensor and a second physical variable with the aid of a second sensor. The second physical variable is different to the first physical variable, or is measured using a different technique. The value of the target variable is calculated with the aid of the measurement of the first and second physical variables. An estimate for the target variable is determined with the aid of at least the measurement of the first physical variable. At least a first error estimate is determined, which depicts the accuracy of the measurement of the first physical variable. The estimate of the target variable is filtered using both the first error estimate and the measurement of the second physical variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: SUUNTO OY
    Inventors: Heikki Nieminen, Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 8589105
    Abstract: An angle detection unit including first to third arithmetic units receives first and second signals that are associated with intensities of components of a rotating magnetic field in mutually different directions. The first arithmetic unit generates a sum of squares signal made up of the sum of squares of the first and second signals. Based on the sum of squares signal, the second arithmetic unit calculates a first error component estimate which is an estimated value of a first error component included in the first signal and a second error component estimate which is an estimated value of a second error component included in the second signal. The third arithmetic unit generates a first corrected signal by subtracting the first error component estimate from the first signal, generates a second corrected signal by subtracting the second error component estimate from the second signal, and calculates a detected angle value based on the first and second corrected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Komasaki, Hiraku Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 8575922
    Abstract: A multi-turn angle sensor includes rotors 60, 62, 64, each of which rotates in a different manner with respect to an input shaft 19, and a common stator portion 66. The rotors and pole teeth disposed around the rotors form each of resolvers 600, 620, 640. At least two of the resolvers are arranged on a single plane vertical to the rotation central axis of each of the rotors. The common stator portion 66 surrounding each of the rotors is formed by laminating electromagnetic steel sheets 106, each of which has an identical shape including a plurality of sets of pole teeth corresponding to each of the rotors. A single length of unspliced electrical wire is wound around each of the pole tooth sets. This facilitates automation of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: OKUMA Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Shibata, Yasukazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8577643
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for ascertaining the relative position of a first tire and a second tire in a multiple tire. The apparatus may include a first electromechanical transducer providing a first sensor signal indicating a contact area length of the first tire in the multiple tire, and a second electromechanical transducer providing a second sensor signal indicating a contact area length of the second tire in the multiple tire. The apparatus includes a reception unit configured for receiving the first and second sensor signals; a contact area characteristic ascertainment unit ascertaining the contact area lengths characteristic of the first and second tires based on the first and second sensor signals; and a position finding unit ascertaining the position of the first tire relative to the second tire by evaluating the contact length characteristics of the first and second tires during cornering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Gregor Kuchler
  • Patent number: 8577633
    Abstract: A personal mobile device housing contains a display screen, a wireless telephony communications transceiver, and a battery charger interface. A temperature sensor and a gyro sensor whose zero turn rate output contains an offset are also included. A lookup table has gyro zero turn rate offset correction values associated with different temperature values. A programmed processor accesses the lookup table to correct the output of the gyro sensor for zero turn rate offset. It is automatically determined, during in-the-field use, when the device is in a motionless state, and the output of the temperature and gyro sensors are read. The read gyro output is written to the lookup table as part of a pair of associated temperature and zero turn rate offset correction values. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Parin Patel
  • Patent number: 8577636
    Abstract: An azimuth calculation program is a computer-executable program that performs an azimuth calculation using output of a magnetic sensor. The azimuth calculation program includes a first step of generating one triangle in three-dimensional space using three output values of a magnetic sensor unit, a second step of determining a circumcircle of the triangle, and a third step of performing an azimuth calculation using center coordinates of the circumcircle and output values of the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kisei Hirobe, Yukimitsu Yamada, Katsuyuki Kawarda
  • Publication number: 20130289916
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus for calibrating a position finding device, having a comparer for comparing a received radio signal pattern to a multitude of reference radio signal patterns, a determiner for determining a signal strength difference, and a determiner for determining a calibration value. The comparer for comparing is configured to select a selection subset from the multitude of reference radio signal patterns by means of a measure of matching between the received radio signal pattern and one reference radio signal pattern, respectively. Determination of the calibration value is based on the signal strength difference, and the determiner for determining the calibration value is further configured to provide the calibration value to the position finding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Steffen MEYER, Juergen HUPP, Thorsten VAUPEL, Stephan HAIMERL
  • Publication number: 20130289917
    Abstract: A computing device connects with a measurement machine. The measurement machine includes a raster ruler and a measurement unit. The computing device reads environmental temperatures from a temperature sensor. Compensation coefficients of the standard workpiece and compensation coefficients of the raster ruler are calculated. The computing device calculates total compensation coefficients of the standard workpiece and the raster ruler. When the measurement machine measures an object workpiece, the computing device calculates a total error of the object workpiece according to the total compensation coefficients of the standard workpiece and the total compensation coefficients of the raster ruler. Coordinates of the object workpiece are calculated according to the total error and mechanism coordinates of each axis of the measurement machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHIH-KUANG CHANG, HUA-WEI YANG
  • Patent number: 8571826
    Abstract: A method for correction of the measured values of optical alignment systems with at least two measurement planes which are located in succession in the beam path. From each measurement plane, the beam path to the light source is transformed back in order to compute new incidence points using a beam which has been corrected by taking into consideration imaging errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Prüftechnik Dieter Busch AG
    Inventor: Heinrich Lysen
  • Patent number: 8564532
    Abstract: A system for controlling a computer is provided. The system includes a position sensing apparatus configured to be disposed in operative proximity to a sensed object and thereby obtain positional data pertaining to the sensed object, and engine software configured to receive the positional data and process the positional data to determine an assessed actual position of the sensed object relative to a neutral reference position and output control commands based on the assessed actual position of the sensed object, the control commands configured to control presentation of a rendered scene, the control commands being scaled relative to changes in the assessed actual position of the sensed object, the scaling of the changes in assessed actual position of the sensed object causing presentation of the rendered scene to be skewed; wherein the engine software is further configured to automatically correct the skewing of the rendered scene by modifying the control commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: NaturalPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Richardson, Harold Parks, Dean C. Wills
  • Publication number: 20130275069
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique of correcting a resolver offset by measuring and correcting an offset of a resolver assembled to a motor of an eco-friendly vehicle in an accurate and simple way. The offset measurement process includes, after completing the assembly of a resolver a resolver to a motor, rotating the motor by using a rotation device able to transfer a rotation force to the motor, setting a voltage instruction and current-controlling the motor according to the voltage instruction, and obtaining a d-axis current and a q-axis current, which are feedback currents, during the current-control of the motor. Then when the system is in a steady state, a resolver offset ({tilde over (?)}) is calculated from the d-axis current and the q-axis current by using {tilde over (?)}=tan?1(d-axis current/q-axis current).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jae Sung Bang, Yong Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 8560259
    Abstract: A dynamically self-adjusting magnetometer is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first sample module periodically generates an electronic signal related to at least one magnetic field characteristic of a monitored environment. A second sample module periodically generates an electronic signal related to at least one magnetic field characteristic of a monitored environment. A summing module sums the absolute value of the electronic signal from the first sample module and the electronic signal from the second sample module. A delta comparator module receives the electronic signals from each of the first sample module, the second sample module and the summing module and compares each of the electronic signals with a previously received set of electronic signals to establish a change, wherein an output is generated if the change is greater than or equal to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Broadband Discovery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Cory James Stephanson
  • Patent number: 8560260
    Abstract: In a rotation angle positioning device 6 including: a rotation angle detection device 7 which has a detection target ring 8 and an angle detection sensor 9; and a rotating-shaft driving device 10 rotating a rotating shaft so as to cause a rotation angle to become a given command value ? for rotation angle, there are provided: an error pattern storage unit 11a storing a tooth-to-tooth period error pattern F made up of errors between detected rotation angles by the angle detection sensor 9 and actual rotation angles, corresponding to respective correction dividing points of an arbitrary tooth-to-tooth period in the detection target ring 8; and a command value correction unit 11b correcting the command value ? for rotation angle based on the tooth-to-tooth period error pattern F to find a corrected command value ?2 for rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignees: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd., Mitsubushi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Munetaka Wakizaka, Hideaki Hiramitsu
  • Publication number: 20130268226
    Abstract: A method of determining a positioning error of a CNC machine is provided and an system thereof. A calibration element is placed within the CNC machine. A first sensor reading is taken of the calibration element. A second sensor reading is taken and the sensor is moved in a manner that the difference between the first and second sensor data decreases until the difference becomes less or equal to a pre-determined threshold value. A positioning error of the tool head is determined based on the movement of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Fidia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Morfino, Augusto Mignani
  • Publication number: 20130268225
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus, which measures a surface position of an object by detecting interfering light between measurement light reflected by the object and reference light reflected by a reference surface, includes: a detector configured to detect the interfering light to output an interference signal; and a processor configured to obtain the surface position based on a sine signal and a cosine signal which are obtained from the interference signal output from the detector and have a phase corresponding to an optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light. The processor includes a correction processing unit configured to correct the sine signal and the cosine signal to reduce frequency noise components contained in the sine signal and the cosine signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi OKUDA
  • Patent number: 8552739
    Abstract: In an electronic device and a method of correcting time-domain reflectometers, two channels of a time-domain reflectometer are connected to a corrector using cables, and the two channels are enabled to transmit pulses. Parameters Step Deskew and Channel Deskew of the two channels are zeroed. Resistance values of the two channels are measured simultaneously, and the value of the parameter Step Deskew of one of the two channels is adjusted according to the Resistance values of the two channels. Times of achieving the same resistance value of the two channels are measured after the cables and the connector have been disconnected, and the value of the parameter Channel Deskew of one of the two channels is adjusted according to the times of achieving the same resistance value. The adjusted values of the parameters Step Deskew and Channel Deskew are displayed through a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsien-Chuan Liang, Shen-Chun Li, Shou-Kuo Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130262010
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the position of a movable separation element which is arranged within an accumulator as a separator between a gas space and a fluid space, wherein the determination apparatus comprises at least one pressure sensor for the detection of pressure data, at least one ultrasonic sensor for the detection of ultrasonic data and at least one calculation unit for the evaluation of the data with the aid of which determination apparatus the position of the separation element can be determined
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Macro Systemanalyse und Entwicklung GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Reuter
  • Publication number: 20130262009
    Abstract: In a position detection device, an amplitude modulation is executed for AC excitation signals Sc using modulation wave signals. Differential amplifiers execute a voltage conversion of the modulated wave signal Sin, Cos to digital data SIN, COS and transmit them to a microcomputer. The microcomputer multiplies the modulated wave signals SIN, COS with parameters cos ?, sin ?, and executes a subtraction of the multiplied value to obtain an error-correlation value ?. An angle calculations section in the microcomputer receives a detected value ?c obtained by multiplying the error-correlation value ? with a binary detection signal Rd. The binary detection signal Rd corresponds to a positive sign or a negative sign of the signal Sc. The sampling time of the AC excitation signal Sc is set to a time at which an absolute value of the AC excitation signal Sc exceeds a regulated value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahumi OOWADA
  • Publication number: 20130253869
    Abstract: Provided is a calibration apparatus and method of a three-dimensional (3D) position and direction estimation system. The calibration apparatus may receive inertia information and intensity information during a predetermined period of time, may calculate distances between a transmitter and the respective receivers, and may calibrate a signal attenuation characteristic of each receiver using the distances between the transmitter and the respective receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun KIM, Hyong Euk LEE, Chang Kyu CHOI
  • Publication number: 20130253870
    Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a single read-head and a circular scale. The encoder is self-calibrated by acquiring calibration samples with the read-head for rotational angles of the circular scale, and estimating spatial frequency and spatial distortion parameters of the encoder from the calibration samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Agrawal, Jay Thornton
  • Publication number: 20130249452
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an angle detector comprising: an AD converter configured to analog-to-digital convert plural-phase signal waves having respective different phases; a corrector configured to delay a phase of an excitation signal by an amount corresponding to a phase difference between the excitation signal and the signal wave; a wave detector configured to perform synchronous detection to an output signal from the AD converter in synchronization with the excitation signal whose phase is corrected; and an angle calculator configured to calculate an estimated rotation angle using an output signal of the wave detector and output the estimated rotation angle to the AD converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Makoto SHINOHARA
  • Patent number: 8543266
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are described herein for using a modified Kalman filter to generate attitude error corrections. Attitude measurements are received from primary and secondary attitude sensors of a satellite or other spacecraft. Attitude error correction values for the attitude measurements from the primary attitude sensors are calculated based on the attitude measurements from the secondary attitude sensors using expanded equations derived for a subset of a plurality of block sub-matrices partitioned from the matrices of a Kalman filter, with the remaining of the plurality of block sub-matrices being pre-calculated and programmed into a flight computer of the spacecraft. The propagation of covariance is accomplished via a single step execution of the method irrespective of the secondary attitude sensor measurement period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Rongsheng Li, Tung-Ching Tsao, Arunkumar P. Nayak
  • Publication number: 20130245983
    Abstract: Methods and devices for determining a gyroscope bias are described. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a processor-implemented method of determining a bias for an axis of a gyroscope. The method includes: representing a plurality of gyroscope readings for the axis in a histogram, the histogram including a plurality of bins associated with respective ranges; and determining the bias for the axis of the gyroscope by identifying a concentration of the gyroscope readings within the histogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: Nathan Daniel Pozniak BUCHANAN
  • Publication number: 20130245984
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods calibrate attitude dependent magnetometer alignment parameters of a magnetometer mounted together with other angular position sensors on a device without prior knowledge of the local magnetic field and allowing a constant but unknown offset of the yaw angle in the reference attitudes with respect to an earth-fixed coordinate system. The method includes acquiring magnetic field measurements from the magnetometer and corresponding estimated angular positions subject to an unknown yaw offset relative to a gravitational reference system. The method further includes iteratively computing a scale and vector components of a quaternion representing a misalignment matrix, an inclination angle of local magnetic field, and a yaw angle offset, using an extended Kalman filter (EKF) infrastructure with a specific designed model and constraints, based on the magnetic field measurements and the corresponding estimated angular positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Hua Sheng
  • Publication number: 20130238271
    Abstract: A robotic controller for autonomous calibration and inspection of two or more solar surfaces wherein the robotic controller includes a drive system to position itself near a solar surface such that onboard sensors may be utilized to gather information about the solar surface. An onboard communication unit relays information to a central processing network, this processor combines new information with stored historical data to calibrate a solar surface and/or to determine its instantaneous health.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Qbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Fukuba, Jos Goble, Salomon Trujillo, Thomas Joseph Currier, Wasiq Bokhari
  • Publication number: 20130238270
    Abstract: An alternating current (AC) electromagnetic tracker system with increased operational range and an ability to compensate for electromagnetic distortion in the local operating environment. The system uses multiple ā€œNā€ sources/transmitters located at known positions in a common reference frame. A sensor receives the generated signal of each of the sources and a processor computes a position and orientation of the sensor from each. The processor further uses the known relative position and orientation between the N sources to compensate for distortion in the operating environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Sixense Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Khalfin, Amir Rubin
  • Publication number: 20130238128
    Abstract: The position and orientation of a target object is obtained based on first measurement data obtained by a first sensor (first calculation). The position and orientation of the target object is obtained based on second measurement data obtained by a movable second sensor set in a position and orientation different from that of the first sensor (second calculation). When the position and orientation obtained by the first calculation and that obtained by the second calculation match each other, the position and orientation obtained by the first or second calculation or a position and orientation calculated from the position and orientation obtained by the first calculation and that obtained by the second calculation is output as the position and orientation of the target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130226493
    Abstract: Techniques are described for determining particle displacement or particle velocity data from particle acceleration measurements. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises an interface configured to received particle acceleration data, one or more processors, and one or more storage media. The one or more storage media store instructions for determining one or more of particle velocity data or particle displacement data, based upon the particle acceleration data, by processing the particle acceleration data using a filter that at least approximates a Wiener filter and that uses one or more damping factors selected to provide stability in the presence of noise in the particle acceleration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: PETROLEUM GEO-SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Ruben D. Martinez
  • Patent number: 8513589
    Abstract: An optical encoder may include an encoder disk, an illumination system, and a detector to detect light diffracted from the encoder disk. The encoder disk may include a signal track comprising a diffraction grating, and an index track comprising a reflective index mark, wherein a width of the index mark is larger than a pitch of the diffraction grating. An indexing method may include providing an encoder disk, providing an illumination system to direct light to the encoder disk, providing a detector structured to detect light diffracted from the encoder disk, calculating an estimated count of quadrature states from a rising edge of an index pulse to a middle of the index interval, and calculating the quadrature state at an approximate center of the index pulse. A dynamic parameter correction method may include calculating a target gain and offset and correcting values based on the target gain and offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick York
  • Publication number: 20130211763
    Abstract: A method for checking situation and position data of an instrument with at least a first section having at least a first sensor and at least a second sensor. The method encompasses the metrological determination of the situation or position, or its change, of the first sensor and the second sensor, determining a variable feature of the spatial reference between the situation or position of the first sensor and the situation or position of the second sensor at least at a first point in time, at a second point in time and at a third point in time. The method further encompasses determining, by means of a criterion, whether a difference of the variable feature between a first expression at a first point in time and a second expression at a second point in time still exists at a third point in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Fiagon GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Mucha, Timo Krueger
  • Patent number: 8510147
    Abstract: A method and system for calculating pipeline integrity business risk score for a pipeline network is provided. The method includes a step of first calculating a structural risk score, an operational risk score and a commercial risk score for each pipeline segment in a pipeline network. The method further includes calculating pipeline integrity business risk score for each pipeline segment. The structural risk score, operational risk score, commercial risk score and pipeline integrity business risk score for each pipeline segment is rolled-up to calculate the respective risk scores of a pipeline network. The rolled-up risk scores are calculated by computing weight factors for each pipeline segment, relative risk scores weight of each pipeline segment and relative risk scores contribution of each pipeline segment. The system of the invention comprises executable files, dynamic linked libraries and risk score computing modules configured to display the risk scores using a dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Infosys Limited
    Inventors: Dipayan Mitra, Sandeep Kumar Dewangan, Larry Joesph Rubenacker, Manish Verma, Prakash Dhake, Paras Sachdeva
  • Patent number: 8510069
    Abstract: A feedback system for controlling a servo motor comprising at least one rotary angle sensor and at least one rotary speed sensor, wherein the rotary angle sensor supplies a measured rotary angle value to a computer, wherein the rotary speed sensor supplies a measured rotary speed value to the computer, the actual rotary speed values are the measured rotary angle values interpolated according to the integrated measured rotary speed values, and wherein at high rotary speeds, the actual rotary speed values are the calibrated measured rotary angle values, differentiated with respect to time, and at low rotary speeds, the actual rotary speed values are the measured rotary speed values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Sick Stegmann GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Armbruster, Josef Siraky