19th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 53 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090118808 | Implantable Medical Lead - An implantable medical lead includes a device, such as a physiological sensor, that is coupled to one or more stimulation/sensing sensing conductors within the lead. When the implantable medical lead is coupled to an implantable medical device, the device carried by the lead both receives power from, and communicates with the implantable medical device via the one or more stimulation/sensing sensing conductors. Each of the one or more stimulation/sensing sensing conductors is also coupled to an electrode that is exposed to body tissue. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118809 | ENDOPROSTHESIS WITH POROUS RESERVOIR AND NON-POLYMER DIFFUSION LAYER - An endoprosthesis such as a coronary stent includes a porous reservoir of drug, e.g. directly in the body of the stent, and an overlayer formed of ceramic or metal for controlling elution of drug from the reservoir | 2009-05-07 |
20090118810 | STENT ASSEMBLY SYSTEM - A stent is provided with modified ends ( | 2009-05-07 |
20090118811 | Globe Stent - A stent for treating a region of a body lumen wherein at least two vessels form a junction includes a compressed state and an expanded state. In the expanded state, the stent is generally an ellipsoidal, spheroidal, or spherical shape. The stent is delivered to the junction in the compressed state disposed within a sleeve. Once at the junction, the sleeve is withdrawn proximally relative to the stent such that the stent is released from the sleeve and expands to the expanded state. A balloon may further expand the stent to appose the walls of the body lumen at the junction. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118812 | ENDOPROSTHESIS COATING - A method includes: providing a substrate, depositing a ceramic and an extractable material onto the substrate, forming a porous structure in the ceramic by removing the extractable material, and utilizing the ceramic in an endoprosthesis. An endoprosthesis, such as a stent, including a coating formed of a ceramic and an extractable material that can be removed from the coating to form voids is also disclosed. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118813 | NANO-PATTERNED IMPLANT SURFACES - A bioerodible endoprosthesis erodes to a desirable geometry that can provide, e.g., improved mechanical properties or degradation characteristics. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118814 | ENDOPROSTHESIS COATING - A method includes: providing a tubular substrate in a chamber, the tubular substrate having a lumen, an a luminal surface and a luminal surface; providing a target in the lumen; depositing a first coating onto the abluminal surface and a second coating onto the luminal surface while keeping the tubular substrate in the chamber. An endoprosthesis, such as a stent, including a first coating on at least one portion of its abluminal surface and a second coating on at least one portion of its luminal surface is also disclosed. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118815 | STENT - Endoprosthesis includes coatings of selected porosity formed of particulates of ceramics, metals, drugs and/or polymers. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118816 | Implantable Device for Therapeutic Treatment Within a Body Lumen - A treatment system to provide energy therapy to a patient includes an implantable device and an activation system having a plurality of energy emitters that transmit energy towards the device. In one embodiment, the implantable device is a stent carrying a treatment agent. The treatment agent can be selectively activated by the activation system before, during, or after implantation in a subject's body. The activated treatment agent can react with adjacent tissues. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118817 | Magnetic Medical Apparatus, Kits, and Methods - Medical devices with surfaces on which viable biologic cells are magnetically attracted and retained are disclosed along with methods of magnetic coating. The medical devices can be located in a carrier liquid containing high concentrations of magnetic cells before or after implantation. The carrier liquid with magnetic cells may be contact with the medical device in vitro or in vivo. In either case, the carrier liquid may have a concentration of magnetic cells that is high enough to facilitate coating of the medical device within an acceptable period of time, e.g., several hours or less. Magnetization of medical devices before, during, and/or after implantation and apparatus for performing the same are disclosed. Degaussing of magnetic medical devices is also disclosed. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118818 | ENDOPROSTHESIS WITH COATING - An endoprosthesis such as a coronary stent includes a surface region that defines a depression in the form of a channel, the depression having an interior surface, and an enhanced roughness on the interior surface. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118819 | Nitric Oxide Coatings for Medical Devices - The disclosure provides for devices and coatings that are substantially free of organic solvent sand suitable for insertion into a patient, and that comprise a metal layer and a coating with a thickness of about 20 nm to about 2000 nm wherein the coating comprises a biocompatible polymer comprising at least one residue covalently bonded to a nitric oxide generating compound. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118820 | DEFORMABLE UNDERLAYER FOR STENT - An endoprosthesis includes a brittle layer, e.g. a ceramic and an underlayer to accommodate dimensional changes as the endoprosthesis is flexed. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118821 | ENDOPROSTHESIS WITH POROUS RESERVOIR AND NON-POLYMER DIFFUSION LAYER - An endoprosthesis such as a coronary stent includes a porous reservoir of drug, e.g., a porous layer formed of a ceramic and an overlayer formed of ceramic or metal for controlling elution of drug from the reservoir. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118822 | STENT WITH EMBEDDED MATERIAL - An endoprosthesis such as a stent is composed of a metal or ceramic, such as Irox, embedded in the stent material. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118823 | ENDOPROSTHESIS WITH POROUS RESERVOIR - An endoprosthesis such as a coronary stent includes a porous metal reservoir of drug, e.g. directly in the body of the stent. And a method of loading drug into the porous reservoir includes applying an electrical potential to the endoprosthesis. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118824 | Heart Valve Prosthesis - A heart valve prosthesis includes an annulus and a closing element having three leaflets. Hinge mechanisms are provided for attaching each leaflet to a top region of an interior surface of the annulus. In one example, the leaflets have convexo-concave surfaces and a non-uniform thickness. In another example, the top region of the interior surface has two sets of ledges which can be formed by intersecting three pairs of cylindrical surfaces. Ledges within each set are evenly spaced about the interior surface, a ledge in one set alternating with a ledge in the other set. In a further example, a bottom region of the interior surface is formed by intersecting three cylindrical surfaces. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118825 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING MITRAL VALVE FUNCTION - A method and apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation. The apparatus is inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to straighten the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and reduce mitral regurgitation. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118826 | Valve prosthesis - A heart valve prosthesis having a plurality of leaflets encircling a flow opening and of size to coapt to form a valve, each leaflet having a free outflow edge at the outflow end of the leaflet, wherein the free outflow edge forms a convex (relative to the leaflet) curve in the plane of the leaflet, and methods for forming such a valve. A stentless heart valve prosthesis suitable for replacement of the aortic root comprising an outer wall and a plurality of leaflets positioned inside the outer wall, encircling a flow opening and of size to coapt to form a valve, wherein the outer wall and leaflets are formed from material other than natural valve material, and methods of forming such a valve prosthesis. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118827 | ARTIFICIAL HEART PUMP SYSTEM AND ITS CONTROL APPARATUS - An artificial heart pump system is provided independently with a controlling processor for controlling an operation status of a blood pump so as to perform in a preset condition and with an observing processor for controlling a display unit displaying an operation status and an operation condition of the blood pump. In addition, a memory device is mounted in an outside-the-body type battery pack included in the artificial heart pump system; data such as pump data, event log or the like is stored therein; and data are collected and managed automatically by a battery charger when charging the battery charger for a daily performance. Further, an interface unit of an artificial heart pump is proposed where a user can confirm displayed contents of the controller without exposing the controller externally. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118828 | LIGHT-ADJUSTABLE MULTI-ELEMENT OPHTHALMIC LENS - A multi-element IOL, comprising an anterior lens element comprising a light-adjustable material responsive to light of a first wavelength, and a posterior lens element comprising a light blocker capable of blocking light of the first wavelength, and a method of inserting the multi-element IOL. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118829 | SOFT PROSTHESIS SHELL TEXTURING METHOD - A method of texturing a soft prosthetic implant shell, such as a silicone breast implant shell. A soft prosthetic implant with a textured external surface layer of silicone elastomer and having an open-cell structure is made by adhering and then dissolving round salt crystals. The resulting roughened surface has enhanced physical properties relative to surfaces formed with angular salt crystals. An implant having such a textured external surface layer is expected to help prevent capsular contraction, to help prevent scar formation, and to help in anchoring the implant within the body. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118830 | Surgically Implantable Knee Prosthesis - A prosthesis is provided for implantation into a knee joint compartment between a femoral condyle and its corresponding tibial plateau without requiring bone resection. The prosthesis includes a body having a generally elliptical shape in plan and a pair of opposed surfaces where one of the surfaces is generally concave. The body further includes an exterior portion and an interior portion, where the exterior portion is constructed from a higher modulus material than the interior portion such that the body is at least slightly deformable. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118831 | Coatings for spinal implants - The present application describes a spinal implant device comprising a load-bearing component having at least one soft tissue-facing surface and a coating affixed to the soft tissue-facing surface. The coating is operable to define an interface with the soft tissue that exhibits one or more of the following features: reduced friction, reduced tissue irritation, reduced adhesion, reduced inflammation, reduced incidence of infection and reduced pain, relative to the soft tissue-facing surface in the absence of the coating. Other embodiments include methods of use and manufacture of the apparatus. The application also describes a method involving affixing a load-bearing prosthetic spinal implant device to first and second vertebrae of a motion segment and, after the device is affixed, applying to a soft tissue-facing surface of the device a flowable, curable coating material operable to cure in situ to form a coating. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118832 | Artificial intervertebral disc utilizing a ball joint coupling - An artificial intervertebral disc having a pair of opposing plate members for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball joint coupling. One plate member has a centrally located ball-shaped protrusion that is rotatably coupled in a central socket in a cone-shaped protrusion on the other plate member. Thereby, the plate members are angulatable with respect to one another. Further, the disc assembly will not come apart under tension loads applied to the plate members, and the location of the ball joint coupling provides the disc assembly with a stationary centroid of motion that is centrally located between the vertebral bone surfaces, both causing the disc assembly to behave similarly in these respects to a healthy natural intervertebral disc. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118833 | IN-SITU CURABLE INTERSPINOUS PROCESS SPACER - The present invention provides an expandable member useful in treating spinal stenosis. The expandable member may be introduced into the patient between adjacent spinous processes in an unexpanded configuration using minimally invasive techniques and expanded with a flowable material. The expanded member will function as an interspinous process spacer by acting as a spacing device to maintain separation between adjacent vertebrae. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118834 | Expandable Prosthetic Intervertebral Discs That Are Implantable By Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques - The described devices are spinal implants that may be surgically implanted into the spine to replace damaged or diseased discs using a posterior approach. The discs are prosthetic devices that approach or mimic the physiological motion and reaction of the natural disc. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118835 | Prosthetic Intervertebral Discs Having Rotatable, Expandable Cores That Are Implantable Using Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques - The described devices are spinal implants that may be surgically implanted into the spine to replace damaged or diseased discs using a posterior approach. The discs are prosthetic devices that approach or mimic the physiological motion and reaction of the natural disc. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118836 | Intervertebral Prosthesis for Supporting Adjacent Vertebral Bodies Enabling the Creation of Soft Fusion and Method - An intervertebral prosthetic disc for replacing a damaged natural disc includes upper and lower vertebral body engaging surfaces, an exterior wall and one or more generally vertically oriented bone channels of limited cross-sectional area to allow bone to form and fuse into continuous or discontinuous struts between the bodies. The stiffness of the disc, while supporting the bodies, allows the distance therebetween to narrow sufficiently when subjected to a predetermined load such as the patient standing, walking, etc., to transfer sufficient energy to the bone struts to create one or more nonunion joints or pseudoarthrosis at locations along the struts. The disc includes stops to limit the movement thereof to an amount sustainable by the disc without resulting in fatigue failure. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118837 | Method and Apparatus for Performing a Less Invasive Shoulder Procedure - A method and apparatus of performing a procedure relative to the glenohumeral joint. Resection of the glenoid and/or the humerus can proceed through an incision formed near the glenohumeral joint. The incision can be formed generally near a superior-lateral portion near the glenohumeral joint and allow less invasive access to the glenohumeral joint and the portions that form the glenohumeral joint. A stem is positioned into a resected humerus through the incision. A humeral head is coupled to the stem within the incision after the stem has been coupled to the patient's humerus. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118838 | Materials Useful for Support and/or Replacement of Tissue and the Use Thereof for Making Prostheses - The invention relates to a material providing support and/or replacement of living tissues and the use thereof for manufacturing prostheses. The material according to the invention comprises microparticles of a biomaterial coated with polyelectrolyte multilayers containing one or more biologically active products. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118839 | METHODOLOGY FOR SECURE APPLICATION PARTITIONING ENABLEMENT - A computer implemented methods data processing system, and computer program product for configuring a partition with needed system resources to enable an application to run and process in a secure environment. Upon receiving a command to create a short lived secure partition for a secure application, a short lived secure partition is created in the data processing system. This short lived secure partition is inaccessible by superusers or other applications. System resources comprising physical resources and virtual allocations of the physical resources are allocated to the short lived secure partition. Hardware and software components needed to run the secure application are loaded into the short lived secure partition. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118840 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A MOTION SEQUENCE OF A MACHINE ELEMENT - For controlling a motion sequence of a machine element, with which the control of the motion sequence of the machine element is carried out based on a functional relationship between a master shaft and a slave shaft, the functional relationship IS ascertained with consideration for several conditions of this motion sequence. The functional relationship includes at least one first section, which is defined by an nth-order polynomial, and at least one second section, which is at least partially separated from the first section, and which is defined by an ath-order polynomial. In this case, “a” is less than “n”. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118841 | Virtual sensor network (VSN) system and method - A method is used for providing sensing data to a control system of a machine. The method may include providing a plurality of virtual sensors, each of which may have a model type, at least one input parameter, and at least one output parameter. The method may also include integrating the plurality of virtual sensors into a virtual sensor network; determining interdependencies among the plurality of virtual sensors; and obtaining operational information of the plurality of virtual sensors. Further, the method may include determining a first condition under which the virtual sensor network is unfit to provide one or more virtual sensor output parameter to the control system based on the determined interdependencies and the operational information; and presenting the determined first condition to the control system. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118842 | Manufacturing prediction server - In one embodiment, a method for providing predictions pertaining to a future state of a manufacturing facility includes collecting data from various source systems in a manufacturing facility, and generating predictions pertaining to a future state of the manufacturing facility based on the collected data. The method further includes providing the predictions to recipient systems in the manufacturing facility. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118843 | System and method for displaying status of field devices - The invention is a system for monitoring the status of a field device having data including a data acquisition module, a first and a second diagnosis engine, and a client having a user input element for receiving user input status. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118844 | WORK TOOL NOTIFICATION AND USER-SELECTABLE MACHINE CONTROL CONFIGURATION - A control system for controlling one or more actuators in a machine in response to installation of a tool to the machine detects the installation of a tool to the machine and prompts a user of the machine to configure the operation of the controller with respect to at least one of the one or more actuators. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118845 | CONTROL SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND METHODS WITH OBJECT CHARACTERISTIC SWAPPING - Methods and apparatus for configuring process, environmental, industrial and other control systems generate and/or utilize models representing configurations of control systems and/or the systems controlled by them. Records of changes to the models or the configurations represented by them are maintained, thereby, for example, providing bases for determining current states, prior states and histories of changes. Objects in the model have characteristics, such as an object type characteristic and an area characteristic. Users can have corresponding permissions. A security mechanism apparatus controls access by users to the objects. Composite objects are defined by definition objects and are displayed in encapsulated or expanded formats. Objects can include an edit control type identifier that determines how they are presented for editing. Functionality responds to user commands by transferring characteristics of a first object depicted by the graphical user interface to a second object. Configuration-time formulas contained objects are evaluated to constants prior to downloading to the control system. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118846 | CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH SMART BLOCKS - Methods and apparatus for configuring process, environmental, industrial and other control systems generate and/or utilize models representing configurations of control systems and/or the systems controlled by them. Records of changes to the models or the configurations represented by them are maintained, thereby, for example, providing bases for determining current states, prior states and histories of changes. Objects in the model have characteristics, such as an object type characteristic and an area characteristic. Users can have corresponding permissions. A security mechanism apparatus controls access by users to the objects. Composite objects are defined by definition objects and are displayed in encapsulated or expanded formats. Objects can include an edit control type identifier that determines how they are presented for editing. Functionality responds to user commands by transferring characteristics of a first object depicted by the graphical user interface to a second object. Configuration-time formulas contained objects are evaluated to constants prior to downloading to the control system. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118847 | Method for Operating a Calculating Unit and Signal for Processing in a Calculating Unit - The invention relates to a method for operating a calculating unit, whereon at least one part of the signals and a marking relating to the quality of the signals and an attribute relating to a current transmission frequency of the marking are attributed. The inventive signal also comprises a marking relating to the quality of the signals thereof, and an attribute relating to a current transmission frequency of the marking. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118848 | USER INTERFACE FOR CONTROLLING A HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE REMOTELY CONNECTED THERETO - A user interface arranged at least to display, on a display unit or on a display panel, information relative to the operation of a household electrical appliance with which the interface is associated, the appliance presenting functional members controlled in their operation by a control unit, and an external housing provided with an aperture with its own closure door; the interface is positionable on and fastenable to the exterior of the housing of the electrical appliance, remote wire-less data communication and transmission means being associated with the control unit and with the interface to enable the data to be transmitted from the interior of the electrical appliance to the interface through the housing. A household electrical appliance with this interface is also claimed. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118849 | AUTOMATED VENDING-TYPE STUDIO RECORDING FACILITY - The present invention is an improved portable automated recording facility and method of use thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a self-contained, self-operated and fully automated audio/video recording and production system. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an external shell having sound-dampening material to dampen sound from the entering or exiting the facility. The facility contains a recording chamber including a removable recording equipment module having multi-track recording equipment and a disk media recording device connected to a user system interface. The facility is preferably connected to an external network such as the Internet and has external media connectors for uploading and downloading recordings to or from users. A plurality of facilities can be networked together at a central server so they can be, inter alia, monitored for maintenance data, receive software upgrades, access media in a database, or be used to remotely conduct a performance contest. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118850 | Transportation control method and transportation control system - Embodiments of the present invention provide a workpiece transportation control method and system that automatically processes a plurality of steps in a successive manner, thereby enhancing production efficiency. According to one embodiment, a transportation control method includes the steps of: monitoring the state of an automated manufacturing system to see if there is a request for transporting a workpiece; extracting the subsequent step path for the workpiece when a transportation request is issued; calculating a standard necessary period along the extracted step path; converting the subsequent standard necessary period into an evaluation value, issuing a transportation request, stacking tasks in response to other transportation requests; and selecting a workpiece with the shortest subsequent standard necessary period from the stacked transportation requests. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118851 | FACTORY LEVEL AND TOOL LEVEL ADVANCED PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS INTEGRATION IMPLEMENTATION - Integration of factory level advanced process control (FL-APC) system and tool level advanced process control (TL-APC) system using selectable APC operation modes indicating different operational settings for the FL-APC system and at least one TL-APC system is disclosed. During operation, the FL-APC system controls operation of the TL-APC system. The invention allows a manufacturing execution system (MES) to have additional capability to run the process control functions at FL-APC system and/or TL-APC system, and allows integration of a variety of different tools with a TL-APC system. An implementation method, system and program product are also disclosed. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118852 | Virtual manufacturing of transmission elements - A software structure which when adapted in an apparatus is capable of virtual manufacturing of transmission elements for example gear means with chip formation, the software structure comprising a start module for loading the source file in a main editor-file that contains the computer program, an input module for providing input parameters that are essential for the configuration of a product and a cutting tool, a product design module for evolving the parameters for the manufacturing of the product; and a virtual manufacturing module having at least three sub-modules one each for tool generation, visualisation of machining operation, and disassembly of the product from the machine bed. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118853 | AUTOMATED PROCESS FOR HOLDING PRODUCTS AT PREDEFINED POINTS DURING MANUFACTURING - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to manufacturing production and provide a method, system and computer program product for mass hold management and routing processing. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for halting, initiating or resuming production of a product during a manufacturing process can be provided. The method can include defining criteria that must be met by a work unit and defining a point in the manufacturing process. The method can further include applying the criteria to a plurality of work units currently in the manufacturing process. The method can further include identifying at least one work unit of the plurality of work units that meets the criteria, responsive to said applying the criteria to the plurality of work units, and halting, initiating or resuming manufacturing of the at least one work unit at the point. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118854 | PRODUCTION PLANNING SUPPORT METHOD AND ITS SYSTEM - A production planning support method and a system thereof are disclosed, wherein in order to facilitate the change in the production plan to suppress the inventory increase, the future timing to order the parts with an increased order amount and the quantity of the parts already ordered for the production planning amount at a given timing are grasped in advance. The feature of the invention lies in that the part order timing information is collected for each order timing and converted into the amount of money thereby to calculate the order amount for each order timing. The result is formed into graphs, so that the production planning amount at a given timing and the order amount required for the parts to meet the production plan collectively shown for each period are presented as juxtaposed graphs to the user. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118855 | Control Method for a Substrate Processing Apparatus - A substrate processing apparatus is reduced in communication cost and alleviated of the restriction on control site when the maintenance worker staying distant monitors in real-time a status change thereof. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118856 | Status indication method and status indication system - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for solving a location designation problem to give specific instructions to workers as to where the device that has completed processing is in the production site, and a setup starting time designation problem to give instructions to workers as to when the setup for operation after a test is completed is conducted. One embodiment includes a means for recognizing the processing progress statuses of the devices in the production site, means for indicating the processing progress statuses of the devices, means for predicting the processing completion times of the devices, and means for indicating when a preparation (setup operation) is started for a particular device. A worker receives the processing progress statuses of the respective devices of the respective units from the means for indicating the processing progress statuses of the devices, and records the time to carry in the works to be placed in the devices to the devices and start placement from the means for indicating when a setup operation is started for a particular device. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118857 | Method of Controlling a Fabrication Process Using an Iso-Dense Bias - Embodiments of controlling a fabrication process using an iso-dense bias are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118858 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FORASSEMBLING A COMPLEX PRODUCT INA PARRALLEL PROCESS SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for assembling a complex product in a parallel process system wherein a collection of components are provided for assembling the complex product. The present invention involves transferring the collection of the components to one of a plurality of similar computerized assembly cells through the use of a transport system. The collection of components is automatically assembled into the complex product through the use of the computerized assembly cells. The complex product is then transferred from one of the assembly cells to a computerized test cell, where the complex product is tested to ensure for the proper dimensioning and functioning of the complex product. The complex product is then transferred from the test cell via the transport system to either a part reject area or conveyor, if the complex product is defective, or to an automatic dunnage load or part return system, if the complex product is not defective. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118859 | Ocean Fertilization Project Identification and Inventorying - Systems and methods for coordinating ocean fertilization efforts and inventorying carbon storage unit segments in ocean fertilization projects are disclosed. The system and methods can be used to segment and identify units of carbon sequestered for storage with additional information associated with the projects. The system and methods inventory carbon storage unit segments, segment the project into single carbon unit segments, associate an identifier with each segment, and index the identified segments and associated information. The system can be implemented via a computer system. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118860 | COIN DEPOSIT AND DISPENSING APPARATUS - A coin dispensing apparatus has a cabinet housing the apparatus. The apparatus has a controller and at least one dispenser for dispensing coins. The apparatus is for dispensing a specific composition of coins, under control by the controller, from the at least one dispenser to a portable coin receptacle. A closeable dispense space is arranged within the cabinet. The closeable dispense space has an open state which permits reception of the portable coin receptacle to be filled, and a closed state which permits dispensing of the specific composition of coins from the at least one dispenser into the portable coin receptacle while shielding the closeable dispense space from user access during the dispensing. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118861 | PAPER MONEY RECEIVING/DISPENSING MECHANISM AND AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINE - A paper money receiving/dispensing mechanism comprises a paper money storage unit that temporarily stores paper money; a paper money receiving/dispensing opening, arranged above the storage unit, used for receiving and dispensing paper money; a paper money transport unit capable of switching to either one of an operating position for transporting paper money between the storage unit and the paper money receiving/dispensing opening and a standby position; and a transport control unit for switching the paper money transport unit to the operating position or the standby position. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118862 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEACHING A WORKPIECE TRANSFER ROBOT - A method is provided for teaching a transfer robot used in conjunction with a workpiece processing system including a pedestal assembly, a light sensor having an optical input fixedly coupled to the pedestal assembly, a transfer robot having an end effector, and a processing chamber containing the pedestal assembly and light sensor. The method includes the steps of producing light within the processing chamber, moving the end effector over the optical input such that amount of light reaching the light sensor varies in relation to the position of the end effector, and recording the signal gain as the end effector is moved over the optical input. The method also includes the step of establishing from the recorded signal gain a desired position of the end effector relative to the pedestal assembly. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118863 | REAL-TIME SELF COLLISION AND OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE USING WEIGHTING MATRIX - A system, method, and computer program product for avoiding collision of a body segment with other structures in an articulated system are described. According to one aspect, a collision function is determined for avoiding such collision. A distance between the body segment and one such structure is measured. A weighting matrix is generated based on the collision function and the distance, and used to determine a redirected motion for the body segment. The body segment is redirected based on the redirected motion to avoid colliding with the structure. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118864 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FINDING A TOOL CENTER POINT FOR A ROBOT USING AN EXTERNAL CAMERA - Disclosed is a method and system for finding a relationship between a tool-frame of a tool attached at a wrist of a robot and robot kinematics of the robot using an external camera. The position and orientation of the wrist of the robot define a wrist-frame for the robot that is known. The relationship of the tool-frame and/or the Tool Center Point (TCP) of the tool is initially unknown. For an embodiment, the camera captures an image of the tool. An appropriate point on the image is designated as the TCP of the tool. The robot is moved such that the wrist is placed into a plurality of poses. Each pose of the plurality of poses is constrained such that the TCP point on the image falls within a specified geometric constraint (e.g. a point or a line). A TCP of the tool relative to the wrist frame of the robot is calculated as a function of the specified geometric constraint and as a function of the position and orientation of the wrist for each pose of the plurality of poses. An embodiment may define the tool-frame relative to the wrist frame as the calculated TCP relative to the wrist frame. Other embodiments may further refine the calibration of the tool-frame to account for tool orientation and possibly for a tool operation direction. An embodiment may calibrate the camera using a simplified extrinsic technique that obtains the extrinsic parameters of the calibration, but not other calibration parameters. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118865 | ROBOT - Described herein is a robot having a camera mount that is movable along a curved surface of an upper part of the head, on a front side thereof, and two units of cameras that are mounted in the camera mount. The cameras are disposed such that the cameras are laterally separated from each other at an interval substantially equivalent to a lateral width of the head, respective extremities of the cameras are substantially flush with the front end of the head, and the cameras are positioned in close proximity of the upper end of the robot. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118866 | Control System Design for a Mixing System with Multiple Inputs - A method for mixing at least two materials is provided. The method comprises introducing the at least two materials into a physical system and combining the at least two materials to form a mixture thereof. The method also comprises independently controlling a desired characteristic of the mixture and a desired parameter of the physical system, wherein the controlling is based in part on estimating a disturbance, wherein the estimating the disturbance is based on processing an error term determined by subtracting a modeled parameter of the physical system from a corresponding sensed parameter of the physical system. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118867 | Air Conditioner and Address Setting Method in Air Conditioner - A serial number detection portion simultaneously transmits a detection command for requesting a first digit of a serial number to plurality of indoor units, and the serial number detection portion simultaneously transmits a detection command for requesting a second digit immediately preceding the first digit to the indoor units when a response to the detection command is absent. That is, the address setting is performed again from the immediately preceding digit without returning to an initial digit of the serial number, so that the time necessary for the address setting can be shortened. When the address setting is performed again from the immediately preceding digit, the address setting can be performed more securely by changing a method of recognizing the detection command in the indoor units. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118868 | ROLL PAPER PRINTING APPARATUS - A roll paper printing apparatus includes a transmission source identification unit to identify a transmission source of print data received from a host interface unit, a transmission source information storage unit to store the transmission source information identified by the transmission source identification unit, a transmission source information comparison unit to compare transmission source information of a preceding print job with transmission source information of a print job which is to be printed next, an uncut printed output identification unit to identify an uncut printed output, and an interrupt printing prohibition unit to prohibit printing of the print job which is to be printed next as interrupt printing if the transmission source information of the preceding print job and the transmission source information of the print job which is to be printed next are different when the uncut printed output is identified by the uncut printed output identification unit. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118869 | HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM FOR PET ENCLOSURES - Various embodiments of the invention are directed toward a heating and cooling system for pet living spaces, which is easily transportable and is efficient in heating and cooling the pet because it heats and cools both the air surrounding the pet and the surfaces that the pet lays upon. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118870 | Humidity control system - A humidity control system ( | 2009-05-07 |
20090118871 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A NETWORK OF WATER APPLIANCES - An appliance control system is described for controlling a plurality of appliances. The system includes a control station located remotely from the appliances and having a control unit for controlling the plurality of appliances, at least one client station being associated with at least one of the plurality of appliances and being adapted for allowing a user to make requests to the control station for using the at least one of the plurality of appliances, actuators connected to the control station and the at least one of the plurality of appliances for receiving control signals from the control station and controlling the at least one of the plurality of appliances, and sensors connected to the water appliance and the control station for recording information about the at least one of the plurality of appliances and providing the information to the control station. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118872 | TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE FOR TARGET SUBSTRATE, TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD AND PLASMA PROCESSING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A temperature control device for a target substrate includes a mounting table having temperature control members respectively provided in temperature systems to control temperatures of regions of the target substrate to respective predetermined temperature levels; circulation channels through which fluids passing through the temperature control members flow; and heating channels each for flowing therein a heated fluid having a higher temperature compared to the fluids circulating in the circulation channels. The device further includes cooling channels each for flowing therein a cooled fluid having a lower temperature compared to the fluids circulating in the circulation channels; and joining units that join the circulation channels to build the respective temperature control systems, the joining units having flow rate control units that controls flow rate ratios of the fluids supplied from the respective channels to the temperature control members. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118873 | VARIABLE RATE FEEDFORWARD CONTROL BASED ON SET POINT RATE OF CHANGE - A method of controlling a power generating unit or other process equipment with a slow reaction time includes creating a feedforward control signal to selectively include a fast response rate component or a slow response rate component based on the average rate at which a load demand set point signal has changed during a particular previous period of time. The method then uses the developed feedforward control signal to control the power generating equipment or other slowly reacting process equipment. In particular, a control method switches between introducing a fast or a slow response component within a feedforward control signal based on whether the change in the load demand set point over a particular period of time in the past (e.g., an average rate of change of the load demand set point signal) is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold. This method is capable of providing a relatively fast control action even if the expected load demand set point change is in a small range. In addition, this method does not require knowledge of the final or target load demand set point during the time in which the load demand set point is ramping up to a final target value and is not dependent on the ramp size, i.e., the ultimate difference between the load demand set point at the beginning of the load demand set point change and the final or target value of the load demand set point, making it more versatile than prior art systems. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118874 | Systems and methods for controlling aircraft electrical power - Systems and methods for controlling aircraft electrical power are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes an electric motor, an aircraft load coupled to the electric motor and powered by the electric motor, and a motor controller coupled to the electric motor to vary an output of the electric motor. The motor controller is changeable among a fixed number of preset controller modes, with individual controller modes corresponding to an operation mode of the aircraft and a non-zero output level of the electric motor. In further embodiments, motor controllers can be substituted for each other, e.g., in the event one motor controller becomes unoperational. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118875 | Systems and methods for coordination of entities and/or communicating location information - Systems and methods that may be employed to communicate location information between two or more aerial vehicles or other types of vehicles or other entities, and/or that may be used to facilitate coordinated operations of two or more such entities. In one example, an aerial vehicle may be kept aware of one or more location (e.g., longitude, latitude, etc.) and/or flight characteristics (e.g., altitude, directional heading, airspeed, attitude, etc.) of one or more other adjacent aerial vehicles, and each such aerial vehicle may use that location information to adjust its flight path to maintain a safe sphere of empty airspace around itself. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118876 | DECOMPRESSION VENT LATCHING MECHANISM - A decompression vent latching apparatus, includes a flap placed on a door opening to a first area from a second area, a housing fastened to the flap on the door, a plunger mounted within the housing, having rotational and lateral movement within the housing, a stop block connected to the plunger, a pair of tip blocks having movement restricted by the stop block connected to the plunger when contacting the stop block, the tip blocks being controlled to be a predetermined distance away from the stop block, and a locking unit connected to the pair of tip blocks providing a closed or open position. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118877 | CREATION AND DEPLETION OF SHORT TERM POWER CAPABILITY IN A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - Short term power limits of an electrical energy storage device are progressively tightened toward long term power limits in accordance with net energy flow or magnitude or duration metrics. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118878 | Method for controlling electric oil pump for hybrid electric vehicle - The present invention provides a method for controlling an electric oil pump for an HEV having an automatic transmission and capable of operating in an electric vehicle (EV) mode by a clutch between an engine and a drive motor, which can provide an efficient power control of the system and satisfy system requirements such as a rapid response with the operation of an external oil pump during initial start-up and during running of the vehicle. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118879 | METHOD FOR PREDICTING AN OPERATOR TORQUE REQUEST OF A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system based upon a predicted speed of an output member, a predicted operator torque request, and a predicted accelerator pedal position is disclosed. The method comprises predicting the accelerator pedal position based upon a monitored accelerator pedal position and a filtered accelerator pedal position, predicting the speed of an output member based upon a monitored speed of the output member, and predicting the operator torque request based upon the predicted speed of the output member and the predicted accelerator position. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118880 | METHOD FOR PREDICTING A SPEED OUTPUT OF A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A method for controlling a powertrain includes determining an operator torque request, determining a time-based derivative of the operator torque request, determining a first future time, and predicting a change in the operator torque request based upon the operator torque request, the time-based derivative of the operator torque request, and the first future time. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118881 | DETECTING PROGRAM FLOW FAULT IN TORQUE SECURITY SOFTWARE FOR HYBRID VEHICLE ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM - A diagnostic system for a hybrid vehicle comprises a processor module and a motor control module. The processor module outputs a seed value. The motor control module controls torque output by an electric motor of the hybrid vehicle, receives the seed value, generates a final key value based on the seed value, and outputs the final key value to the processor module. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118882 | CONTROL ARCHITECTURE FOR OUTPUT TORQUE SHAPING AND MOTOR TORQUE DETERMINATION FOR A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A powertrain system includes a transmission device operative to transfer power between an input member and a plurality of torque machines and an output member. The torque machines are connected to an energy storage device and the transmission device is operative in one of a plurality of operating range states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring available power from the energy storage device, determining system constraints, determining constraints on an output torque to the output member based upon the system constraints and the available power from the energy storage device, determining an operator torque request, determining an output torque command based upon the constraints on the output torque and the operator torque request, and determining preferred torque commands for each of the torque machines based upon the output torque command. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118883 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ENGINE IN A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - An engine and an electric machine are operative to communicate tractive power with a transmission device to control output power to an output member. The electric machine is electrically coupled to an energy storage device. A method for controlling the engine and electric machine includes monitoring an operator request for power, monitoring a state of charge of the energy storage device, determining an operating cost for each of a plurality of candidate engine operating points based on the operator request for power and the state of charge of the energy storage device; and operating the engine at the candidate engine operating point having a preferred operating cost. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118884 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A POWERTRAIN SYSTEM BASED UPON TORQUE MACHINE TEMPERATURE - A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission device operative to transmit torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device. A method for controlling the powertrain system include monitoring a temperature of the torque machine, selecting a candidate powertrain system operating point, determining an electrical power input and a motor power output of the torque machine for the candidate powertrain system operating point, determining a power loss for the torque machine associated with the motor power output of the torque machine and the electrical power input, and determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate powertrain system operating point associated with the power loss from the torque machine and based upon the temperature of the torque machine. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118885 | SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE FOR A BLENDED BRAKING SYSTEM IN A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - An engine and a second power generating device transmit power through a transmission to a driveline to a wheel. A control module determines a regenerative braking axle torque capacity and a regenerative braking torque. Power output from the second power generating device is controlled based upon a regenerative braking axle torque request. A brake control module determines a total braking torque request and generates the regenerative braking axle torque request based upon the total braking torque request, the regenerative braking axle torque capacity, and the regenerative braking torque. The brake control module controls a friction brake. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118886 | METHOD OF OPERATING A VEHICLE UTILIZING REGENERATIVE BRAKING - A vehicle includes a powertrain system and a friction braking system, the powertrain system including a hybrid transmission operative in one of a fixed gear operating range state and a continuously variable operating range state to transmit torque between an input member and a torque machine and an output member coupled to a driveline. A method for operating the vehicle includes monitoring operator inputs to an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, monitoring vehicle speed, maintaining the transmission in a present operating range state subsequent to the operator disengaging the accelerator pedal absent the operator engaging the brake pedal, transitioning the transmission device to a continuously variable operating range state subsequent to the operator disengaging the accelerator pedal and the operator engaging the brake pedal, executing regenerative braking by controlling the torque machine to react torque through the transmission to brake the vehicle through the driveline when the operator engages the brake pedal and the speed of the vehicle is greater than a first threshold, and disabling the regenerative braking when the operator disengages the brake pedal and subsequently reengages the brake pedal when the speed of vehicle is less than a first threshold and greater less than a second threshold. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118887 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING REGENERATIVE BRAKING AND FRICTION BRAKING - A vehicle includes a powertrain system and a friction braking system communicating tractive torque with a driveline, the powertrain system including a torque machine, and an energy storage device connected to the torque machine, said torque machine communicating tractive torque with the driveline. A method for controlling regenerative braking and friction braking includes monitoring a vehicle operating point, determining a braking torque request, determining a regenerative braking motor torque ratio based upon the vehicle operating point wherein the regenerative braking motor torque ratio is non-linearly dependent on the vehicle operating point, and actuating the friction brake based upon the regenerative braking motor torque ratio and the braking torque request. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118888 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING REGENERATIVE BRAKING IN A VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a friction braking system and a powertrain system including a torque machine operative to react tractive torque input from a wheel of the vehicle. A method for controlling braking in a vehicle includes monitoring operation of the powertrain system, determining a driver intended total brake torque, determining a regenerative braking capacity based upon the operation of the powertrain system, determining a regenerative braking request based upon a time-rate change in the regenerative braking capacity, and determining a motor torque command for the torque machine based upon the regenerative braking request. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118889 | Method of Driving Plurality of Mine Vehicles in Mine, and Transport System - A method of driving mine vehicles in a mine, and a transport system. A plurality of mine vehicles is arranged in succession and driven in convoy between working areas. A master vehicle in the convoy is driven manually, and slave vehicles follow the master, provided with no mechanical connection. In the working areas, the convoy is disassembled, since single vehicles are each driven separately. When assigned tasks in the working areas have been completed, the vehicles are reassembled into a convoy so as to be driven to a next working area. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118890 | VISUAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD BASED ON STRUCTURED LIGHT - A visual navigation system and method based on structured light are provided. The visual navigation system at least includes at least one projector for generating a specific path pattern formed by structured light, and a visual server. In addition to facilitating the visual navigation system to detect an obstacle, the pattern formed by the structured light provides a specific path pattern followed by robots during the navigation. In the visual navigation method, when detecting the obstacle, the visual server routes a virtual path and issues a movement-control command to the robots, which in turn follow the virtual path. The present invention is capable of raising the accuracy for the robot navigation and reducing operation burden of the visual server by using the structured light to guide the robots. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118891 | METHOD OF CALCULATING DEFLECTION OF ROTATING TIRE, METHOD OF ACCUMULATING DATA OF ROTATING TIRE, METHOD OF CALCULATING CONTACT LENGTH OF ROTATING TIRE - A method of calculating deflection of a rotating tire, through high speed data processing, based on measurement time series data of acceleration on a tire tread portion has the following steps. A step of acquiring measurement time series data of acceleration on a tire circumference in a radial direction of a rotating tire; a step of extracting acceleration data in a vicinity of a contact region from the acquired measurement data and subjecting the extracted acceleration data to least-square regression using a second-order differential function expression of a deflection function expression that represents a peak shape having a peak value and a curve gradually approaching to zero on both sides thereof, whereby a deflection function parameter values are determined; and a step of calculating a contact deflection from the deflection function expression determined by the deflection function parameter values. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118892 | Rollover Judging Device - A rollover judging device adjusts the magnitude of an angular velocity component ω of a vehicle in a direction of a rollover, which is measured by an angular velocity sensor | 2009-05-07 |
20090118893 | METHOD OF INTEGRATED DETECTION FOR AUTOMOBILE INSTRUMENTS - This Invention Makes Known by a Method of Integrated Detection for automobile instruments. Its characteristic is that the program-controlled signal generator sends out the signal. Then the signal is sent to the automobile instruments which need to be detected after power amplifying and amplitude regulation. Resistance signal system is composed of resistance flashboard and resistance control board. And it also sends the signal to the automobile instruments which need to be detected. Then the signal of the automobile instrument is detected by output voltage detection system to determine whether the automobile instrument is qualified or not. The efficiency of the automobile instruments detection is improved enormously by the above method. The method eliminates the error and miss phenomena which are produced by human factors, so that the automobile instruments will have quality assurance. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118894 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSING THE CONDITION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE TYRES - The invention concerns a method for diagnosing the condition of tires of a front wheel and of a rear wheel of a motor vehicle arranged on the same side of the vehicle and connected to the body shell thereof via suspension means. Said method includes a step ( | 2009-05-07 |
20090118895 | Mobile Object Monitoring Device - The present invention reduces power consumption as much as possible when an engine is off state. A mobile object monitoring device | 2009-05-07 |
20090118896 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AT LEAST ONE VOTED FLIGHT TRAJECTORY OF A VEHICLE - A method for generating a voted trajectory of a vehicle in a first vehicle. First trajectory data is received from at least one second vehicle in a receiver in the first vehicle. Trajectory data is calculated in a trajectory calculator in the first vehicle. The calculated trajectory data and the received first trajectory data concern a determined vehicle. The determined vehicle is determined from a group including the first and the second vehicles. The voted trajectory of the determined vehicle by a voting process based on the calculated trajectory data and the received first trajectory data. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118897 | Method for damage forecast of components of a motor vehicle - The invention relates to a method for forecasting the damage of components of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:
| 2009-05-07 |
20090118898 | Radio Communication System For Controlling a Vehicle - A radio control system for controlling a vehicle includes a transmission node for transmitting vehicle control data, the vehicle control data including at least one of a measured value of a vehicle state or a driver's manipulated variable and a control target value of a control actuator in the vehicle, a reception node for receiving the vehicle control data, and a plurality of radio communication routes between the transmission node and the reception node. A radio communication route that satisfies communication limit time of transmission data including the vehicle control data and satisfies lowest required reliability of the transmission data is selected from among the radio communication routes. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118899 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURE STORAGE AND REMOTE MONITORING VEHICLE ODOMETER - The disclosure generally relates to a method for remote reading the tamper-proof storage of the odometer reading in a vehicle by, for example, making available an alternative wireless method for the accessing of odometer reading data. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for remotely reading odometer data in a vehicle having control units which are connected via a data bus. The odometer reading data, which is determined at a particular time by an odometer, can be stored in a storage means of a first control unit, thereby providing an alternative method for remotely accessing odometer reading data and, in particular, improved protection against errors during the transmission of the odometer reading data. The current odometer reading data of at least one further control unit is then stored on the data bus in a storage means. The control units transmit the odometer reading data, which is stored at a particular time, onto the data bus at specific time intervals, and a control unit accepts the odometer reading transmitted onto the data bus if that reading is higher than its stored value, and uses that value for the further counting and radio transmission of odometer reading data. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118900 | PARKING ASSISTING DEVICE AND PARKING ASSISTING METHOD - A parking assisting device is equipped with a imaging device ( | 2009-05-07 |
20090118901 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING OUTPUT TORQUE IN A DISTRIBUTED CONTROL MODULE SYSTEM FOR A POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A method to monitor integrity of a motor torque command for a transmission in a hybrid powertrain system includes calculating motor torque commands for the torque generating machines. Torque corrections for the motor torque commands are determined. The motor torque commands are adjusted based upon the torque corrections. The adjusted motor torque commands are verified based upon an estimated output torque. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118902 | Operating Method and Operating System for a Vehicle - An operator control method for a vehicle having at least one switch which, when operated, activates an associated application or application group, where a stored last state or a prescribed basic state for the associated application or application group is set and is shown on a screen display, and to an associated operator control system. The identified operation of the switch is followed by activation of the associated application or application group, and setting a stored menu state for the purpose of operator control when the associated application or application group has been deactivated. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118903 | VEHICLE INFORMATION RECORD DEVICE, VEHICLE INFORMATION COLLECTION DEVICE, AND VEHICLE INFORMATION RECORD-COLLECTION SYSTEM - A vehicle information record-collection system includes a plurality of drive recorders, and a center system. The center system sends setting change request information that includes vehicle information designated to be a record object to the drive recorder of each investigation object vehicle through wireless communication. The drive recorder of each vehicle, upon receiving the setting change request information from the center system through wireless communication, changes the setting of the vehicle information in terms of the record object on the basis of the setting change request information. After the setting change in terms of the record object, the drive recorder records the vehicle information, and sends the recorded vehicle information to the center system through wireless communication. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118904 | Method and system for planning the path of an agricultural vehicle - Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods and systems for planning the path of an agricultural vehicle. In one embodiment, a first point of a first planned path and a second point of a second planned path are determined. A path plan is then automatically generated connecting the first point and the second point. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118905 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A control input for operating an actual vehicle actuator and a control input for operating a vehicle model are determined by an FB distribution law based on a difference between a reference state amount determined by a vehicle model and an actual state amount of an actual vehicle such that the state amount error is approximated to zero, and then an actuator device of the actual vehicle and the model vehicle are operated based on the control inputs. The FB distribution law determines a control input for operating the model such that a state amount error is approximated to zero while restraining a predetermined restriction object amount from deviating from a permissible range. A vehicle control device capable of enhancing robustness against disturbance factors or their changes while performing operation control of actuators that is as suited to behaviors of an actual vehicle as possible is provided. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118906 | VEHICLE BEHAVIOR CONTROL APPARATUS - In an electronic control unit including a master integrated ECU and a slave VSA ECU, the VSA ECU is provided with a request restriction unit which receives a request of the integrated ECU. The request restriction unit prohibits the use of the request and prioritizes the control of the VSA ECU when a direction of vehicle behavior controlled by the request of the integrated ECU and a direction of the vehicle behavior controlled by the VSA ECU itself are different. | 2009-05-07 |
20090118907 | VEHICULAR BEHAVIOR CONTROLLER - A vehicular behavior controller is disclosed. The controller comprises a turning force application mechanism and a stabilization controller. The turning force application mechanism applies a turning force to a vehicle. The stabilization controller is operable to regulate the turning force application mechanism in such a manner that a turning characteristic and a straight travel property of the vehicle are stabilized while in an unstable velocity area when the velocity of the vehicle exceeds a stable limit velocity. | 2009-05-07 |