Position Measurement Patents (Class 702/94)
  • Publication number: 20110295538
    Abstract: A sensor system for measuring a clearance parameter between a stationary component and a rotating component of a rotating machine is provided. The system includes a clearance sensor to output a clearance measurement signal. A sensor memory is attached to the sensor for storing a first sensor information. A second sensor information is stored in a electronics interface memory. The first and the second sensor information are read and the clearance sensor is matched with a respective plurality of calibration data by an electronic interface based on the first and the second sensor information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Wayne Charles Hasz, David So Keung Chan, David Mulford Shaddock, John Harry Down, Samhita Dasgupta, David Walter Parry, David Richard Esler, Zhiyuan Ren, Mahadevan Balasubramaniam, William Lee Herron, Cheryl Herron
  • Publication number: 20110295427
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for positioning a remote sensor within a target object. An articulated robotic system is coupled to the remote sensor. A positioning system determines a position of the target object to be inspected and determines a first position of the remote sensor. A control system calibrates a virtual representation of the target object with respect to the position of the target object, and tracks movement of the remote sensor relative to the target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: William P. Motzer, Gary E. Georgeson, Scott W. Lea, Peter J. Hellenbrand, James J. Troy
  • Patent number: 8065103
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a position measuring device of an optical device, including a measurement step in which a movable unit of the optical device is moved according to a predefinable scheme in at least one degree of freedom and a position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom. The position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom in a first measurement via a first measuring device of the position measuring device, and the position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom in a second measurement via a second measuring device of the position measuring device sing a reference element connected to the movable unit. In a calibration step, the first measuring device is calibrated using the results of the first measurement and the second measurement. An encoder system is used as the second measuring device. The reference element includes a reference grid of the encoder system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Carl Ziess SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Yim-Bun Patrick Kwan
  • Publication number: 20110282612
    Abstract: A method for self-compensating a method includes the steps of rotating the patterned element relative to the read heads, the rotation about the axis to a plurality of first angles covering a range of at least 360 degrees; obtaining, at each of the plurality of first angles, first angular readings for the m measure read heads and for the reference read head; calculating a first array for each of the m measure read heads, each first array including, for each of the plurality of first angles, a difference in the first angular readings of the measure read head and the first angular reading of the reference read head; calculating, for each of the m measure read heads, at least one first spectral component based at least in part on the first array; calculating, for each of the m measure read heads, at least one second spectral component, the second spectral component based, at least in part, on the at least one first spectral component and on estimates of the second angles of the m measure read heads; and recording
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Peter G. Cramer
  • Patent number: 8060329
    Abstract: A display-device inspection apparatus includes a pointing device for following a position where an identification for identifying an attention area on an inspection image is displayed on the inspection image simultaneously, an attention area information extracting part for converting the identification into outline coordinate data to extract both positional information and shape information related to the attention area m a screen, an attention area information storing part for classifying and storing the positional information and the shape information on a basis of a predetermined standard of classification, and an analysis result outputting part for outputting inspection result information constructed by analyzing contents stored in the attention area information storing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuo Namioka, Akiko Kase, Shinji Harasawa
  • Patent number: 8060146
    Abstract: In a base station device (10), a reference installation direction storage unit (54) stores at least one reference installation direction serving as a reference installation direction. An acceleration sensor (52) measures an installation direction of the base station device. An inclination judgment unit (56) calculates inclination angles each defined by each reference installation direction stored in the reference installation direction storage unit (54) and the installation direction measured by the acceleration sensor (52). Moreover, the inclination judgment unit (56) judges whether each of the inclination angles exceeds a predetermined value. Then, an installation error alarm unit (58) issues a predetermined alarm when the inclination judgment unit (56) judges that some or all of the inclination angles exceed the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Takamatsu, Shiro Ohmasa
  • Publication number: 20110270562
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a profile measuring apparatus comprises a profile measuring unit, a position acquiring unit, a profile calculating unit, a deflection detecting unit, and a controlling unit. The profile measuring unit has a projecting unit to project a pattern onto a measured object, and an imaging unit to image the pattern. The position acquiring unit acquires a position of the pattern on the measured object. The profile calculating unit calculates a profile of the measured object, based on image information from the imaging unit and position information from the position acquiring unit. The deflection detecting unit detects deflection of the projecting unit. The controlling unit executes active correction for the profile measuring unit and/or passive correction for the profile calculating unit, based on the deflection of the projecting unit detected by the deflection detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yuka Ito, Haruhiko Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8049780
    Abstract: A calibration error correction device for an optical instrument includes a detector operable to detect a position of a focusing lens of an optical instrument along a mechanical path of the focusing lens. A line of sight through an image plane of the optical instrument and the focusing lens at a present position defines an actual viewing direction. The device also includes a memory configured to store viewing direction errors specifying a deviation between a known theoretical viewing direction and the actual viewing direction associated with a plurality of different positions of the focusing lens along the mechanical path and an indicator of at least one value indicative of the actual viewing direction based on the theoretical viewing direction and the viewing direction errors at each of the different positions of the focusing lens along the mechanical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Volkmar Hofmann, Thomas Marold, Matthias Menzel
  • Publication number: 20110257920
    Abstract: A method of calculating the position of a moving body includes: detecting a movement direction of the moving body; calculating a velocity vector of the moving body using a detection result of an acceleration sensor installed in the moving body; correcting the velocity vector using the movement direction; and calculating the position of the moving body using the corrected velocity vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Onda, Anand Kumar
  • Patent number: 8041535
    Abstract: The present invention is a targeting system for tracking angle changes from a reference azimuth. The system includes a mount. The mount may be configured for supporting a sighting scope. The system further includes an angle encoder which is integrated within the mount and is configured for tracking angle changes from the reference azimuth. The system further includes an inertial sensor which is communicatively which is also integrated within the mount and is configured for tracking angle changes from the reference azimuth. The system may be configured for selectively relying on angle change tracking provided by either the angle encoder or the inertial sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Kelly, Patrick Y. Hwang
  • Patent number: 8041532
    Abstract: In a measured-value converting process, a shape-condition converting process and an absolute coordinate system converting process (S16) are performed on a value measured by a sensor. In the shape-condition converting process, when a mobile terminal has a shape 1 and shape 2, the converting process is not performed (S12 and S13). When the mobile terminal has a shape 3, a converting process of rotating through 180° around YS axis is performed (S14). Moreover, when the mobile terminal has a shape 4, a converting process of rotating through 180° around ZS axis (S15) is performed. Therefore, even in an information processing apparatus of which a shape changes, a sensor which detects a movement of the information processing apparatus can be used as an input device, irrespective of the shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
    Inventors: Hirohisa Kusuda, Daisuke Tsujino, Jun Yamazaki, Yasuhiro Nishide
  • Patent number: 8037736
    Abstract: Determination of non-linearity of a positioning scanner of a measurement tool is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include providing a probe of a measurement tool coupled to a positioning scanner; scanning a surface of a first sample with the surface at a first angle relative to the probe to attain a first profile; scanning the surface of the first sample with the surface at a second angle relative to the probe that is different than the first angle to attain a second profile; repeating the scannings to attain a plurality of first profiles and a plurality of second profiles; and determining a non-linearity of the positioning scanner using the different scanning angles to cancel out measurements corresponding to imperfections due to the surface of the sample. The non-linearity may be used to calibrate the positioning scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Banke, Jr., James M. Robert, Carlos Strocchia-Rivera
  • Patent number: 8036843
    Abstract: An automated data library system employs a calibration sensor, the fiducial target and a controller in electrical communication with the calibration sensor to create a calibration sensor pixel image of a calibration area surrounding an expected location of the fiducial target within the automated data storage library by executing one or more vertical calibration sensor scans and/or one or more horizontal calibration sensor scans of the calibration area, and monitoring an output of the calibration sensor scans at defined position intervals. The expected location of the fiducial target can be on a data storage drive of the library or a storage shelf of the library. The controller can execute a debugging procedure, a diagnostic test and/or an error recovery procedure based on the calibration sensor pixel image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven N. Pierce
  • Patent number: 8037375
    Abstract: A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment method includes determining a left edge and right edge of a valid data eye for a memory. The method continues by periodically checking the left and right edges for movement during operation of the memory. If movement is detected, the method retrains the valid data eye with an updated left edge and right edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Andre Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20110243454
    Abstract: A vehicle position recognition system calculates an estimated position of a vehicle based on satellite positioning and dead reckoning navigation, and calculates a basic error range in which there is a possibility that the vehicle exists. The system calculates an estimated error amount regarding a directional error factor. The directional error factor is an error factor that tends to cause an error in a specific direction with respect to a vehicle traveling direction. The estimated error amount is an estimated amount of the error that is caused by the directional error factor. The system adjusts the basic error range based on (1) a direction in which the error tends to be caused by the directional error factor and (2) the estimated error amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki MIYAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20110246114
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for calibrating a fall detector, a method of setting a fall detector, and a fall detector. According to the invention, the method of calibrating a fall detector comprises (a) acquiring the duration of a free fall of the fall detector; (b) calculating the change in height of the fall detector during the free fall from said duration; (c) measuring the change in height of the free fall by the fall detector; (d) calculating the difference between the calculated change in height and the measured change in height; and (e) updating a threshold in the fall detector for determining whether or not a fall has occurred on the basis of this difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Sheng Jin
  • Publication number: 20110246113
    Abstract: A feedback system for controlling a servo motor comprising at least one rotary angle sensor (3.2) and at least one rotary speed sensor (3.1), wherein the rotary angle sensor (3.2) supplies a measured rotary angle value (?) to a computer (2), wherein the rotary speed sensor (3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SICK STEGMANN GMBH
    Inventors: Ulrich ARMBRUSTER, Josef SIRAKY
  • Patent number: 8032320
    Abstract: A position detection system and method in which the accuracy of position measurement of a device is not decreased with changes in the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoji Sato, Akio Uchiyama, Atsushi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8027516
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable member that moves cyclically in synchronization with an image forming process and a position detector. The position detector includes a scale, an image sensor, a signal processor, and a position computing unit. The scale is attached to the movable member and includes a plurality of optical marks formed in line at a substantially constant interval. The image sensor captures data relating to at least one optical mark at a time. The signal processor computes a coordinate of the optical mark with respect to a reference position. The position computing unit computes a distance traveled by the optical mark based on a number of the optical marks that pass the reference position and the coordinate of the optical mark with respect to the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kudo, Hideyuki Takayama
  • Publication number: 20110231134
    Abstract: A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a reading unit to read an identifier (ID) from a substrate where an absorber film which absorbs extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light is formed and the identifier which can be optically read is formed, a storage unit to store defect position information indicating a position of a defect on the substrate based on reference marks, defect size information indicating a size of the defect, which are corresponding to the identifier, and pattern data for writing, an examination unit to input partial pattern data corresponding to a region including at least the defect in the pattern data, the defect position information based on reference marks, and the defect size information, and to examine whether a pattern layout is formed such that the defect is located in a region where the absorber film remains after patterning, and a writing unit to write a pattern on the substrate using a charged particle beam, based on the pattern data in which the pattern layout is formed such t
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shusuke Yoshitake
  • Publication number: 20110220803
    Abstract: A radiation signal-processing unit including a position identifying device for identifying an incident radiation position in a radiation detector; a count data-memory device for storing positional information outputted from the position identifying device, a count ratio-calculation device for calculating a count ratio based on the positional information stored in the count data-memory device, a reference count ratio-memory device for memorizing a reference count ratio as the count ratio calculated under a state where fluorescence to be detected does not overlap each other temporally, and a correction instruction device for reading the reference count ratio from the reference count ratio-memory device and comparing the ratio with the count ratio, thereby instructing execution of correction of a radiation generating position to the position identifying device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Junichi Ohi, Masafumi Furuta, Masanobu Sato
  • Publication number: 20110218753
    Abstract: A sensor information acquisition section acquires angular velocity information (GX, GY, GZ) around three axes acquired by three angular velocity sensors, and acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ) in three axial directions acquired by three acceleration sensors. A posture information calculation section calculates a posture angle and position coordinates in a virtual three-dimensional space based on the angular velocity information (GX, GY, GZ) and the acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ). The posture information calculation section calculates a fixed coordinate system velocity vector based on an inertial coordinate system acceleration vector (A) obtained from the acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ), and calculates position coordinates in a virtual three-dimensional space corresponding to the fixed coordinate system velocity vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi UDAGAWA, Yoshihiro KOBAYASHI, Yasushi NAKAOKA
  • Publication number: 20110208459
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a stage to hold an object, the stage being moveable relative to a reference structure in a motion range; a magnet structure to provide a spatially varying magnetic field in at least a part of the motion range, the magnet structure being moveable relative to the reference structure and the stage; a first position measurement system to provide a first measurement signal corresponding to a position of the stage and/or the object in a measurement direction relative to the reference structure; a second position measurement system to provide a second measurement signal corresponding to a position of the stage relative to the magnet structure; and a data processor to correct the first measurement signal with a value dependent on the second measurement signal to provide a corrected first measurement signal representative of the position of the stage and/or the object relative to the reference structure in the measurement direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Butler, Emiel Jozef Melanie Eussen, Willem Herman Gertruda Anna Koenen, Engelbertus Antonius Fransiscus Van Der Pasch, Harmen Klaas Van Der Schoot, Marc Wilhelmus Maria Van Der Wijst, Marcus Martinus Petrus Adrianus Vermeulen, Cornelius Adrianus Lambertus De Hoon
  • Patent number: 8005642
    Abstract: A sensor readout includes a selector circuit, a predictor circuit, and a select controller. The selector circuit receives a plurality of actual sensor inputs. Each actual sensor input is provided to the selector circuit along a corresponding channel. The selector circuit also passes a selected sensor input. The predictor circuit receives the selected sensor input into a signal history and generates predicted sensor inputs. The select controller receives the predicted sensor inputs, determines which of the predicted sensor inputs is most changed from the actual sensor inputs as the most changed input, and directs the selector circuit to pass a next signal on a the channel having the most changed input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Wolfgang Granig, Sabine Salzmann
  • Patent number: 8005649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for validating measurements of a dynamic magnitude x coming from an article having main sensors placed thereon on three main axes for measuring of said dynamic magnitude x. The device includes at least two additional sensors for measuring at least two additional components of the dynamic magnitude. The additional sensors are placed on the article on at least two additional axes that are concurrent with the three main axes and that are not contained in any of the planes defined by any pair of the three main axes. The device further includes a unit for determining an estimator U representative of the dynamic magnitude from the components; and means for validating the determination of the estimator U representative of the dynamic magnitude, as well as an error detector and a localization unit for locating valid components of the dynamic magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Pierre Bornert, Serge Le Gonidec
  • Patent number: 8000926
    Abstract: A method for determining position and alignment is provided. The method includes monitoring a first and second sequence of ultrasonic signals transmitted from the first device to a second device, estimating a location of the first device from Time of Flight measurements of the ultrasonic signals at respective microphones on the second device, calculating a set of phase differences, weighting a difference of an expected location and estimated location of the first device with the set of phase differences to produce a relative displacement, and reporting a position of the first device based on the relative displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Orthosensor
    Inventors: Martin Roche, Marc Boillot, Jason McIntosh
  • Publication number: 20110191052
    Abstract: Selecting devices from which to receive data for adjusting the performance of a positioning system. The positioning system infers the location of the devices based on beacons observed by the devices. The performance of the positioning system is compared to performance targets. One or more of the devices are selected based on the comparison. Data collection from the devices is adjusted to affect performance of the positioning system (e.g., improved or reduced). For example, if the positioning system predicts positions poorly for a particular area, data collection from selected devices within the particular area may be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jyh-Han Lin, Francis X. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 7991566
    Abstract: An apparatus is presented for monitoring the relative positions and/or for measuring and evaluating relative position in a system which contains at least two sub-systems. The apparatus has several devices, of which at least one device has a vibration-isolation device. Furthermore, at least one device is provided for determining the relative positions of the devices and one evaluation device is provided for testing whether the measured relative positions of the devices lie within a tolerance interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Integrated Dynamics Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Maas, Peter Heiland
  • Publication number: 20110184684
    Abstract: This application presents a new system and method for image acquisition of internal human tissue, including but not limited to the prostate, as well as a system and method for the guidance and positioning of medical devices relative to the internal tissue. In the presented systems and methods, ultrasound scanned data (e.g., 2-D B-mode images) are acquired freehand absent a mechanical armature that constrains an ultrasound acquisition probe in a known spatial framework. To allow for reconstruction of the scanned data into a 3-D image, multiple tracker sensors that provide position/location information are used with a freehand acquisition probe (e.g., handheld ultrasound probe). The position of such tracker sensors can be calculated when disposed in an electromagnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: EIGEN, INC.
    Inventors: Lu Li, Animesh Khemka
  • Patent number: 7983868
    Abstract: Measurement data collected within a measurement frame of reference is fitted to geometric tolerance zones having regard for the uncertainties of the measurement. Geometric freedoms for fitting the measurement data are exploited to fit uncertainty zones associated with the measurement data within the tolerance zones. Typically, the measurement data is multidimensional and the uncertainty zones have different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Quality Vision International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kostadin Doytchinov
  • Publication number: 20110161033
    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: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: PRUEFTECHNIK DIETER BUSCH AG
    Inventor: Heinrich LYSEN
  • Publication number: 20110161032
    Abstract: A position for a vehicle is corrected by detecting landmarks on the journey route and correcting the measured vehicle position when a landmark of this kind has been identified. The landmarks are stored in a database in the vehicle with associated exact GPS positions. When a landmark is reached, the associated exact GPS position is compared with the position measured in the vehicle, whereupon the measured position is corrected. In this way, the position finding can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & CO.OHG
    Inventor: Ulrich Stählin
  • Publication number: 20110161034
    Abstract: Method and device for precision adjustment of the beam direction of the light source of a device for aligning two objects relative to one another, the beam direction being moved by a motor via input elements of the computer of the alignment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Prueftechnik Dieter Busch AG
    Inventor: Rudolf BARTH
  • Publication number: 20110153266
    Abstract: A system comprises a mobile vehicle, a global positioning system (GPS) based vehicle position and heading system, at least one two-dimensional (2D) velocity sensor, a yaw rate system, and a vehicle position and heading estimator. The GPS based vehicle position and heading system is supported on the vehicle and measures global easting and global northing (measured position) of the vehicle, and determines a heading (measured heading) of the vehicle. The 2D velocity sensor measures the velocity of the vehicle with respect to the ground, over which the vehicle travels, in two orthogonal directions (measured velocity). The yaw rate system is supported on the vehicle and measures a yaw rate of the vehicle (yaw rate measurement). The vehicle position and heading estimator comprises at least one processor that computes a position of the vehicle (estimated position) and a heading of the vehicle (estimated heading) based on the measured position, the measured heading, the measured velocity and the yaw rate measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Craig Shankwitz, Bryan Newstrom, Edmund Arpin
  • Publication number: 20110153250
    Abstract: A primary device that includes a heading sensor and a remote secondary device cooperate to calibrate the heading sensor. The secondary device cooperates by measuring its Earth relative position and transmitting the position to the primary device. The primary device calculates a true heading from the positions of both devices and subtracts the true heading from a measured heading to the secondary device to form a heading calibration angle. The process may be extended to calculate a pitch calibration angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Michael B Bailey
  • Patent number: 7966143
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, comprising: in a sensor node network comprising a plurality of sensor nodes, each sensor node from the plurality of sensor nodes having location coordinates that are initially unknown, each sensor node from the plurality of sensor nodes having neighbors, each sensor node from the plurality of sensor nodes capable of determining distances only to that sensor node's neighbors: for each sensor node from the plurality of sensor nodes, communicating with that sensor node's neighbors; and based only on communications between neighbors, in a fully distributed manner, generating a sensor node network layout that indicates the location coordinates of each sensor node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, LP
    Inventors: Yehuda Koren, Craig Gotsman
  • Publication number: 20110137600
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that comprise calibration techniques and associated systems that identify the two-dimensional position, or other alignment or positioning, of sample wells or other calibration objects located in a sample well plate, or other surface or area of interest. In some embodiments, calibration of the plate and/or positioning and/or alignment with respect to detection optics can be performed in multiple stages for two or more dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan R. Stanford, David C. Woo, John David Morgenthaler
  • Publication number: 20110130996
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an offset angle of an electric machine, including a stator, a rotor, and a shaft connected to the rotor. The shaft is provided in an essentially no-load state, and the rotor is positioned with respect to the stator at a field angle which corresponds to the alignment of a rotor magnetic field generated by the rotor relative to the alignment of a stator magnetic field generated by the stator. A sensor angle is determined by measuring with the aid of an angle sensor connected to the shaft, the detected sensor angle being associated with the field angle. The offset angle is provided as a function of the difference between the field angle and the sensor angle, and the configuration of the rotor includes impressing a standing or rotating stator magnetic field which corresponds to the field angle. Moreover, the present invention relates to an angle detection device for carrying out the method of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Stefan Blind, Daniel Raichle
  • Publication number: 20110125441
    Abstract: Optical distortion calibration for an Electro-Optical sensor in a chamber eliminates calibration of the mirror controller and allows for calibration while the target is in motion across the FOV thus providing a more efficient and accurate calibration. A target pattern is projected through sensor optics with line of sight motion across the sensor FOV to generate a sequence of frames. Knowing that the true distances between the same targets remain constant with line of sight motion across the sensor's FOV, coefficients of a function F representative of the non-linear distortion in the sensor optics are fit from observed target positions in a subset of frames to true line of sight so that distances between targets are preserved as the pattern moves across the FOV. The coefficients are stored as calibration terms with the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Darin S. Williams, Jodean D. Wendt
  • Publication number: 20110125323
    Abstract: A robot having a signal sensor configured to measure a signal, a motion sensor configured to measure a relative change in pose, a local correlation component configured to correlate the signal with the position and/or orientation of the robot in a local region including the robot's current position, and a localization component configured to apply a filter to estimate the position and optionally the orientation of the robot based at least on a location reported by the motion sensor, a signal detected by the signal sensor, and the signal predicted by the local correlation component. The local correlation component and/or the localization component may take into account rotational variability of the signal sensor and other parameters related to time and pose dependent variability in how the signal and motion sensor perform. Each estimated pose may be used to formulate new or updated navigational or operational instructions for the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: EVOLUTION ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Steffen Gutmann, Ethan Eade, Philip Fong, Mario Munich
  • Patent number: 7949486
    Abstract: A camera (17) mounted on a rear view minor housing (5) of a vehicle (1), which captures a plan view image of the ground on one side of the vehicle for display on an in-vehicle visual display unit (13) is calibrated to correct for offset of the camera (17) from an ideal position. During calibration an image of a reference point (34) on the vehicle (1) is captured as the mirror housing (5) is swiveled from a rest position to an operative position. The offset of the actual position of the image of the reference point in the captured image from its ideal position is computed, and a look-up table is prepared, which indicates the position at which pixels of subsequently captured image frames should be located to produce image frames with offset correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Hi-Key Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Eoghan Denny, Tycho Lorenz Roland Raab, Lloyd Anthony Sharman
  • Patent number: 7946595
    Abstract: A tool holder, in particular for a measuring sensor, with an interface to a spindle of a machine tool is proposed. The tool holder comprises, as seen from the interface for the spindle, a material portion which differs from the customary basic material of a tool holder in a lower coefficient of linear expansion ? and/or in a lower heat conductivity ?. According to the invention, the material portion affords thermal decoupling between the tool-side portion of the tool holder and a tool received therein from the tool spindle for reducing a length change on account of an introduction of heat coming from a comparatively hot tool spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: M & H Inprocess Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Madlener, Wilfried Veil
  • Publication number: 20110108369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the movement of a synchronous machine. The apparatus for determining the movement of a synchronous machine comprises a determination for at least one electrical magnitude of the synchronous machine; a determination of the position error of the rotor of the synchronous machine, which is fitted to determine the position error of the rotor on the basis of the aforementioned at least one electrical magnitude of the synchronous machine; and also a correction of the movement signal of the incremental sensor, which is fitted to correct the read movement signal of the incremental sensor on the basis of the aforementioned determination of the position error of the rotor of the synchronous machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lauri STOLT, Tuukka KAUPPINEN
  • Publication number: 20110098959
    Abstract: A multi-point calibration method for the depth of a horizontal directional drilling guiding instrument comprises: maintaining a constant power output of a normal power transmitter in a specific power supply condition; selecting at least two depth calibrations; receiving a signal transmitted from a transmitter and an intensity of a signal at a depth calibration position by a receiving instrument; performing a signal shaping and an analog/digital conversion to the signal received by a signal receiving instrument; and entering the signal into a central digital signal processor, and performing a depth calibration by any compensation method to obtain a required measuring depth. The invention improves the accuracy of the depth measurement of the horizontal directional drilling guiding instrument by using a plurality of compensation methods to compensate any error caused by the electric fields and environmental noises and occurred in the depth measurement of horizontal directional drilling guiding instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Ningbo Golden Land Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jian JIN
  • Patent number: 7933730
    Abstract: A method for restoring navigation failure information in a fluoroscopy-based imaging system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a plurality of receiver navigation information using a calibration target rigidly attached to a supporting member of the imaging system. The calibration target may include a plurality of receivers providing navigation information and the supporting member may be a C-arm. The method identifies a navigation failure and corresponding to the navigation failure a calibrated receiver navigation information is generated. The calibrated receiver navigation information is generated using a calibration information and a C-arm imaging position obtained during navigation failure. A receiver navigation information corresponding to the navigation failure is estimated using the calibrated receiver navigation information, and a transmitter navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Dun Alex Li, Daniel Eduardo Groszmann
  • Publication number: 20110093227
    Abstract: Systems and methods for location, motion, and contact detection and tracking in a portable networked device are disclosed. A portable device may include a motion detection unit including an accelerometer for detecting accelerations in one or more axes. Signals associated with the detected motion are processed to generate estimates of device acceleration, velocity, and relative and absolute locations. Additional processing may be performed to detect user gestures or other user input relevant to portable device control. Particular motion or vibrational characteristics may be also be detected and used by other processes in the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Andrew Shane Huang, Duane Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Earl Steele, Stephen Lawrence Tomlin, Steven Michael Adler
  • Publication number: 20110093228
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of calculating a surface shape of a target surface, including the steps of defining, as a measurement target region, each of a plurality of regions on the target surface in which adjacent regions overlap each other, and obtaining data that give the heights at the plurality of positions in each of the plurality of regions, and removing, for each of the plurality of regions, an average data from the data that are obtained in the step of obtaining the data and give the heights at the plurality of positions in each of the plurality of regions, thereby generating correction data for each of the plurality of regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro NAKAUCHI
  • Patent number: 7925462
    Abstract: In a position-measuring device and a method for transmitting movement information from a position-measuring device to sequential electronics, the position-measuring device includes a position-measuring unit, a movement-measuring unit, an arithmetic logic unit and an interface unit. Position values of two objects in a measuring direction are measurable by the position-measuring unit. The movement-measuring unit is used to ascertain a movement value of the two objects. The position values and the movement value are supplied to the arithmetic logic unit which ascertains movement information in the form of a correction value that is suitable for calculating the movement value in sequential electronics from an instantaneous position value, at least one previous position value, a controller cycle time that indicates the time interval between the measurements of position values, and the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Marc Oliver Tiemann
  • Patent number: 7920981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of calibrating a sensor, in particular a yaw rate sensor, in which sensor values (Ysensor) and associated temperature values (T) are stored in the shape of reference points in a non-volatile memory of the sensor, in which case the values (Ysensor, T) are determined during a calibration mode in which the sensor is exposed to a predefined temperature profile. In order to further improve the accuracy of the calibration, the invention discloses that the values (Ysensor, T) determined in the calibration mode are used to determine coefficients (C0, . . . , Cn-1, Cn) of a polynomial of nth order, and these coefficients are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Helmut Fennel, Ralf Herbst, Rainer Kitz
  • Patent number: 7920982
    Abstract: Optical distortion calibration for an Electro-Optical sensor in a chamber eliminates calibration of the mirror controller and allows for calibration while the target is in motion across the FOV thus providing a more efficient and accurate calibration. A target pattern is projected through sensor optics with line of sight motion across the sensor FOV to generate a sequence of frames. Knowing that the true distances between the same targets remain constant with line of sight motion across the sensor's FOV, coefficients of a function F representative of the non-linear distortion in the sensor optics are fit from observed target positions in a subset of frames to true line of sight so that distances between targets are preserved as the pattern moves across the FOV. The coefficients are stored as calibration terms with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Darin S. Williams, Jodean D. Wendt