32nd week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 66 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140222190 | MAINTENANCE ACCESS ZONES FOR STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS - A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the space. The system includes at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the space, at least one barrier in the space and defining a boundary of the portion of the space and configured to substantially prevent the passage of the vehicles past the at least one barrier, and a controller connected to the control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one control unit for isolating the portion of the space associated with the at least one control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the space and effects the removal from or shutting down of vehicles within the portion of the space. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222191 | ROBOTIC STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention is directed to a system and method for storage and retrieval of items including a control server and a database. The database receives the shelving configuration information of a particular user environment and the control server is operable to issue travel control signals to a robotic carriage within configuration parameters retrieved from the database. An alternate configuration includes a robotic carriage. The robotic carriage further comprises a base, at least one arm, and a motor. The arm is secured to the base and presents a resting surface for the items. The motor is cooperatively secured to the robotic carriage, enabling controlled travel by the robotic carriage. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222192 | METHOD OF MERGING NON-MACHINE-SORTABLE POSTAL ARTICLES WITH MACHINE-SORTED MAIL PIECES - A method of merging postal articles ( | 2014-08-07 |
20140222193 | RFID FOR LOCATION OF THE LOAD ON A TOWER CRANE - A radio frequency identification (RFID) tower crane load locator is disclosed. One example includes at least four RFID components to provide RFID range measurements between the at least four RFID components. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the RFID range measurements to determine a location of the load. A load information generator provides the location of the load information suitable for subsequent access by a user. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222194 | MEDICATION DISPENSING CABINET SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A medication dispensing cabinet provides controlled access to medications and supplies stored in it. The cabinet may include at least one lockable storage compartment, and a controller that controls access to the at least one lockable storage compartment. The cabinet may include multiple printers integrated into the cabinet. The cabinet may include a camera operably coupled to the controller. The cabinet may include a set of cabinet electronics, and a power distribution and communications circuit board. The cabinet may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, wherein the controller conditions access to the at least one lockable storage compartment on receipt of information from the RFID reader. Data may be stored in the controller according to an implementation of RAID technology. The controller may include multiple electronic communications network interfaces, and may include an out of band network communication channel. A dispensing cabinet may facilitate printing of labels for medications. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222195 | Bulk vending apparatus, system and method - A vending machine is provided. The vending machine includes a number of bins, with each bin sized to contain a consumable product. The vending machine also includes a consumable product collection area, with the consumable product collection area accessible by a vending machine user. A conveyor communicates at least a portion of each of the bins, with the conveyor positioned to receive the consumable product from the bin and transport the consumable product to the consumable product collection area. The vending machine also includes an interface structured to receive a currency from the vending machine user to purchase at least one of the consumable products and a controller that activates the conveyor to transport the consumable product to the consumable product collection area. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222196 | MEDICAL CABINET ACCESS BELT OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM - A cabinet for securely storing items includes a drawer enclosure, a drawer, a cover, an electric actuator, and a switch. The drawer is slidable at least partially into and out of the enclosure, and includes a compartment. A cover which is configured as a metal belt is designed to selectively block access to the compartments of the drawer when the cover is in a first configuration, and to allow access to the compartment when the cover is in a second configuration. The electric actuator is designed to move the cover from the first configuration to the second configuration in one of two directions. The actuator selects the direction to reduce the time required to make such movement. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222197 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING OPERATION OF AN AUTONOMOUS ROBOT - A system and method for monitoring operation of an autonomous robot. In one aspect, the invention can be a method comprising: defining, with a central processing unit of the autonomous robot, a perimeter of an area of confinement; storing the perimeter of the area of confinement within a memory device of the autonomous robot as map data; transmitting the map data from a transceiver of the autonomous robot to a server; overlaying, by the server, the area of confinement onto a satellite image corresponding to a geographic location that includes the area of confinement to create a visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image; transmitting, from the server to an external device, the visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image; and displaying, on a display, the visual representation of the area of confinement overlaid onto the satellite image. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222198 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR AUTONOMOUSLY EMULATING ROBOT MANIPULATORS OF CONTINUOUSLY-VARYING CONFIGURATIONS - The invention is a modular and autonomously reconfigurable manipulator system which introduces a new dimension to the versatility of robot manipulation for diverse tasks. The hardware component is a redundant mechanism which can lock any number of its joints at any relative position to form a particular configuration with a certain number of degrees of freedom and specific values for kinematic, dynamic and control parameters, optimum for a given task to be performed. The process of identifying the optimum configuration for a given task and implementing it on the manipulator is done autonomously through the system software. Therefore, no manual interaction is required to form a new configuration most suitable for a given task. The kinematic, dynamic and control parameters of the system can vary continuously enabling the manipulator to form virtually an infinite number of configurations. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222199 | GRASP ASSIST DEVICE WITH SHARED TENDON ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY - A grasp assist device includes a glove with first and second tendon-driven fingers, a tendon, and a sleeve with a shared tendon actuator assembly. Tendon ends are connected to the respective first and second fingers. The actuator assembly includes a drive assembly having a drive axis and a tendon hook. The tendon hook, which defines an arcuate surface slot, is linearly translatable along the drive axis via the drive assembly, e.g., a servo motor thereof. The flexible tendon is routed through the surface slot such that the surface slot divides the flexible tendon into two portions each terminating in a respective one of the first and second ends. The drive assembly may include a ball screw and nut. An end cap of the actuator assembly may define two channels through which the respective tendon portions pass. The servo motor may be positioned off-axis with respect to the drive axis. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222200 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A MACHINE WITH REDUNDANT PARALLEL ACTUATION, ASSOCIATED CONTROL DEVICE AND MACHINE - A method of controlling a machine with redundant parallel actuation includes a frame and a mobile element driven by a plurality of mechanical transmissions parallel to one another and each being activated by an actuator ( | 2014-08-07 |
20140222201 | DIRECTIONAL POSITION CONTROL METHOD - A directional position control method uses an instructor device and a controller to control motion of a robot, and a directional-control starter is used to actuate a directional control function. The directional-control starter controls the controller to drive the robot to move according to the instructor direction reference by converting the coordinate of the robot into the coordinate of the instructor. The directional position control method allows the movement direction reference of the robot to be defined manually or automatically, so that the robot can be moved based on the instructor direction reference of the instructor, allowing the operator to operate the robot by intuition without too much discretion, consequently reducing difficulty and error in operating the robot. Besides, the operator can control the robot by staying at the location where the instructor is located, without standing close to the robot, therefore, improving safety of operating the robot. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222202 | TRANSFER POSITION TEACHING METHOD, TRANSFER POSITION TEACHING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - The transfer position teaching apparatus is provided with a teaching substrate having a shape identical to a semiconductor wafer to be processed by substrate processing apparatuses and having an electrically conductive coating thereon. The transfer position teaching apparatus is also provided with a base member having insulator coating thereon and on the base member, entrance contact members, Y-direction contact members, X-direction contact member are vertically arranged. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222203 | ANTI-INTRUSION METHOD IN AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WITH ROBOT - The invention particularly relates to a method for making use of an automated system with robot, comprising the following steps: (i) a management controller ( | 2014-08-07 |
20140222204 | MANEUVERING SYSTEM HAVING INNER FORCE SENSE PRESENTING FUNCTION - A compact, lightweight manipulation system that excels in operability and has a force feedback capability is provided. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222205 | ELECTRONIC DOCKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROBOTIC POSITIONING SYSTEM - An apparatus includes a robotic positioning device and a locating mat. The locating mat includes a location pattern and can be disposed on a floor at a desired position relative to a movable cradle of an imaging system. The robotic positioning device is configured to be disposed, at least partially, above the locating mat. The robotic positioning device includes a docking device that includes an optical device and a guide manipulator supported on the docking device. The guide manipulator can be positioned relative to the movable cradle based, at least partially, on image data associated with the optical device and the location pattern of the locating mat. The guide manipulator can position an instrument guide relative to a patient disposed on the movable cradle. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222206 | Polarized Enhanced Confidentiality in Mobile Camera Applications - A system for selectively controlling visibility of information and for reducing or eliminating light energy in a robotic telepresence environment is provided. The system includes a robotic device in a work environment that is occupied or operated by a pilot at a station in a workspace remote from location of the robot in the work environment, a camera operably attached to the robotic device, a primary polarizing filter adjustably attached to the camera, a viewing area, at least one light source remote from the camera, and at least one secondary polarizing filter. The primary and at least one secondary polarizing filter can be adjusted to vary the lighting and artifacts seen by the pilot. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222207 | Surgical Manipulator Capable of Controlling a Surgical Instrument in Multiple Modes - A method is provided for detecting a disturbance as an energy applicator of a surgical instrument traverses a cutting path. The method includes determining actual torques for each active joint of an actuated arm mechanism and calculating expected torques for each active joint of the actuated arm mechanism, wherein the expected torques are calculated based on an angular position of each active joint and a commanded joint angle for each active joint. The method further determines estimated backdrive torques based on the expected torques and the actual torques, wherein the estimated backdrive torques indicate a disturbance along the cutting path. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222208 | Maneuvering system having inner force sense presenting function - A compact, lightweight manipulation system that excels in operability and has a force feedback capability is provided. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222209 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING COMPARATIVE STATISTICAL INFORMATION FOR A PLURALITY OF PRODUCTION FACILITIES IN A CLOSED-LOOP PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - For each of a plurality of production facilities, a series of operations is performed. For each of a plurality of batches of a concrete mixture produced at the respective production facility based on a formulation, a first difference between a measured quantity of cementitious and a first quantity specified in the formulation is determined. A first standard deviation is determined based on the first differences. For each of the plurality of batches, a second difference between a measured quantity of water and a second quantity specified in the formulation is determined. A second standard deviation is determined based on the second differences. A first benchmark is selected from among the first standard deviations, and a second benchmark is selected from among the second standard deviations. An amount by which costs may be reduced by improving production at the production facility to meet the first and second benchmarks is determined. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222210 | DYNAMICALLY ADAPTIVE PERSONALIZED SMART ENERGY PROFILES - A facility employing systems, methods, and/or techniques for dynamically and adaptively configuring configurable energy consuming and producing devices (e.g., smart energy devices) based on user profiles and user presence information is disclosed. In some embodiments, the facility periodically detects the presence of users, and retrieves preference information for those users. For each of one or more configurable energy devices in the area, the facility generates a combined setting based on the preferences of each user present and adjusts the devices based on the combined settings. For example, if User A, User B, and User C are present in a room and User A's preferred temperature setting is 75° F., User B's preferred temperature setting is 68° F., and User C's preferred temperature setting is 70° F., the facility may generate a combined setting for a thermostat by taking the average value of the users in the room. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222211 | FAN SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A fan speed control system performed by a fan control board for controlling a fan shared by a number of servers in a server cabinet includes a instruction receiving module and a speed adjusting module. The instruction receiving module receives fan speed control instructions from the number of servers, wherein the fan speed control instructions consist of speedup instructions and slowdown instructions. The speed adjusting module responses to the fan speed control instructions to increase or decrease the speed of the fan by a preset value. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222212 | DYNAMIC SIMULATED MOTOR - A controller is configured to generate control signals to control a variable frequency drive coupled with a load. A simulator receives the control signals and processes the control signals. The simulator simulates a variable frequency drive and a load by generating feedback signals based on a model and the control signals. The controller receives the feedback signals from the simulator. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222213 | CONFIGURING A PLURALITY OF SENSOR DEVICES OF A STRUCTURE - Systems, methods and apparatuses for commissioning a set of devices of a structure are disclosed. One method includes communicating, by a mobile computing device, with one or more of the set of devices, communicating, by each of the one or more of the set of devices, a device identifier, and placing each of the one or more of the set of devices on a floor plan of the structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the device. One system includes a plurality of sensor units and a mobile device. The system further includes a processor operative to place each of the one or more of the plurality of sensor units on a floor plan of a structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the device. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222214 | BENDING OPERATION SYSTEM - A bending operation system includes an elongated tubular portion including a bending portion, a first linear member and a second linear member which cause the bending portion to bend, and a drive portion which displaces the first linear member and the second linear member. The bending operation system further includes a first displacement detector which acquires a displacement of the first linear member as a first displacement, a second displacement detector which acquires a displacement of the second linear member as a second displacement, and a calculator which calculates operation assist information by use of one or both of the first displacement and the second displacement. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222215 | DEVICE CONTROL APPARATUS, PROGRAM, DEVICE CONTROL SERVER, AND DEVICE CONTROL SYSTEM | 2014-08-07 |
20140222216 | Wireless HVAC Vent - A self-contained wireless HVAC vent which can be independently controlled via a wireless communication link. The HVAC vent is capable of regulating the airflow in to a zone by using adjustable damper(s). The control settings of the HVAC can be configured in conjunction with an application and user interface (UI) via an external device. The HVAC vent also monitors the condition of the air, which may include temperature, air quality and humidity, as well as the presence of potential hazardous conditions. Lastly, the power needed to operate the HVAC vent is acquired from the environmental surrounding and converted and regulated to electrical energy. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222217 | THERMODYNAMIC MODELING FOR ENCLOSURES - Modeling the behavior of an enclosure for use by a control system of an HVAC system is described. A model for the enclosure that describes the enclosure's behavior for use by the control system is updated based on weather forecast data. The weather forecast data can include predictions more than 24 hours in the future, and can include predictions on temperature, humidity and/or dew point, solar output, precipitation. The model for the enclosure can also be updated based on additional information and data. The model for the enclosure can be updated based also on an enclosure model stored in a database, and/or enclosure information from a user. The model can be updated based on active testing of the enclosure which can be performed automatically or in response to user input. The testing can include heating and/or cooling the enclosure at times when the enclosure is not likely occupied. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222218 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AND/OR MONITORING AN HVAC SYSTEM - The invention relates to a method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system ( | 2014-08-07 |
20140222219 | METHOD FOR OPEARTING AN HVAC SYSTEM - A method for operating an HVAC system of a building is provided. The method includes providing a model for an indoor temperature of the building, a model for an operating cost of the HVAC system, and predicted future outdoor temperatures. Utilizing at least the models for the indoor temperature and the operating cost of the HVAC system and the predicted future outdoor temperatures, future operating states of the HVAC system can be calculated. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222220 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222221 | HVAC CONTROLLER HAVING A PARAMETER ADJUSTMENT ELEMENT WITH A QUALITATIVE INDICATOR - An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222222 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A PUMP BASED ON FILTER INFORMATION IN A FILTER INFORMATION TAG - The disclosure describes systems and methods relating generally to filtration. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to controlling the operation of a pump using filter information. A removable filter can include an electronically readable tag storing filter information. The filter information can be read by a tag reader and rules applied to the filter information to determine whether or how to operate a pump. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222223 | WEB-BASED IRRIGATION CONTROLLER - A web-based irrigation controller with application server can avoid need for access points for irrigation controller communications to the application server, need for configurations on any number of any type of web-based appliances to communicate to the application server, and can provide easy access to giant databases of weather and plant growing information, automatic control and simplification for the plant and lawn growing effort, easy access to reports of actual water usage and power usage and maintenance problems, using sprinklers in an unusual manner to scare away birds from a freshly seeded lawn, reducing lawn water usage for unskilled users by backing off lawn timings until the user intervenes, slow seasonal adjustment to watering times without need for application server intervention, life-cycle based watering schedules based on types of garden plantings and easy for the user to follow the actions of a local amateur master gardener in growing similar plants. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222224 | Energy and Data Distribution System - An energy and data distribution system includes at least one monitoring and supply unit that is connected via a cable connection to at least one power control and communications unit, in which the power control and communications unit is connected to a number of on-site control means, each of the on-site control means being associated to at least one conveying assembly for oil or gas extraction with the respective means. A number of power control and communications units in a network are connected to at least one further power control and communications unit via a node associated to the respective power control and communications unit, and at least one power control and communications unit or one node of the network is connected via the cable connection to the monitoring and supply unit. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222225 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An energy management system utilizing a home automation aggregation controller provides a retail energy supplier with means to manage electric energy supply characteristics. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222226 | CASCADE ADAPTIVE REGULATOR TAP MANAGER METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method is disclosed of controlling the operation of a system for providing electrical power to one or more electrical devices, the system comprising an adjustable power source root node and a plurality of adjustable power source remote nodes located remotely from the root node. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222227 | METHOD FOR CALCULATING CONTINUATION POWER FLOW OF ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM - A method for obtaining a continuous power flow of an electric power system is provided. The method comprises: establishing first power flow equations for PQ buses, and establishing second power flow equations for PV buses; establishing power flow equations according to the first flow equations, the second power flow equations, and a voltage magnitude and a voltage phase of a balance bus; choosing a bus having a fastest voltage drop as a parameterization bus, and defining a parameterization variable according to a voltage magnitude of the parameterization bus and the load growth factor; defining an equality constraint equation according to the parameterization variable, and generating an extended power flow equation according to the equality constraint equation and the power flow equations; solving the extended power flow equation by a plurality of iterations to obtain a plurality of load summations; generating a P-V curve according to the plurality of load summations. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222228 | Forecast System and Method of Electric Power Demand - A plurality of forecast weather groups in a period comprising a plurality of days including a forecast target day for forecasting the electric power demand, and a plurality of actual weather groups in a period in a plurality of days in the past are set as the target period, and the similarity between the forecast weather group and the plurality of actual weather groups is calculated, a trend of a subsequent electric power demand is predicted based on the comparison of the plurality of calculated similarities whereby the electric power demand of a forecast target day is known. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222229 | POWER CONTROL APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC COMPUTER, AND POWER CONTROL METHOD - A power control apparatus includes a processor configured to collect first information related to operation of a performing unit configured to perform data processing and information related to operation of a bus configured to transfer data; determine an operating frequency and an operating voltage for the performing unit, based on the collected information; estimate based on the collected information, a period elapsing until the performing unit suspends operation and a period elapsing until the bus suspends operation; derive a discriminant that obtains a difference of total power consumption and power consumption pre-switching; and execute a switching of an operating frequency and an operating voltage of the performing unit, based on a value of the discriminant. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222230 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND PROGRAM - Acquiring unit acquires, as power usage amount, amount of power for each measurement time, for each of branch lines through which power is fed to electrical loads, respectively. History storage unit stores a plurality of power usage amounts for each branch line so that each amount is made to correspond to time and date when acquired. Analyzing unit calculates frequency distribution of magnitudes of power usage amounts during target period, of the plurality of power usage amounts in history storage unit, and estimates that power usage amount in which cumulative relative frequency from lower limit of power usage amount is frequency threshold or more is amount of standby power. Analyzing unit determines whether electrical load corresponding to each branch line is in operation by setting standby power to reference value and comparing reference value with magnitude of power usage amount. Determined result is displayed on display device. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222231 | ENERGY SEARCH ENGINE METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Systems and methods dynamically assess energy efficiency by obtaining a minimum energy consumption of a system, receiving in a substantially continuous way a measurement of actual energy consumption of the system, and comparing the minimum energy consumption to the measurement of actual energy consumption to calculate a substantially continuous energy performance assessment. The system further provides at least one of a theoretical minimum energy consumption based at least in part on theoretical performance limits of system components, an achievable minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for high energy efficient equivalents of the system components, and the designed minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for the system components. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222232 | ENERGY SEARCH ENGINE METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Systems and methods dynamically assess energy efficiency by obtaining a minimum energy consumption of a system, receiving in a substantially continuous way a measurement of actual energy consumption of the system, and comparing the minimum energy consumption to the measurement of actual energy consumption to calculate a substantially continuous energy performance assessment. The system further provides at least one of a theoretical minimum energy consumption based at least in part on theoretical performance limits of system components, an achievable minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for high energy efficient equivalents of the system components, and the designed minimum energy consumption based at least in part on specifications for the system components. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222233 | Entry of Electric Power Delivery System data in a Web-Based Interface - Disclosed herein are a variety of systems and methods for entry of data relating to an electrical power delivery system using a web-based interface. One embodiment may include a computer program product having a client-side module to communicate with a server-side module. The client-side module may further include a web browser interface module to retrieve data entered by an operator into a data entry field in a web browser, a user interface module to display variable length data to a user via the web browser, and a communication module to manage communication with the server-side module. The communication module may further be configured to generate an object comprising data entered by the user into the web browser, transmit the object to the server, and receive a response from the server. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222234 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROL PROGRAM OF THE SAME - According to one embodiment, a receive signal analyzing unit is configured to recognize a demand for power saving. An other-device state recognizing unit is configured to discriminate whether a notification indicating that a response has been made to the demand has been received from other apparatus or not. And an instruction outputting unit is, if the notification is not received, configured to make a display instruction to display a response button which is operable by a user in response to the demand, or to make a sound output instruction to notify of sound that the demand has been received. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222235 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ALLOCATING AMOUNTS OF ENERGY - The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for allocating amounts of energy for prosumers, wherein the prosumers provide minimum and maximum amounts of energy for a future interval of time and the respective amounts of energy from the prosumers are generated in such a manner that, on the one hand, a relative position of the amount of energy within an interval for the particular prosumer, as defined by the minimum amount of energy and the maximum amount of energy, assumes an identical value for all prosumers and, on the other hand, a sum of the amounts of energy from all prosumers produces a value of zero. The invention can be used in the distribution of amounts of energy in a power supply system having conventional energy producers and energy consumers as well as in novel participants in the power supply system which can both consume and provide energy, for example an electric vehicle. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222236 | POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE, POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, POWER TRANSMISSION METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A power transmission device includes a power reception notification receiving unit configured to receive from a power receiving device a power reception notification indicating that the power receiving device has received power, a power determination unit configured to determine, if the power reception notification receiving unit has received the power reception notification, a transmission power value for power transmission to the power receiving device as first power, and to determine, if the power reception notification receiving unit does not receive the power reception notification, the transmission power value for power transmission to the power receiving device as second power, which is smaller than the first power, and a power transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit the power determined by the power determination unit to the power receiving device. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222237 | LOAD CONTROLLER, PROGRAM, LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A load control apparatus receives information regarding the consumed electric power in load devices and the generated electric power by a power generator. The apparatus includes a control unit, which controls a device based on the received information. A determination unit determines whether the device can execute a predetermined process with surplus electric power in target period from the present until a predetermined period of time elapses. An execution unit controls the device such that when it is determined that the abovementioned process can be executed, a control signal is provided to cause the process to start. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222238 | Grid Optimization Resource Dispatch Scheduling - Data comprising a request specifying a desired change in electrical load for a defined period of time is received. The electrical load is associated with a plurality of resources under control of resource agents and on a utility grid. Available capacity of resources within the control of each resource agent over the defined period of time is determined. Each available capacity is determined at least using a resource load model. Using the determined available capacity of resources over the defined period of time, resource scheduling instructions are calculated for a subset of resources. The resource scheduling instructions satisfy the desired change in electrical load of the request. Data characterizing the resource scheduling instructions is provided. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and articles are also described. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222239 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING FREQUENCY, FREQUENCY CONTROL SYSTEM, FREQUENCY CONTROL APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM - A method of controlling frequency of a power system by a frequency control system includes: obtaining a frequency control command to keep frequency fluctuation of the power system within a predetermined range; obtaining information on electric power to be received or supplied by m second apparatuses, and determining n first command values for controlling electric power to be received or supplied by n first apparatuses, based on the frequency control command obtained in the obtaining of a frequency control command and the obtained information on electric power to be received or supplied by the m second apparatuses; and transmitting each of the n first command values determined in the determining to a corresponding one of the first apparatuses. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222240 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SIMULATING AN ELECTRIC/ELECTRONIC LOAD - A device connectable to a control device for simulating an effect of at least one electrical or electronic load being connected to at least one terminal of the control device includes: a processing unit configured to at least one of compute and make available a control variable corresponding to the effect of the at least one electrical or electronic load that is to be simulated, and a power supply device: The power supply device includes at least one auxiliary voltage source configured to form at least one of a current source and a current sink and configured to receive the control variable from the processing unit. The at least one auxiliary source is configured to draw a current from the control device or impress a current on the control device based on the received control variable. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222241 | Climate Control - A system is provided in which the dampers may be individually controlled. The climate control system may be retrofit to an existing climate control system by connecting the controller to the existing climate control equipment through the thermostat interface. The climate control system may be monitored and set via a remote server. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222242 | ADAPTIVE THERMAL THROTTLING WITH USER CONFIGURATION CAPABILITY - An apparatus for adaptive thermal management of a device with user configuration capability, including a secure memory configured to store a thermal management policy; thermal monitoring circuitry configured to monitor thermal states associated with one or more sensor sub-systems of the device; and policy enforcement circuitry configured to implement the stored thermal management policy in response to the monitored thermal state violating a thermal threshold. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222243 | FOOT-OPERATED CONTROLLER - Highly expressive and flexibly programmable foot-operated controllers are described. Specific implementations are intended for musical applications and allow musicians an unprecedented degree of control of a wide variety of musical components and subsystems for recording and/or performance. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222244 | DRIVE SUPPORT DEVICE AND DRIVE SUPPORT METHOD - A drive support device that supports driving operation of a vehicle, includes: a vehicle speed sensor that detects a current vehicle speed of the vehicle; a target vehicle speed control unit that calculates a reference target vehicle speed range of the vehicle, that sets an indication upper limit speed on the basis of the current vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor, and determines a target vehicle speed range that is a speed range lower than or equal to the indication upper limit speed on the basis of the reference target vehicle speed range; and a target vehicle speed indicating unit that indicates the target vehicle speed range determined by the target vehicle speed control unit. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222245 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING DRIVING SKILL ATROPHY - A system for preventing driving skill atrophy comprises a trainer module that determines the driver's current skill level, disables certain automated features based on the determined skill level, and forces the driver to use and hone her driving skills. The system collects data to determine through on-board vehicle sensors how a driver is driving the vehicle. The system then compares the driver's current driving skills with the driver's historical driving skills or the general population's driving skills. Based on the comparison, the system determines whether the driver's skill level is stagnant, improving or deteriorating. If the skill level is improving, for example, the system disables certain automated driving features to give driver more control of the vehicle. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222246 | SOFTWARE-DEFINED MULTI-MODE ULTRA-WIDEBAND RADAR FOR AUTONOMOUS VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING OF SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS - A small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) is used for aerial and on the ground surveillance while an operator of the sUAS, or other personnel, remain at a safe distance. The sUAS system can perform an autonomous landing and can be operated at an extended, e.g., greater than 100 meters, standoff from the detection apparatus and potential harm. The sUAS may be implemented as an easy-to-operate, small vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with a set of optical, thermal, and chemical detection modules for performing aerial surveillance and ground surveillance after landing. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222247 | System and Method for Adjusting the Operation of a Machine - A system for controlling movement of a machine includes a drive system, a position sensor, and a communications system. A controller is configured to determine the position of the machine and determine a signal transmission threshold based at least in part upon the position of the machine. The controller may stop movement of the machine upon an interruption in signal transmission from a remote system exceeding the signal transmission threshold. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222248 | UNOCCUPIED FLYING VEHICLE (UFV) COORDINATION - Disclosed herein are example embodiments for unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV) coordination. For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) obtain one or more theater characteristics; or (ii) coordinate at least one behavior of at least one UFV based, at least partially, on one or more theater characteristics. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222249 | APPARATUS FOR USE ON UNMANNED VEHICLES - An apparatus, and a method performed by the apparatus, are disclosed wherein the apparatus can be mounted on an unmanned vehicle and arranged to act upon a payload. The payload can be mounted on the unmanned vehicle and, under an action of the apparatus, is able to be activated. The method can include receiving an activation instruction from an entity remote from the unmanned vehicle; determining whether or not the received activation instruction is valid by performing a validation process; and in response to determining that the received activation instruction is valid, activating the payload. In response to determining that the received activation instruction is not valid, activation of the payload may be prevented or opposed. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222250 | LOCATION BASED ACCESS CONTROL OF MATERIAL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE RESOURCES - A method for transportation of material includes operating a material transportation vehicle according to a material transportation plan. The plan includes a representation of one or more regions within a geographical area, each of the regions being associated with a group of one or more communication stations and a representation of a route of travel within the geographical area. The route of travel traverses a first region of the one or more regions within the geographical area. The operating includes causing the vehicle to travel along the route of travel including causing the vehicle to enter the first region, accepting control information originating from a first communication station of the communication stations associated with the first region, the first communication station being authorized to control a material transportation resource of the vehicle in the first region, and causing an exchange of the material according to the accepted control information. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222251 | Robot Confinement - A method of confining a robot in a work space includes providing a portable barrier signal transmitting device including a primary emitter emitting a confinement beam primarily along an axis defining a directed barrier. A mobile robot including a detector, a drive motor and a control unit controlling the drive motor is caused to avoid the directed barrier upon detection by the detector on the robot. The detector on the robot has an omnidirectional field of view parallel to the plane of movement of the robot. The detector receives confinement light beams substantially in a plane at the height of the field of view while blocking or rejecting confinement light beams substantially above or substantially below the plane at the height of the field of view. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222252 | Remote Control for a Parking Assistance System and a Parking Assistance System which can be Controlled by Remote Control - A remote control for a parking assistance system for automated parking of a passenger motor vehicle is provided. The parking assistance system has an environment sensor system that supplies sensor information, and an obstacle detection device for detecting the presence of an obstacle based on the sensor information. In addition, the parking assistance system has a bidirectional wireless communication device that transmits obstacle detection information about the presence of an obstacle to the remote control. The remote control also has a bidirectional wireless communication device for communication with the passenger motor vehicle. In addition, the remote control has one or more parking function operating elements for controlling the parking and/or unparking. The bidirectional communication device of the remote control receives the obstacle detection information. In addition, the remote control has signaling means for signaling the presence of an obstacle to the operator of the remote control. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222253 | DEVICE FOR SETTING AT LEAST ONE OPERATING PARAMETER OF AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE SYSTEM IN A MOTOR VEHICLE - A device sets at least one operating parameter of at least one vehicle system of a motor vehicle. The device has at least one movement detection apparatus for determining the movement of at least one person located inside or in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, which movement detection apparatus is designed to determine at least one person-specific movement information item using at least one person-specific movement signal which is supplied by a person-side movement sensor system and relates to the movement of the person. The device is designed to set the at least one operating parameter of the at least one vehicle system using the person-specific movement information item. The device also has a memory in which certain settings of an operating parameter of a vehicle system are assigned to certain person-specific movement information items. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222254 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A PASSIVE AVIONICS DATA TRANSFER DEVICE FOR USE WITH COTS TABLET EQUIPMENT DEPLOYED AS CLASS I OR II ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG SYSTEMS - The present disclosure provides an aerospace grade data conversion apparatus. The data conversion apparatus includes an avionics interface module for: collecting data outputs from a plurality of analog and digital avionics and electrical data sources; aligning digital data respectively output from the plurality of digital data sources; and commingling the digital data in order to generate a data sequence interpreted by a receiving device, the receiving device including an electronic tablet. The present disclosure also provides a software developer's kit. The software developer's kit includes a library configured to allow application software developers to utilize digital data output from an avionics interface module. The present disclosure further includes a mounting system. The mounting system includes one or more assemblies for securing an electronic flight bag device to an aircraft, wherein the electronic flight bag includes an electronic tablet. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222255 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING STATUS OF SATELLITE - Provided is an apparatus and method for monitoring a status of a satellite, including classifying satellite telemetry information and space weather information and storing the information in a storage unit including respective databases, predicting whether a predetermined type of satellite failure occurs based on the space weather information, and generating satellite control command information to change a status of a predetermined satellite configuration when a satellite failure determining index used to determine a possibility of the satellite failure is beyond a predetermined critical alert range. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222256 | A METHOD OF ASSISTING PILOTING AN AIRCRAFT BY ADAPTING THE DISPLAY OF SYMBOLS - The invention relates to a method of assisting piloting an aircraft. The method is performed when the real position of a symbol for display lies outside the display limit of the screen. The symbol is representative of a parameter associated with the dynamic behavior of the aircraft (FPV, . . . ) or liable to influence said behavior (FD, . . . ). The symbol possesses two components, and the first component is to be given precedence on display over the second component. In the method, the display of the symbol depends firstly on the orthogonal projection (FPV-lock) of the real position (FPV) of the symbol onto the axis of the first component, and secondly on the position of said projection relative to the display limit of the screen. Such a display makes it possible to give reliable information to the pilot. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222257 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A VIRTUAL INNER MARKER FOR AN AIRCRAFT LANDING APPROACH - A system and method is disclosed for anticipating a missed approach point (MAP) during an instrument landing of an aircraft. Symbology is generated and displayed that graphically represents a lateral distance between a runway threshold and a virtual inner marker. The MAP is identified as the location of the aircraft when the symbology reaches a displayed runway threshold. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222258 | BRAKE CONTROL DEVICE FOR A BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE SYSTEM, RAIL VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A BRAKE SYSTEM - A brake control device for a brake system for a rail vehicle, the brake system having at least one adhesion-type friction brake device. The brake control device receives brake actuation data, which are assigned to the at least one adhesion-type friction brake device, from a brake actuation sensor device of the brake system. The brake control device receives brake action data, which are assigned to the at least one adhesion-type friction brake device, from a brake action sensor device of the brake system, and to cause the adhesion-type friction brake device to effect a braking process, and to monitor and assign brake actuation data and brake action data to each other during a braking process. Also disclosed is a brake system, a rail vehicle and a method for operating a brake system. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222259 | SPEED PROFILE CREATION DEVICE AND AUTOMATIC TRAIN OPERATION APPARATUS - A speed profile creation device includes: a traveling simulator that creates, from a traveling instruction, a speed profile of allowing the train to travel through a traveling section together with a traveling time and energy consumption amount thereof by using a route condition, train performance, and a traveling condition; a traveling instruction draft creator that creates a plurality of traveling instruction drafts in which a reference speed profile is changed so that the energy consumption amount can decrease though the traveling time is lengthened a little; an optimum speed profile selector that selects an optimum speed profile in which an energy consumption amount reduction effect is maximum among the plurality of traveling instruction drafts; and a reference speed profile updating unit that updates the reference speed profile until the traveling time of the optimum speed profile becomes equivalent to the target traveling time. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222260 | STEERING APPARATUS FOR A STEERED VEHICLE - A steering apparatus comprises a rotatable steering shaft and a sensor which senses angular movement of the steering shaft. An electromagnetic actuator actuates a stop mechanism to releasable engage the steering shaft. There is a microcontroller which causes the electromagnetic actuator to actuate the stop mechanism to fully engage the steering shaft and prevent rotation of the steering shaft in a first rotational direction, which corresponds to movement towards the hardstop position, while allowing rotational play between the steering shaft and the stop mechanism in a second direction, which corresponds to rotational movement away from the hardstop position, when the sensor senses that the steering shaft has reached a hardstop position. A driver applies a reserve polarity pulse to the electromagnetic actuator when the stop mechanism is fully engaged and the steering shaft is rotated, as permitted by the rotational play, in the second rotational direction. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222261 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID VEHICLE - A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a torque determining device for determining respective divided torques outputted from a first electric motor and a second electric motor on the basis of total torque required for driving of a hybrid vehicle; a torque correcting device for correcting the respective divided torques of the first electric motor and the second electric motor such that pulsation torque of an internal combustion engine on a drive shaft is canceled by the respective divided torques outputted from the first electric motor and the second electric motor and such that the respective divided torques of the first electric motor and the second electric motor are directed opposite to each other with respect to the drive shaft; and a controlling device for controlling each of the first electric motor and the second electric motor so as to output respective one of the corrected divided torques. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222262 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING POWER OUTPUT DISTRIBUTION IN A HYBRID POWER TRAIN - A system includes a hybrid power train comprising an internal combustion engine and electrical system, which includes a first and second electrical torque provider, and an electrical energy storage device electrically coupled to first and second electrical torque provider. The system further includes a controller structured to perform operations including determining a power surplus value of the electrical system; determining a machine power demand change value; in response to the power surplus value of the electrical system being greater than or equal to the machine power demand change value, operating an optimum cost controller to determine a power division for the engine, first electrical torque provider, and second electrical torque provider; and in response to the power surplus value of the electrical system being less than the machine power demand change value, operating a rule-based controller to determine the power division for the engine, first, and second electrical torque provider. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222263 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING POWER OUTPUT DISTRIBUTION IN A HYBRID POWER TRAIN - A system includes a hybrid power train including an engine, a first electrical torque provider, and a second electrical torque provider. The system further includes a load mechanically coupled to the hybrid power train. The hybrid power train further includes a clutch coupled to the engine and the second electrical torque provider on a first side, and coupled to the first electrical torque provider and the load on a second side. The system further includes an electrical energy storage device electrically coupled to the electrical torque providers. The system further includes a controller that performs operations to smooth torque commands for the engine and the second electrical torque provider in response to determining that a clutch engage-disengage event occurring or imminent. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222264 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING POWER OUTPUT DISTRIBUTION IN A HYBRID POWER TRAIN - A method includes operating a hybrid power train having an internal combustion engine and an electrical torque provider. The method further includes determining a machine power demand and an audible noise limit value for the internal combustion engine. The method includes determining a power division description in response to the machine power demand and the audible noise limit value, and operating the internal combustion engine and the electrical torque provider in response to the power division description. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222265 | AC/DC HYBRID ELECTRIC DRIVETRAIN SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE ELECTRIC VEHICLES - Described is a three-part electric vehicle drivetrain architecture incorporating (1) a hybrid motor assembly incorporating both AC and DC motor architectures to combine high power of the DC motor with the efficiency of the AC motor, (2) a power stage that delivers the precise amount of the electrical energy to the motors, and (3) a microprocessor-based control system that performs all the control functions of the drivetrain. In the hybrid AC/DC motor assembly, the DC motor and one AC motor are arranged back to back with their driveshafts mechanically coupled. In this arrangement, the motors are integrated into one unit by removing back/front plates and replacing individual shafts with a single shaft. Mechanical connection of such a motor assembly to the wheels is performed via the conventional transmission/driveshaft. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222266 | INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL UNIT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY VEHICLE - An integrated electronic power control unit of an environmentally-friendly vehicle that may reduce costs and enhance structure and space utilization by integrally configuring at least two or more electronic power control units (EPCUs) disposed within the environmentally-friendly vehicle. The integrated electronic power control unit (EPCU) includes a plurality of EPCUs such as a motor control unit (MCU), a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC), or a hybrid control unit (HCU), wherein at least one or more components of the plurality of EPCUs are integrated. In addition, the integrated electronic power control unit includes a hardware failure management unit (HFM) that is configured to detect and manage a failure of hardware including the at least one or more integrated components. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222267 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL OF A VEHICLE - Method for controlling a vehicle that includes a support, at least one wheel, a platform coupled to the at least one wheel, a coupling structure having a support portion coupled to the support and a platform portion coupled to the platform that allows the support portion to move or slide fore and aft with respect to the platform portion, an actuator coupled to the coupling structure to control the position of the support portion relative to the platform portion, a drive coupled to the at least one wheel to deliver power to the at least one wheel to propel the vehicle and maintain the platform level, and a controller coupled to the drive to control the drive and coupled to the actuator to control the actuator. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222268 | BICYCLE CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle control apparatus is basically provided for controlling a bicycle in which a first rotational force of a crank and a second rotational force of an electric riding assistance motor for riding assistance are transmitted to a rear sprocket. The bicycle control apparatus includes a rotational force detector and a controller. The rotational force detector is configured to detecting the first rotational force imparted to the bicycle crank. The controller is programmed to reduce the second rotational force of the electric riding assistance motor to actuate a transmission of the bicycle in accordance with the first rotational force detected by the rotational force detector. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222269 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID VEHICLE - Embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting the engine and a shift-down action of the transmission while assuring not only a reduction of the heat generated by a clutch, but also an improvement in the response of the vehicle to an operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode, a time of initiation of the shift-down action of the transmission is delayed by a longer length of time when a temperature of the clutch upon initiation of an engine starting control to start the engine is relatively high than when the temperature is relatively low. Various other embodiments of control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles are also described. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222270 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID VEHICLE - The embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting of an engine and a shift-down action of a transmission, while assuring a reduction of heat generated by a clutch and an improvement of a response of the hybrid vehicle to a vehicle operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that, when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode, a rate of change of the input speed of said transmission is lower than when only the shift-down action is required to be performed, such that the rate of change of the input speed is relatively low when the input speed of the transmission to be established upon completion of the shift-down action is relatively high. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222271 | AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOT INDUCTIVE CHARGING SYSTEM - Systems and method for inductive charging of autonomous mobile robots are provided. The systems and methods increase safety and reduce contaminants such as metal particles in a clean room environment reduce impurities in charging that increase the transfer resistance during charging. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222272 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE DRIVING STABILITY - The invention relates to a method for improving the driving stability of a motor vehicle in which driver-independent braking interventions are triggered if a critical driving situation is to be expected on the basis of route information and instantaneous position data of the motor vehicle, and to a corresponding system. According to the invention, the driver predefines, via a human/machine interface, information about the maximum coefficient of friction to be utilized, which is used as the basis for the prediction of a critical driving situation. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222273 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE - Systems and methods for learning torque estimate errors and updating torque estimation models are presented. In one example, torque errors are learned during an engine shut-down, after a disconnect clutch coupled between an engine and an electric machine has been released. An updated torque estimation model is then used to control torque during subsequent engine operation to improve drive feel and vehicle performance. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222274 | HYBRID EXCAVATOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING HYBRID EXCAVATOR - A hybrid excavator includes a control unit that is arranged at an upper turning body and is configured to supply a drive signal to at least one of a motor generator control part and a charge/discharge control part. During a regeneration operation performed by a motor, the control unit sets an electrical energy storage target value for a second electrical energy storage device to a higher value than an electrical energy storage target value for a first electrical energy storage. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222275 | HYBRID VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR SETTING SPECIFICATIONS OF ENGINE AND MOTOR/GENERATOR IN HYBRID VEHICLE - A hybrid vehicle ( | 2014-08-07 |
20140222276 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF UNMANNED VEHICLES - Control units ( | 2014-08-07 |
20140222277 | DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - Methods and control systems are provided for automatically controlling operation of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the control system includes an exterior sensor for sensing the environment outside the vehicle. A processor is in communication with the exterior sensor and configured to calculate a driving plan of the vehicle based at least partially on the sensed environment outside the vehicle. The processor is also configured to calculate a confidence level of the driving plan of the vehicle based at least partially on the sensed environment around the vehicle. The control system also includes a display in communication with the processor and configured to receive data from the processor and display a representation of at least one of the driving plan and the confidence level. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222278 | AUTONOMOUS DRIVING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - Information regarding a vehicle is acquired by a vehicle information acquisition unit provided in the vehicle, and an object to be avoided is detected by an avoidance-target object detection unit. On the basis of the vehicle information and the distance and angle of the object to be avoided, the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided are calculated by a peripheral information recognition unit, and the calculation accuracy of the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided are determined by a driving maneuver determination unit. On the basis of the calculation accuracy of the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided, a driving maneuver for avoiding the object to be avoided is determined, and autonomous driving control is implemented in accordance with the driving maneuver that is determined. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222279 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF A SURFACE BY AN AUTONOMOUS ROBOT - A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222280 | VEHICULAR VISION SYSTEM - A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing forwardly of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive at least in part to a determination that the vehicle is at a red light and the red light turns green and another vehicle in front of the vehicle moves forwardly away from the vehicle, the system may generate an alert to the driver of the vehicle. The system may include a camera that views rearwardly of the vehicle. Responsive to a determination that the vehicle is approaching an object present forwardly of the vehicle, the system may apply a vehicle brake to mitigate a collision with the determined object, and the system may reduce application of the vehicle brakes to mitigate a rear collision by a determined following vehicle. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222281 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ON-BOARD/OFF-BOARD FAULT DETECTION - A method for monitoring a subsystem of a subject vehicle includes, in an off-board environment, executing a controller-based scheme. The scheme includes determining a plurality of residuals based upon expected and observed states of parameters associated with operation of the subsystem, determining a subsystem operating signature based upon the residuals, employing the subsystem operating signature to isolate a subsystem fault, and communicating the subsystem fault to an on-board controller of the subject vehicle. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222282 | SECURED REPAIR DATA PACKAGE - An arrangement for storing a data set in an ECU in a vehicle control system, wherein the arrangement includes a computer connected to the vehicle, where the computer is adapted to execute an access application, where the access application includes vehicle specific information and service action specific information, and where the information is encrypted, where the arrangement is adapted to decrypt the vehicle specific information and the service action specific information, to unlock the vehicle ECU by sending a password from the computer to the ECU, to perform a service action by storing service action specific information in the ECU, to lock the ECU by sending a lock command to the ECU from the computer, and to corrupt the access application software such that it cannot be used again. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222283 | Diagnostic Fluid Flow De-Restrictor Apparatus and Method - The present invention is directed toward apparatuses for cleaning or cooling a vehicle component and methods of installing and operating such apparatuses on vehicle components, such as radiators of newly manufactured vehicles or radiators of used vehicles, vehicle air filters, oil filters or other suitable components. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222284 | METHOD FOR MONITORING A WHEEL OF A RAIL VEHICLE - A method for monitoring a wheel mounted on a bogie of a rail vehicle. The method includes detecting a deformation of a brake for braking the wheel in a wheel circumferential direction of the wheel and checking the plausibility of the detected deformation based on a comparison with a target alignment. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222285 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PTO ACCESSORY - A system and method for controlling movement of a vehicle body is disclosed. The system and method determines conditions operator input, vehicle speed, and a selected gear. PTO engagement, hydraulic valve displacement, and engine speed commands are determined in response to the conditions. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222286 | VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH YAW RATE DETERMINATION - A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at or proximate to an in-cabin portion of a windshield of the vehicle. The camera has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through the windshield of the vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data. A control includes an image processor that is operable to process captured image data to determine lane delimiters present in the field of view of the camera. The control connects to a vehicle communication bus of the vehicle and receives vehicle data via the vehicle communication bus. Responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by the image processor and to vehicle data received via the vehicle communication bus, the control determines a yaw rate. The control provides the determined yaw rate to a driver assistance system of the vehicle. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222287 | SUSPENSION CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle mounted time of flight camera provides repeating images of the scene ahead of a vehicle. Such images are processed to determine topographical features in the scene, and the vehicle suspension is commanded to adopt in advance a configuration appropriate to the nature of the topographical features. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222288 | TRAILER ACTIVE BACK-UP ASSIST WITH OBJECT AVOIDANCE - A trailer back-up assist apparatus comprises an obstacle sensing system operable to output information characterizing proximity of a object adjacent to a vehicle-trailer combination while the vehicle-trailer combination is being backed toward a targeted location and a trailer back-up assist system correction apparatus coupled to the obstacle sensing system. The trailer back-up assist system uses the information characterizing proximity of the object to determine if a path of the vehicle-trailer combination needs to be altered to limit a potential of the vehicle-trailer combination colliding with the object and implements a path correction action to alter the path of travel of the vehicle-trailer combination to reduce the potential for the vehicle-trailer combination colliding with the object. | 2014-08-07 |
20140222289 | DRIVE SUPPORT APPARATUS - To improve traveling safety of a vehicle by continuing an alarm after the end of a crash prevention control for preventing a crash between an own vehicle and a target object, a drive support apparatus of the invention detects the target object which exists in a predetermined detection area ahead of the own vehicle, starts to issue an alarm with an alarm generating part to a driver of the own vehicle if probability of a crash between the own vehicle and the target object is greater than a predetermined value, start a crash prevention control in which an automatic driving operation is performed for preventing the crash with the target object, and continues to issue the alarm until a predetermined timing (timing when the driver of the own vehicle performs a predetermined driving operation, for example) after the crash prevention control by the crash prevention controlling part has been ended. | 2014-08-07 |