03rd week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 43 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130018516 | REAL-TIME PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANT CONTROL SYSTEMAANM Chee; SimonAACI ToledoAAST OHAACO USAAGP Chee; Simon Toledo OH USAANM Bellacicco; JohnAACI StamfordAAST CTAACO USAAGP Bellacicco; John Stamford CT USAANM Sawyer; HarryAACI ScottsdaleAAST AZAACO USAAGP Sawyer; Harry Scottsdale AZ USAANM Morjaria; MaheshAACI MariettaAAST GAAACO USAAGP Morjaria; Mahesh Marietta GA US - A real-time photovoltaic power plant control system and method of control for plant output, voltage regulation and/or power factor regulation. The system comprises a grid interface controller configured to receive power information from a power grid and provide commands for controlling at least one active or reactive power supplied to the power grid, a power plant controller configured to receive commands from the grid interface controller for and direct real-time output of the power plant, a plurality of local controllers connected to and controlled by the power plant controller, and a plurality of inverters each connected to supply power from at least one photovoltaic device to the power grid and arranged such that each local controller is connected to and controls at least one inverter, the inverters reporting status information in real-time back to the local controllers, and the local controller reporting status information in real-time back to the power plant controller. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018517 | SOLVING LARGE-SCALE SECURITY-CONSTRAINED ECONOMIC DISPATCH PROBLEM IN REAL-TIMEAANM Kalagnanam; Jayant R.AACI TarrytownAAST NYAACO USAAGP Kalagnanam; Jayant R. Tarrytown NY USAANM Phan; DungAACI OssiningAAST NYAACO USAAGP Phan; Dung Ossining NY US - A system, a method and a computer program product for determining an amount of an electric power to be generated in an electric power system and determining a total cost for generating the amount of electric power while satisfying at least one contingency constraint and one or more customer request. The system creates an optimization problem for calculating amount of the electric power to be generated and a total cost for generating the calculated amount of the electric power while meeting the at least one contingency constraint. The system runs the optimization problem in real-time. The system outputs, from the optimization problem, an output specifying the calculated amount of the electric power and the total cost to generate the calculated amount of the electric power. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018518 | AUTOMATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING LOCALIZED LOAD CONDITIONS TO EXTEND ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM COMPONENT LIFEAANM McMullin; Dale RobertAACI CantonAAST GAAACO USAAGP McMullin; Dale Robert Canton GA US - Controlling localized load conditions to extend electrical distribution system component life includes forming a load-dependent time-to-failure estimate for at least one of the components, creating an operating load to be experienced by the at least one of the components, and generating an instruction that causes power to be diverted away from the at least one of the components when a required power through the at least one of the components exceeds the operating load. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018519 | NETWORK POWER SUPPLY CONTROL SYSTEM, NETWORK POWER SUPPLY EQUIPMENT AND NETWORK POWER DEVICE THEREOFAANM LIN; Yu-ShiangAACI Nantou CountyAACO TWAAGP LIN; Yu-Shiang Nantou County TW - A network power supply control system is applicable to a network power supply equipment (PSE) and a network power device (PD) connected through a network cable. A signal generator is disposed on the network PSE for generating and combining an operating signal with a power signal provided by the network PSE. A signal analyzer is disposed on the network PD for extracting the operating signal from the power signal received by the network PD and controlling a load circuit of the network PD according to the operating signal. Alternatively, the signal generator is disposed on the PD and sends a operating signal according to a state of the load circuit and combines the operating signal with a return power signal returned by the network PD, and the signal analyzer is disposed on the PSE for extracting the operating signal from the return power signal received by the network PSE. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018520 | EXECUTION METHOD OF ONE FUNCTION OF A PLURALITY OF FUNCTIONS AT A COMPONENTAANM Kim; EungdalAACI Changwon-siAACO KRAAGP Kim; Eungdal Changwon-si KRAANM Ahn; JunhoAACI Changwon-siAACO KRAAGP Ahn; Junho Changwon-si KRAANM Jeong; GilsupAACI Changwon-siAACO KRAAGP Jeong; Gilsup Changwon-si KRAANM Lee; KoonseokAACI Changwon-siAACO KRAAGP Lee; Koonseok Changwon-si KRAANM Lee; HoonbongAACI Changwon-siAACO KRAAGP Lee; Hoonbong Changwon-si KRAANM Kim; YanghwanAACI Changwon-siAACO KRAAGP Kim; Yanghwan Changwon-si KR - An energy consumption component for a network system which communicates with another component includes a communication unit to receive information related to power supply from the another component, a power management unit to receive the information related to power supply and to determine whether the energy consumption component is operable in a normal capacity or in limited capacity, and a user interface including a display unit to display at least one usable function. The display unit indicates that the at least one usable function is usable based on the information related to power supply. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018521 | Systems and Methods for Blackout Protection - A system for managing an electric power delivery system is disclosed that includes a set of remote intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and a central IED. The remote IEDs may be configured to obtain information related to rotor angles, operating frequencies, rate of change of frequency, rotating inertia, and power consumption levels of loads and generators included in the electric power delivery system. The central IED may communicate with the remote IEDs to determine which loads and generators are associated with a sub-grid of the electric power delivery system and whether to disconnected certain loads or generators. Based on this determination, the central IED may direct the remote IEDs to disconnect loads or generators from the electric power delivery system, or to rapidly increase or decrease generator output as appropriate. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018522 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING A CONFIGURABLE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE - A system for configuring an output parameter of a lighting load power supply, the power supply having a programmable controller for regulating the output parameter to a target value and a memory for storing a variable for setting the target value. The power supply has a communication port for data for setting the target value. A computer executes software allowing a user to select a target value and provides data related to the selected parameter. A programming device in communication with the computer provides data relating to the selected parameter to the communication port for programming the controller to set the parameter to the target value. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018523 | Indirect Thermal Fan ControlAANM Rubenstein; Brandon A.AACI LynnwoodAAST WAAACO USAAGP Rubenstein; Brandon A. Lynnwood WA US - Indirect thermal fan control is described. In one or more implementations, a speed of a fan may be adjusted based on indirect measurements of temperature. For example, a temperature of air entering an enclosure and a current draw of an electrical component within the enclosure may be determined. A speed of a fan may then be adjusted based on the temperature of the air and the current draw of the component to change a flow of the air over the electrical component. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018524 | Single Handed Attendant Control for a Wheelchair - Disclosed herein is a personal mobility vehicle controller. The personal mobility vehicle controller includes a housing having a first input member, a second input member, and a third input member. The first input member is configured to change a mode or profile of a personal mobility vehicle. The second input member is configured to provide a security function for the third input member. The third input member is configured to operate a feature based on the mode or profile. The housing is adapted to be held in a single hand of a user. The personal mobility vehicle controller is configured to operate the personal mobility vehicle with the single hand from a location proximate the personal mobility vehicle. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018525 | Mobilized Sensor Network for Structural Health MonitoringAANM Jang; Jung SoonAACI BellevueAAST WAAACO USAAGP Jang; Jung Soon Bellevue WA USAANM Ihn; Jeong-BeomAACI BellevueAAST WAAACO USAAGP Ihn; Jeong-Beom Bellevue WA US - A method and apparatus for inspecting an object is provided. Movement of inspection vehicles relative to a surface of the object is controlled using a controller. Generation of data about the object by sensor systems configured to generate the data when the sensor systems are in a configuration with respect to a location on the object for inspection and receiving power from the inspection vehicles is controlled using the controller. The data generated by the sensor systems is stored. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018526 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TESTING CRASH AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES - A Guided Soft Target (GST) system and method provides a versatile test system and methodology for the evaluation of various crash avoidance technologies. This system and method can be used to replicate the pre-crash motions of the CP in a wide variety of crash scenarios while minimizing physical risk, all while consistently providing a sensor signature substantially identical to that of the item being simulated. The GST system in various example embodiments may comprise a soft target vehicle or pedestrian form removably attached to a programmable, autonomously guided, self-propelled Dynamic Motion Element (DME), which may be operated in connection with a wireless computer network. Specific geometries for the DME have been discovered that minimize the risk of the DME flipping up and hitting or otherwise damaging or disrupting the ride of typical test vehicles during impact of the test vehicles with the GST, all while minimizing the effect of the DME on the sensor signature of the GST. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018527 | APPARATUS FOR CUTTING GRASSAANM BERNINI; FabrizioAACI Bucine (Arezzo)AACO ITAAGP BERNINI; Fabrizio Bucine (Arezzo) IT - The invention describes an apparatus for cutting grass comprising a lawn mower, predisposed to operate at least within a cutting area (A) delimited by a perimeter cable; a management device, suitable for propagating an electrical signal (S) through the perimeter cable; operative modules, suitable for checking the position of the lawn mower with respect to the perimeter cable; a command unit suitable for commanding a movement of the lawn mower based on the position of the lawn mower with respect to the perimeter cable. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018528 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TESTING CRASH AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIES - A Guided Soft Target (GST) system and method provides a versatile test system and methodology for the evaluation of various crash avoidance technologies. This system and method can be used to replicate the pre-crash motions of the CP in a wide variety of crash scenarios while minimizing physical risk, all while consistently providing radar and other sensor signatures substantially identical to that of the item being simulated. The GST system in various example embodiments may comprise a soft target vehicle or pedestrian form removably attached to a programmable, autonomously guided, self-propelled Dynamic Motion Element (DME), which may be operated in connection with a wireless computer network operating on a plurality of complimentary communication networks. Specific DME geometries are provided to minimize ride disturbance and observability by radar and other sensors. Computer controlled DME braking systems are disclosed as well as break-away and retractable antenna systems. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018529 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SATELLITE INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS - Systems and methods for integrate satellite communications. A network of upward facing antennas placed on top of cell phone towers is established. Each upward facing antenna has a footprint at the altitude of a particular satellite orbit. Upward facing antennas are placed on cell towers so as to establish a continuous coverage over the orbit of a satellite (s) thereby allowing continuous communication using cellular technology with the satellite(s) on orbit. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018530 | Security SystemAANM MacMillan; StephenAACI MalagaAACO AUAAGP MacMillan; Stephen Malaga AU - A vehicle security system including a remote control device, such as a keypad and a vehicle battery having a controller arranged to reduce battery power when the vehicle engine is turned off, and arranged to receive a unique code transmitted from the remote control device and to subsequently selectively permit the battery to supply sufficient power to start or drive the vehicle. The battery can be a replacement battery for the vehicle or supplied as an OEM part. The battery controller can be provided with a unique serial number to be directly linked to the vehicle. Authorities can be provided with a control codes that can be transmitted remotely from a police pursuit vehicle to selectively absorb the external power from the vehicle electrical systems and remotely stop the engine in the event of a stolen or misused vehicle. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018531 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE CODE FOR CONTROLLING SPEED REGULATION OF A REMOTELY CONTROLLED POWERED SYSTEM - A system for operating a remotely controlled powered system, the system including a feedforward element configured to provide information to the remotely controlled powered system to establish a velocity, and a feedback element configured to provide information from the remotely controlled powered system to the feedforward element. A method and a computer software code are further disclosed for operating the remotely controlled powered system. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018532 | SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTION FLIGHT PATH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFTAANM Segal; Matthew JonathanAACI CalabasasAAST CAAACO USAAGP Segal; Matthew Jonathan Calabasas CA USAANM Wise; Kevin AndrewAACI St. CharlesAAST MOAACO USAAGP Wise; Kevin Andrew St. Charles MO US - A method and apparatus for managing solar power collection. A position of the sun is identified relative to an aerospace vehicle while the aerospace vehicle is moving along a flight path. A level of power generation is identified by a solar power generation system while the aerospace vehicle moves along the flight path using a threat management module and equivalent radar signature data. The threat management module uses the equivalent radar signature data to identify the level of power generation by the aerospace vehicle from different positions of the sun relative to the aerospace vehicle, and the equivalent radar signature data is based on solar power generation signature data identifying the level of power generation for the different positions of the sun relative to the aerospace vehicle. A change in the flight path that results in a desired level of power generation is identified by the solar power generation system. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018533 | Method For Determining The Speed Air Aircraft And Aircraft Equipped With Means For ImplementationAANM Feau; JulienAACI ToulouseAACO FRAAGP Feau; Julien Toulouse FRAANM Francois; HugoAACI Saint-JeanAACO FRAAGP Francois; Hugo Saint-Jean FR - An aircraft is equipped with engines, each engine having at least one pod and one compressor/turbine hitch. The aircraft has at least one data processing unit and at least one system at the engine level. At least one engine is equipped with at least one static pressure probe for measuring the ambient air under the pod. Also, air static pressure probes are arranged at the engine levels, with one pressure probe at the output of the compressor, at least one rotation speed sensor, for example of a blower, and ambient air temperature probes at the air input or in any compression point. The processing unit is able, from measurements performed by such probes at the engine level, to supply to at least one of the systems at the engine level, determination data for the air speed of the aircraft. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018534 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTION AND NOTIFICATION OF BLOCKED RAIL CROSSINGS - A blocked rail crossing detection and notification system is described. The system includes a processing device, a communications interface communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable for facilitating communications between the processing device and at least one external device, and at least one vehicle detection mechanism placed proximate to a rail grade crossing. The at least one vehicle detection mechanism is communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable to provide signals to the processing device indicative of the presence or non-presence of a vehicle within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks. The processing device is further programmed to communicate the presence or non-presence of a vehicle along with supporting correlative visual data within the defined area to the at least one external device via the communications interface. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018535 | Suspension Failure Detection in a Rail VehicleAANM Schneider; RichardAACI LohningenAACO CHAAGP Schneider; Richard Lohningen CHAANM Baert; MikeAACI Sint-AndriesAACO BEAAGP Baert; Mike Sint-Andries BE - The invention relates to a rail vehicle, including a wagon body and a suspension system having a running gear supporting the wagon body. A sensor device and a control device are provided. The sensor device capturing an actual value of at least one status variable being representative of a spatial relationship between a first reference part of the sensor device associated to a part of the running gear and a second reference part of the sensor device associated to the wagon body. The control device performs a malfunction analysis using the actual value of the status variable, the malfunction analysis assessing fulfillment of at least one predetermined malfunction criterion. The control device provides a malfunction signal if the malfunction analysis reveals that the malfunction criterion is fulfilled. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018536 | RAIL VEHICLE CONSIST SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHODAANM COOPER; JaredAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP COOPER; Jared Melbourne FL USAANM Peltz; DavidAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP Peltz; David Melbourne FL USAANM Ballesty; DanielAACI ErieAAST PAAACO USAAGP Ballesty; Daniel Erie PA USAANM Bremmer; RobertAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP Bremmer; Robert Melbourne FL USAANM Bradshaw; LindseyAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP Bradshaw; Lindsey Melbourne FL USAANM Chen; YiAACI MelbourneAAST FLAACO USAAGP Chen; Yi Melbourne FL US - A system, method and device for controlling a rail vehicle consist configured to traverse a rail system is provided. In one embodiment, the system may include a second module configured to receive environmental data from a first module having one or more sensors, wherein the environmental data is indicative of one or more environmental conditions for a portion of the rail system; wherein the second module is further configured to conduct an assessment of the environmental data in relation to a first control parameter; the second module is further configured to communicate one or more control signals of one of the first control parameter or a different, second control parameter based on the assessment; each of the first and second control parameters relates to controlling tractive effort of the rail vehicle consist over the portion of the rail system; and the second module is further configured to communicate the one or more control signals to a third module for control of the rail vehicle consist. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018537 | Central Vehicle data and control system or artificial intelligence driver assistance deviceAANM Arad; EliahuAACI Tel AvivAACO ILAAGP Arad; Eliahu Tel Aviv IL - A system designed for electric vehicles that comprises a processor, a memory component, an accelerometer, a loudspeaker, and a power source and that is connected to the vehicle's systems by means of a CAN-bus cable and which processes, produces and synthesizes the information to create a sound that is emitted from the loudspeaker and which corresponds to the status of the motor and/or the velocity and/or acceleration of the vehicle. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018538 | EVALUATION INDICATION SYSTEM, EVALUATION INDICATION METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUMAANM MIURA; NaokiAACI ToyokawaAACO JPAAGP MIURA; Naoki Toyokawa JPAANM NONOMURA; JunichiAACI OkazakiAACO JPAAGP NONOMURA; Junichi Okazaki JPAANM YAMAKAWA; JunkiAACI OkazakiAACO JPAAGP YAMAKAWA; Junki Okazaki JPAANM MIZUNO; HiroyukiAACI KariyaAACO JPAAGP MIZUNO; Hiroyuki Kariya JP - Evaluation indication systems, methods, and programs are provided for a hybrid vehicle that is configured to travel in an HV mode with an internal combustion engine or in an EV mode without the internal combustion engine. The systems, methods, and programs display a current position of the hybrid vehicle on a map, acquire current evaluations of fuel consumption of the hybrid vehicle in current travel by unit sections, acquire previous evaluations of fuel consumption of the hybrid vehicle in previous travel by unit sections, and indicate current evaluation icons on the map, each of the icons being an EV icon or art HV icon. Each EV icon indicates that the hybrid vehicle has travelled within the corresponding unit section in the EV mode and each HV icon indicates that the hybrid vehicle has travelled within the corresponding unit section in the HV mode. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018539 | METHOD FOR ORGANIZING AN ELECTRIC ENERGY AND A KINETIC ENERGY OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLEAANM Lee; Cheng-HsinAACI KaohsiungAACO TWAAGP Lee; Cheng-Hsin Kaohsiung TWAANM Chang; Chin-MingAACI KaohsiungAACO TWAAGP Chang; Chin-Ming Kaohsiung TWAANM Huang; Shih-TsungAACI KaohsiungAACO TWAAGP Huang; Shih-Tsung Kaohsiung TW - A method for organizing an electric energy and a kinetic energy of an electric vehicle includes the following steps. A plurality of electro-motor modules having different grade of kinetic energy are provided. A plurality of battery modules having different grade of electric energy are provided. A plurality of electric vehicle performances are preset, and one of the battery modules on the electric vehicle is arranged in accordance with the electric vehicle performances. One of the electro-motor modules on the electric vehicle is arranged in accordance with the electric vehicle performances and the one of the battery modules. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018540 | CONTROL UNIT FOR HYBRID VEHICLEAANM Yamazaki; YuichiroAACI SaitamaAACO JPAAGP Yamazaki; Yuichiro Saitama JP - A control unit for a series hybrid vehicle includes a basic required output calculator for calculating a basic required output for driving the vehicle based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator pedal opening, a gradient calculator for calculating a rising gradient of a road surface on which the vehicle runs, a correction output calculator for calculating a correction output which is added to the basic required torque based on the rising gradient, and a target output calculator for calculating, when a required output which results from adding the correction output to the basic required output is larger than a predetermined value, based on the required output, a battery target electric power by which the battery is required to output part of the required output and an engine target output by which the engine is required to output the remaining of the required output. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018541 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING DRIVING PERFORMANCE VARIABLESAANM Raz; Ofer NissimAACI Tel-AvivAACO ILAAGP Raz; Ofer Nissim Tel-Aviv ILAANM Musicant; OrenAACI Tel-AvivAACO ILAAGP Musicant; Oren Tel-Aviv IL - Methods and systems are provided for determining a value of an event performance variable associated with a driving event, and/or for determining a session performance variable associated with at least one driving session. The method comprising: identifying a driving event which occurred during a driving session of a vehicle; providing a plurality of indicators associated with such a driving event; retrieving respective values for each of the plurality of indicators from one or more sensors located in the vehicle being driven; providing a mathematical relationship that represents the event performance variable as a function of the plurality of indicators, wherein the mathematical relationship represents an event of the type characterizing the identified driving event; and determining value of the event performance variable based on the mathematical relationship provided, by applying the values retrieved for each of the plurality of indicators. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018542 | POWER BALANCING FOR VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS - A power balancing system includes a vehicle communication device connected to a data link connector of a vehicle, and a scan tool connected to the vehicle communication device, the scan tool including a handset and a vehicle connector interface (VCI), wherein power can be received from one or more of an external power source being external from the VCI, the vehicle, and an internal power supply of the scan tool, and wherein the system balances the received power. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018543 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL APPARATUSAANM TOHYAMA; NaohiroAACI Ichinomiya-cityAACO JPAAGP TOHYAMA; Naohiro Ichinomiya-city JP - In an electronic control apparatus in a vehicle, while an operational state where an engine rotation speed is equal to or greater than a determination value continues during a vehicle stop state where an accelerator of the vehicle is in an OFF state, a condition satisfying counter is incremented. In cases that (i) a value of the condition satisfying counter becomes longer than a determination period, and (ii) a storage history flag indicates “0”, an additional value is added to the determination period. This lengthens the determination period that is used for comparing with the condition satisfying counter. Further, travel information at this time is stored in a storage portion; the storage history flag is set to “1”. While the storage history flag indicates “1”, another travel information is not stored into the storage portion. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018544 | DATA COLLECTION DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND STORING PERFORMANCE AND MAINTENANCE DATA RELATED TO A COMPONENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - The present invention provides systems and methods for testing and storage of information related to a component. A data collection device having a memory is fixedly connected to the component. A test device communicates with the data collection device to store test data concerning the component in the data collection device. The test device also performs analysis of the test data and provides information concerning the health and maintenance history of the component. The present invention also provides systems and methods for determining the current drawn or supplied by electrical components connected in parallel in an electrical system. A current sensor located between the electrical components determines the current supply or draw of one of the electrical components, while a current sensor between the electrical components and the remainder of the electrical system determine a cumulative current draw or supply by both the electrical components. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018545 | TRAFFIC DENSITY ESTIMATIONAANM Prakah-Asante; Kwaku O.AACI Commerce Twp.AAST MIAACO USAAGP Prakah-Asante; Kwaku O. Commerce Twp. MI USAANM Tseng; FlingAACI Ann ArborAAST MIAACO USAAGP Tseng; Fling Ann Arbor MI USAANM Filev; Dimitar PetrovAACI NoviAAST MIAACO USAAGP Filev; Dimitar Petrov Novi MI USAANM Lu; JianboAACI LivoniaAAST MIAACO USAAGP Lu; Jianbo Livonia MI USAANM McGee; Ryan AbrahamAACI Ann ArborAAST MIAACO USAAGP McGee; Ryan Abraham Ann Arbor MI USAANM Greenberg; Jeffrey AllenAACI Ann ArborAAST MIAACO USAAGP Greenberg; Jeffrey Allen Ann Arbor MI USAANM Strumolo; Gary StevenAACI Beverly HillsAAST MIAACO USAAGP Strumolo; Gary Steven Beverly Hills MI US - Traffic density may be estimated by increasing a value of a parameter if an object enters a predefined zone on a side of the vehicle and decreasing the value of the parameter after an object exits the predefined zone such that the value of the parameter increases as traffic in a vicinity of the vehicle increases and decreases as traffic in the vicinity of the vehicle decreases. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018546 | WINDSHIELD WIPING DEVICEAANM Zimmer; JoachimAACI XingshAACO CNAAGP Zimmer; Joachim Xingsh CN - The invention relates to a windshield wiping device ( | 2013-01-17 |
20130018547 | Environment Recognizing Device for a Vehicle and Vehicle Control System Using the SameAANM Ogata; TakehitoAACI HitachiAACO JPAAGP Ogata; Takehito Hitachi JPAANM Muramatsu; ShojiAACI HitachinakaAACO JPAAGP Muramatsu; Shoji Hitachinaka JPAANM Tsutsui; TakashiAACI AtsugiAACO JPAAGP Tsutsui; Takashi Atsugi JPAANM Nakamura; KatsuyukiAACI SaitamaAACO JPAAGP Nakamura; Katsuyuki Saitama JPAANM Morinaga; MitsutoshiAACI TokyoAACO JPAAGP Morinaga; Mitsutoshi Tokyo JP - An environment recognizing device for a vehicle is provided that can correctly detect a preceding vehicle in a scene, such as for instance the dusk, which is under an illumination condition different from that in the daytime. The device detects a vehicle external shape while detecting vehicle taillights, and determines a region in which the vehicle external shape and the vehicle taillights move in synchronization, as a vehicle. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018548 | REGENERATIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLEAANM Shimasaki; YuichiAACI Mishima-shiAACO JPAAGP Shimasaki; Yuichi Mishima-shi JPAANM Futonagane; YoshinoriAACI Susono-shiAACO JPAAGP Futonagane; Yoshinori Susono-shi JPAANM Hirai; TakuyaAACI Susono-shiAACO JPAAGP Hirai; Takuya Susono-shi JP - The present invention is intended to suppress a change in a braking force due to a change in the magnitude of friction of an internal combustion engine, in a regenerative control system for a vehicle in which kinetic energy of wheels is made to be converted (regenerated) to electrical energy, at the time of deceleration running of the vehicle with the internal combustion engine mounted thereon. In order to solve this subject, the present invention is constructed such that the change in friction of the internal combustion engine is offset by adjustment of a regenerative braking force by regulating an amount of excitation current supplied to an electric generator according to the magnitude of friction in the internal combustion engine, at the time of deceleration running of the vehicle. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018549 | VEHICLE EMERGENCY EVACUATION DEVICEAANM Kobana; MasumiAACI Fuji-shiAACO JPAAGP Kobana; Masumi Fuji-shi JPAANM Kawamata; ShinyaAACI Mishima-shiAACO JPAAGP Kawamata; Shinya Mishima-shi JP - In a vehicle emergency evacuation device which stops a running vehicle automatically or keeps a stop state of a stopped vehicle in a driver's emergency, a stop keeping process is executed to keep the stop state without conducting an intention confirmation process of the execution start of an emergency evacuation process when the emergency evacuation process is required, e.g. when an abnormality or a deterioration in the driver's condition arises or when the driver requests the emergency evacuation process, under a condition that the vehicle has stopped before a signal, a road crossing or a railroad crossing, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle. Moreover, there are provided a structure in which the stop site of the vehicle in the execution of automatic vehicle stop control is determined depending upon whether the running road is a driveway, a highway, or a normal road; and a structure that judges whether or not to permit an override to the emergency evacuation process after the execution start of the emergency evacuation process based on a passenger's motion. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018550 | WHEEL ALIGNMENT APPARATUS USING MOTOR-DRIVEN POWER STEERING AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFAANM KIM; JEONG KUAACI Yongin-siAACO KRAAGP KIM; JEONG KU Yongin-si KR - The present invention relates to a wheel alignment apparatus using a motor-driven power steering (MDPS) and a control method thereof. After a vehicle having the MDPS mounted therein is parked, a steering angle is detected and a wheel is aligned with the center by controlling an MDPS motor through a motor angular velocity and a motor current. Accordingly, the motor angular velocity of the MDPS motor which is actually driven to align the wheel with the center is controlled to improve the precision of motor control, regardless of external disturbance such as tire frictions or loads | 2013-01-17 |
20130018551 | METHOD FOR OPERATING THE ON-BOARD ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLEAANM Fuchs; ThorstenAACI HallstadtAACO DEAAGP Fuchs; Thorsten Hallstadt DEAANM Hering; MatthiasAACI ForchheimAACO DEAAGP Hering; Matthias Forchheim DEAANM Wuerstlein; HolgerAACI Zeil am MainAACO DEAAGP Wuerstlein; Holger Zeil am Main DEAANM Schindhelm; ThomasAACI Neahaus-SchierschnitzAACO DEAAGP Schindhelm; Thomas Neahaus-Schierschnitz DEAANM Russ; DetlefAACI EbersdorfAACO DEAAGP Russ; Detlef Ebersdorf DE - A method for operating the electrical system of a motor vehicle having a control unit with an operating mode and an energy-saving standby mode is described. A wake-up operator control event is detected by a sensor and has an associated time interval from the preceding wake-up operator control event. The time interval is ascertained when a wake-up operator control event is detected, and the control unit is woken up or not woken up. Each wake-up operator control event has an associated switch-off indicator which is ascertained each time a wake-up operator control event is detected, and the control unit is woken up or not woken up as a function of the level of the switch-off indicator with reference to a switch-off threshold. A change in the current switch-off indicator relative to the preceding switch-off indicator is all the greater the smaller the current time interval. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018552 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING DRAWBAR FORCE MAGNITUDE AND DIRECTIONAANM Foster; Christopher A.AACI DenverAAST PAAACO USAAGP Foster; Christopher A. Denver PA USAANM Smith; Kevin M.AACI NarvonAAST PAAACO USAAGP Smith; Kevin M. Narvon PA US - A system and method is provided for determining the magnitude and direction of the draft force applied to the drawbar of a tractor by a towed implement. Orthogonal load sensors can be placed at the drawbar pivot point to measure load on the drawbar. From the measured load on the drawbar, the lateral and longitudinal draft forces applied by the towed implement on the drawbar can be calculated. The magnitude and direction of the draft force can then be determined from the calculated lateral and longitudinal forces. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018553 | VARIABLE-SPEED IRRIGATION SYSTEM - An irrigation system is disclosed that is configured to maintain a near straight alignment. In an implementation, an irrigation system includes multiple interconnected spans which are supported by multiple tower structures. Each tower structure includes a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed. The irrigation system also includes multiple sensors that are each associated with a corresponding span to determine an alignment of the corresponding span with respect to adjacent spans. Each of the sensors is in communication with a corresponding variable-drive control unit. Each of the variable-drive control units are configured to control the selected speed of a corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis (e.g., maintain alignment of the spans with respect to each other). | 2013-01-17 |
20130018554 | Controlling Power Output Of Secondary Powertrain In Dual Powertrain MachineAANM Steinlage; Justin LeeAACI MackinawAAST ILAACO USAAGP Steinlage; Justin Lee Mackinaw IL USAANM Wisley; David RichardAACI PeoriaAAST ILAACO USAAGP Wisley; David Richard Peoria IL USAANM Goraya; Fazal AhmadAACI PeoriaAAST ILAACO USAAGP Goraya; Fazal Ahmad Peoria IL USAANM Byers; Brian AllenAACI DecaturAAST ILAACO USAAGP Byers; Brian Allen Decatur IL US - A method of controlling a dual powertrain machine includes propelling the dual powertrain machine by transmitting power from a first engine of a primary electronically controlled powertrain to a first set of ground engaging elements, and transmitting power from a second engine of a secondary electronically controlled powertrain to a second set of ground engaging elements. The method also includes identifying a runout condition of the primary electronically controlled powertrain, and limiting a power output of the secondary electronically controlled powertrain responsive to the runout condition. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018555 | Dual Powertrain Machine Speed LimitingAANM Steinlage; Justin LeeAACI MackinawAAST ILAACO USAAGP Steinlage; Justin Lee Mackinaw IL USAANM Wisley; David RichardAACI PeoriaAAST ILAACO USAAGP Wisley; David Richard Peoria IL USAANM Goraya; Fazal AhmadAACI PeoriaAAST ILAACO USAAGP Goraya; Fazal Ahmad Peoria IL USAANM Byers; Brian AllenAACI DecaturAAST ILAACO USAAGP Byers; Brian Allen Decatur IL US - A method of limiting machine speed of a dual powertrain machine includes propelling the dual powertrain machine by transmitting power from a first engine of a first electronically controlled powertrain to a first set of ground engaging elements, and transmitting power from a second engine of a second electronically controlled powertrain to a second set of ground engaging elements. The method also includes identifying a machine speed limit, executing a first machine speed limiting algorithm in a first controller of the first electronically controlled powertrain to determine a first engine control command based on the machine speed limit, and controlling the first engine using the first engine control command. A second machine speed limiting algorithm is executed in a second controller of the second electronically controlled powertrain to determine a second engine control command based on the machine speed limit, and the second engine is controlled using the second engine control command. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018556 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH TORQUE CONTROLAANM Williams; Robert L.AACI HollyAAST MIAACO USAAGP Williams; Robert L. Holly MI USAANM Whitton; Matthew D.AACI HowellAAST MIAACO USAAGP Whitton; Matthew D. Howell MI USAANM Mitts; KurtAACI Santa MonicaAAST CAAACO USAAGP Mitts; Kurt Santa Monica CA USAANM Deras; DanielAACI BrightonAAST MIAACO USAAGP Deras; Daniel Brighton MI US - A control system for a transmission includes a memory module, a position module, an error module, an integral module, and an adjustment module. The memory stores a control value as a function of clutch torque. The position module controls a position of a clutch based on the control value. The error module periodically determines a slip speed error based on a difference between a target slip speed and an estimated slip speed of the clutch. The integral module periodically determines an integral of the slip speed error. The adjustment module adjusts the control value based on the integral. A method for controlling a transmission is also provided. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018557 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLUTCH PRESSURE CONTROL - A method, apparatus and system for controlling transmission clutch and/or variator system pressures is provided. A transmission control unit and a pressure control device including an electro-hydraulic valve and a pressure switch cooperate to provide self-calibrating clutch and/or variator pressure control systems. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018558 | VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD USING VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATIONAANM Ahn; Byoung SukAACI Suwon-siAACO KRAAGP Ahn; Byoung Suk Suwon-si KR - A vehicle control apparatus of a vehicle using a visible light communication may include a visible light receiving unit configured to periodically receive a speed information of a preceding vehicle through the visible light communication, a sudden deceleration detection unit configured to detect a sudden deceleration of the preceding vehicle based on the speed information received from the visible light receiving unit, a control unit configured to control a brake system linkage unit to transmit a deceleration signal to a brake system, upon detection of the sudden deceleration of the preceding vehicle by the sudden deceleration detection unit, and the brake system linkage unit configured to transmit the deceleration signal to the brake system to automatically decelerate a speed of the vehicle. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018559 | METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING AN EMERGENCY BRAKING OPERATIONAANM Epple; StefanAACI StuttgartAACO DEAAGP Epple; Stefan Stuttgart DEAANM Wagner; JochenAACI MoeglingenAACO DEAAGP Wagner; Jochen Moeglingen DE - In a method for implementing an emergency braking operation with the aid of a brake assistance system in a vehicle, a brake actuation specified by the driver is amplified, the deactivation of the brake force amplification taking place in at least two stages. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018560 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RAIL VEHICLE CONTROL - A system comprises a control module that is configured for operable coupling with at least one of a brake system and/or a penalty detection system of a first vehicle. The control module is further configured to operate in a first mode of operation. In the first mode of operation, the control module activates the brake system, responsive to receiving a first control signal from a second vehicle; the first and second vehicles are coupled in a consist. Alternatively or additionally, the control module is configured to operate in a second mode of operation. In the second mode of operation, the control module is configured to generate the first control signal for transmission to the second vehicle and activation of a brake system of the second vehicle, responsive to receiving a second control signal from the penalty detection system. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018561 | BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEMAANM Ono; ShunsakuAACI KanagawaAACO JPAAGP Ono; Shunsaku Kanagawa JP - A brake control method for a hydraulic brake device equipped with an actuator that automatically regulates braking liquid pressure in a wheel cylinder of a vehicle without driver intervention. The method includes: (a) calculating a time period in which holding or decreasing brake hydraulic pressure is continuously performed to the wheel cylinder; and (b) controlling the actuator such that, an increasing pressure and decreasing pressure to the wheel cylinder after the calculated time period has reached a predetermined time, the amount of the pressure increase and the amount of the pressure decrease are the same. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018562 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICEAANM Nakai; KojiAACI Susono-shiAACO JPAAGP Nakai; Koji Susono-shi JPAANM Suzuki; TakashiAACI Susono-shiAACO JPAAGP Suzuki; Takashi Susono-shi JP - A problem is to provide a vehicle control device, which performs travel control prepared for an unforeseen event by setting a tire friction circle to be small on a site on a road on which it is highly possible that the unforeseen event is found with delay due to a curve and poor visibility. An ECU sets a target speed with a predetermined allowance for a limit speed which is an upper limit speed of the vehicle, at a point at which a risk cannot be expected easily on a path along which the vehicle travels and generates a planned speed pattern which is a speed pattern of the path, based on the limit speed and the target speed. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018563 | METHOD FOR ENGINE TORQUE ADJUSTMENTAANM BIMCZOK; EikeAACI StuttgartAACO DEAAGP BIMCZOK; Eike Stuttgart DE - In a method for engine torque adjustment of a propulsion engine in a vehicle, the vehicle surroundings are monitored with the aid of surroundings sensors, the actual engine torque being reduced with regard to the torque intended by the driver when an obstacle is recognized. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018564 | METHOD FOR PREPARING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FOR SHUTDOWN TO ACHIEVE CLEAN RESTARTAANM Coatesworth; Timothy A.AACI Bloomfield HillsAAST MIAACO USAAGP Coatesworth; Timothy A. Bloomfield Hills MI USAANM Roos; JosephAACI LivoniaAAST MIAACO USAAGP Roos; Joseph Livonia MI USAANM DeGroot; Kenneth P.AACI Macomb Twp.AAST MIAACO USAAGP DeGroot; Kenneth P. Macomb Twp. MI USAANM Velnati; SashidharAACI OxfordAAST MIAACO USAAGP Velnati; Sashidhar Oxford MI USAANM Tamai; GoroAACI West BloomfieldAAST MIAACO USAAGP Tamai; Goro West Bloomfield MI US - A method for preparing an internal combustion (IC) engine component of a hybrid automotive powertrain for shutdown so as to enable clean restart is disclosed herein. The method includes determining if the IC engine is about to enter a shutdown mode. The method includes determining a number of engine run cycles to fill an intake manifold of the IC engine with clean air, if it is determined the IC engine is about to enter the shutdown mode. The method includes running the IC engine for the determined number of cycles to fill the intake manifold of the IC engine with clean air before shutting the IC engine down. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018565 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENGINE OPERATION IN HOMOGENEOUS CHARGE COMPRESSION IGNITION AND SPARK IGNITIONAANM Yun; HanhoAACI Oakland TownshipAAST MIAACO USAAGP Yun; Hanho Oakland Township MI USAANM Wermuth; NicoleAACI MunchenAACO DEAAGP Wermuth; Nicole Munchen DEAANM Najt; Paul M.AACI Bloomfield HillsAAST MIAACO USAAGP Najt; Paul M. Bloomfield Hills MI USAANM Kang; Jun-MoAACI Ann ArborAAST MIAACO USAAGP Kang; Jun-Mo Ann Arbor MI USAANM Brown; Barry L.AACI Lake OrionAAST MIAACO USAAGP Brown; Barry L. Lake Orion MI US - A method to control an internal combustion engine includes controlling the engine in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and depending upon the operating range of the engine operating both intake and exhaust valves with one of a high-lift profile or a low lift profile or the exhaust valves with a low-lift profile and the intake valves with a high-lift profile. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018566 | Effectiveness Modeling and Control Methods for EGR CoolerAANM Khair; Magdi K.AACI San AntonioAAST TXAACO USAAGP Khair; Magdi K. San Antonio TX USAANM Lu; QilongAACI San AntonioAAST TXAACO USAAGP Lu; Qilong San Antonio TX US - A method of modeling and testing the effectiveness of an EGR cooler. The cooler effectiveness is mathematically modeled as a function of various temperatures and over an operation history that includes one or more engine shut-downs. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018567 | MOBILE TERMINAL, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITAANM LIM; Sang WooAACI SeoulAACO KRAAGP LIM; Sang Woo Seoul KRAANM LEE; Seung HyunAACI SeoulAACO KRAAGP LEE; Seung Hyun Seoul KRAANM HWANG; In OhAACI SeoulAACO KRAAGP HWANG; In Oh Seoul KR - A mobile terminal to control an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of a vehicle includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and an ECU control unit. The communication unit communicates with the ECU, and the storage unit stores information collected from the ECU and status information collected inside or outside the mobile terminal. The ECU control unit determines a driving environment of the vehicle according to the status information collected, processes the information collected from the ECU, and controls the ECU. A method for controlling a vehicle ECU from a mobile terminal includes determining a driving environment, and remotely controlling the ECU from the mobile terminal based on the driving environment. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018568 | CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEAANM Takada; NorifumiAACI Susono-shiAACO JPAAGP Takada; Norifumi Susono-shi JPAANM Honda; TomoakiAACI Gotenba-shiAACO JPAAGP Honda; Tomoaki Gotenba-shi JP - A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a first detector that detects air/fuel ratio in an exhaust passageway on an upstream of an exhaust gas-controlling catalyst in multi-cylinder internal combustion engine; a second detector that detects the air/fuel ratio in the exhaust passageway on a downstream of the catalyst; a feedback controller that executes a feedback control so that a first detected value based on the first detector output follows to be equal as a first predetermined target value and so that a second detected value based on the second detector output follows to be equal as a second predetermined target value that corresponds to the first predetermined target value during an initial state; an abnormality detection device configured to detect a variation abnormality in the air/fuel ratio among the cylinders; and a change device that changes the second predetermined target value when the variation abnormality is detected. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018569 | ELECTRIC CURRENT BASED ENGINE AUTO STOP INHIBIT ALGORITHM AND SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING SAMEAANM Sangameswaran; SangeethaAACI CantonAAST MIAACO USAAGP Sangameswaran; Sangeetha Canton MI USAANM Harpenau; Kevin RoyAACI Peachtree CityAAST GAAACO USAAGP Harpenau; Kevin Roy Peachtree City GA USAANM Pebley; KirkAACI NoviAAST MIAACO USAAGP Pebley; Kirk Novi MI USAANM Celinske; DavidAACI Wolverine LakeAAST MIAACO USAAGP Celinske; David Wolverine Lake MI USAANM Rademacher; Eric MichaelAACI Royal OakAAST MIAACO USAAGP Rademacher; Eric Michael Royal Oak MI US - A vehicle includes an engine and at least one controller. The at least one controller periodically determines an estimated current to be demanded by vehicle electrical loads during an auto stop of the engine, compares the estimated current with a threshold current, and inhibits an auto stop of the engine if the estimated current is greater than the threshold current for a predetermined period of time. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018570 | VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING START AND STOP OF AN ENGINE OF A VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN A HOOD OF THE ENGINE IS OPENAANM Moriya; KoukiAACI Aichi-gunAACO JPAAGP Moriya; Kouki Aichi-gun JP - A vehicle control apparatus includes: detecting means ( | 2013-01-17 |
20130018571 | MAP DISPLAY SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAMAANM MIWA; DaisukeAACI OkazakiAACO JPAAGP MIWA; Daisuke Okazaki JP - A map display system and method are provided. The display system includes a map information acquiring unit that acquires map information and a congestion level acquiring unit that acquires a congestion level for each road section within the map. The system also includes a route line display determining unit that determines whether a route line is displayed superimposed on any road line, the route line representing a planned travel route, each road line representing a road section within the map. The display is controlled such that if the route line is displayed superimposed on any road line a congestion line is displayed at a position by a first off-set distance from the road line on the display part and if the route line is not displayed superimposed on any road line, the congestion line is displayed at a second off-set distance from the road line on the display part. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018572 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE AT AUTONOMOUS INTERSECTIONAANM JANG; Jeong-AhAACI DaejeonAACO KRAAGP JANG; Jeong-Ah Daejeon KR - Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for controlling traffic at an autonomous intersection. A monitoring unit monitoring vehicles located within a predetermined service radius of an intersection. A collision zone information management unit classifies the service radius into a plurality of zones based on the results from the monitoring unit, and manages information about collision zones. A collision prediction unit predicts the possibility of collision of a target vehicle in the zone in which the target vehicle is located, based on vehicle information transmitted from the target vehicle, and calculates an estimated time of collision. A priority determination unit predetermines a priority of the target vehicle based on the estimated time of collision and calculates an expected entering time corresponding to the priority. A communication unit transmits control information about the target vehicle to the corresponding vehicles to control respective vehicles. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018573 | EVALUATION INDICATION SYSTEM, EVALUATION INDICATION METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUMAANM MIURA; NaokiAACI ToyokahaAACO JPAAGP MIURA; Naoki Toyokaha JPAANM NONOMURA; JunichiAACI OkazakiAACO JPAAGP NONOMURA; Junichi Okazaki JPAANM YAMAKAWA; JunkiAACI OkazakiAACO JPAAGP YAMAKAWA; Junki Okazaki JPAANM MIZUNO; HiroyukiAACI KariyaAACO JPAAGP MIZUNO; Hiroyuki Kariya JP - Evaluation indication systems, methods, and programs display a current position of a vehicle and a map around the current position on a display unit, acquire current evaluations that indicate evaluations of fuel consumption in current travel of the vehicle by unit sections, and acquire previous evaluations that indicate evaluations of fuel consumption of the vehicle in a past prior to the current travel by unit sections. The systems, methods, and programs indicate the current evaluations and the previous evaluations together by unit sections on the map. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018574 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN OPTIMAL ROUTE USING AGGREGATED ROUTE INFORMATIONAANM Adler; AndrewAACI Canoga ParkAAST CAAACO USAAGP Adler; Andrew Canoga Park CA US - A system for providing navigation information is provided. A navigation server receives route information from multiple mobile devices. A storage module stores the route information received from the mobile devices as aggregated route information. In response to receipt of a request for direction information from a starting location to a destination location, a route calculation module calculates one or more potential routes from the starting location to the destination location. An optimal route determination module determines which route of the one or more potential routes is an optimal route. The optimal route is determined based on the aggregated route information and a preselected criterion. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018575 | Roaming Mobile Sensor Platform For Collecting Geo-Referenced Data and Creating Thematic Maps - A roaming sensor system collects data on the condition of roads and bridge decks and identifies and maps defects, including cracks, potholes, debonding, tracking, delamination, surface ice, surface water, and rebar corrosion. Data are collected by a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles driven at normal traffic speeds. The vehicle is outfitted with sensors that collect data using acoustic surface waves, ground penetrating radar, mm wave surface radar, and/or video images. The data are transmitted to a control center for analysis and distribution. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018576 | System and Method for Field SamplingAANM Berzinis; MichaelAACI TallahasseeAAST FLAACO USAAGP Berzinis; Michael Tallahassee FL USAANM Milligan; MarkAACI TallahasseeAAST FLAACO USAAGP Milligan; Mark Tallahassee FL US - The field sampling method provides a mobile device, a central memory and a data transfer interface. The mobile device has a main storage, which contains GPS receiver, a mapping program, an external TSP algorithm program and at least one database. The mapping program displays a plurality of sampling point on the user interface of the mobile device. The user has the ability to select a set of sampling points on the user interface. The sampling points are written to a first database. The selected sampling points are processed by the external TSP algorithm program to determine an optimal route. The external TSP algorithm program sends the optimal route to the mapping program. The mapping program displays the optimal route on the screen of the mobile device such that the user can visit points and collect sampling data. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018577 | ROUTE PLANNING USING LOCATION/TIME ENCODED DATA FROM LOCATION AWARE SNOWPLOWSAANM Gooding; Thomas M.AACI RochesterAAST MNAACO USAAGP Gooding; Thomas M. Rochester MN US - Techniques are described for using geographic location data of snowplows to update a snow depth associated with a section of a surface street. The route of the snowplow may be tracked continuously which allows the snow depth of the street to be reset in real-time. The updated snow depth may then be used to generate a cost of travelling on the street. The travelling cost may then be used to plan a route through the region. Alternatively, the cost may be graphically displayed on a map to permit a user to determine which surface streets to avoid. In another embodiment, the cost of travelling on a particular street may be changed by the attributes of the vehicle that will navigate the snow-covered roads, driver's experience, or the geographic terrain of a road. This new cost may then be used, for example, to plan a route or display roads to avoid. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018578 | Navigation Device Having In-Tunnel Position Estimation FunctionAANM Matsuo; ShigeruAACI Hitachinaka-shiAACO JPAAGP Matsuo; Shigeru Hitachinaka-shi JPAANM Tanaka; KatsuakiAACI Hitachinaka-shiAACO JPAAGP Tanaka; Katsuaki Hitachinaka-shi JP - A navigation device that includes a map data base in which map information is stored and a positioning unit that determines a current position based upon a radio wave signal received from a satellite, contains: a tunnel detection unit that detects a tunnel that is present ahead on a road where the navigation device is moving; a travel data acquisition unit that acquires travel data of another vehicle from an information center; and a position estimation unit that in case the tunnel detection unit detects a presence of a tunnel ahead on a road and the travel data acquisition unit acquires from the information center travel data of another vehicle that has traveled through the detected tunnel, estimates a current position of the navigation device in the detected tunnel using a travel speed in the detected tunnel in the acquired travel data as a movement speed of the navigation device. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018579 | PICTORIAL NAVIGATION - Pictorial information is provided relevant to a geographic location through selecting characteristics relevant to geographic locations, searching pictorial image databases for images having an embedded tags associated with the characteristics, retrieving image files from databases having embedded tags correlated to characteristics and visually depicting a physical appearance or an attribute of a location, analyzing characteristics image files and responsively selecting preferred image data, formatting preferred image data for presentation to a traveler, associating formatted preferred data with geographic locations, and presenting associated formatted data to the traveler in association with geographic locations. Characteristics include global positioning satellite coordinates. Image data may be selected having preferred image resolutions or perspectives. Formatting pictorial information may comprise synthesizing photographs into a constructs. Associated image data may indicate a distance and direction from a geographic location. Routing system applications are enabled to present pictorial information with navigation route points. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018580 | Creating a Graphic Display Based on MovementAANM Scileppi; MariaAACI ChicagoAAST ILAACO USAAGP Scileppi; Maria Chicago IL US - A method for creating a graphic display using the changing GPS coordinates of a moving object, such as a moving person. The method obtains the GPS coordinates from a tracking device or a mobile application and stores them in a data set. The speed and course of each data set is calculated to form a path and is assigned different indicia, such as a symbol and a color. The method displays the path of the data set to form the graphic display. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018581 | ACTIVATING AND DEACTIVATING SENSORS FOR DEAD RECKONINGAANM Sidhu; Gursharan S.AACI SeattleAAST WAAACO USAAGP Sidhu; Gursharan S. Seattle WA USAANM Agarwal; SharadAACI SeattleAAST WAAACO USAAGP Agarwal; Sharad Seattle WA US - An identification is made as to when a device is at an anchor location, which can be a proximity zone along an edge of a dead zone or a location where a signal from a beacon is detected. In response to the device being at the anchor location, one or more inertial sensors can be activated and data from the one or more inertial sensors collected to determine a position of the device using dead reckoning. Alternatively, in response to the device being at the anchor location, a determination is made as to when to deactivate one or more inertial sensors from which data is collected to determine the position of the device using dead reckoning. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018582 | Inertial Navigation Common Azimuth Reference Determination System and Method - An inertial navigation system, including at least one personal inertial navigation module (including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers) and at least one controller, which: obtains rotation origin data and reference magnetic field data; generates inertial navigation data using a navigation routine; generates azimuth correction data using a separate azimuth correction routine; and generates output data. Common azimuth reference determination methods are also disclosed. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018583 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM, NAVIGATION METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUMAANM MIURA; NaokiAACI ToyokawaAACO JPAAGP MIURA; Naoki Toyokawa JPAANM NONOMURA; JunichiAACI OkazakiAACO JPAAGP NONOMURA; Junichi Okazaki JP - Navigation systems, methods, and programs acquire evaluation information for each unit interval having a predetermined distance, the evaluation information being an index for evaluating a driver's driving operation of a vehicle, and determine based on a first scale of a map displayed on a display unit, a first distance of an evaluation interval for evaluating the driver's driving operation. The systems, methods, and programs evaluate the driver's driving operation in the evaluation interval having the first distance based on the evaluation information for each unit interval included in the evaluation interval, and display the evaluation result at a position corresponding to the evaluation interval on the map displayed on the display unit. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018584 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH WORK-MODE SWITCHING FUNCTION AND METHOD THEREOFAANM YOU; QIANGAACI Shenzhen CityAACO CNAAGP YOU; QIANG Shenzhen City CN - The electronic device controls an environment parameter detecting unit to detect the environment parameters of the environment which the electronic device is placed in periodically. It determines the environment parameter range which the detected environment parameters fall into. Determines whether the environment parameter range which the detected environment parameters fall into has changed, and switches a current working mode to one of the working mode sets for the environment range which the environment parameters fall into. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018585 | METHOD OF REAL TIME SUBSURFACE IMAGING USING ELECTROMAGNETIC DATA ACQUIRED FROM MOVING PLATFORMS - A method for the real time volume imaging of geological structures and/or man-made objects having electrical conductivity is described, using electromagnetic (EM) sources and/or EM sensors mounted from at least one moving platform. The EM sources may include natural EM sources and/or man-made inductive sources and/or man-made galvanic sources. The EM sensors may measure at least one component of the EM field at the at least one sensor position. The EM fields measured for each combination of EM source and EM sensor may be volume imaged in real time using a moving sensitivity domain that captures the finite spatial sensitivity of each combination of EM sources and EM sensors. At least one desired property, such as conductivity, dielectric permittivity and/or induced polarization parameters, may be derived from the volume image, providing a reconstruction or classification of the physical properties of the geological structures and/or man-made objects. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018586 | Field and Crop Information Gathering System - A method, apparatus, and system related to field and crop information gathering. In one aspect of the invention, data is obtained from a producer. One example would be yield map data from a yield monitor. Another is “as planted” data from precision farming planting equipment. The data includes information about seed or crop in a producer's field and an identification of the field. The data is combined with other information in a report. The information added could be, for example, soil type information overlaid on the field map. Another example is environmental classification information overlaid on the field map. The report is returned to the producer and used to discuss planning related to the field and the seed or crop. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018587 | HYDROCARBON DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for detecting hydrocarbon deposits includes a sensor that can measure radiation emanating from an earth surface within an area of interest and separate the measured radiation into component signals, each having a particular characteristic associated with the presence of hydrocarbon deposits. The system also includes a processor that can receive the component signals from the sensor, determine a difference between the component signals and a baseline radiation for the area of interest, and display data showing a likelihood of the presence of hydrocarbon deposits in locations within the area of interest based on the difference between the measured radiation and the baseline radiation. The processor may also generate maps of the area of interest. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018588 | METHOD OF REAL TIME SUBSURFACE IMAGING USING GRAVITY AND/OR MAGNETIC DATA MEASURED FROM A MOVING PLATFORM - A method for rapid real time imaging of geological formations and/or man-made objects having density and/or magnetization is described, using gravity and/or magnetic scalar and/or vector and/or tensor data measured by a moving platform. The gravity and/or magnetic field sensors may measure gravity and/or magnetic data at the at least one receiver along the survey lines by the moving platform. The recorded data may be applied as an artificial source of the potential field to generate an evolving migration (backpropagating) field, and may be applied iteratively. An integrated sensitivity of the potential field to density and/or magnetization perturbation may be calculated. A spatial weighting of at least one of the evolving migration fields may form an evolving real time holographic image. At least one desired property of the medium may be derived providing real time reconstruction of the volume physical properties of the geological formations and/or man-made objects. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018589 | DATA CONVERSION IN ECG TECHNIQUESAANM Yuk; JongtaeAACI RedmondAAST WAAACO USAAGP Yuk; Jongtae Redmond WA US - A computer-implementable method includes generating a first set of input signals representing an X-lead ECG apparatus, generating a second set of input signals based on the first set and representing a Y-lead ECG apparatus, and generating to a display device a set of ECG traces and/or a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction based on the second set. X and Y are integer values and Y is greater than X. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018590 | EVENT DOSIMETER DEVICES AND METHODS THEREOF - A dosimetry device includes at least one sensor in a housing and a dosimetry processing device with a memory. The dosimtery processing device is coupled to the at least one sensor in the housing. The dosimetry processing device is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory comprising: obtaining readings from the sensor; storing the readings; conducting an analysis of the stored readings to determine an injury risk assessment; and outputting at least one of the conducted analysis of the determined injury risk assessment or the stored readings. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018591 | FAST TOMOGRAPHIC MICROWAVE IMAGING - Microwave imaging equipment utilizing an array of antennas operated to collect electromagnetic field information for a material being imaged. Image processing method and apparatus use the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) and drastically reduce the time required to process the measured data and estimate the properties of the material. Prior to interrogating the material, interaction matrices are generated and stored for future DDA calculations. The interaction matrices relate to the interaction between the antennas, the operating frequency, the background medium, and the location of the discretizing dipoles. An initial guess of the material properties is made and the resultant field is estimated. These results are compared to the measured results and incremental changes in the material property are computed. The updated material properties are used to recalculate the field. Comparison of the field to the measured field and updating of the material properties continues until an end criterion is satisfied. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018592 | Systems and Methods for Inter-Population Neurobehavioral Status Assessment Using Profiles Adjustable to Testing Conditions - Systems and methods for inter-population assessment of neurobehavioral status employ neurobehavioral profiles to accommodate differing external conditions. Population profiles and external condition data are provided to a neurobehavioral performance model to determine neurobehavioral status under external conditions. Alternatively, neurobehavioral performance values may be retrieved from the profile when such values are stored in conjunction with external condition data. Comparisons of the resulting neurobehavioral status(es) are then determined, and may comprise without limitation one or more of: performance deltas, statistical parameter differences, rankings, above/below performance threshold determinations, pass/fail indicators, and countermeasure recommendations. Populations may comprise pluralities, individuals and empty (“null”) sets. Comparisons may also pertain to one or more relevant times of interest and one or more sets of testing conditions. Fields of application include (without limitation) operational and military fatigue management, medical diagnosis and treatment, fatigue countermeasure training and individualization, sleep research, academic and scientific research, and/or the like. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018593 | MULTI-STAGE, REGRESSION-BASED PCR ANALYSIS SYSTEM - Systems and methods are provided for analyzing data to determine properties of a PCR process or other process exhibiting amplification or growth. Data representing an amplification can be distinguished from data representing a jump or other error. A modified sigmoid function containing a drift term may be used in determining the properties. A multi-stage functional fit of the amplification data can provide increased accuracy and consistency of one or more of the properties. A baseline of the amplification data can be determined by analyzing an integrated area of a first derivative function of the data. A reference quantitation value can also be determined from locations of maxima of different derivative functions of the amplification data, e.g., a weighted average of the maxima locations for the second and third derivatives may be used. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018594 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING SECONDARY STRUCTURE OF PROTEIN USING ALPHA CARBON COORDINATESAANM Cho; Kwang-HwiAACI SeoulAACO KRAAGP Cho; Kwang-Hwi Seoul KRAANM No; Kyoung-TaiAACI SeoulAACO KRAAGP No; Kyoung-Tai Seoul KRAANM You; Min-JaeAACI SeoulAACO KRAAGP You; Min-Jae Seoul KR - This invention relates to an apparatus and method for identifying the secondary structure of a protein using alpha carbon coordinates. The apparatus includes a pseudo center fixing unit receiving a series of alpha carbon coordinates of amino acid sequences of a target protein so that pseudo centers corresponding to respective alpha carbons are disposed at positions fixed between the respective alpha carbons and alpha carbons adjacent thereto; a helix determination unit determining, based on a dihedral angle and a distance between a preset number of consecutive pseudo centers, whether the secondary structure formed by amino acids corresponding to the consecutive pseudo centers is a helix; and a strand determination unit determining, based on distances between pseudo centers of different pseudo center sequences in a plurality of pseudo center sequences having a preset number of consecutive pseudo centers among pseudo centers other than those corresponding to the helix, whether the secondary structure formed by amino acids corresponding to the pseudo centers of respective pseudo center sequences is a strand. According to this invention, the secondary structure including amino acids corresponding to pseudo centers can be identified based on the dihedral angle or the distance between pseudo centers using pseudo centers fixed between alpha carbons, thus attaining increased accuracy, compared to conventional methods using alpha carbon coordinates. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018595 | COPD EXACERBATION DETECTION USING SPUTUM ANALYSIS - Subject of the invention is the diagnosis and/or monitoring of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on sputum rheology. The complex modulus i.e. the viscous modulus and the elastic modulus of sputum is measured and assessed in respect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018596 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING TARGET BRAIN SEGMENTS IN HUMAN OR ANIMAL BRAINSAANM BOTTGER; JoachimAACI BerlinAACO DEAAGP BOTTGER; Joachim Berlin DEAANM Abbushi; AlexanderAACI BerlinAACO DEAAGP Abbushi; Alexander Berlin DEAANM Margulies; Daniel S.AACI BerlinAACO DEAAGP Margulies; Daniel S. Berlin DE - Method and device for determining target brain segments in human or animal brains | 2013-01-17 |
20130018597 | DETECTION OF CONTAMINATION AT SENSOR CONTACTS - Embodiments herein provide detection of contamination at one or more contacts of a sensor system. The sensor system includes a sensor assembly and an electronics assembly communicatively coupled together by one or more contacts. The sensor assembly passes a sensor signal to the electronics assembly for further processing. The electronics assembly includes a detection contact for detecting contamination on or near one or more contacts of the sensor assembly and/or the electronics assembly. A switch selectively couples the detection contact to a bias voltage during a measurement mode and to a reference voltage during a detection mode, the reference voltage being different from the bias voltage. A method of contamination detection includes switching the electronics assembly between the measurement mode and the detection mode, and monitoring for a change in the output signal received by the electronics assembly. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018598 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND PROGRAM FOR LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHAANM Ohashi; HiroshiAACI Otsu-shiAACO JPAAGP Ohashi; Hiroshi Otsu-shi JPAANM Yamaguchi; TadayukiAACI Kawasaki-shiAACO JPAAGP Yamaguchi; Tadayuki Kawasaki-shi JPAANM Terada; HidetoshiAACI Kyoto-shiAACO JPAAGP Terada; Hidetoshi Kyoto-shi JP - The present invention aims at reducing the time required for a series of analyses in the sequential performance of gradient analyses under a variety of conditions. To this end, in a control apparatus for controlling the operation of a liquid chromatograph having a gradient analysis function in which a mobile phase composed of a plurality of mixed solvents is used and a chromatograph analysis is performed while the mixture ratio of the solvents is temporally changed, the liquid chromatograph is controlled so as to continuously change the mixture ratio of the solvents from an initial mixture ratio to a final mixture ratio when performing a sample analysis; and as to perform, before the sample analysis, a preparatory liquid supply in which the mixture ratio of the solvents is continuously changed from the initial mixture ratio to the final mixture ratio at a rate higher than that in the sample analysis. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018599 | DESIGN OF ULTRA-FAST SUSPENDED GRAPHENE NANO-SENSORS SUITABLE FOR LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION - A graphene nano-sensor with a suspended graphene flake electrically connected to metal electrodes. The graphene nano-sensor is capable of detecting single molecules in an atmosphere through a change in electrical conductance through the graphene flake. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018600 | ESTIMATION OF ION CYCLOTRON RESONANCE PARAMETERS IN FOURIER TRANSFORM MASS SPECTROMETRY - The present invention comprises a method and system for accurate estimation of the ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) parameters in Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FTMS/FT-ICR MS). The parameters are essential to estimating the mass to charge ratio of an ion from FT-ICR MS data, the intended purpose of the instrument. Achieving greater accuracy in the parameters assists in greater accuracy of the mass to charge ratio of an ion, and obtaining an accurate estimation of the mass to charge ratio of an ion further aides in detecting mass with sub-ppm accuracy. Estimating mass in this manner enhances identification and characterization of large molecules. The inventive method and system thereby enhances the data obtained by conventional FTMS by accurately estimating ICR parameters. Ultimately, accurate estimates of the masses of molecules and detection and characterization of molecules from FT-ICR MS data are obtained. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018601 | SENSING CIRCUITAANM ZHANG; JUN-WEIAACI Shenzhen CityAACO CNAAGP ZHANG; JUN-WEI Shenzhen City CNAANM CHUANG; TSUNG-JENAACI Tu-ChengAACO TWAAGP CHUANG; TSUNG-JEN Tu-Cheng TWAANM WONG; SHIH-FANGAACI Tu-ChengAACO TWAAGP WONG; SHIH-FANG Tu-Cheng TWAANM ZHANG; JUNAACI Shenzhen CityAACO CNAAGP ZHANG; JUN Shenzhen City CNAANM YU; QI-LONGAACI Shenzhen CityAACO CNAAGP YU; QI-LONG Shenzhen City CNAANM XIN; YANGAACI Shenzhen CityAACO CNAAGP XIN; YANG Shenzhen City CN - A sensing circuit includes a plurality of sensors, a controller, a multiway switch, a linear optocoupler, and a logical control unit. The plurality of sensors are capable of measuring physical quantity, and each of the plurality of sensors is capable of generating a sensing signal in accordance with the physical quantity. The controller is capable of receiving and analyzing the sensing signals, and transforming the sensing signals into sensing events. The multiway switch is capable of selectively connecting one of the plurality of sensors to the controller. The linear optocoupler is connected between the plurality of sensors and the controller. The logical control unit is capable of controlling the multiway switch to selectively connect one of the plurality of sensors to the optocoupler, and generating a control signal to the controller, wherein the control signal indicating the one of the plurality of sensors connected to the controller. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018602 | Design and Apparatus of a Magnetic Resonance Multiphase Flow MeterAANM Ong; Joo TimAACI HoustonAAST TXAACO USAAGP Ong; Joo Tim Houston TX USAANM Bussear; Terry R.AACI SpringAAST TXAACO USAAGP Bussear; Terry R. Spring TX USAANM Edwards; Carl M.AACI KatyAAST TXAACO USAAGP Edwards; Carl M. Katy TX USAANM Young; Graeme S.AACI The WoodlandsAAST TXAACO USAAGP Young; Graeme S. The Woodlands TX US - An apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of a fluid flowing in a tubular is disclosed. A source of a primary magnetic field is coupled to the tubular and is configured to induce the primary magnetic field in the fluid to align nuclei of the fluid in the tubular along the primary magnetic field. A transmitter transmits an excitation signal into the fluid. A receiver detects a signal from the aligned nuclei responsive to the excitation signal. A processor estimates the parameter of the fluid from the detected signal. The source of the primary magnetic field is removable from the tubular. A coil may induce a secondary magnetic field to either enhance the strength of the primary magnetic field in the tubular or substantially cancel the primary magnetic field in the tubular, for example, to reduce particle build-up in the tubular. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018603 | Method Of Machine Condition MonitoringAANM BOGATZKI; DorotheaAACI DuesseldorfAACO DEAAGP BOGATZKI; Dorothea Duesseldorf DEAANM KUPER; PeterAACI GladbeckAACO DEAAGP KUPER; Peter Gladbeck DEAANM SOBOLYEV; OleksandrAACI DuesseldorfAACO DEAAGP SOBOLYEV; Oleksandr Duesseldorf DE - A method of machine condition monitoring, wherein at least one measured and/or calculated machine parameter is monitored during the operation of a machine, and wherein a change in the machine condition, particularly a critical operating state of the machine, is deduced when at least one monitored machine parameter reaches a limit value, and wherein at least one monitored machine parameter is monitored depending on at least one other machine parameter in defined operating point ranges of the machine, wherein a change in machine condition is deduced when at least one monitored machine parameter within a defined operating point range reaches at least one limit value individual to the operating point range. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018604 | FUEL GAUGING SYSTEM UTILIZING A DIGITAL FUEL GAUGING PROBE - An apparatus includes a probe configured to be mounted in a tank for at least partial immersion in a liquid. The probe has a body disposed inside the fuel tank. A capacitance-to-digital (CDC) circuit is disposed on the probe in the tank, such that the CDC is disposed inside the fuel tank and is operably connected to the body. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018605 | Estimating Fluid Levels in a Progressing Cavity Pump SystemAANM Peterson; Ronald G.AACI RacineAAST WIAACO USAAGP Peterson; Ronald G. Racine WI US - A method and apparatus for operating a pumping system includes the following: determining a motor operating parameter of a motor configured to drive a pump in a well; determining a pump operating parameter of the pump based on the motor operating parameter; operating the pump in a first mode to determine pump characteristics at a desired fluid level; generating first mode output data based on operation of the pump in the first mode; operating the pump in a second mode based on the first mode output data; determining an estimated fluid level in the well based on the motor operating parameter, the pump operating parameter and the first mode output data; and adjusting the pump speed based on the estimated fluid level in order to maintain a desired fluid level. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018606 | Short Detection in Battery CellsAANM White; David A.AACI HoustonAAST TXAACO USAAGP White; David A. Houston TX USAANM Benckenstein, JR.; Claude L.AACI StaffordAAST TXAACO USAAGP Benckenstein, JR.; Claude L. Stafford TX US - Internal shorts and other failures in lithium-ion battery cells may be detected during balancing of the battery cells. A counter may be used to detect when a battery cell is behaving differently than other battery cells by balancing more or less frequently. The counter may increment each time a battery cell is balanced to the other battery cells. A misbehaving battery cell may be flagged, when the counter exceeds a threshold value, for safety checks before an overheating event occurs. This misbehaving battery cell may be faulty due to an internal short. If the faulty battery cell is not corrected by replacement with a different battery cell or corrected by a user resetting the counter, the misbehaving battery cell may be disconnected to prevent the overheating event. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018607 | PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION APPARATUS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY MODULE AND METHOD THEREOFAANM Jin; Byoung JinAACI Yongin-siAACO KRAAGP Jin; Byoung Jin Yongin-si KRAANM Chong; Byoung HoAACI Suwon-siAACO KRAAGP Chong; Byoung Ho Suwon-si KRAANM Jung; Sung BaeAACI Suwon-siAACO KRAAGP Jung; Sung Bae Suwon-si KR - Provided are a performance verification system for a renewable energy module and a method thereof, and more particularly, a performance verification apparatus for a renewable energy module capable of improving measurement precision for a variable output state of the renewable energy module, such as a solar cell, and reducing an error through an electrical load and a precise measurement unit, and a method thereof. It is possible to increase reliability of real measurement data and calculate a result closest to a maximum power point by compensating for power loss caused by resistance of a cable constituting a system, internal resistance of a voltage sensor, and a measurement cable. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018608 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR METERING AND ANALYZING ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF EVENTS WITHIN A PORTABLE DEVICE - System and methods to determine the energy consumption per event type from usage data of portable devices are described. An example method includes determining a first plurality of linear equations representative of energy expended in a portable device for a second plurality of functions, the second plurality of functions including at least one software function of the portable device, the first plurality being more than the second plurality, and determining, using a processor, energy values corresponding to the second plurality of functions by applying a statistical method to the first plurality of linear equations. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018609 | Power Determination from Separated Voltage and Current SensorsAANM Filippenko; Alexander S.AACI CaryAAST NCAACO USAAGP Filippenko; Alexander S. Cary NC USAANM Brown; Scott R.AACI Wake ForestAAST NCAACO USAAGP Brown; Scott R. Wake Forest NC USAANM Buda; Paul R.AACI RaleighAAST NCAACO USAAGP Buda; Paul R. Raleigh NC US - Power measurement by tracking of a voltage cycle when voltage and current measurements are taken at different locations on an AC power line, with the devices taking the measurements interconnected by an asynchronous data network. In general, a synchronization/timing message is sent from the voltage sensing side to the current sensing side, with the synchronization/timing message being transmitted at a predetermined point in the periodic voltage cycle. The receipt of the synchronization/timing message by the current sensing side may be used to re-synchronize an internal model of the voltage cycle maintained by the current sensing side to the measured voltage cycle. The predetermined point in the voltage cycle may be the zero-crossing point, or other point, of the voltage cycle. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018610 | SECONDARY BATTERY MODULE, BATTERY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEVICE, BATTERY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SECONDARY BATTERY REUSE SYSTEM, SECONDARY BATTERY RECOVERY AND SALES SYSTEM, SECONDARY BATTERY REUSE METHOD, AND SECONDARY BATTERY RECOVERY AND SALES METHOD - A secondary battery module includes a battery information storage unit for storing electric characteristic information and usage history information of the secondary battery module. A battery information management device and a terminal device respectively include interfaces to be connected to the secondary battery module. The battery information management device is provided with a battery information database. The battery information management device is connected to the terminal device through a communications network. In this way, battery information stored in the battery information storage unit, which is acquired by the battery information management device and the terminal device, is accumulated in the battery information database. Moreover, the battery information management device grades the secondary battery module for reuse based on the battery information and a predetermined threshold. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018611 | Systems and Methods of Measuring Gap Height - A method of determining a gap height in a droplet actuator including measuring an impedance between a droplet operations electrode of a first substrate in a droplet actuator and ground electrode of a second substrate in the droplet actuator, storing a lookup table that associates impedances to heights of gaps between the first substrate and the second substrate, querying the lookup table for the impedance measured between the droplet operations electrode of the first substrate and the ground electrode of the second substrate; and retrieving a height of a gap associated with the impedance. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018612 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OBSERVING OR CONTROLLING A NON-LINEAR SYSTEMAANM Grossard; MathieuAACI MontrougeAACO FRAAGP Grossard; Mathieu Montrouge FRAANM Boukallel; MehdiAACI ParisAACO FRAAGP Boukallel; Mehdi Paris FR - An observation device of a non-linear system includes: at least one sensor supplying a measurement vector each component of which is a measurable output parameter of the non-linear system; and a state observer processor that, based on a predetermined state representation of the non-linear system, is configured to supply an estimation of a state vector of the non-linear system according to the measurement vector supplied and a control vector of the non-linear system. In addition, the predetermined state representation including a non-linearity model of the system in a form of a gain parameter, and one component of the state vector is this gain parameter. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018613 | ATE TO DETECT SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A DUTAANM Chow; Ka Ho ColinAACI BrightonAAST MAAACO USAAGP Chow; Ka Ho Colin Brighton MA US - Automatic test equipment (ATE) includes: a circuit to split a stimulus signal, which contains both deterministic and random (noise floor) spectra contents, from a device under test (DUT) into a first signal and a second signal; a first channel to receive the first signal, where the first channel adds a first noise floor to the first signal to produce a first channel signal; a second channel to receive the second signal, where the second channel adds a second noise floor to the second signal to produce a second channel signal, the first noise floor, the second noise floor and the DUT noise floor all being mutually uncorrelated; and processing logic to: estimate a first power of the deterministic stimulus signal, and estimate a second total power based on the first channel signal and the second channel signal. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018614 | COMPARISON OF DATA SIGNALS USING CHARACTERISTIC ELECTRONIC THUMBPRINTS EXTRACTED THEREFROM - A characteristic thumbprint is extracted from a data signal, the thumbprint based on statistics relating to the data signal. The data signal can be compared indirectly by matching this thumbprint against one or more reference thumbprints. The data signal may be any type of signal, including streaming digitized audio or obtained from static files. A database may contain a number of these characteristic thumbprints, and the database can be searched for a particular thumbprint. | 2013-01-17 |
20130018615 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING FREQUENCYAANM CHOU; MING-HUNGAACI TAIPEI CITYAACO TWAAGP CHOU; MING-HUNG TAIPEI CITY TWAANM WANG; NAI-JIANAACI TAIPEI CITYAACO TWAAGP WANG; NAI-JIAN TAIPEI CITY TWAANM HSIEH; CHING-FENGAACI TAIPEI CITYAACO TWAAGP HSIEH; CHING-FENG TAIPEI CITY TW - A method for measuring frequency includes the steps of obtaining the cycle number of the clock rate of a signal under test based on a reference signal and a clock mask synchronous with the signal under test; obtaining a frequency of the signal under test based on the cycle number; correcting the frequency of the signal under test based on a plurality of phase shift signals generated based on the reference signal; and minimizing an error of the frequency of the signal under test by increasing the quantity of the phase shift signals. The method enhances the accuracy of the obtained frequency of the signal under test, speeds up frequency measurement, and reduces the required circuit areas. A system for measuring frequency is further introduced for use with the method. | 2013-01-17 |