08th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 44 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120046737 | MEDICAL DEVICES HAVING ACTIVATED SURFACES - Implantable biocompatible polymeric medical devices include a substrate with an acid or base-modified surface which is subsequently modified to include click reactive members. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046738 | Color-Coded Prosthetic Valve System and Methods for Using the Same - A color-coded bioprosthetic valve system having a valve with an annular sewing ring, and a valve holder system with a holder sutured to the ring of the valve, a post operatively connected to the holder, and an adapter sutured to the post and having a color associated with the valve model and/or size. For example, the adapter may be blue to indicate that the valve of the system is a mitral valve of a particular type and/or size. The system may also include a flex handle that is configured to engage with the adapter. The handle has a color associated with the adapter such that a user is able to visually determine that the handle color matches the valve model. For example, the handle may have a grip that is colored blue to match the blue color of the adapter. Accordingly, the color-coded system enables users to confirm easily that the correct accessories such as the sizer or flex handle are being used with the correct valve. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046739 | METHOD OF DELIVERING A MEDICAL DEVICE ACROSS A PLURALITY OF VALVES - Devices and methods for treating veins and venous conditions, such as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, are provided. In one aspect, the disclosed subject matter provides an intraluminal scaffold having a generally tubular body with a lumen defined therethrough, the tubular body having a compressed condition for delivery and an expanded condition for implant within a vessel having a distended portion, at least a length of the tubular body configured to form an enlarged portion in the expanded condition to engage a wall of the distended portion of the vessel. Methods for fabricating and using the scaffold, methods for remodeling a vein, and methods of deploying a medical device in a vessel without negatively impacting the function of a valve of the vessel, are also provided. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046740 | MEDICAL DEVICES AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERING MEDICAL DEVICES - Medical devices and delivery systems for delivering medical devices to a target location within a subject. In some embodiments the medical devices can be locked in a fully deployed and locked configuration. In some embodiments the delivery systems are configured with a single actuator to control the movement of multiple components of the delivery system. In some embodiments the actuator controls the independent and dependent movement of multiple components of the delivery system. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046741 | Valve Prosthesis Fixation Techniques Using Sandwiching - A prosthetic apparatus includes a main body having a lumen and configured for placement within a native annulus of a native valve complex. The main body is radially compressible to a radially compressed state for delivery into the heart and self-expandable from the compressed state to a radially expanded state. The apparatus also includes at least one arm coupled to and disposed outside of the main body. The arm being coupled to the main body such that when the main body is compressed to the compressed state, a leaflet-receiving space between the arm and an outer surface of the main body increases to receive a native valve leaflet therebetween, and when the main body expands to the expanded state in the absence of any radial inward forces on the main body or the arm, the space decreases to capture the leaflet between the outer surface of the main body and the arm. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046742 | Valve Prosthesis Fixation Techniques Using Sandwiching - A prosthesis including a distal fixation member that defines two or more engagement arms that are configured to apply a first axial force to tissue of the subject on a downstream side of the native valve complex. The prosthesis also includes a proximal fixation member configured to apply a second axial force to tissue of the subject on an upstream side of the native valve complex such that application of the first and second axial forces couples the prosthesis to the native valve complex. The proximal fixation member and the distal fixation member are fabricated as one integrated structure. The engagement arms and the proximal fixation member are configured to capture leaflets of the native valve complex therebetween without folding over of leaflets of the native valve complex, upon implantation of the prosthesis. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046743 | Ocular Lens - An ocular lens has a refractive optics structure formed from a polyisobutylene-based material and a glassy segment that is non-reactive to ocular fluid and that maintains in vivo transparency for a substantial time period. The material has a central elastomeric polyolefinic block and thermoplastic end blocks (such as a triblock polymer backbone comprising polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene). The material is preferably flexible such that the refractive optics structure can be folded upon itself and introduced through a small scleral incision. The lens device includes an optic portion and preferably either an annular haptic element or one or more haptic elements adapted to rest within a capsular bag formed by a surgical procedure. A portion of the lens device may be loaded with at least one therapeutic agent that interferes with proliferation of the epithelial cells of the eye to protect against PCO. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046744 | CAPSULAR INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANT HAVING A REFRACTIVE LIQUID THERE IN - An intraocular lens having a light-transmitting optic ( | 2012-02-23 |
20120046745 | ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTED EYELID CLOSURE DEVICES AND METHODS - Provided herein are embodiments of a weighted eyelid closure device for use in treating lagophthalmos. In accordance with an embodiment, the device can be implanted by an oculoplastic surgeon into a patient's eyelid, to treat lagophthalmos. The device's weight can then be adjusted later by the surgeon, if necessary, without requiring removal of the entire device. For example, if it is discovered that an implanted device is too heavy or too light after it has been implanted within the patient's eyelid, the load of the device can be adjusted by modifying the previous load. Alternatively, a new load having the desired weight can be implanted. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046746 | REINFORCED BIOLOGICAL CONSTRUCT AND METHOD OF REINFORCING BIOLOGICAL CONSTRUCT - A reinforced graft construct for repairing a tendon or ligament formed by inserting a piece of material, such as suture, through the graft lengthwise. The material may be inserted along only a portion of the graft or along the entire graft. The material may be a reinforcement (reinforcing) material such as suture, tape, weave, or mesh passed lengthwise through the graft (for example, along the center of the graft). The ends of the graft may be whipstiched to provide additional fixation when implanted. The material may be bioabsorbable such that it will resorb away after a period of time in the body. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046747 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ZIPKNOT ACL FIXATION - A system and method for securing an ACL graftmay include a line routed through a plate. The plate may include an elongated body with a plurality of passageways, and a dogbone feature on at least one end of the body. The line may be routed to create at least one one-way slide so no knots are required. The line may form an adjustable loop that receives the graft. The adjustable loop is adjustable through the one-way slide feature. The plate may be configured to pass through a bone tunnel. The plate may be toggled after passage through the bone tunnel to prevent withdrawal back through the bone tunnel because the plate contact area is larger the bone tunnel area. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046748 | Expandable Intervertebral Spacer and Method of Posterior Insertion Thereof - An expandable intervertebral spacer has a plurality of arms. The arms can be retracted or extended. The spacer has a width that is narrower than the width between the nerve roots near the posterior approach to an intervertebral space. Once inserted into the intervertebral space, the arms can be deployed. The deployed arms expand the height and width of the spacer. Once deployed, the spacer stabilizes two adjacent vertebrae. The arms are interconnected mechanically to deploy simultaneously. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046749 | INTERSPINOUS SPACER AND FACET JOINT FIXATION DEVICE - A biologically implantable device including a spacer body and fasteners for fixing the spacer body in place between vertebrae, and a method for use of the device to improve intervertebral spacing and correct foraminal stenosis, and to immobilize facet joints and promote fusion of adjacent vertebrae to each other. A drill guide may be used in providing bores in the facet joints to receive the fasteners. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046750 | SPINAL FUSION CAGE - The invention is directed to a spinal fusion cage for implantation between two adjacent vertebrae, wherein the total cage has, under a load, a maximum compression that is higher than 0.05% of the original height of the spinal fusion cage and the maximum compression does not change the structural integrity of the cage. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046751 | VERTEBRAL BODY REPLACEMENT AND METHOD OF USE - Vertebral body replacements are provided, including at least one vertebral body replacement in the shape of an oblong object. The oblong vertebral body replacement includes a nose shape to provide as minimally invasive an installation as possible, serrations formed in the side wall of the body replacement's body to prevent expulsion once the body replacement is in place, a tapered asymmetric shape to provide spinal lordosis, and an integral protrusion for stability and to increase the bearing area to reduce contact pressure between the body replacement and the vertebral plate. Hollow passages are typically filled with bone tissue. The body is also provided with holes passing therethrough to promote tissue growth. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046752 | Unitary Orthopedic Implant - The present disclosure relates to an orthopedic implant that may be used to repair and/or replace focal defects in an individual's articular cartilage. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a unitary orthopedic implant that includes a bone contacting layer and an articulating layer. In exemplary embodiments, the bone contacting layer may have a thickness of between about 1 millimeter and 3 millimeters. In exemplary embodiments, the articulating layer may have a thickness of between about 1 millimeter and 2 millimeters. As a result, the orthopedic implant may have an overall thickness of between about 2 millimeters and about 5 millimeters. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046753 | TALAR IMPLANTS AND METHODS OF USE - Implant devices, and method of using the same, are provided. The implant devices have a head and a stem. The head has an upper surface, a perimeter surface, and a lower surface. The upper surface is blended into the perimeter surface. The perimeter surface is blended into the lower surface. The upper surface has a general shape of at least a portion of a superior articular surface of a talus and at least a portion of a medial articular surface of a talus. The stem has a cylindrical portion, which optionally has at least one circumferential groove. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046754 | APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A LOAD ON A HIP JOINT - An apparatus and related method for controlling a load on a human hip joint during normal gait while preserving motion. The approach is intended to treat osteoarthritis of the hip without substantially resisting an angular displacement associated with full mobility of the pelvis and femur bones. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046755 | Prosthetic Hip Device and Associated Method - A prosthetic device for replacement of a first pelvic portion of a pelvis of a patient opposite to a second pelvic portion relative to a median plane includes an acetabular component a flange component and a pubis component. The acetabular component has a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion at an angle relative to the first connecting portion, the angle selected for a corresponding anatomy of the patient. The flange component is coupled to the first connecting portion and configured to attach to a healthy pelvic portion on a same side of the median plane from the first pelvic portion. The pubis component is connected to the second connecting portion of the acetabular component and having a clamping portion configured to attach to a healthy pubis bone on an opposite side of the median plane from the first pelvic portion. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046756 | TREATMENT OF NASAL CAVITIES WITH STENT HAVING A SOFT OUTER LAYER - A method of treatment of sinusitis and other related diseases including disposing a radially expandable stent into a nasal passageway and radially expanding the stent in a blocked region of the nasal passageway to expand the blocked region is disclosed. The stent includes a tissue-cushioning portion composed of a hydrogel-forming or elastomeric polymer material to provide cushioning between the stent and nasal tissue and reduce irritation of the nasal tissue. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046757 | COVALENT MODIFICATION OF METAL SURFACES - The present invention provides modified metal surfaces, methods of preparing the same, and intermediates thereto. These materials are useful in a variety of applications including biomaterials. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046758 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING DEFECTS IN THE TISSUE OF A LIVING BEING - An implant for deployment in select locations or select tissue for regeneration of tissue is disclosed. The implant includes collagen and or other bio-resorbable materials, where the implant may also be used for therapy delivery. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046759 | TEMPORAL BROW LIFTING AND FIXATION DEVICE - The present invention describes an implantable tissue lifting and fixation device. More particularly, the present invention describes a temporal brow lifting device comprised of a bio-absorbable supportive backing. The device has a shape of a curvilinear end and a tail end region. The curvilinear end region comprises a plurality of attachment points protruding from the supportive backing, and the tail region comprises of a plurality of cavities in order to secure the device at the desired elevated position in the deep temporal fascia. The plurality of attachment points distributes tension in a multi-vector direction over the contact area between the device and the tissue. The attachment points can be manufactured separately and attached, however, preferably, the attachment points are made integral with the temporal brow lifting device. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046760 | FOOT PROSTHESIS - Foot prosthesis, comprising an upper part, and a lower part that is placed on the ground when walking, wherein the upper part and the lower part are connected to each other via an elastic damping element arranged in the heel area, and the upper part and the lower part, forming a spring, extend one above the other and spaced apart from each other into the area of the forefoot, wherein at least one filling piece ( | 2012-02-23 |
20120046761 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - An information processing device includes: a receiving unit that receives information to be processed that includes valid data, that has processing content information and identification information, and start information; and a control unit that controls an apparatus such that an initial processing is executed on the basis of the processing content information, and, if the identification information is included in the information to be processed, controls the apparatus such that processing that follows the initial processing is executed, and, if the identification information is not included in the information to be processed, controls the apparatus such that the processing that follows the initial processing is not executed. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046762 | PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT OF SIGNAL TRANSFORMATION SCHEMES FOR ULTRA-FAST SCANNING - A mechanism for controlling a plant is provided. A reference signal is received at a signal transformation loop of a feedback controller. The signal transformation loop causes the reference signal to include a disturbance signal and a nominal signal. Also, the reference signal is received at a feed-forward controller, and the feed-forward controller recreates the disturbance signal that was caused by the signal transformation loop. The output of the feedback controller is input into a plant. The output of the feed-forward controller is input into the plant such that the disturbance signal is removed from the output of the feedback controller. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046763 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ROBUST ATTENUATION OF MECHANICAL RESONANCES USING A MULTI-RATE LOW PASS FILTER - A system for a providing a multi-rate digital low pass filter that attenuates high frequency resonances in a control signal. The filter described by a transfer function having a phase-advanced factor (or an approximation of phase-advanced factor) and a low pass filtering function; either cancels or avoids an unstable pole in the phase advanced factor at z=−1. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046764 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE TO TEST PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS - Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test process control systems are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes obtaining user inputs to a first process control system, obtaining process inputs and first process outputs of the first process control system, providing the user inputs and the process inputs to a second process control system to operate the second process control system, obtaining second process outputs of the second process control system operated with the user inputs and the process inputs, and comparing the first and second process outputs to determine whether the second process control system is implemented as intended. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046765 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER CONTROL - A system for controlling an ultrasonic transducer utilizes an indication of the relative phase of the voltage on the transducer and the current passing through the transducer to control the relative phase to a value that has been preselected to correspond to resonance of an electromechanical system that includes the ultrasonic transducer. In one example application, the system includes a waveform generator that produces an oscillating signal, and the frequency of the oscillating signal is adjustable under control of the control processor. The control processor adjusts the frequency of the oscillating signal according to a proportional control law at least some of the time, and according to a proportional-integral control law at least some of the time. The control processor may also control the amplitude of the oscillation of the ultrasonic transducer. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046766 | Gobo Virtual Machine - Producing complicated effects based on image processing operations. The image processing operations are defined for a processor which may be different than the processor which is actually used. The processor that is actually used runs an interpreter that interprets the information into its own language, and then runs the image processing. The actual information is formed according to a plurality of layers which are combined in some way so that each layer can effect the layers below it. For example, the layers may add to, subtract from, or form transparency to the layer below it or make color filtering the layer below it. This enables many different effects computed and precompiled for a hypothetical processor, and a different processor can be used to combine and render those effects. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046767 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, and an information processing method that that are capable of always obtaining information even while any application is not being executed, and effectively using the obtained information. To achieve this, a state of the environment in a place where the information processing apparatus is present is detected; detection data indicating the state of the environment detected by the detection section is stored; an operation mode is switched at least between a normal mode in which power is being supplied to the application execution section and the predetermined application can be executed, and a power saving mode in which at least supply of power to the application execution section is restricted and the predetermined application cannot be executed; and at least in the power saving mode, a state of the environment is detected, and detection data indicating the state of the environment detected is stored in the first storage section at predetermined time intervals. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046768 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING MULTIMEDIA DATA TO A USER - The present invention relates to a method for providing multimedia data to a user ( | 2012-02-23 |
20120046769 | ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, RESERVATION METHOD, AND PLAYBACK DATA SEARCH METHOD - An electronic equipment includes a sound recording portion to store sound inputted from outside, a reserved sound recording control portion to cause the sound recording portion to perform a sound recording based on reservation data including at least a start date and time and a finish date and time, a time axis display portion to display a time axis for one day of a day to be processed, an extracting portion to extract reservation data whose start date and time or finish date and time is included in the day to be processed, a reservation figure display portion to display for each of the reservation data extracted a reservation figure indicating an already scheduled reservation between a starting position on the time axis corresponding to the start date and time and a finish position on the time axis corresponding to the finish date and time of the reservation data, a designating portion to designate any given position on the time axis displayed, and a reservation data generating portion to generate reservation data in which time determined based on the position designated on the time axis is set as a start time or a finish time. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046770 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CREATION, COLLECTION, AND DISSEMINATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT MODULES USING MOBILE DEVICES - In one aspect, a mobile device comprises a local content store, one or more media playback components, one or more content capture components, and an instructional module agent comprising an authoring application and a playback application. The authoring application is configured to allow an author to create and edit instructional modules each comprising one or more media playback steps, each step comprising media that can be displayed or played, and to use the content capture components to capture content, store the captured content in the local content store, and configure at least one of the steps to display or play the captured content using the media playback components. The playback application is configured to play the instructional modules using the media playback components. The instructional module agent can be configured to respond to the creation and/or editing of an instructional module using the authoring application by automatically uploading at least a portion of the instructional module to a content repository stored on one or more computer servers. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046771 | MUSIC AUDIO SIGNAL GENERATING SYSTEM - A system for timbral change, capable of changing timbres included in an existing music audio signal to arbitrary timbres. Replaced harmonic peak parameters are created by replacing a plurality of harmonic peaks included in harmonic peak parameters, which are stored in a separated audio signal analyzing and storing section | 2012-02-23 |
20120046772 | Low Complexity Auditory Event Boundary Detection - An auditory event boundary detector employs down-sampling of the input digital audio signal without an anti-aliasing filter, resulting in a narrower bandwidth intermediate signal with aliasing. Spectral changes of that intermediate signal, indicating event boundaries, may be detected using an adaptive filter to track a linear predictive model of the samples of the intermediate signal. Changes in the magnitude or power of the filter error correspond to changes in the spectrum of the input audio signal. The adaptive filter converges at a rate consistent with the duration of auditory events, so filter error magnitude or power changes indicate event boundaries. The detector is much less complex than methods employing time-to-frequency transforms for the full bandwidth of the audio signal. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046773 | MOLD DESIGN SYSTEM AND METHOD - A mold design system includes an electrode design module, and a central control module. The electrode design module generates a drawing of a mold based on electrode structure parameters. The central control module generates a computerized numerical control (CNC) task, a simulating task, and a testing task according to the drawing generated by the electrode design module. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046774 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD ADOPTED IN SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - A substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of processing chambers, discharge systems each provided in conjunction with one of the processing chambers and a common discharge system connected with the discharge systems of at least two processing chambers among the discharge systems provided in conjunction with the individual processing chambers. The common discharge allows a switch-over between a scrubbing common discharge system that discharges discharge gas from each processing chamber after scrubbing the discharge gas at a scrubbing means and a non-scrubbing common discharge system that directly discharges the discharge gas from the discharge system of the processing chamber without scrubbing at the scrubbing means. In this substrate processing apparatus, switch-over control is executed to select either the scrubbing common discharge system of the non-scrubbing common discharge system in correspondence to the type of processing executed in the processing chamber. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046775 | METHOD FOR ENHANCING WAFER EXPOSURE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY - The present invention applies the data mining methodology by which the wafer exposure effectiveness and efficiency are predictable in terms of the chip size, chip length and chip width. More specifically, in the present invention, an index, named “Mask-field-utilization weighted Overall Wafer Effectiveness” (MOWE), integrates the two parameters of “Overall Wafer Effectiveness” (OWE) and “Mask-Field-Utilization” (MFU), mainly regarding the wafer exposure effectiveness and efficiency respectively, in order to construct a model tree of the MOWE to achieve the data mining. By the MOWE model tree, the causal relationship between design independent variables and fabrication dependent variables is constructed, which can be accordingly applied as design guidelines in the design phase to improve the chip layout in order to produce a better wafer exposure effectiveness and efficiency. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046776 | COMPUTER AIDED SOLID STATE BATTERY DESIGN METHOD AND MANUFACTURE OF SAME USING SELECTED COMBINATIONS OF CHARACTERISTICS - A method of designing and manufacturing a solid-state electrochemical battery cell for a battery device. The method includes building a database of a plurality of first characteristics of a solid-state cells for a battery device and determining at least a third characteristic of the solid-state cell for a given application. The method also includes selecting at least one material of the solid-state electrochemical battery cell, the selected material being from the plurality of first characteristics and forming a plurality of factorial combinations of each component using the selected plurality of first characteristics to derive a respective plurality of solid-state electrochemical battery cells. The method performs a design optimization process for the third characteristic. A step of identifying an optimal design of the second characteristics with the selected first characteristics for each solid-state electrochemical battery cell from the plurality of solid-state cells is included. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046777 | Integrated machining and part inspection method - A CNC machining method that incorporates a dimensional probe that allows inspection after stages of machining to determine actual dimensions with respect to the target dimension allows for corrective measures before advancing to the next step of the process so as to reduce the number of rejects at the end of the machining process. In making a tubular thread that involves initially machining a taper followed by the thread form, the probe and the various cutters are oriented against gauge blocks supported in the chuck jaws. The probe is used to dimensionally inspect the taper that is cut as an initial step before the thread form is produced. Inspection using the probe takes place upon machining the taper and after the thread form is cut using the probe integrated into the machine. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046778 | DEFECT ANALYZING METHOD AND DEFECT ANALYZING APPARATUS - A defect analyzing method according to the present invention includes: acquiring a position and a size of a defect obtained in a defect inspection of a semiconductor device and a waveform of a reflected light in a region which includes the defect, the waveform being obtained in an optical inspection; acquiring process step information which includes a plurality of process steps to manufacture the semiconductor device and a processing content per the process step; performing a process simulation of the semiconductor device based on the position and the size of the defect and the process step information; performing an optical simulation on a result of the process simulation thereby to generate a waveform of a reflected light; calculating a similarity degree between the acquired waveform of the reflected light and the generated waveform of the reflected light; and judging whether or not the calculated similarity degree exceeds a threshold value registered in advance. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046779 | AUTOMATED 3D BUILD PROCESSES - A conveyor or other transport mechanism is provided to support multiple, sequential builds from a three-dimensional fabrication machine. The conveyor may be heated/cooled, coated, or otherwise treated to assist in adhesion during a build, as well as removal of objects after a build. Each fabricated object may be automatically removed from the conveyor as the conveyor moves in order to restore a buildable surface for fabrication of additional objects. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046780 | COMPOSITE MICROPHONE BOOT TO OPTIMIZE SEALING AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES - A microphone assembly for an electronic device is described. The microphone assembly can include a microphone, a microphone boot and a printed circuit board. The microphone boot can be a composite microphone boot that is formed from multiple materials. A hardness of the each of the materials used in the microphone boot can be selected to improve sealing integrity and reduce shock transmission. In one embodiment, the composite microphone boot can be formed using a double-shot injection molding process. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046781 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR USE IN PROCESSING WAFERS - The present embodiment provides for methods and systems for use in processing objects such as wafers, including polishing and/or grinding wafers. Some embodiments provide systems that include a front-end module and a processing module. The front end module couples with a storage device that stores objects for processing. The front-end module can comprise a single robot, a transfer station, and a plurality of end effectors. The processing module is coupled with the front-end module such that the single robot delivers objects from the storage device to the processing module. The processing module comprising a rotating table, and a spindle with a carrier configured to retrieve the delivered object and process the object on the rotating table. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046782 | KINEMATIC APPROXIMATION ALGORITHM HAVING A RULED SURFACE - In a method for producing at least one surface on a workpiece by a material removal tool and a corresponding material removal device, the surface is produced quickly and at low cost. Based on any surface to be produced, a movement path of the material removal tool is controlled to produce a ruled surface approximating to the surface, the movement path being provided in the form of a curve on a dual unit sphere, wherein a curve point corresponds to a location and an orientation of the removal tool. The curve can be produced based on ruling lines, which are converted into points, interpolated by a dual sphere spline interpolation algorithm, on the dual unit sphere by mathematical transformations. The curve can then be transformed back or can be used directly to follow the material removal tool. Likewise, directrix curves can be determined by the dual sphere spline interpolation algorithm. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046783 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES - A method and an apparatus handle a plurality of articles in an order, particularly flat mail items. This involves the use of an apparatus having a sorting installation, a temporary store and a handling position. Each temporary store has a feeder station and an outward transfer station. Each article passes through the sorting installation. The sorting installation measures what value a prescribed sorting feature assumes for the article. The article is fed into the temporary store. The article is either transported past the outward transfer station and remains on a conveyor track or it is transferred out of the temporary store and is transported to a handling position. The sorting installation sorts the articles and produces an order among the articles. The articles are transported to the feeder station which feeds the articles into the temporary store such that at any time all the articles are arranged in the order. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046784 | Conveyor System for Conveying Individual Piece Goods - The invention relates to a conveyor system for conveying individual piece goods, comprising: a number of conveyor motors and at least one control unit for sending data connected to each conveyor motor for regulating and/or controlling the conveyor motors. According to the invention, the control unit is connected with a bus line, a conveyor motor, and preferably each conveyor motor by means of the bus line, preferably without electrical contact. According to the invention, it is also provided that the modem(s) is/are designed in order to take energy for driving the conveyor motor and at least one data signal for control/regulation of the conveyor motor from the bus line and send them to the conveyor motor. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046785 | Bag-in-Box Pump System - Systems and methods for packaging beverage components and dispensing beverages are provided. Bag-in-box packages include connectors that contain rotary pumps. Each rotary pump includes a resiliently deformable housing and a rotor that form a plurality of chambers. The bag-in-box package may be incorporated into a dispenser system that includes a touch screen that allows users to input beverage selections. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046786 | SECONDARY MEDIA RETURN SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for facilitating a rapid return of a article to an article dispensing machine is provided. The article dispensing machine comprises a first user interface portion having the first user interface, a second user interface portion having a second user interface, and an article transfer portion for vending and returning articles. The method includes receiving from a first user interface a first request to return the article, determining whether the article transfer portion is available to enable the return of the article, and based on the availability determination, displaying through a first user interface screen associated with the first user interface portion information indicating whether to proceed with the return of the article or to wait for a notification to proceed with the return. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046787 | PAYMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR USE IN A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT HAVING SEGMENTED ARCHITECTURE - A payment processing system and method comprising a POS module providing an interface to effect sales of FGS in a retail environment, a device module operatively connected to at least one retail device configured to supply FGS and comprising a card reader adapted to receive a first payment card data for payment for the FGS, wherein the device module is adapted to control operation of the at least one retail device, and a payment system module operatively connected to the POS module and the device module, the payment system module adapted to validate payment for the FGS. The payment system module and the device module are separated from the POS module in order to segment a portion of the payment processing system configured to handle payment card data from a portion of the system that does not handle payment card data. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046788 | SPEECH SYSTEM USED FOR ROBOT AND ROBOT WITH SPEECH SYSTEM - A speech system ( | 2012-02-23 |
20120046789 | WALKING ROBOT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A torque-based walking robot and a control method thereof which stably controls walking of the robot. In the control method, in which high rigidity, equal to that achieved through a position-based control method, is achieved using a torque-based control method without switching between the position-based control method and the torque-based control method while the robot is in motion, a difference between a target torque and a measured torque is forcibly generated by limiting a torque range measurable by each torque sensor, thereby increasing voltage applied to each actuator, and thus achieving high rigidity, equal to that achieved through the position-based control method, using the torque-based control method without switching between the position-based control method and the torque-based control method. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046790 | NETWORKED CHEMICAL DISPERSION SYSTEM - The illustrative embodiments provide a chemical dispersion system comprising a number of chemical dispersion nodes, a chemical dispersion manager, and a processor unit. The processor unit executes the chemical dispersion manager to identify a pest problem and generate a chemical dispersion plan for execution by the number of chemical dispersion nodes. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046791 | METHOD OF IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF SMA ACTUATOR - A method of improving the speed and consistency of response of a shape memory alloy actuator under varying ambient and operating conditions. The method includes probing the shape memory alloy by periodically determining an electric signal strength at which it will undergo forward or reverse phase transformation, while avoiding actual phase transformation; priming the shape memory alloy by bringing it close to phase transformation; initiating phase transformation; and maintaining the shape memory alloy in the phase transformed state. The electric signal strength at which the shape memory alloy will undergo phase transformation is determined by identifying a cusp feature in the electric resistance of the shape memory alloy which closely precedes phase transformation. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046792 | Wireless sensors system and method of using same - An apparatus, system, and methods for measuring environmental parameters are disclosed. The apparatus, system, and methods can be used for a variety of applications, including HVAC air balancing and building commissioning. The system includes a variety of wireless sensing modules and wearable modules for control, display, and storage. Parameters measured include air and water temperature, pressure, velocity, and flow. Also included are sensors for light intensity, CO concentrations, and CO2 concentrations. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046793 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PULSE-MODULATED FEEDBACK CONTROL - A PM system for overcoming friction stickiness and which also remains stable is described. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046794 | Intelligent DC Power Management System - The invention may be embodied as a system or method of controlling DC power distribution using electronic power switches (“EPSs”) are disclosed. Current sensors may be used to monitor the performance of the electronic power switches. Load systems are electrically connected to outputs of the EPSs. An acceptable output current is determined for each EPS, and the EPSs are controlled to provide those acceptable currents. Operating parameters may be provided by a remote user via a network interface. Control power may be conditioned and isolated for proper operation of the DC power management system. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046795 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTENDING LIFETIME FOR RECHARGEABLE STATIONARY ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES - A flexible management system and method for efficiently operating energy storage devices to extend the lifetime and decrease costs includes (a) determining an active energy consumption period for the energy storage device; (b) determining an inactive energy consumption period for the energy storage device; (c) operating the energy storage device in a usage mode during the active energy consumption period; and (d) operating the energy storage device in a storage mode during the inactive energy consumption period. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046796 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM - A first energy management apparatus ( | 2012-02-23 |
20120046797 | PEAK LOAD OPTIMIZATION USING COMMUNICATING HVAC SYSTEMS - An HVAC system includes a first and a second electric motor. A load manager is coupled to the first electric motor. The load manager is configured to prevent the first electric motor from operating simultaneously with said second electric motor. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046798 | Systems and Methods for Power Demand Management - A system and method for shifting power load on a power distribution network with multiple power loads, each of which draws power from the power distribution network. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to an energy storage system and power load on the power distribution network. The controller is configured to receive a load-shifting signal, determine a load-shifting procedure, and switch one or more of the communicatively coupled power loads from drawing power from the power distribution network to drawing power from the energy storage system according to a load-shifting algorithm. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046799 | OVERHEAD POWER LINE MONITOR - A device for monitoring and measuring the electrical and mechanical parameters of a power line conductor. Sensors of the device measure conductor temperature, the angle of inclination of the overhead conductor, current flowing in the conductor, and voltage to ground. The device has a low-power mode in which parameters of the power line conductor are not measured. Upon detecting a change in an electrical or mechanical value of the power line conductor, the device measures parameters of the power line conductor for a predetermined length of time before returning to the low power mode. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046800 | THERMAL RELATIONSHIPS BASED WORKLOAD PLANNING - A method, system, and computer usable program product for thermal relationships based workload planning in a data processing environment are provided in the illustrative embodiments. For a data processing system having a cooling correspondence with a cooling unit in the data processing environment, a determination is made of a fraction of an additional heat generation potential of the data processing system that the cooling unit will have to dissipate. Using the fraction and a cooling capacity utilization of the cooling unit at a given time, an expected cooling capacity utilization is computed. A workload on the data processing system is adjusted in response to the expected cooling capacity utilization exceeding a threshold. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046801 | HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM - Each of the water heaters | 2012-02-23 |
20120046802 | Apparatus for supporting drive of mobile object based on target locus thereof - In an apparatus for supporting drive of a mobile object, a curl component calculator projects relative motion of a environmental field in a coordinate system formed by modeling a retina sphere of a driver of the mobile object. The curl component calculator calculates each of rotational components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field around a corresponding driver's eye direction to the gaze point. A target trajectory setter sets, as a target trajectory of the mobile object, an equal-magnitude line connecting a part of the rotational components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field, the part of the rotational components having a same magnitude. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046803 | Apparatus for controlling speed of mobile object - In an obtainer for obtaining speed feeling of a driver of a movable object, a gaze point setter sets a gaze point of the driver, and a motion detector detects relative motion of an environmental field around the mobile object with respect to the mobile object. A divergent component calculator projects the relative motion of the environmental field in a coordinate system. The coordinate system is formed by modeling a retina sphere of the driver of the mobile object. The divergent calculator calculates each of divergent components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field radially expanding from the gaze point. A speed feeling calculator calculates speed feeling of the driver based on the divergent components of the projected relative motion of the environmental field radially expanding from the gaze point calculated by the divergent component calculator. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046804 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A DATA SET - Systems, methods, and stored coded instruction sets for reducing the amount of data captured, i.e., retained, by a computerized system, such as an aircraft flight control or monitoring system. Such systems can, for example, be used in monitoring and/or controlling the operation of one or more aircraft engines, flight controls, or other aircraft systems, in order to optimize storage required for collected data, and/or to reduce or otherwise control the time required to off-load captured data to another computer system, such as a land-based analysis system. The amount of data collected, e.g., captured or retained in memory, may be reduced by discarding data points that are within a specified tolerance of, for example, a previously observed or expected value in a manner which assists with preserving the accuracy and precision of the original measured data. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046805 | VEHICLE CONTROLLER - According to one embodiment, there is provided a vehicle controller including: a sudden change judgment section that judges whether a change rate of a detected yaw rate is equal to or more than a predetermined value; a normative yaw rate calculator that calculates a normative yaw rate based on a steering angle amount; and a correction section that performs a correction for making a detected lateral acceleration close to a value to be detected at a gravity center of a vehicle, by using: the detected yaw rate when the sudden change judgment section judges that the change rate of the detected yaw rate is less than the predetermined value; and the normative yaw rate instead of the detected yaw rate when the sudden change judgment section judges that the change rate of the detected yaw rate is equal to or more than the predetermined value. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046806 | SPECIFICATION INFORMATION ESTIMATING DEVICE AND VEHICLE - Disclosed is a specification information estimating device which estimates the steering gear ratio n of a vehicle. A specification information estimating device includes a steering angle sensor | 2012-02-23 |
20120046807 | System and Method for Preventing Theft of Vehicle Diagnostic Equipment - Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and responding to a potential theft of a display device and/or vehicle diagnostic device in a modular vehicle diagnostic system. Display devices and/or vehicle diagnostic devices may monitor a status of a wireless communications link between them and, responsive to detecting a break in the link, execute one or more anti-theft responses. Furthermore, a display device may maintain a whitelist and/or be in communications with an authentication and anti-theft server, and may determine whether to execute an anti-theft response and/or accept a connection request from a new vehicle diagnostic device based on the whitelist contents and/or based on a response from the server. Anti-theft responses may include sounding an alarm, ceasing function and/or locking up, reporting a potential theft, transmitting a location of the potentially stolen device, or other responses. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046808 | Vehicular communication system - Under a state where an in-vehicle navigation apparatus and a cellular phone intercommunicate with each other by connecting a Bluetooth communication link, when a changeover relative to an application program is determined in one of the in-vehicle navigation apparatus and the cellular phone, an application program synchronization operation is executed such that the application program stored in the in-vehicle navigation apparatus and the application program stored in the cellular phone become identical to each other. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046809 | FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Position dependent operation of a materials handling vehicle, comprises utilizing a processor on the materials handling vehicle to communicate across a wireless computing environment to a corresponding server computer via a transceiver on the materials handling vehicle. Operation further comprises obtaining from at least one device on the materials handling vehicle, information relating to the position of the materials handling vehicle and communicating the obtained position related information to the server computer. The operation still further comprises receiving a command from the server computer to perform a predetermined action, wherein the command is based upon the position related information of the materials handling vehicle relative to a position of a point of interest known by the server, and communicating information across a vehicle network bus to at least one component of the materials handling vehicle to perform the predetermined action in response to the received command. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046810 | FUZZY LOGIC-BASED CONTROL METHOD FOR HELICOPTERS CARRYING SUSPENDED LOADS - The fuzzy logic-based control method for helicopters carrying suspended loads utilizes a controller based on fuzzy logic membership distributions of sets of load swing angles. The anti-swing controller is fuzzy-based and has controller outputs that include additional displacements added to the helicopter trajectory in the longitudinal and lateral directions. This simple implementation requires only a small modification to the software of the helicopter position controller. The membership functions govern control parameters that are optimized using a particle swarm algorithm. The rules of the anti-swing controller are derived to mimic the performance of a time-delayed feedback controller. A tracking controller stabilizes the helicopter and tracks the trajectory generated by the anti-swing controller. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046811 | Railcar Handbrake Monitor - A device for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake having a hand operated handle, which device has a load bearing member configured to be inserted in the linkage of a railcar handbrake system so that the force applied to the brake system passes through the load bearing member. A strain gauge mounted on the load bearing member measures the strain. The information from the strain gauge is indicative of the force applied by the handbrake to the brake and is used to determine the status of the handbrake. Means for determining motion of the railcar is also provided. In one form, if it is determined that the brake is on and the railcar is in motion, information, such as an alarm, is transmitted. A system and method of monitoring a railcar handbrake are also provided. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046812 | HYBRID POWER TRAIN RATE CONTROL - A system includes a hybrid power train having a combustion torque device, an electrical torque device, a driveline mechanically coupled to the torque devices, a battery that exchanges energy with the driveline, and a torque input device that provides a torque request. The hybrid power train is at least partially parallel. The system includes a controller having modules to execute operations for rate control of the hybrid power train. A battery protection module determines a battery protection charge rate limit, a power train protection module determines a power train protection torque change limit, and a torque request module determines the torque request. A rate control module provides a torque balance parameter in response to the limits and the torque request. A torque control module provides an electrical torque and a combustion torque to the driveline in response to the torque balance parameter. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046813 | Method and system for operating an electrical machine, controlled by an inverter, in a motor vehicle in a fault situation - An electrical machine in a motor vehicle is controlled by an inverter, which motor vehicle has an automatically or manually actuatable transmission. The electrical machine generates, in generator mode, electrical energy that is stored in an energy reservoir. In a fault situation, at least one variable characterizing the charge state of the energy reservoir is detected and compared with a predefined lower threshold value, and upon a shortfall below the lower threshold value, the electrical machine is switched into a freewheeling mode by opening the inverter's switching elements. For an automatic transmission, a higher transmission ratio than a present transmission ratio is additionally established; for a manual transmission, the driver is notified by a message that a lower gear needs to be engaged. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046814 | VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS - A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, and that is capable of traveling by motive power from at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor includes: a control portion that causes the vehicle to travel in a travel mode of a plurality of travel modes that differ in an engine start condition for the internal combustion engine; and a determination portion that determines whether exhaust from the internal combustion engine has deteriorated, wherein the determination portion changes the deterioration determination condition for determining that the exhaust has deteriorated, according to the travel mode. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046815 | Method for Optimizing Battery Pack Temperature - A method for limiting the adverse effects of temperature on the electrical energy storage system (ESS) of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off is provided. In general, whether or not coolant is circulated through a coolant loop coupled to the ESS depends on the difference between the ambient temperature and a preset temperature, the preset temperature typically corresponding to the temperature of the ESS. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046816 | ADVANCED COOPERATIVE DEFENSIVE MILITARY TACTICS, ARMOR, AND SYSTEMS - This invention provides impact detection and vehicle cooperation to achieve particular goals and determine particular threat levels. For example, an impact/penetration sensing device may be provided on a soldier's clothing such that when this clothing is impacted/penetrated (e.g., penetrated to a particular extent) a medical unit (e.g., a doctor or medical chopper) may be autonomously, and immediately, provided with the soldiers location (e.g., via a GPS device on the soldier) and status (e.g., right lung may be punctured by small-arms fire). | 2012-02-23 |
20120046817 | DRIVING ASSIST DEVICE - A driving assist device includes a first control portion that controls a vehicle to carry out automated driving, and a second control portion that controls the vehicle to make a shift to manual driving, in which the vehicle travels on a basis of an driving operation by a driver, when canceling the automated driving, and changes a manner of canceling the automated driving in accordance with an elapsed time from a start of the automated driving. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046818 | INTEGRATED AUTOMATION SYSTEM FOR REGIONS WITH VARIABLE GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES - Methods and systems are described for effecting autonomous operations within a defined geographical region ( | 2012-02-23 |
20120046819 | SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING DYNAMICALLY OBSERVED AND STATIC INFORMATION FOR ROUTE PLANNING IN A GRAPH BASED PLANNER - Methods and systems of controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. A method comprises controlling operations of the vehicle based at least in part on edge costs. An edge is a representation of a path the vehicle can traverse. Edge costs are determined by an estimation system and are based on at least one of an estimated travel time for an edge and a traverse-ability of the edge. The method further comprises sensing conditions of edges the vehicle is traversing and based on the sensed conditions, dynamically updating the edge costs. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046820 | Systems and Methods for Obstacle Avoidance - Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for obstacle avoidance. In some embodiments, a robotically controlled vehicle capable of operating in one or more modes may be provided. Examples of such modes include teleoperation, waypoint navigation, follow, and manual mode. The vehicle may include an obstacle detection and avoidance system capable of being implemented with one or more of the vehicle modes. A control system may be provided to operate and control the vehicle in the one or more modes. The control system may include a robotic control unit and a vehicle control unit. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046821 | STEERING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE FOR THE DISABLED - The present invention relates to a control system comprising at least one unit for operating the steering or navigation of a mobile assistive device for disabled persons, wherein said control system is adapted to be connectable to an existing assistive device for disabled persons. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046822 | METHOD OF INITIATING VEHICLE MOVEMENT - A method for initiating movement of a mobile machine is provided. In response to determining that the mobile machine needs to move to a new location based on environmental parameters corresponding to a current position of the mobile machine, a safe location for the mobile machine is determined based on the environmental parameters. An estimated time of travel is calculated from the current position of the mobile machine to the safe location based on a selected travel route for the mobile machine. Then, movement of the mobile machine is initiated prior to a first estimated time when the selected travel route will be impassable due to the environmental parameters based on the estimated time of travel using the selected travel route from the current position of the mobile machine to the safe location. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046823 | AUTOMATIC ENGINE OIL LIFE DETERMINATION ADJUSTED FOR VOLUME OF OIL EXPOSED TO A COMBUSTION EVENT - A method is provided for determining remaining oil life prior to an oil change in an internal combustion engine that uses a body of oil. The method includes transferring the body of oil to the engine and determining a volume of the transferred body of oil. The method also includes determining a factor representative of a volume of oil from the transferred body of oil that is exposed to a combustion event in the engine. Additionally, the method includes determining the remaining oil life based on the determined volume of the body of oil and the determined factor representative of a volume of oil that is exposed to a combustion event. Moreover, the method includes activating an oil change indicator when the remaining oil life reaches a predetermined level. A system for determining a number of engine revolutions permitted on a volume of oil is also disclosed. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046824 | System and Method for Extending Communication Range and Reducing Power Consumption of Vehicle Diagnostic Equipment - Disclosed are systems and methods for transmitting obtained vehicle diagnostic data to a separate display device. The method includes a first vehicle diagnostic device obtaining vehicle diagnostic data via a vehicle interface to a diagnostic port of a vehicle, determining whether a direct wireless connection with one or more display devices is available, and determining whether an indirect wireless connection with the one or more display devices is available via a second separate vehicle diagnostic device. Responsive to a further determination, the vehicle diagnostic device may transmit the obtained diagnostic data to the one or more display devices via the second separate vehicle diagnostic device. The further determination may be based on one or more of wireless connectivity status, power level status, transmission power requirements, or other facts or determinations. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046825 | System and Method for Universal Scanner Module to Buffer and Bulk Send Vehicle Data Responsive to Network Conditions - Disclosed are systems and methods for retrieving and transmitting vehicle diagnostic data from a vehicle to a display device. The method includes receiving vehicle diagnostic data via a vehicle interface to a diagnostic port of a vehicle and monitoring a status of a wireless interface for transmitting the vehicle diagnostic data to a display device. Responsive to detecting a break in wireless connectivity with the display device via the wireless interface, stopping routing of the vehicle diagnostic data from the vehicle interface to the wireless interface and instead beginning routing of the vehicle diagnostic data to a local storage. An external indication of a break in connectivity may also be provided. Once wireless connectivity is restored, incoming vehicle diagnostic data may be stored in the local storage while simultaneously reading stored vehicle diagnostic data from the local storage and transmitting it via the wireless interface to the display device. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046826 | System and method for a vehicle scanner to automatically execute a test suite from a storage card - Disclosed are systems and methods for a vehicle scanner to automatically execute applications from a removable storage card. The method includes detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in removable data storage, and responsive to the detection, transmitting one or more corresponding requests for vehicle diagnostic data to the vehicle via a vehicle interface. Responsive to the transmission, the vehicle scanner receives and processes diagnostic data from the vehicle. The vehicle scanner may store the data back to the removable storage card, or may transmit the data via a wired or wireless interface to a display device. As part of the detection process, the vehicle scanner may first authenticate the removable storage card before executing vehicle diagnostic instructions from the card. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046827 | Ride Height Control System and Method for Controlling Load Distribution at Target Ride Height in a Vehicle Suspension System - A ride height control system and method may be used to control load distribution at wheel locations in a vehicle suspension system at target ride height. Load distribution may be controlled by adjusting the forces applied by the suspension system at respective wheel locations while maintaining a target ride height. In an exemplary air spring suspension system or hydropneumatic suspension system, the applied forces may be adjusted by adjusting the pressure in the suspension system at the respective wheel locations. The ride height control system and method may determine and establish balanced target ride height forces (e.g., planar forces) to be applied at the wheel locations of the vehicle to prevent a cross-jacking condition. The ride height control system and method may also determine and establish target ride height forces for a vehicle on an uneven surface to prevent imbalances caused by wheel displacement. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046828 | Ride Height Control System and Method for Controlling Load Distribution at Target Ride Height in a Vehicle Suspension System - A ride height control system and method may be used to control load distribution at wheel locations in a vehicle suspension system at target ride height. Load distribution may be controlled by adjusting the forces applied by the suspension system at respective wheel locations while maintaining a target ride height. In an exemplary air spring suspension system or hydropneumatic suspension system, the applied forces may be adjusted by adjusting the pressure in the suspension system at the respective wheel locations. The ride height control system and method may determine and establish balanced target ride height forces (e.g., planar forces) to be applied at the wheel locations of the vehicle to prevent a cross-jacking condition. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046829 | DAMPING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS - The magnitude of a linear damping coefficient C | 2012-02-23 |
20120046830 | Method for Controlling a Pneumatic Spring Assembly of a Motor Vehicle - The invention relates to a method for controlling a pneumatic spring assembly of a motor vehicle, wherein discrete condition parameters are derived from the condition of the motor vehicle and combined into parameter sets, wherein each parameter set is furthermore associated with a defined height control behavior, and wherein a height control behavior that is associated with a specific condition of the vehicle is set by appropriately activating at least one valve of the pneumatic spring assembly. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046831 | VERTICAL LOAD CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE - A first stabilizer (SBr) is disposed on an axle for driving wheels, a second stabilizer (SBf) is disposed on a different axle from the axle for driving wheels, a stabilizer control unit (RT, FT) is provided for adjusting torsional rigidity of the first stabilizer and second stabilizer, a turning state amount obtaining unit is provided for obtaining a turning state amount of the vehicle, and an accelerating operation amount obtaining unit is provided for obtaining an accelerating operation amount operated by a vehicle driver. Based on these obtained results, the torsional rigidity of at least one of the first stabilizer and second stabilizer is adjusted by the stabilizer control unit, when the turning state amount of the vehicle is equal to or more than a predetermined turning state amount, and the accelerating operation amount is equal to or more than a predetermined accelerating operation amount. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046832 | VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM - A current increase-decrease amount (ΔI | 2012-02-23 |
20120046833 | INFORMATION PROVIDING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - An information providing device includes: a vehicle condition detector for detecting a vehicle condition; a support information generating element for generating support information for a driver; and a tactile sensibility notification element in a steering wheel for notifying the support information to the driver. The steering wheel includes a wheel element having a base, a movable portion and a driving unit. The movable portion is relatively movable with respect to the base. The driving unit drives the movable portion according to the support information. The movable portion and the driving unit provide the tactile sensibility notification element. Movement of the movable portion provides notification of the support information. | 2012-02-23 |
20120046834 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE YAWING MOVEMENT OF AN AIRCRAFT RUNNING ALONG THE GROUND - The invention relates to a method of controlling a yawing movement of an aircraft running along the ground, the aircraft comprising at least one first landing gear with a steerable bottom part bearing wheels. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of:
| 2012-02-23 |
20120046835 | Vehicle and Feedback Control Method - A vehicle capable of easily translating in an arbitrary direction. A vehicle comprising: wheels composed of two front wheels and two rear wheels; four steering actuators connected to the wheels, respectively, and steering the wheels; four drive actuators connected to the wheels, respectively, and driving the wheels; a joystick ( | 2012-02-23 |
20120046836 | Method for determining a toothed rack force for a steering device in a vehicle - Disclosed is a method for determining a toothed rack force on a steering device in a vehicle, wherein the toothed rack force (forZS) is determined as a function of a plurality of models, and wherein a component (forESM) of the toothed rack force (forZS) which relates to a driving process is generated by means of a first model, and a component of the toothed rack force (forZS) which relates to a parking process is generated by means of a second model. | 2012-02-23 |