29th week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 49 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130184827 | SPINAL IMPLANT - According to some embodiments, a method for promoting spinal fusion using a spinal implant comprises providing a spinal implant, wherein the spinal implant comprises an anterior wall, a posterior wall and two lateral walls configured to extend between the anterior wall and the posterior wall. In some embodiments, the spinal implant further comprises at least one internal chamber generally positioned between the anterior wall, the posterior wall and the two lateral walls, wherein the internal chamber being is adapted to receive at least one graft and/or other fill material. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the graft and/or other fill material delivered into the internal chamber is configured to exit through the one or more of the openings of the anterior wall. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184828 | Prosthesis for Cervical and Lumbar Spine - The present invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis for the total replacement of an intervertebral disc of the cervical or lumbar spine. The prosthesis provided by the invention is intended for coupled physiological motion within the disc space. The design of the disclosed prosthesis is based on an inlay positioned within the articulation area of two adjacent sliding partners and provides the advantage of comprising a ball and socket shaped articulation area, which enables limitation of rotation around the sagittal, frontal and longitudinal axis. The inlay is protected against luxation due to its position within a recess of one of the adjacent sliding partners. An additional protuberance going through the inlay is protecting against luxation of the adjacent sliding | 2013-07-18 |
20130184829 | FIXED-BEARING KNEE PROSTHESIS HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS - A fixed-bearing prosthesis includes a femoral component having a medial condyle surface and a lateral condyle surface. The knee prosthesis also includes a bearing having a medial bearing surface configured to articulate with the medial condyle surface of the femoral component, and a lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with the lateral condyle surface of the femoral component. A tibial tray is secured to the bearing. The tibial tray has a platform with an elongated stem extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof. A posterior buttress extends along a posterior section of the perimeter of the tray's platform, and an anterior buttress extends along an anterior section of the perimeter of the tray's platform. Differently-sized tibial trays are interchangeable with differently-sized bearings. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184830 | FIXED-BEARING KNEE PROSTHESIS HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS - A fixed-bearing prosthesis includes a femoral component having a medial condyle surface and a lateral condyle surface. The knee prosthesis also includes a bearing having a medial bearing surface configured to articulate with the medial condyle surface of the femoral component, and a lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with the lateral condyle surface of the femoral component. A tibial tray is secured to the bearing. The tibial tray has a platform with an elongated stem extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof. A posterior buttress extends along a posterior section of the perimeter of the tray's platform, and an anterior buttress extends along an anterior section of the perimeter of the tray's platform. Differently-sized tibial trays are interchangeable with differently-sized bearings. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184831 | PROSTHETIC COMPONENT - The invention relates to a prosthesis comprising a first component ( | 2013-07-18 |
20130184832 | Acetabular prosthetic device - An acetabular prosthetic device comprising at least one acetabular augment coupled to an acetabular cup by an augment coupling element to secure the acetabular prosthetic device in place wherein the acetabular cup comprises a shell having at least one groove formed on the outer surface thereof to slidably receive the augment coupling element therein and the acetabular augment comprises an augment body configured to engage the shell and the ilia bone such that the augment coupling element is moved along the groove to position the acetabular body to engage both the shell and ilia bone to secure the acetabular prosthetic device in place. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184833 | REDUCED WIRE PROFILE STENT - Methods and apparatuses of stents with likely reduced rates of tissue perforation are provided. Some embodiments include reducing the profile of a portion of the stent using a wire profile reduction electropolishing bath and/or other wire profile reduction means. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184834 | HEAD COMPONENT OF AN ORTHOPAEDIC JOINT PROSTHESIS - A kit for use in a procedure for implantation of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis includes a head component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis, which comprises a body part having a convex bearing surface, and a reverse face at which the head component can be connected to a mating component of the joint prosthesis, in which the head component has a chamfer surface extending around at least part of its periphery where the bearing and reverse faces come together, and a plurality of markings on the chamfer surface. The kit includes a trial head component which comprises a body part having a convex trial bearing surface and a reverse face, in which the trial head component has a plurality of markings on the trial bearing surface at or towards the interface between it and the reverse face. The transverse dimensions of the head component are approximately the same as the transverse dimensions of the trial head component, and in which the location of the markings on the chamfer surface around the periphery of the head component corresponds to the location of the markings on the trial bearing surface of the trial head component around its periphery. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184835 | BIODEGRADABLE SCAFFOLDS - In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions that comprise: (1) a biodegradable polymer matrix; and (2) at least one biodegradable reinforcing particle that is dispersed in the matrix. In some embodiments, the biodegradable reinforcing particle is selected from the group consisting of porous oxide particles and porous semiconductor particles. In additional embodiments, the compositions of the present invention further comprise a (3) porogen particle that is also dispersed in the matrix. In further embodiments, the compositions of the present invention are also associated with one or more active agents. In various embodiments, the active agents are associated with the biodegradable polymer matrix, the biodegradable reinforcing particle, and/or the porogen particle. In various embodiments, the compositions of the present invention may be utilized as scaffolds, such as scaffolds for treating bone defects. Further embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of making the compositions of the present invention. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184836 | SUSPENSION LINER SYSTEM WITH SEAL - A suspension liner sleeve adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, and having outer and inner surfaces. The liner sleeve includes an elongate, generally conical body portion formed from at least one material segment defining the liner outer surface. The at least one material segment being at least radially elastically extensible from a relaxed non-extended condition and including proximal and distal end areas. The liner sleeve includes a layer of polymeric material disposed on the at least one material segment and defining the liner sleeve inner surface, and a plurality of resilient seal elements protruding radially from the liner sleeve outer surface. The plurality of seal elements extend around at least one peripheral portion of the liner body portion. A pair of opposed annular recesses may be adjacently located above and below each of the at least one seal element. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184837 | COMPENSATING FOR SETPOINT CHANGES IN A NON-PERIODICALLY UPDATED CONTROLLER - A technique for controlling a process using non-periodically received process variable measurements enables more robust controller responses to setpoint changes. The control technique implements iterations of a control routine to generate a control signal using a reset or rate contribution component that produces an expected process response to the control signal. When a new measurement of the process variable is unavailable to the controller, the reset or rate contribution component that was generated in response to the receipt of the previous process variable is maintained when generating the control signal. However, the reset contribution component is iteratively recalculated during each controller execution cycle so that the output of the reset contribution component incorporates expected process changes that occur as a result of a setpoint change. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184838 | RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION USING ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONDITION-BASED MONITORING - In a method for dynamically optimizing resource utilization in a system over time according to one or more objectives, data including information indicative of current environmental conditions, upcoming environmental conditions, a current state of a system configuration, and current system operating conditions is dynamically updated. Automatic analysis of the data using a probabilistic model based on conditional relationships is performed periodically. For each periodically generated set of possible system control actions, a probabilistic model is used to automatically analyze each possible system control action and an optimal system control action is selected based on a set of current utility functions. For each periodically generated set of possible system control actions, control of the system according to the optimal system control action selected from the possible system control actions. Resource optimization couples condition-based and environmental monitoring with automated reasoning and decision making technologies, to develop real time optimal control and decision strategies. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184839 | Dialogue System and Method for Examining a Machining Process - A dialogue system for examining a processing operation carried out on a machine tool and establishing a proposal for improving at least one quality feature of a subsequent processing operation, the dialogue system having input means to predetermine the quality feature to be improved and a proposal module which, by accessing stored expert knowledge, can establish at least one proposal for improving the quality feature. In some implementations, the proposal module is operable to read data established by one or more of a machine tool sensor system and image data of a processed workpiece together with associated material and processing data to provide the proposal. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184840 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COUPLING AN AUTOMATION CONTROLLER AND SCALEABLE MODULE - System and method related to a control system including an automation controller with a module bay configured to facilitate coupling with scalable modules. The module bay of the automation controller includes a plurality of bay connectors configured to communicatively couple with the scalable module connectors. The module bay may include an open end to facilitate extension beyond an edge of the open end by a module or a closed end. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184841 | Performance Monitoring Systems and Methods - We have disclosed systems and methods for monitoring an individual's athletic performance. Methods may include determining performance parameter data during an athletic activity, determining position parameter data by a global positioning satellite receiver during an athletic activity, correlating the data with a characteristic of a route traversed by an individual during the activity, and generating a graphical display of representation of the route based on the data. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184842 | INCREASED SPEED OF PROCESSING OF DATA RECEIVED OVER A COMMUNICATIONS LINK - A method and apparatus for processing data samples utilizes a channel map populated by device descriptor, or by an application program interface. Packet processing code loops through all of the samples contained in a packet while incrementing through a channel map and steering table without having to look up a table to determine in what audio buffer the sample is to be stored or read. Additionally, the present invention utilizes a stride map, so the audio subsystem knows how many samples to skip in order to reach the next sample frame. The present invention can be used for handling received packets as well as forming packets to send over a bus. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184843 | Performance Monitoring and Audio Playback Apparatuses and Methods - We have disclosed methods of controlling audio playback at a portable performance monitoring device. These methods may include playing music at a first volume, receiving athletic performance parameter data from a sensor at a portable performance monitoring device, reducing the volume of the music played while continuing to play the music, playing audio performance feedback with a portable performance monitoring device while music plays, and returning the volume to the first volume. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184844 | DISTRIBUTION BACKBONE - Digitally distributing media content using a distribution backbone system, including: receiving a request for media content from a client, the request including a client profile; performing inventory and analysis of source assets by iteratively progressing through the client profile to create output; performing a capability mapping in which a series of rules that allow the source assets to be mapped to the client profile; and planning a manufacturing process, which determines work items and execution steps from capabilities mapped in response to the request for media content from the client. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184845 | ON-DEMAND PRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESSORIES - An on-demand production system for accessories for use with electronic devices is configured to generate digital templates defining the design of the accessories and provide the digital templates to retail or other locations. The retail or other locations may receive access to the digital templates automatically and/or electronically within a week, a day, or even minutes, of the digital template being created. When a customer requests an accessory, the digital template may be accessed. Using an electronic production machine and a supply of stock material, the accessory can be cut, formed, printed, or otherwise produced based on instructions or designs of the digital template. The electronic production machine may automatically read the digital template to automate the production at a retail location. The electronic production machine may produce the accessory on-demand, and production of the accessory may be completed within two hours, or potentially within ten minutes, of a request. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184846 | USING DYNAMIC DATA TO DETERMINE A MATERIAL PROFILE FOR EARPIECE - The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184847 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENABLING AND DISABLING OPERATION OF MANUFACTURING MACHINES - A system for enabling and disabling operation of manufacturing machines provides a manufacturing machine user interface that facilitates receiving quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine from a user. For quality assurance purposes, the computer system of the manufacturing machine may decide whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information. The computer system of the manufacturing machine may also decide to disable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information provided is incomplete, out of date, or otherwise insufficient to indicate the manufacturing machine is ready for safe and effective operation. In some embodiments, one or more client systems, telecommunications devices, and/or personal digital assistant (PDA) devices on which the user interface is displayed and with which the manufacturing machine is in communication may enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184848 | Retrofitting Cleanroom Fabricators into Cleanspace Fabricators - The present invention provides various methods for forming cleanspace fabricators by retrofitting a structure of an existing cleanroom based fabricator. In some embodiments, a cleanspace fabricator is formed within a region of a cleanroom fabricator which is not transformed. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184849 | EFFICIENT TRANSFER OF MATERIALS IN MANUFACTURING - Methods for automated handling for forming a device and automated handling systems for forming a device are presented. One of the methods includes providing a production area with a plurality of destinations and a transport system which includes transport and load/unload (U/L) units in the production area. The transport units include automated guided vehicles (AGVs) with a storage compartment for holding at least one carrier containing production material for forming the device and U/L units include AGVs with a robotic system for handling carriers. A transfer of a selected carrier from a first destination to a second destination is determined. A request to the transport system is issued to effect the transfer of the selected carrier, which includes using a selected U/L unit, a selected transport unit, or a combination of selected U/L and transport units. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184850 | Apparatus for the centralized management of operating machines for the production of food products - An apparatus for the centralized management of one or more operating machines for the production of food products includes a display and control device suitable for containing recipes and production cycles of processed and semi-processed products, to which the recipes refer, and commanding and controlling, in a centralized manner, the operation of the operating machines; and connection and communication means for connecting the display and control device to the control unit of each machine of the operating machines. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184851 | PROCESSING APPARATUS, TOOL, PROCESSING METHOD, AND METHOD FOR SETTING PROCESSING POSITION - This processing apparatus includes a tool processing a protruding portion of a sheet member covering a base substrate protruding from the base substrate and a control portion mechanically or electrically detecting a position where the tool comes into contact with the base substrate and acquiring a processing position based on the position where the tool comes into contact with the base substrate. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184852 | NUMERICAL CONTROL DEVICE - A numerical control device including a collision determining unit that detects a possibility of collision between a machine and an area set as an entry prohibited area; an operation-continuation instructing unit that instructs whether to continue an operation when the collision determining unit detects the possibility of collision and shaft movement is temporarily stopped; a machining-information storage unit that stores internal operation information of the numerical control device regarding the temporary stop when the operation-continuation instructing unit instructs continuation of the operation; and a collision-determination processing unit that invalidates a collision determination on the basis of the operation information stored in the machining-information storage unit when executing the same machining program the next and subsequent times | 2013-07-18 |
20130184853 | Multi-Franctional Coal Sorter and Method of Use Thereof - Disclosed herein are methods of sorting coal into multiple fractions based upon x-ray absorption and size characteristics in order to remove rocks and other contaminants of various sizes from coal. The use of such dry processing of coal is desirable as it reduces pollution and transportation costs. The multi-fractional sorting of coal is a more efficient manner for identifying and removing rock and contaminants from coal. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184854 | ROBOTIC AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM MIXED PALLET BUILD SYSTEM - A robotic automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) mixed pallet build system includes a rack that includes two or more verticals levels upon which items are stored. The system includes a three-dimensional robotic AS/RS that includes a carriage, robot arm, vertical lift, and horizontal propulsion system. The items from the rack are loaded upon the carriage to create a pallet. The robot arm is configured to stack the items from the racks onto the pallet. The vertical lift is configured to move the carriage vertically between the vertical levels of the racks. The horizontal propulsion system is configured to move the carriage horizontally along the rack so that the carriage is able to service the entire length of the rack. The three-dimensional robotic AS/RS also includes a stretch wrapper that progressively secures the layers of items on the pallet to prevent the items from falling off the pallet. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184855 | SIMPLE DIFFRACTION GRATINGS FOR PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION - A system and method for identifying information related to an object. A radiation emitter is configured to direct radiation toward an object, the object including one or more diffraction gratings including encoded information related to the object. A detector is configured to receive modified radiation from the one or more diffraction gratings on the object and transfer the received modified radiation to a processing device operably connected to the detector. The processing device is configured to process the modified radiation and decode the information related to the object encoded in the one or more diffraction gratings. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184856 | DIGITAL MEDIA RENTAL AND RETURN KIOSK HAVING A THREE-POSITION LOCKABLE GATE MECHANISM AND METHODS OF OPERATING A DIGITAL MEDIA RENTAL AND RETURN KIOSK - A digital media rental and return kiosk includes a store arranged to store physical digital media items. The kiosk further includes a user interface (i) having a dispense and return slot, and (ii) arranged to enable a customer to interact with the kiosk to either rent a digital media item or return a digital media item through the slot. The kiosk also includes a delivery system arranged to (i) transport a digital media item to be rented from the store to the slot, and (ii) transport a digital media item to be returned from the slot to the store. The kiosk further includes a gate mechanism including a gate which is (i) movable from a closed position to a first opened position to allow a digital media item to be rented to be dispensed through the slot to a customer, and (ii) movable from the closed position to a second opened position which is different from the first opened position to allow a digital media item to be returned to be inserted through the slot by the customer. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184857 | HOME BAKING KIT WITH COMPUTER INTERFACE - A new range of ready to use home baking products, measured and proportioned, is provided for selection of the required ingredients for the type of cake required and bake. The general idea is that home bakers, without any special baking experience, knowledge or commercial baking background can bake professional tasting cake. The range contains unique concepts which are embodied in the kiosk and associated displays, which include pour and bake batter, dry cake mixes, Danish pastry dough, filling, toppings, icing, fondant and all the other typical ingredients necessary needed and involved in home cake baking, similar to the range of fresh baked commercial available goods. One stop shopping is provided in a kiosk, where not only are all the ingredients available but where the home baker can interface with a baking company's logo and computer display and vending of products for all the various information one may need. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184858 | AUTOMATED PAPER CONSUMPTION TRACKING AND AUDITING - An apparatus and computer program product for managing paper consumption. Responsive to dispensing a first amount of paper from a set of paper dispensers in which the first amount of paper is dispensed for an account, the set of paper dispensers updates the account based on the first amount of paper dispensed. Responsive to receiving a second amount of paper at a set of paper disposers in which the second amount of paper is received for the account, the set of disposers updates the account based on the second amount of paper received. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184859 | METHOD FOR TRACEABILITY OF GRAIN HARVEST CROP - A tracking device for assisting in traceability of grain includes a plastic body, an RFID chip disposed within the plastic body, and a weight comprised of a ferromagnetic material disposed within the plastic body. A method provides for dispensing tracking devices into a stream of grain so as to associate identifying information with the stream of grain. A system includes a dispensing device configured to singulate and dispense tracking devices into a flow of grain. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184860 | METHODS AND COMPUTER-PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR EVALUATING GRASP PATTERNS, AND ROBOTS INCORPORATING THE SAME - Methods and computer-program products for evaluating grasp patterns for use by a robot are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of evaluating grasp patterns includes selecting an individual grasp pattern from a grasp pattern set, establishing a thumb-up vector, and simulating the motion of the manipulator and the end effector according to the selected individual grasp pattern, wherein each individual grasp pattern of the grasp pattern set corresponds to motion for manipulating a target object. The method further includes evaluating a direction of the thumb-up vector during at least a portion of the simulated motion of the manipulator and the end effector, and excluding the selected individual grasp pattern from use by the robot if the direction of the thumb-up vector during the simulated motion is outside of one or more predetermined thresholds. Robots utilizing the methods and computer-program products for evaluating grasp patterns are also disclosed. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184861 | Humanoid Robot that can Dynamically Walk with Limited Available Footholds in the Presence of Disturbances - A control system for a bipedal humanoid robot that utilizes certain fundamental characteristics of bipedal motion to provide a robust and relatively simple balancing and walking mechanism. The system primarily utilizes the concept of “capturability,” which is defined as the ability of the robot to come to a stop without falling by taking N or fewer steps. This ability is considered crucial to legged locomotion and is a useful, yet not overly restrictive criterion for stability. In the preferred embodiment, the bipedal robot is maintained in a 1-step capturable state. This means that future step-locating and driving decisions are made so that the robot may always be brought to a balanced halt with the taking of one step. Other embodiments maintain the bipedal robot in an N-step capturable state, in which the robot may always brought to a balanced halt by taking N or fewer steps. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184862 | TRANSFER SYSTEM - A transfer system according to an embodiment includes a robot and a determination unit. The robot includes robot hands that hold a workpiece in a thin plate shape and that are located at different heights. The determination unit determines the robot hands that hold the workpiece based on a combination of temperature of the workpiece to be held by each of the robot hands. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184863 | REMOTE CONTROLLED ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY - An actuator main body ( | 2013-07-18 |
20130184864 | Discovery and Monitoring of an Environment Using a Plurality of Robots - Techniques are provided for discovery and monitoring of an environment using a plurality of robots. A plurality of robots navigate an environment by determining a navigation buffer for each of the robots; and allowing each of the robots to navigate within the environment while maintaining a substantially minimum distance from other robots, wherein the substantially minimum distance corresponds to the navigation buffer, and wherein a size of each of the navigation buffers is reduced over time based on a percentage of the environment that remains to be navigated. The robots can also navigate an environment by obtaining a discretization of the environment to a plurality of discrete regions; and determining a next unvisited discrete region for one of the plurality of robots to explore in the exemplary environment using a breadth-first search. The plurality of discrete regions can be, for example, a plurality of real or virtual tiles. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184865 | Discovery and Monitoring of an Environment Using a Plurality of Robots - Techniques are provided for discovery and monitoring of an environment using a plurality of robots. A plurality of robots navigate an environment by determining a navigation buffer for each of the robots; and allowing each of the robots to navigate within the environment while maintaining a substantially minimum distance from other robots, wherein the substantially minimum distance corresponds to the navigation buffer, and wherein a size of each of the navigation buffers is reduced over time based on a percentage of the environment that remains to be navigated. The robots can also navigate an environment by obtaining a discretization of the environment to a plurality of discrete regions; and determining a next unvisited discrete region for one of the plurality of robots to explore in the exemplary environment using a breadth-first search. The plurality of discrete regions can be, for example, a plurality of real or virtual tiles. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184866 | ROBOTS, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS, AND METHODS FOR TRAJECTORY PLAN OPTIMIZATION - Robots, computer program products, and methods for trajectory plan optimization are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a robot having a first manipulator and a second manipulator includes receiving a trajectory plan including a plurality of sequential motion segments. The method further includes determining a moveable motion segment, and shifting the moveable motion segment and motion segments subsequent to the moveable motion segment backward in time to a shifted time such that one or more unshifted segments of the trajectory plan occur at a same time as one or more shifted segment segments. The method may further include controlling the robot according to the optimized trajectory plan such that one or more components of the first manipulator are moved concurrently with one or more components of the second manipulator. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184867 | ROBOT AND METHOD TO RECOGNIZE AND HANDLE EXCEPTIONAL SITUATIONS - A robot and method to recognize and handle abnormal situations includes a sensing unit to sense internal and external information of the robot, a storage unit to store the information sensed by the sensing unit, an inference model, a learning model, services providable by the robot, subtasks to provide the services, and handling tasks to handle abnormal situations, and a controller to determine whether an abnormal situation has occurred while the subtasks to provide the selected service are being performed through the learning model in the storage unit and to select a handling task to handle the abnormal situation through the inference model in the storage unit if it is determined that the abnormal situation occur. The robot may recognize and handle abnormal situations even though data other than that defined by a designer of the robot is input thereto due to noises or operational environment. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184868 | ROBOT CONTROLLER, ROBOT SYSTEM, ROBOT CONTROL METHOD - A robot controller includes a force control unit that outputs a correction value of a target track of a robot based on a detected sensor value acquired from a force sensor, a target value output unit that obtains a target value by performing correction processing on the target track based on the correction value and outputs the obtained target value, and a robot control unit that performs feedback control of the robot based on the target value. The force control unit includes an impedance processor that obtains a solution of a differential equation in force control as the correction value before the conversion processing, and a nonlinear convertor that obtains the correction value after the conversion processing by performing nonlinear conversion processing on the correction value before the conversion processing acquired from the impedance processor and outputs the obtained correction value after the conversion processing. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184869 | ROBOT CONTROLLER, ROBOT SYSTEM, ROBOT CONTROL METHOD - A robot controller includes a force control unit that outputs a correction value of a target track of a robot based on a detected sensor value acquired from a force sensor, a target value output unit that obtains a target value by performing correction processing on the target track based on the correction value and outputs the obtained target value, and a robot control unit that performs feedback control of the robot based on the target value. Further, the force control unit performs first force control when an external force direction indicated by the detected sensor value is a first direction, and performs second force control different from the first force control when the external force direction is a second direction opposite to the first direction. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184870 | METHODS AND COMPUTER-PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR GENERATING GRASP PATTERNS FOR USE BY A ROBOT - Methods and computer program products for generating robot grasp patterns are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for generating robot grasp patterns includes generating a plurality of approach rays associated with a target object. Each approach ray of the plurality of approach rays extends perpendicularly from a surface of the target object. The method further includes generating at least one grasp pattern for each approach ray to generate a grasp pattern set of the target object, calculating a grasp quality score for each individual grasp pattern of the grasp pattern set, and comparing the grasp quality score of each individual grasp pattern with a grasp quality threshold. The method further includes selecting individual grasp patterns of the grasp pattern set having a grasp quality score that is greater than the grasp quality threshold, and providing the selected individual grasp patterns to the robot for on-line manipulation of the target object. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184871 | ROBOT ARM CONTROL APPARATUS, ROBOT ARM CONTROL METHOD, ROBOT, ROBOT ARM CONTROL PROGRAM, AND INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT - A robot arm includes a grip part which is structured to be separated from an end effector attached to the robot arm. When the grip part is gripped by the user and shifted, the robot arm shifts tracking the grip part. Further, the grip part includes contact sensors, and a tracking control method is switched according to the value of the contact sensors. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184872 | ELECTRIC LOCK CONTROL CIRCUIT AND METHOD - An electric lock control circuit and method allow users to control an electric lock with a reference password pertaining to a parameter related to at least two dimensions. The circuit includes a substrate, a memory unit, an input unit, and a processing unit. The memory unit stores the reference password. The input unit rotates in a space of at least two dimensions to generate a parameter signal related to at least two dimensions. The processing unit encodes the parameter signal to turn the parameter signal into an input code and outputs an unlocking signal or a locking signal based on a result of comparison of the input code and the reference password to control the electric lock. Controlling the electric lock with a reference password pertaining to a parameter related to at least two dimensions enhances confidentiality and complexity of the electric lock. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184873 | CONTROL APPARATUS OF MANIPULATOR SYSTEM, MANIPULATOR SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD OF MANIPULATOR SYSTEM - A manipulator system includes a slave control circuit. The slave control circuit generates termination identification information representing a termination form at the time of termination of the manipulator system, stores the termination identification information, and reads the termination identification information at the time of activation of the manipulator system. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184874 | ENHANCED PREMISES MONITORING AND/OR CONTROL - Enhancements to premises monitor or control device (e.g., thermostats, etc) are detailed herein. For example, enhanced relating to simplification of scheduling, are described as well as other enhancements relating to reducing device costs or consumption costs, providing richer features or more robust feature sets, and/or delivering associated product or services with increased simplicity, convenience, or ease. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184875 | NEED IDENTIFYING DEVICE, AIR-CONDITIONING CONTROLLING SYSTEM, NEED IDENTIFYING METHOD, AND AIR-CONDITIONING CONTROLLING METHOD - An air-conditioning controlling system includes a need identifying device, a control plan storage device that stores, respectively for a temporary need and a persistent need, control plans that establish rules for changing a control setting value for air-conditioning in response to a need relating to air-conditioning from an informant, a control plan determining device that determines a control plan corresponding to an identification result of the need identifying device, as a control plan to be applied to an air-conditioning equipment, and an equipment controlling device that controls the air-conditioning equipment based on the determined control plan. The need identifying device includes an inputting unit that receives the need from the informant, and a need identifying unit that identifies whether the need is the temporary need or the persistent need, based on information pertaining to an activity that changes a metabolic rate of the informant. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184876 | Managing Power Consumption In A User Space - Managing power consumption in a user space that includes user devices and motion detectors includes monitoring user presence within the space including: monitoring the user devices for user activity, where user activity indicates user presence within the space; and monitoring the motion detectors for user movement, where user movement indicates user presence within the space; if the user devices and motion detectors indicate no user presence within the space, setting one or more environmental control devices to a reduced power consumption state; and if the user devices and motion detectors indicate user presence within the space, setting the one or more environmental control devices to operate in a user-present power consumption state. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184877 | PUMPING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IT - A pumping system ( | 2013-07-18 |
20130184878 | Systems and Methods for Tracing Nodes in an Electrical Network - Systems and methods for tracing nodes in an electrical network to, among other things, extract information from such nodes is disclosed. Such tracing can include a single, generic tracer software module that can communicate with one or more objective modules associated with each node or piece of equipment in the electrical network to implement the features described in embodiments herein. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184879 | SET OF SENSOR UNITS FOR COMMUNICATION ENABLED FOR STREAMING MEDIA DELIVERY WITH MONITORING AND CONTROL OF POWER USAGE OF CONNECTED APPLIANCES - A group of sensor devices is connected to the power line and configured for collecting power usage information and enabling power management to reduce the carbon foot print of the home, as well as to provide local area networking. In one embodiment of the invention, the devices include an intelligent master sensor and its sub-sets, such as a communication and power management sensor and a power control switch sensor. The master device is configured to collect, compile, and communicate the collected data via the web or other communication medium to the outside world. The master device also receives and distributes control instructions that are used to control the power usage via the associated switches in the home or office. The sensors are used in the home or office environment to provide integrated sensing and control of home power usage and power management, while establishing a LAN having communication capability, including streaming media delivery capability. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184880 | SYSTEM FOR BUILDING MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRICITY VIA NETWORK CONTROL OF POINT-OF-USE DEVICES - A system for monitoring and controlling electricity usage in a building includes a system control unit and an enhanced wiring device in wireless communication with the system control unit. The enhanced wiring device is hard-wired into the building electrical infrastructure, and is selected from the group consisting of an electrical outlet receptacle and an electrical power switch. The enhanced wiring device further includes a sensor for monitoring a stimulus parameter in a room of the building, a processor, at least one memory coupled to the processor, and program instructions stored on the at least one memory for execution by the processor to evaluate and communicate data from the sensor. The enhanced wiring device further includes an antenna for transmitting the sensor data to the system control unit, and a user interface connected to the system control unit adapted to configure and monitor data from the enhanced wiring device. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184881 | DEMAND RESPONSE ADAPTOR FOR CONNECTING A DEVICE TO A DEMAND RESPONSE SYSTEM OR HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM, DEVICE AND SUCH DEMAND RESPONSE ADAPTOR AND USE THEREOF - Demand response adaptor provided such that, depending on the device connected to the demand response adapter, the demand response control system can be provided with the second constraints corresponding to the device connected to the demand response adapter, wherein the demand response control system comprises software components for making the decision based on the first constraints, the second constraints and the third constraints, wherein the controller ( | 2013-07-18 |
20130184882 | POWER SUPPLY AND DEMAND LEVELING SYSTEM - The invention judges a total power supply/demand condition of the electricity consumers | 2013-07-18 |
20130184883 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO CONTROL SUBSYSTEMS - Control applications can access data regarding interrelations among subsystems of a system and parameter values of the subsystems through interfaces in a service oriented architecture. Control applications can be added to operate on existing subsystems and subsystems can be added without required customized control applications. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184884 | DISPATCHABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION, CONTROL AND STORAGE FACILITY - The present invention includes a system and method for generating, controlling and storing dispatchable renewable energy. The system may include one or more wind power generation facilities and one or more solar power generation facilities to generate power that can be stored by one or more storage facilities. The power can be supplied to a power grid at a level determined by actual or predicted weather conditions, based on variable power demands. The power generated by the renewable energy sources may be combined with power generated by conventional power generation facilities to provide power in a dispatchable manner. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184885 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT COMPUTER SYSTEM - The disclosure provides an energy management system that is based on a distributed architecture that includes networked energy management devices located at a plurality of sites and a collection of energy management program applications and modules implemented by a centralized energy management service unit. The energy management program applications and modules are responsible for facilitating customer access to the system, configuring energy management devices, and collecting, storing, and analyzing energy management data collected from the plurality of sites. The energy management system is adaptable to a wide variety of energy usage requirements and enables customers to configure energy management devices at customer sites using scheduling templates, to define and customize site groupings for device configuration and data analysis purposes, and to request and view various statistical views of collected energy usage data. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184886 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SMART CHARGING TECHNIQUES, VALUE AND GUARANTEE - A system and methods that enables smart charging for electric resources. A smart charging method may include smart charging customer guarantees. The charging behavior guarantee may comprise a guaranteed charging schedule that matches a regular charging schedule of an electric resource and provides power flow flexibility. A smart charging method may also include periodically updated schedules. In addition, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis. A smart charging benefit may include an impact resulting from the energy management system which is beneficial to an electric resource. A smart charging method may manage the charging behavior of the electric resources on a grid based on the smart charging benefit. Further, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis and smart charging customer guarantees. A smart charging method also may schedules with overrides, and may involve a method for local load management in the presence of uncontrolled loads. A smart charging method for managing electric resources may also provide direct control over prices-to-devices enabled devices. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184887 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ENERGY - A method of managing energy consumption in an enclosed spaced includes the step of providing temperature and foot traffic data to a plan generator. The method further includes the steps of generating an energy plan based on the temperature and foot traffic data and controlling one or more energy consuming devices based on the energy plan. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184888 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AND PROVIDING DISPATCHABLE OPERATING RESERVE ENERGY CAPACITY THROUGH USE OF ACTIVE LOAD MANAGEMENT - A utility employs a method for estimating available operating reserve. Electric power consumption by at least one device serviced by the utility is determined during at least one period of time to produce power consumption data. The power consumption data is stored in a repository. A determination is made that a control event is to occur during which power is to be reduced to one or more devices. Prior to the control event and under an assumption that it is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of the device(s) is estimated for a time period during which the control event is expected to occur based on the stored power consumption data. Additionally, prior to the control event, projected energy savings resulting from the control event are determined based on the devices' estimated power consumption behavior. An amount of available operating reserve is determined based on the projected energy savings. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184889 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COORDINATING ELECTRICAL NETWORK OPTIMIZATION - In one embodiment, a system includes a coordinated distribution optimization (CDO) system. The CDO system includes a processor configured to coordinate execution of a plurality of independent electrical network applications. Each of the plurality of independent electrical network applications is configured to alter one or more operational parameters of a power grid based on one or more respective objectives and based on power grid operational data, and the execution of the plurality of independent electrical network applications is coordinated by the CDO system to block the power grid from entering an abnormal state. The CDO system further comprises a network interface configured to receive the power grid operational data from a controller of the power grid, and wherein the power grid operational data comprises current values for the one or more operational parameters of the power grid. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184890 | DIGITAL WIRELESS NETWORK RECEPTACLE - A digital wireless network receptacle has an upper housing, two power sockets formed through the upper housing, a lower housing and a multi-layer mechanism mounted between the upper housing and the lower housing. A single microcontroller unit (MCU) is employed within the multi-layer mechanism so that an intelligent control circuit can be effectively integrated and received in the receptacle with standardized size and limited space. Each power socket of the receptacle is independently monitored and controlled, and power consumed from each power socket can be recorded to ensure a complete understanding of power usage. Besides transmission of power consumption information to a host server through a wireless network, automatic power breaking safety protection upon an overload or standby condition of electrical appliances can be provided. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184891 | UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY CONTROL - An example system includes a load, one or more power supplies to provide power to the load, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to provide power to the load, a logic device communicatively coupled to the one or more power supplies and the UPS, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the one or more power supplies and the UPS. The logic device is to receive an alternating current (AC) input failure signal and a direct current (DC) output failure signal from each of the one or more power supplies. The logic device is further to enable the UPS which was previously in standby or OFF mode in response to receiving at least one of the AC input failure signal and the DC output failure signal. The computing device is to monitor the one or more power supplies and disable the UPS. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184892 | BUILDING LOAD REDUCTION DURING DEMAND RESPONSE - Apparatuses, methods and systems for managing a building load reduction of a plurality of loads within a building are disclosed. One method includes assigning one or more loads of the plurality of loads to logical groups, assigning a sensitivity coefficient to each of the logical groups, wherein the sensitivity coefficient is directly proportional to an impact on occupants in the building to load changes, determining the baseline load for each of the logical groups, receiving a power reduction demand response, and reducing a load of each logical group based upon the sensitivity coefficient. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184893 | POWER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND MACHINE TOOL HAVING THE POWER-SUPPLY MANAGEMENT DEVICE - The present invention provides a power-supply management device which can efficiently connect and disconnect power supply to an electric-powered section, and a machine tool including the power-supply management device. The power-supply management device ( | 2013-07-18 |
20130184894 | ELECTRIC POWER GRID CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRIC POWER CONTROL - An electric power grid control system is provided with: distributed generators connected to an electric power grid; and voltage measurement units that measure voltage at connection points of the distributed generators to the electric power grid. When voltage at a connection point to the electric power grid deviates from a predetermined acceptable range, a centralized control device equally allocates a voltage adjustment amount for returning the voltage to the acceptable range to all distributed generators belonging to a predetermined group that was set in advance. Distribution processing devices cause the distributed generators to adjust voltage at the connection points in accordance with the voltage adjustment amount allocated from the centralized control device. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184895 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF DATA CARD - The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for controlling temperature of data card. The method includes the following steps: sampling the temperature of protected element on the data card; regulating the data transmission speed of the data card according to the sampled temperature to control the temperature of the data card. With the disclosure, the element aging or element damage of a wireless data card is avoided. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184896 | VEHICLE TRACKING MONITOR - The utility model discloses a vehicle tracking monitor, mainly comprising a master control unit, a power supply module, a GPS module and a GSM module, wherein the input end of the power supply module is electrically connected to a cigar lighter port on a vehicle and the output end thereof is connected with the master control unit; one end of the GPS module has a radio connection with a satellite, and the other end is connected with the master control unit for data transmission; one end of the GSM module has a radio connection with a computer server or a mobile phone, and the other end thereof is connected with the master control unit for data transmission. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184897 | SOLAR POWERED TRANSMITTER - An embodiment of a light powered transmitter configured for broadcasting an electromagnetic control field to a region is provided. The transmitter includes a housing having a longitudinal axis. The housing includes a photovoltaic cell configured to generate electrical power in response to light and a rechargeable power source configured to store at least a portion of the power generated by the photovoltaic cell. The housing also includes an electromagnetic transmitter and a directional antenna. The directional antenna can be configured to broadcast an electromagnetic (e.g., radio-frequency) control field to a region. The directional antenna can be rotatably mounted in the housing such that the antenna can be rotated around the longitudinal axis. The housing can further include a transparent or translucent optical element configured to receive the light and converge at least a portion of the light onto the photovoltaic cell. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184898 | Remote Operator Assistance for One or More User Commands in a Vehicle - Various embodiments relate to remote operator assistance for one or more user commands at a vehicle. The operator assistance may occur via a vehicle computing system. One or more instances of an unsuccessful attempt to perform a user command may be received by the vehicle computing system. After detection of a predetermined number of instances, a connection may be established, via the vehicle computing system, with a remotely located system. The remotely-located system may be operated by a human operator in order to assist with performance of the user command. An information exchange may be facilitated between the vehicle and the remotely located system operated by the human operator. The information exchange may relate to the user command. The user command may be performed in the vehicle based on information obtained from the remotely-located system. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184899 | METHOD FOR THE AUTOMATIC MONITORING OF AIR OPERATIONS NECESSITATING GUARANTEED NAVIGATION AND GUIDANCE PERFORMANCE - A method is disclosed for automatic monitoring of a flight management assembly of an aircraft implementing air operations necessitating guaranteed navigation and guidance performance, wherein flight path data generated by first and second flight management systems respectively, are compared in order to check their consistency; first and second flight management systems transmit their flight path data to a third flight management system; the third flight management system receives a current position of the aircraft, calculates deviations between this current position and a flight path depending on the flight path data received from the first and second flight management systems, which it utilizes only if they are identical, and calculates, according to these deviations, guidance commands for slaving onto this flight path. Monitoring can compare deviations and guidance commands received from the first second and third flight management systems in order to be able to detect an inconsistency between them. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184900 | VEHICLE ENERGY CONTROL SYSTEM WITH A SINGLE INTERFACE - A system for controlling energy of a vehicle, for example an aircraft, characterized in that it comprises:
| 2013-07-18 |
20130184901 | VEHICLE ENERGY AND POWER MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method of managing energy and/or power in a vehicle, including: one or more vehicle power systems adapted to control one or more power consuming components of the vehicle and one or more power producing components of the vehicle; and one or more propulsive power systems adapted to control a propulsive power unit of the vehicle. The method includes: proposing a vehicle route for a predetermined mission and/or destination; determining a time-based operational plan for each of the vehicle power consuming components; determining the power required by the vehicle power consuming components and the propulsive power required by the vehicle; determining the power required from the vehicle power producing components and the propulsive power required by the propulsive power unit as a function of time during the operational plan; and varying the proposed vehicle route and/or the operational plan to optimize a predetermined performance criterion for the vehicle. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184902 | PILOTING ASSISTANCE METHOD, A PILOTING ASSISTANCE DEVICE, AND AN AIRCRAFT - A piloting assistance device ( | 2013-07-18 |
20130184903 | AIRCRAFT POWER PLANT, AN AIRCRAFT, AND A METHOD OF PILOTING SAID AIRCRAFT - An aircraft power plant ( | 2013-07-18 |
20130184904 | VEHICLE OPERATOR DISPLAY AND ASSISTIVE MECHANISMS - Detailed are assistive mechanisms for vehicle operators designed to reduce risks associated with degraded landing and other situations. Some mechanisms may include a display with a visual indicator located within the peripheral field of view of an operator. Aural alerts may also be employed. Information suggesting degradation of, for example, ground deceleration performance may alert the operator to perform unusual or abnormal actions to mitigate hazards produced by the performance degradation. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184905 | VEHICLE SYSTEM CONTROL DEVICE - A diesel-hybrid control device according to the present invention generates an instruction signal for instructing about a driving force of a storage battery car constituting a vehicle system of a train and driven by a motor, and includes a driving-force instruction unit that generates an instruction signal for instructing about a driving force of a railcar constituting the vehicle system and driven by a diesel engine. The driving-force instruction unit generates an instruction signal for instructing to start driving the storage battery car and generates an instruction signal for instructing to be on standby for driving the railcar at a time of starting the train. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184906 | Control System For A Vehicle On An Incline - A system for a vehicle includes a vehicle stability module that receives a commanded torque value, that determines whether to apply the commanded torque value based on at least one vehicle position characteristic, a position of an accelerator pedal, and a brake status, and that selectively outputs instructions to apply the commanded torque value in response to the determination. A torque control module receives the instructions from the vehicle stability module and applies a torque, corresponding to the commanded torque value, to at least one wheel of the vehicle based on the instructions. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184907 | COORDINATION OF FUEL CUTOFF FOR FAULT DETECTION AND HYBRID OPERATION - A monitoring module selectively generates a request to at least one of: transition from providing rich fueling an engine to operating the engine in a fuel cutoff (FCO) state; and transition from operating the engine in the FCO state to providing rich fueling to the engine. In response to a response to the request, the monitoring module: selectively controls fueling to the engine to perform the at least one of the transitions; and selectively determines whether a fault is present in a component based on a response to the at least one of the transitions. A hybrid control module controls an electric motor of the hybrid vehicle and that selectively generates the response. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184908 | 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. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184909 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING POWER OUTPUT DISTRIBUTION IN A HYBRID POWER TRAIN - A method includes defining an application operating cycle and a number of behavior matrices for a hybrid power train that powers the application, each behavior matrix corresponding to operations of the hybrid power train operating in a parallel configuration. The method includes determining a number of behavior sequences corresponding to the behavior matrices and applied sequentially to the application operating cycle, confirming a feasibility of each of the behavior sequences, determining a fitness value corresponding to each of the feasible behavior sequences, in response to the fitness value determining whether a convergence value indicates that a successful convergence has occurred, and in response to determining that a successful convergence has occurred, determining a calibration matrix in response to the behavior matrices and fitness values. The method includes providing the calibration matrix to a hybrid power train controller. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184910 | 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, at least one electrical torque provider, and an electrical energy storage device electrically coupled to the electrical torque provider(s). The method further includes determining a machine power demand, and determining a power division description in response to the machine power demand. The method further includes interpreting a state-of-health (SOH) for the electrical energy storage device, and in response to the SOH for the electrical energy storage device, adjusting the power division description. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184911 | 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. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184912 | 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, in response to the machine power demand, determining a power division description. The method includes operating the internal combustion engine and the electrical torque provider in response to the power division description. The method further includes operating the internal combustion engine by starting the internal combustion engine in response to determining that a battery state-of-charge is below a predetermined threshold value. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184913 | 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 at least one electrical torque provider. The method further includes determining a machine power demand for the hybrid power train, and determining a power division between the internal combustion engine and the electrical torque provider in response to the machine power demand. The method further includes determining a state-of-charge (SOC) of an electrical energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least one electrical torque provider and interpreting a target SOC for the electrical energy storage device in response to a vehicle speed, and determining an SOC deviation for the electrical storage device, wherein the SOC deviation comprises a function of a difference between the SOC of the electrical energy storage device and the target SOC of the electrical energy storage device. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184914 | 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. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184915 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A VEHICLE - A method of controlling operational modes of a hybrid electric vehicle includes: determining whether an all-electric range (AER) of the vehicle is at or less than a first predetermined value; activating a first operational mode if the AER is determined to be at or less than the first predetermined vehicle; determining, while the first operational mode is active, whether the AER of the vehicle is greater than a second predetermined value; activating a second operational mode if the AER is determined to be greater than the second predetermined vehicle. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184916 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING AN ENGINE OR A DRIVE WHEEL - An apparatus and method for increasing the fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine including an electric motor and storage batteries to create a hybrid assist vehicle. The electric motor aids in the rotation of the components of the internal combustion engine including the engine crankshaft or drivetrain, and a control system aids in operation of the electric motor thereby reducing the consumption of fuel by the internal combustion engine. The apparatus and method may be used to provide electrical energy to a device separate from the components of the control system. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184917 | STAIR-CLIMBING WHEELED VEHICLE - An apparatus and method for supplying operating voltages to a plurality of electronic devices is disclosed. A plurality of power supply modules of a modular power supply may output voltages to at least two electronic devices respectively. The apparatus may identify a failure of one of the power supply modules. The electronic device may be disconnected from the failed power supply module, and then reconnected to a functional power supply module of the modular power supply. switching a supplied voltage of the functional power supply module of the modular power supply, wherein the supplied voltage matches the set output voltage of the failed power supply module. If necessary, a supplied voltage of a functional power supply module may be switched to match the set output voltage of the failed power supply module. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184918 | VIBRATION-INHIBITION CONTROL APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN VEHICLE, AND VIBRATION-INHIBITION CONTROL METHOD FOR ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN VEHICLE - Provided is an electrically driven vehicle, wherein unexpected vibration or shock is prevented during interruption of torque transmission. An electric vehicle having an electric motor as its power source is provided with an F/F calculation or operation unit, an F/B calculation or operation unit, an adder, model determination units, and target torque value switching units. The F/F calculation unit calculates a first target torque value by F/F operation. The F/B calculation unit calculates a second target torque value by F/B operation using a model. The adder adds the first target torque value and the second target torque value, to obtain a motor torque command value. The model determination units evaluate whether or not an interruption in the torque transmission to drive shafts occurs. The target torque value switching units stop the F/F- and F/B operations while torque transmission interruption is confirmed. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184919 | START CONTROL METHOD, START CONTROL DEVICE, HYBRID AUTOMOBILE, AND PROGRAM - To carry out a start with good fuel economy without resulting in a power shortage or a forcefulness shortage. A hybrid automobile is structured which executes a start control method including a selection step of selecting one start method from among a start only by a motor, a start only by an engine, and a start by the motor and the engine in cooperation with each other and a control step of controlling the execution of the start by the start method selected. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184920 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID VEHICLE - A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an electrically operated continuously-variable transmitting portion and a step-variable transmitting portion, which control apparatus permits an adequate control of a shifting action of the step-variable transmitting portion, while reducing deterioration of fuel economy of the hybrid vehicle. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184921 | DRIVING MODE CONTROL DEVICE, HYBRID VEHICLE, DRIVING MODE CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - In order to suitably change the driving feel of a hybrid vehicle depending on the preference of the driver, the hybrid vehicle includes a driving mode control section that, when a first shift schedule is selected, executes the first shift schedule by performing control such that the driving time by the electric motor becomes longer than the driving time by the engine, and that, when a second shift schedule is selected, executes the second shift schedule by performing control such that the driving time by the engine does not become shorter than the driving time by the electric motor. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184922 | RUNNING MODE SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE, HYBRID AUTOMOBILE, RUNNING MODE SWITCH CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - To reduce the size, weight, and cost of a motor and peripheral devices of the motor. A hybrid automobile is structured in which a required torque is estimated on the basis of an accelerator operation by a driver, and if it is determined that the running by the motor is possible, and an estimation result exceeds a maximum torque of the motor during execution of a running mode by the motor, a mode switch is carried out to a mode in which the automobile runs by an engine or by the engine and the motor in cooperation with each other, even though the running mode by the motor is being executed. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184923 | VEHICLE, CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - The present invention aims to enhance fuel economy without imparting a sense of discomfort to a driver who drives a vehicle. A determination unit determines whether a depression amount of an accelerator pedal is equal to or lower than a first threshold value set beforehand, when a clutch is disengaged and electric power is regenerated. A clutch control unit controls the engagement or the disengagement of the clutch in such a manner as keeping the disengagement of the clutch, when the depression amount of the accelerator pedal is determined to be equal to or lower than the first threshold value, and engaging the clutch when the depression amount of the accelerator pedal is determined to exceed the first threshold value. The present invention can be applied to a hybrid vehicle. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184924 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GUIDING A ROBOTIC GARDEN TOOL - Method and system for guiding a robotic garden tool ( | 2013-07-18 |
20130184925 | Method for Assisting a Driver of a Motor Vehicle - A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle in a driving maneuver in which the vehicle is guided automatically along a previously calculated trajectory, or the lateral guidance for travel along the trajectory is carried out automatically, and after the driving maneuver is completed, the steering of the vehicle is returned to the driver, information being provided to the driver concerning the vehicle's surroundings and suitable steering settings before and/or during the transfer of the steering to the driver. Also described is a device for carrying out the method, including a steering arrangement for steering the vehicle along a previously calculated trajectory as well as an output arrangement for outputting information concerning the vehicle's surroundings and suitable steering settings to the driver before and/or during the transfer of the steering to the driver. | 2013-07-18 |
20130184926 | AUTONOMOUS LANE CONTROL SYSTEM - An autonomous control system for a vehicle that controls the speed and steering system of the vehicle to operate in a lane-keeping mode or a lane-changing mode. Position sensors sense the location of surrounding vehicles. A lane determining system identifies a current lane where the vehicle is located. A source of oncoming lane course data provides information as to the course of the current lane. A controller provides instructions to the steering system and speed control system to maneuver the vehicle in either the lane-keeping mode or the lane-changing mode. The driver may override the control system by providing a manual input to the steering system or the speed control system. | 2013-07-18 |