09th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 71 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110054684 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING/ACQUIRING OPERATION RIGHT OF MOVING ROBOT IN MULTI-OPERATOR MULTI-ROBOT ENVIRONMENT - In an operating system having a first controller configured to manage one or more robots included in a first region, and a second controller configured to manage one or more robots included in a second region adjacent to the first region, a method for enabling the second controller to acquire an operation right of N robots (where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 1) operated by the first controller, the method includes: transmitting a control mapping status (CMS) containing an operation right change message to the first controller, upon reception of an operation right request signal from a user of the N robots; and checking a connection status of the N robots, upon reception of the CMS containing the operation right change message from the first controller, and acquiring an operation right by providing CMS acquisition information and control mapping information to the robots included in the second region. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054685 | ROBOT OFF-LINE TEACHING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a robot off-line teaching method includes: setting a plurality of virtual teaching points; setting a posture of the virtual tool on a part of the virtual teaching points which include a start point and an end point; executing an interpolating operation between the part of the virtual teaching points; storing a position and a posture of the virtual tool in the execution of the interpolating operation as an interpolating operation point every predetermined interval; selecting any of the stored interpolating operation points which satisfies a predetermined selection criterion every other virtual teaching points; and reading posture data on the selected interpolating operation point and storing the read posture data as posture data on the other virtual teaching points every other virtual teaching points. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054686 | Apparatus and method detecting a robot slip - Disclosed is an apparatus and method for detecting slip of a robot. The robot periodically repeats a pattern movement in the order of a uniform motion, a decelerating motion, and an accelerating motion, or in the order of a uniform motion, an accelerating motion, and a deceleration motion. The occurrence of slip of the robot performing a pattern movement is determined by comparing a first acceleration of the robot measured by an acceleration sensor and a second acceleration of the robot measured by an encoder. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054687 | Robotic Arm - A robotic arm is provided, for example for inspecting a rotary machine such as a gas turbine engine. The arm has a plurality of groups of links having articulations therebetween for movement in a first plane, the groups having articulations with respect to each other for movement in a second orthogonal plane. Thus the arm can move around objects such as aerofoils in the engine, and also move up or down to remain close to the rotary surface of the machine. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054688 | X-Ray Device And Medical Workplace - The invention relates to an X-ray device ( | 2011-03-03 |
20110054689 | ROBOTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR HAZARD EVALUATION AND VISUALIZATION - A robot includes a hazard sensor, a locomotor, and a system controller. The robot senses a hazard intensity at a location of the robot, moves to a new location in response to the hazard intensity, and autonomously repeats the sensing and moving to determine multiple hazard levels at multiple locations. The robot may also include a communicator to communicate the multiple hazard levels to a remote controller. The remote controller includes a communicator for sending user commands to the robot and receiving the hazard levels from the robot. A graphical user interface displays an environment map of the environment proximate the robot and a scale for indicating a hazard intensity. A hazard indicator corresponds to a robot position in the environment map and graphically indicates the hazard intensity at the robot position relative to the scale. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054690 | ELECTRO-MECHANISM FOR EXTENDING THE CAPABILITIES OF BILATERAL ROBOTIC PLATFORMS AND A METHOD FOR PERFORMING THE SAME - The present invention discloses an electro-mechanism for extending the capabilities of a bilateral robotic platforms and a method for performing the same. The electro-mechanism includes an attitude sensor to provide indication of the side over which a bilateral robotic platform operates and an actuator to tilt a mast to an upright position with respect to the ground in order to maximize the performance of the components integrated therewith. The electro-mechanism also provides means to elevate an environmental sensor to provide a superior position for information gathering with respect to the bilateral robotic platform. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054691 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BIRDS CONTROL USING MOBILE ROBOT - Provides is a method including receiving information on a surrounding situation detected by the mobile robot; detecting birds from the received surrounding situation information; allocating a birds control mission to the mobile robot by extracting a birds control pattern corresponding to the surrounding situation; and verifying a result in accordance with performing the allocated birds control mission from the mobile robot. By controlling the birds so as to, in advance, prevent a loss of lives and economical loss which may be caused when the birds collide with airplanes at the airport, it is possible to improve productivity and efficiency of a birds repelling job in an airport and provide construction of a new type of aviation maintenance business model by activating an air traffic control industry through providing a safer airplane operating model while saving operating personnel costs for preventing collision of birds. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054692 | REFORMER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A reformer having improved performance and stability and a reformer control method, the reformer including a reforming reaction unit, a first sensor, a heat source unit, a second sensor, and a flow control unit. The reforming reaction unit converts a first fuel into a reformate. The first sensor senses a first temperature of the reformate generated from the reforming reaction unit. The heat source unit heats the reforming reaction unit with a combustion heat of a second fuel. The second sensor senses a second temperature at a fuel inlet of the heat source unit. The flow control unit controls a temperature of the reformate by regulating a flow of an oxidizer supplied to the heat source unit based on the first temperature, and controls a temperature of the heat source unit by regulating a flow of the second fuel supplied to the heat source unit based on the second temperature. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054693 | DISCRETE FOURIER TRANSFORM (DFT) ANALYSIS FOR APPLICATIONS USING ITERATIVE TRANSFORM METHODS - According to various embodiments, a method is provided for determining aberration data for an optical system. The method comprises collecting a data signal, and generating a pre-transformation algorithm. The data is pre-transformed by multiplying the data with the pre-transformation algorithm. A discrete Fourier transform of the pre-transformed data is performed in an iterative loop. The method further comprises back-transforming the data to generate aberration data. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054694 | Autonomous Carrier for Continuously Moving Wing Assembly Line - A method and apparatus for moving a structure. The structure is supported on a carrier. The carrier comprises a platform having a first side and a second side, a movement system associated with the first side and configured to move the platform on a surface, a support system associated with the second side of the platform and configured to support the structure on the platform, and a leveling system configured to substantially maintain the structure in a desired orientation during movement of the platform on the surface. The carrier is moved with the structure over the surface. At least one of the movement system and the support system is adjusted to substantially maintain the structure in the desired orientation. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054695 | Multi-Segment Linearization of Micro-Actuator Transfer Functions - Embodiments of the present invention provide improved accuracy of displacement control by using a multi-segment transformation of an actuator's non-linear response. The present invention may set intermediate points to effectively divide the actuator response into multiple segments. Each segment may be assigned a transform function that represents the actuator's response in that particular segment. The present invention may operate in two modes, a calibration mode and a normal operations mode. During calibration mode, the intermediate points and the segment transforms may be set. During normal operations mode, a drive signal may be generated according to the calibrated set values. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054696 | OPTICAL TRANSMISSION STRAIN SENSOR FOR WIND TURBINES - The invention relates to a broad band optical strain sensing system for a wind turbine. The strain sensing system includes an optical fibre with an input at one end and an output at the opposite end. The optical fibre is provided with Bragg sensors between the input and the output. By injecting light at the input of the fibre, measuring the spectral intensity distribution of at the output of the fibre and determining spectral locations of intensity notches in the spectral intensity distribution, it is possible to determine strain values at the locations of the Bragg sensors from the transmitted light. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054697 | AUTOMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM - A system automatically adjusts environmental condition by detecting an environment value and controlling a window blinds and an environmental regulator according to a comparison between the environment value and a predetermined environment value. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054698 | ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR HVAC SYSTEM - A system for controlling energy consumption in a building having a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) which includes using an external application to perform HVAC energy consumption optimization algorithms and other external energy control functions and transmit application control data to a building automation system (BAS), which in turn provides hardware level equipment control for the HVAC system. The external application evaluates equipment data received from the HVAC system by way of the BAS and processes these equipment data to provide application control data back to the BAS. The application control data are calculated to achieve a desired operating efficiency for the HVAC system. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054699 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method migrating virtualized environments is disclosed. According to an aspect of the disclosure, a home energy management system and method includes a database configured to store site report data received from a plurality of residential sites using a wireless home energy network at each site. Each residential site includes a thermostat accessible to the wireless home energy network. A processor is operably coupled to the database and configured to access the site report data and detect a current temperature set-point of the thermostat at a first residential site; detect a first seasonal profile of the thermostat; detect a current operating mode of a HVAC system operably coupled to the thermostat; and determine a thermostat schedule of the thermostat using the first seasonal profile and the current operating mode of the HVAC system. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054700 | SYSTEM FOR USING A PLURALITY OF REMOTE SENSING DEVICES FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT - A system for energy management using a plurality or remote sensor devices. The system includes a plurality of sensor device spatially disposed in one or more regions of a building structure. The sensor device comprises a sensor element coupled to a transmitter device, which can be selected from a format including Zigbee, Zwave, 6-LoWPAN, Ultra-Low-Power WiFi, RFID, Bluetooth, or others. The system also has a gateway apparatus. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054701 | Energy saving method and system for climate control system - An energy saving system for a climate control system includes zone controllers which poll temperature difference of each heat exchanger downstream of the thermal station, and a system controller which polls degree of opening of all control valves from zone controllers associated with the heat exchangers downstream of the thermal station. Each zone controller configures degree of opening of the valve to regulate the medium flow in response to the temperature difference of the heat exchanger in its respective thermal zone to maintain medium at optimum flow rate to provide a thermal comfort at the thermal zone while being energy efficient. The system controller sends command to the thermal station control system to regulate the outlet temperature of the thermal station to ensure the thermal station consuming the least amount energy to provide the medium to each thermal zone to meet the thermal comfort need at the thermal zones. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054702 | MULTI-MODE CONTROL LOOP WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE FOR MASS FLOW CONTROLLER - One embodiment of the invention comprises a mass flow controller comprising a digital controller, a valve, and a sensor. The digital controller is adapted to implement a control loop having a proportional signal modifier in series with an integral signal modifier. The integral signal modifier is adapted to receive a combination signal and output an integrated signal. The valve is adapted to receive the integrated signal and adjust a valve opening in accordance with the integrated signal. The sensor is adapted to output a measured flow rate signal indicative of an actual fluid flow rate in the mass flow controller. The measured flow rate signal is received by the proportional signal modifier and used in conjunction with a setpoint signal to determine the error signal. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054703 | HEAT EXCHANGE NETWORK HEAT RECOVERY OPTIMIZATION IN A PROCESS PLANT - A method and system for maximizing heat recovery in a heat exchange network includes collecting on-line process data from a network of heat exchangers having multiple parallel paths. The on-line process data is generated from cool process stream outlet temperatures of the paths. Stream flow rate target values are developed based on the on-line process data and include intended flow rates through each heat exchanger to equalize each of the cool process stream outlet temperatures. One or more cool stream flow control valves of the heat exchanger network and one or more process stream flow control valves of the heat exchanger network are controlled based on the flow rate target values to effect equalization of the cool process stream outlet temperatures. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054704 | HIGH FIDELITY INTEGRATED HEAT TRANSFER AND CLEARANCE IN COMPONENT-LEVEL DYNAMIC TURBINE SYSTEM CONTROL - A system comprises a rotary apparatus, a control law and a processor. The rotary apparatus comprises a rotor and a housing forming a gas path therebetween, and the control law controls flow along the gas path. The processor comprises an output module, a plurality of temperature modules, a thermodynamic module, a comparator and an estimator. The output module generates an output signal as a function of a plurality of rotor and housing temperatures defined along the gas path, and the temperature modules determine time derivatives of the rotor and housing temperatures. The thermodynamic module models boundary conditions for the gas path, and the comparator determines errors in the boundary conditions. The estimator estimates the rotor and housing temperatures based on the time derivatives, such that the errors are minimized and the flow is controlled. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054705 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COMPUTER SYSTEM FAN SPEED - Computer system fans having fixed operating states corresponding to discreet operating speeds may be controlled by collecting temperature information upstream or downstream of the fans and commanding the fans to switch between the fixed operating states based on the temperature information at a frequency sufficient to controllably achieve speeds between the discreet operating speeds. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054706 | KITCHEN GUN SYSTEM - A kitchen gun system for dispensing edible liquid ingredients as required for cooking. The kitchen gun system includes a plurality of pumps, each having an inlet and an outlet. Packages of edible liquid ingredients are attached to the inlets of the pumps. The outlets of the pumps are connected to a plurality of manifold inputs of a manifold. A plurality of manifold outputs is connected to a hand-held dispensing gun. The dispensing gun has a plurality of control mechanisms corresponding to at least the plurality of inputs on the manifold. Selected edible liquid ingredients may be selectively dispensed from the dispensing gun when desired by operating the respective control mechanisms on the dispensing gun. The kitchen gun system is suitable for use in a kitchen in a commercial establishment and includes sources of highly concentrated liquid precursor for stock, cooking oils and wines, lemon juice, and other liquids. These liquids are pumped to a hand-held gun and, if necessary, mixed with water in a desired concentration while being dispensed as required. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054707 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER USAGE - A control system for a home generator includes circuitry configured to determine a first cost of electricity provided by an off-site provider, determine a second cost of electricity produced by the home generator, compare the first cost with the second cost, and provide the result of the comparison as an output. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054708 | Power Supply Control Device - When a highly accurate clock is received by a GPS radio wave from a GPS antenna, the highly accurate clock is always generated by locking a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit within a hold-over section of a clock control section in a power supply control unit. When the GPS radio wave cannot be received normally, the highly accurate clock depending on the GPS radio wave is set to a self-running condition not depending on a self-oscillation clock from an internal clock generating section and a time management section automatically corrects the present time data obtained when the standard radio wave is received from a radio wave antenna based on the highly accurate clock. A primary voltage generating section continuously generates the highly accurate clock even when an ignition switch is turned OFF by avoiding voltage variation in battery voltages while the ignition switch is turned ON. Accordingly, the power supply control device can sustain highly accurate time correction and a clock function under any environmental condition and can also control and execution of various functions based on accurate time management. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054709 | POWER DISTRIBUTION METHOD AND NETWORK TOPOLOGY METHOD FOR SMART GRID MANAGEMENT, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR - Provided is a power distribution apparatus that includes: a neighboring node information collection unit collecting power distribution amount information and physical distance information between grid nodes from neighboring grid nodes belonging to the same grid network; and a power transmission target node selecting unit allocating priorities to the neighboring grid nodes by using the power distribution amount information and the distance information and selecting a neighboring grid node having the highest priority as a neighboring power transmission grid node by comparing the priorities allocated to the neighboring grid nodes. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054710 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - According to an aspect of the disclosure, a home energy management system and method includes a network device disposed at a residence and a wireless home energy network capable of establishing communication with the network device. A server is disposed remotely from the residence and capable of generating a control action report to control the network devices. A controller is located at the residence and in communication with the server and configured to establish the wireless home energy network; initiate a plurality of operating status requests of the network device; receive device data in response to at least one of the operating status requests; generate a site report including the device data; initiate a communication of the site report to the remote server; and detect an availability of the control action report at the remote server in conjunction with the communication of the site report. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054711 | DAMPER CONTROL SYSTEM - A damper control system having energy efficient mechanisms. The system may use a heat-to-electric power converter such as a thermopile. Heat may come from a pilot light used for igniting a flame for an appliance. The system may store electric energy in a storage module which could be a sufficiently large capacitor. The system may monitor the position of a damper in a vent or the like and provide start and stop movements of the damper using minimal energy. One way that the system may control electrical energy to a damper motor or another electrical mover of the damper is to use pulse width modulated signals. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054712 | METHODS, APPARATUS, AND MEDIA FOR CONTROLLING SUPPLY OF A UTILITY SERVICE TO A LOAD - Methods, apparatus, and media for controlling supply of a utility service to a load are disclosed. Generally, the embodiments can involve receiving representation of utility service supply to a load, receiving and storing in a storage device a usage range representation comprising at least one expected value of utility input to the load and/or at least one expected value of output from the load, and producing a control signal for use by a utility service supply controller when usage is outside of usage range representation. Control signal can be operable to cause the utility service supply controller to restrict or interrupt the supply of the utility service to the load. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054713 | GLOBAL TRIP UNIT - A method of setting a ground fault trip response function for a trip unit includes enabling a ground fault protection mode for the trip unit, setting the ground fault trip response function for the trip unit, wherein the ground fault trip response function is a double knee time current function. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054714 | MEMORY MODULE THERMAL MANAGEMENT - A method is disclosed for implementing a scheme to configure thermal management control for a memory device resident on a memory module for a computing platform. A method is also disclosed for implementing the configured thermal management control. In a run-time environment for a computing platform a temperature is obtained from a thermal sensor monitoring the memory module. The memory module is in a given memory module with thermal sensor configuration that includes the memory device. An approximation of a temperature for the memory device is made based on thermal information associated with the given configuration of the memory module and the obtained temperature. The configured thermal management control for the memory device is implemented based on the approximated temperature. Other implementations and examples are also described in this disclosure. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054715 | Systems, Program Product, and Methods For Synthesizing Heat Exchanger Networks That Account For Future Higher Levels of Disturbances and Uncertainty, and Identifying Optimal Topology For Future Retrofit - A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to optimize energy recovery for a process or cluster of processes under all possible combinations of given process changes and stream-specific minimum temperature approach values without enumeration, are provided. The systems, methods, and program product can include steps/operations to identify a set of common-structure heat exchanger network designs which allow for construction of a physically exchanger network easily retrofittable to accommodate time-dependent new operating modes, disturbances, and uncertainty schemes. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054716 | VEHICLE SYSTEM FOR NAVIGATION AND/OR DRIVER ASSISTANCE - Disclosed herein is assistance, safety and navigation technology for vehicles. In particular, the disclosure relates to a vehicle system and a method for controlling the vehicle system. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054717 | Remote Vehicle - A system for providing enhanced operator control of a remote vehicle driving at increased speeds comprises: a head-mounted display configured to be worn by the operator and track a position of the operator's head; a head-aimed camera mounted to the remote vehicle via a pan/tilt mechanism and configured to pan and tilt in accordance with the position of the operator's head, the head-aimed camera transmitting video to be displayed to the operator via the head-mounted display; and a computer running a behavior engine, the computer receiving input from the operator and one or more sensors, and being configured to utilize the behavior engine, operator input, sensor input, and one or more autonomous and/or semi-autonomous behaviors to assist the operator in driving the remote vehicle. The remote vehicle includes releasably mounted wheels and high-friction tracks. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054718 | DYNAMIC WEATHER SELECTION - The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising a weather band selection process and a processor unit. The processor unit is configured to run the weather band selection process. The weather band selection process identifies a flight trajectory associated with an aircraft, identifies weather information for the flight trajectory, and identifies a weather band selection for the aircraft using the flight trajectory, aircraft information and the weather information. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054719 | METHOD FOR DRAMATICALLY REDUCING THE TAKE-OFF RUN OF AN AIRCRAFT - According to the invention, during take-off, the aircraft (AC) is given an attitude (θ | 2011-03-03 |
20110054720 | STALL, BUFFETING, LOW SPEED AND HIGH ATTITUDE PROTECTION SYSTEM - A flight control system moves elevators according to a pilot command summed with an automatic command. The flight control system monitors a set of flight parameters to determine if the flight vehicle is operating inside a permitted envelope. The flight controls system incorporates automatic protections thru the automatic elevator command if the flight vehicle is close to its envelope limits. The exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation herein provides automatic protections in order to protect the flight vehicle from low speeds, high attitude, stalls and buffetings. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054721 | VEHICLE MONITORING SYSTEM - A system to monitor aircraft equipment, having a chassis, defining an interior compartment, an arrangement configured to accept input data of at least one aircraft parameter, the arrangement configured to be placed within an aircraft, crash survivable cockpit voice and flight data recorder, and a power supply arrangement connected to arrangement configured to accept input data and the recorder. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054722 | MODEL TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM - A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054723 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE HAVING A HYBRID DRIVE - The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for controlling a vehicle with a hybrid drive, wherein during the driving mode an internal combustion engine ( | 2011-03-03 |
20110054724 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE UTILIZATION OF AN ENERGY STORE CONNECTED TO AN ELECTRIC MACHINE - A method is proposed for optimizing the utilization of the energy store which is connected to the electric machine of a parallel hybrid vehicle, in the scope of which method different lower limits are defined or predefined for the operation of the energy store, wherein a priority is assigned to each vehicle function which requires electric power in order to be performed, wherein different lower energy storage limits are assigned to different priorities in such a way that the energy storage limits are reduced for vehicle functions having a relatively high priority, with the result that said functions are carried out within the physical limits of the energy store. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054725 | METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING TARGET VALUES AND/OR TARGET DRIVE TRAIN STATES - The invention proposes a method for transferring the desired values and/or the desired drive train states of the strategy for the operative functions in a hybrid vehicle, in particular in a parallel hybrid vehicle, comprising a hybrid control system which is divided into at least two functional layers, with one layer being in the form of a strategic layer and the second layer being in the form of an operative layer, in which method, in a first step, the desired drive train state is transmitted from the strategic layer to the operative layer, with the drive train state which is checked and accepted as a target then being transmitted from the operative layer to the strategic layer, with, in a next step, the drive train state which is currently valid after the change or after the switchover to the target state being transmitted from the operative layer to the strategic layer, and with the desired values for continuous variables of the new state then being calculated in the strategic layer and being transmitted to the operative layer. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054726 | DRIVING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE AND DRIVING FORCE CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLE | 2011-03-03 |
20110054727 | VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - A control apparatus is applied to a vehicle that has shift modes including the continuously variable shift mode, in which a ratio of the rotational speed of a power source to the rotational speed of a drive shaft is continuously adjusted, and the stepped shift mode, in which the ratio is fixed. The control apparatus includes a control unit that controls the torque that is output from the power source to make the time that is required to bring the drive torque of the drive shaft from a predetermined value to a target value in the stepped shift mode equal to the time that is required to bring the drive torque of the drive shaft from the predetermined value to the target value in the continuously variable shift mode. In this way, the difference in drivability between the continuously variable shift mode and the stepped shift mode is minimized. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054728 | Method, System and System Components for Wireless Tire Pressure Monitoring - In order to monitor and wirelessly signal data (D, D*) containing information (DRK) about the pressure conditions present in pneumatic tires of wheels of a vehicle, it is proposed to transmit the data from electronic modules (wheel electronics) disposed in the wheels wirelessly to a controller disposed in the vehicle, wherein no data is transmitted during a stopped mode of the vehicle, and wherein the data (D*) is transmitted in the form of datagrams (DT*) during at least one further mode, which is preferably associated with a starting mode of the vehicle, in that at least intermittently a plurality of, preferably shortened, datagrams (DT*) containing the same data (D*) are consecutively transmitted in a cumulative manner to the controller. In this way, the required data (D*) is transmitted only intermittently, however in a lumped form, to the controller, whereby the transmission duration, but not the actual usage duration, is shortened, and additionally battery energy is saved, without any data loss occurring. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054729 | MULTI-ANTENNA GNSS CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A global navigation satellite sensor system (GNSS) and gyroscope control system for vehicle steering control comprising a GNSS receiver and antennas at a fixed spacing to determine a vehicle position, velocity and at least one of a heading angle, a pitch angle and a roll angle based on carrier phase position differences. The roll angle facilitates correction of the lateral motion induced position errors resultant from motion of the antennae as the vehicle moves based on an offset to ground and the roll angle. The system also includes a control system configured to receive the vehicle position, heading, and at least one of roll and pitch, and configured to generate a steering command to a vehicle steering system. The system includes gyroscopes for determining system attitude change with respect to multiple axes for integrating with GNSS-derived positioning information to determine vehicle position, velocity, rate-of-turn, attitude and other operating characteristics. A vehicle control method includes the steps of computing a position and a heading for the vehicle using GNSS positioning and a rate gyro for determining vehicle attitude, which is used for generating a steering command. Alternative aspects include multiple-antenna GNSS guidance methods for high-dynamic roll compensation, real-time kinematic (RTK) using single-frequency (L1) receivers, fixed and moving baselines between antennas, multi-position GNSS tail guidance (“breadcrumb following”) for crosstrack error correction, articulated implements with multiple antennas on each implement section, video input and guiding multiple vehicles and pieces of equipment relative to each other. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054730 | System and process to record and transmit inspection information - Systems and methods for automatic collection and wireless transmission of inspection data, including visual data, to a remote inspection site and/or a portable inspection device, and verifying that the person tasked with performing the inspection actually performed the inspection. In some embodiments, wireless communication means is employed to record and transmit inspection data and related information. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054731 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL WIRELESS INFORMATION TRANSFER - A system and method a bi-directional wireless information system includes a plurality of sensor nodes spaced along a path of travel of an object, each of the sensor nodes corresponding to a specified location along the path of travel. The system also includes a transceiver associated with the object, the transceiver configured to communicate with the plurality of sensor nodes, such that a location of the object is determinable based on wireless communication between the transceiver and the plurality of sensor nodes. A central database included in the system is configured to receive the location of the object from at least one of the transceiver and the plurality of sensor nodes, receive object-specific data from at least one of the transceiver and the plurality of sensor nodes, and transmit location-specific data to the transceiver. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054732 | Diagnostic Device Wireless Interface via Diagnostic Cable Adapter - A wireless interface is provided and coupled to a diagnostic device in order to provide it with wireless communication. The wireless interface includes a diagnostic device interface, a diagnostic cable interface and a wireless adapter. The wireless interface can relay diagnostic information from a vehicle to the diagnostic device when the wireless interface is coupled to a diagnostic cable, which is connected to a vehicle. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054733 | GRAVITY SENSOR CIRCUIT SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - A gravity sensor (G-sensor) circuit system including a microcontroller that determines whether there is a failure in the G-sensor and, if it is determined that there is a failure in the G-sensor, outputs a failure signal to a controller outside the PCB, or the controller outside the PCB communicates with the G-sensor to determine whether there is a failure in the G-sensor, thus performing the self-diagnosis. The gravity sensor (G-sensor) circuit system performs self-diagnosis, zero-offset, and digital output, thereby using a more accurate sensor signal, improving the vehicle stability, and increasing the control precision and accuracy. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054734 | HANDHELD CONTROLLER DEVICE - A handheld controller device (HCD) used to relay user inputs to a controller, such as but not limited to a HCD to relay user inputs to a vehicle system controller that controls one or more vehicle systems according to the user inputs. The HCD may be ergonomically shaped to match the human hand in a structurally supporting, and optionally, non-movable manner to allow a driver to provide user inputs without unduly sacrificing positional support, without having to change eye level, and/or without having to locate constantly moving buttons. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054735 | DOOR COURTESY SWITCH ABNORMALITY DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A door courtesy switch abnormality detection apparatus used in an on-vehicle system in which a door unlocked status is formed based on a wireless signal transmitted from an electronic key is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to generate information representing an abnormality in the door courtesy switch, if the electronic key in a cabin of a vehicle is detected by a antenna having the detection area thereof within the cabin of the vehicle in a situation where an ON/OFF signal of the door courtesy switch is not inverted after the door unlock operation is detected. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054736 | Device and Method for Driving Dynamics Control in a Vehicle - Disclosed is a device for influencing the driving dynamics of a vehicle with an electronic brake system. The device includes a brake actuator for adjusting a brake torque at least one wheel brake of the vehicle. The brake torque can be determined in a torque distributing device according to a yaw torque requirement. A first control unit can be activated in the presence of a critical driving condition as is used to determine a first yaw torque requirement due to driving dynamics control. A management device ( | 2011-03-03 |
20110054737 | Stability-Based Steering Control Methods and Systems - A control system for controlling a steering system to maintain stability of the steering system is provided. The control system includes an operating conditions module that estimates at least one operating gain based on an operating condition of the steering system. A blend module estimates a blend value based on the at least one operating gain. A steering assist module generates a steering assist command based on the blend value. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054738 | SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING CORNERING PERFORMANCE OF A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM - A system for controlling a vehicle having a brake assembly for exerting braking force on at least one wheel on the basis of a number of control parameters is provided. The system has a vehicle stability control system configured to generate the control parameters as a function of a control quantity associated with the intensity of the braking force to be exerted on the wheels; and a vehicle handling enhancement system configured to calculate, in the presence of cornering acceleration of the vehicle, a reference vehicle yaw rate on the basis of at least the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle and the steer angle of the vehicle, and to adjust the control quantity to zero the difference between the actual yaw rate and the reference vehicle yaw rate. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054739 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER OF A VEHICLE IN EXITING FROM A PARKING SPACE - A method is described for assisting a driver of a vehicle ( | 2011-03-03 |
20110054740 | ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CONTROL APPARATUS - To obtain an electric power steering control apparatus hard to generate vibration even when accuracy is not high enough for torque vibration of extremely small output of torque detecting means. An electric power steering control apparatus includes steering torque detecting means, a torque controller that computes an auxiliary torque current, a motor that generates a torque for assisting a steering torque, current steering component removing means for removing a component by steering, vibration velocity estimating means for estimating a vibration velocity in a rotational direction of the motor, and a damping controller that computes a damping current to be added to the auxiliary torque current, and the vibration velocity estimating means includes vibration acceleration computing means for computing vibration acceleration in the rotational direction of the motor by multiplication of a motor current output from the current steering component removing means, and rotational acceleration integrating means for computing the vibration velocity in the motor rotational direction by integrating the vibration acceleration computing means. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054741 | TRAVEL DIRECTION STABILIZATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES - A method for influencing the direction of travel of a vehicle. In order to lower the risk of accidents in driving situations in which the driver reacts incorrectly, for example because of being surprised, it is provided that the driving operation be monitored in reference to the occurrence of an event due to which the travel direction of the vehicle changes, deviating from the travel direction specified at the steering wheel, and when such an event is detected that an automatic intervention in the driving operation be performed whereby the vehicle is moved back approximately into the original direction of travel in which it was moving before the event occurred. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054742 | STEERING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - If the main electric power source has failed, an assist control portion shifts the characteristic of an assist map in which the steering torque and the target current are connected in a relation by one step of shift in a direction of increase of the steering torque each time a steering operation that satisfies a steering operation criterion condition is performed. This allows a driver to feel a decline in the steering assist force each time of performing steering operation and therefore become aware of the abnormality. Besides, an upper-limit current of the assist map may be reduced each time the steering operation that satisfies the steering operation criterion condition is performed. Besides, an upper-limit electric power of an electric motor may be reduced each time the steering operation that satisfies the steering operation criterion condition is performed. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054743 | MULTI-VARIABLE RATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT APPLICATION SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD - The invention provides a system, device and method that can control the rates of seed dispensation and fertilizer application as a function of forward speed as well as across all rows. Thus, the system and control device allow control of each individual row unit, whereby dispensation and application are effected, by a central controller which controls a plurality of pulse width modulation valves, each of which controls a hydraulic motor with an integrated rpm reduction and which drives a stub drive shaft which rotates at the proper speed in order to provide the desired seed and fertilizer metering. Each of the stub drive shafts may rotate at completely different speeds and/or may be shut down while the remaining stub drive shafts rotate at the desired speed. The integrated rpm reduction within each hydraulic motor allows very fine rotational control of the dispensation and application rates. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054744 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING ENGINE FRICTION - An engine control system includes a combustion torque determination module, a friction torque determination module, and a control module. The combustion torque determination module determines a combustion torque of an engine based on pressure inside a cylinder of the engine during an engine cycle. The friction torque determination module determines friction torque of the engine based on the combustion torque, acceleration of an engine crankshaft, effective inertia of the engine crankshaft, and a pumping loss in the cylinder during the engine cycle. The control module adjusts an operating parameter of the engine based on the friction torque. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054745 | VEHICLE DRIVING APPARATUS - A vehicle driving apparatus that can execute cranking of an internal combustion engine by transmitting a mechanical power from a rotor of a motor to an engine output shaft without executing an engaging/disengaging operation of a clutch. A driving apparatus of a hybrid vehicle includes a first speed change mechanism capable of receiving mechanical power from an engine output shaft by a first input shaft and transmitting the mechanical power to drive wheels, a second speed change mechanism capable of receiving the mechanical power from the engine output shaft and a rotor by a second input shaft engaged with the rotor and transmitting the mechanical power to the drive wheels, a first clutch capable of engaging the engine output shaft with the first input shaft, and a second clutch capable of engaging the engine output shaft with the second input shaft, wherein the second clutch is placed in an engaged state when operation force for executing an engaging/disengaging operation is not applied to the second clutch. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054746 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A HYDROSTATICALLY DRIVEN VEHICLE - A hydrostatically powered vehicle includes an engine operatively associated with a pump that supplies fluid to a propel motor. Based on various sensed and engine operating conditions, a controller determines a desired operating condition for the engine while maintaining the travel speed of the vehicle constant. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054747 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL APPARATUS - An automatic transmission control apparatus includes: a frictional engagement element; a hydraulic pressure supplying section configured to supply a hydraulic pressure to the frictional engagement element; a progression state judging section configured to judge a progression state of the engagement of the frictional engagement element; a rotational speed change rate control section configured to control the hydraulic pressure so that a change rate of a rotational speed of an input shaft of the automatic transmission becomes equal to a target change rate, from when the engagement of the frictional engagement element is started; and a rotational speed feedback control section configured to perform a feedback control of the hydraulic pressure so that the rotational speed of the input shaft of the automatic transmission becomes equal to a target rotational speed, from when the progression state judging section judges a predetermined progression state. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054748 | ENGINE DRIVEN VEHICLE WITH TRANSMISSION - An engine driven vehicle includes at least one engine, and control devices that are arranged to control a transmission that is driven by the engine. The control devices are arranged to receive at least two sets of data, each set comprising at least one of a first signal that comprises information about the gradient of the surface on which the vehicle is being driven sent from a first sensor, and at least one second signal that comprises information about the vehicle's speed sent from a second sensor, and at least one third signal that comprises information about the vehicle's acceleration. The invention is characterized in that the control devices are also arranged to calculate at least one of two different resistance to travel constants k | 2011-03-03 |
20110054749 | System for Controlling Torque Converter Temperature During Torque Converter Stall Conditions - A method and system are provided for controlling the operating temperature of a torque converter during torque converter stall conditions. The torque converter has a pump rotatably driven by an internal combustion engine and a rotatable turbine fluidly coupled to the pump. The system first determines whether the torque converter is currently in a torque converter stall condition, and, if so, determines a slip speed as a difference in rotational speeds between the pump and the turbine, determines an engine output torque limit as a function of the slip speed and a desired slip speed, and controls the operating temperature of the torque converter by limiting output torque produced by the engine based on the engine output torque limit. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054750 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SLIP IN A TRACTOR VEHICLE OR THE LIKE - A method and a device for controlling the slip of a tractor vehicle or the like, in which the drive wheel slip is determined and, if the actual slip is different from a specified nominal slip, the gear ratio of a controllable transmission in the drivetrain is adjusted in the direction of slip optimization. The transmission is a geared-neutral transmission whose output speed, at full drive power, can be adjusted to an extremely small value close to zero. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054751 | CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - A control device for an automatic transmission having a torque converter includes: a determining means for determining whether to set a friction element in an engaged condition or a disengaged condition on the basis of an operating condition of a vehicle; a control means for outputting an engagement command or a disengagement command on the basis of a determination result of the determining means; and an oil pressure control means for performing control to engage the friction element upon reception of the engagement command by performing a precharge control for the friction element and then controlling the supplied oil pressure to a predetermined oil pressure and to disengage the friction element upon reception of the disengagement command by draining the oil pressure supplied to the friction element, wherein the control means comprises a prohibiting means for prohibiting output of the disengagement command in relation to the friction element following control of the friction element from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition until a predetermined condition is established. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054752 | MULTIPLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSION CONTROL APPARATUS AND MULTIPLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSION CONTROL METHOD - A multiple clutch transmission control apparatus performs gear changing smoothly by improving clutch torque control precision, without reducing the speed of gear changing, in a vehicle or the like including a multiple clutch transmission. With this control apparatus, a control unit switches the transmission gear from the previous gear to the next gear by changing the torque transfer path by controlling the first clutch and the second clutch in a clutch changeover period. In the clutch changeover period, the control unit changes the torque transfer path by raising the clutch torque capacity of whichever of the first clutch and the second clutch is the next-gear-side clutch to reach a target value, and then lowering the clutch torque capacity of the previous-gear-side clutch. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054753 | TORQUE LIMITING CLUTCH WITH ENGINE TORQUE MANAGEMENT FOR THERMAL PROTECTION - A method for controlling slip across a torque limiting clutch includes determining a driveline slip threshold. A cut-off temperature is determined based on at least one of a clutch temperature, a steering wheel input and a vehicle speed. A driveline slip is determined. At least of a spark retardation and a throttle cut-off is initiated when the clutch temperature is greater than the cut-off temperature and the driveline slip is greater than the driveline slip threshold. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054754 | CLUTCH ACTUATOR AND METHOD FOR THE CONTROL THEREOF - A clutch actuator and to a method for the control thereof. The actuator actuates a multi-disk clutch, and to do so has actuator modules. The number of which corresponds to the number of the friction clutches. The modules have separate control units and electric motors, which are controlled by the control units and act on the friction clutches by a disengaging mechanism. In order to counter block the partial drive trains disposed downstream of the friction clutches, particularly automatically closed friction clutches during a malfunction of an actuator module, the actuator modules are connected among each other to a data line, which allows monitoring of the actuator modules and counter-measures. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054755 | CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - A control device for an automatic transmission includes a determining unit determines that a friction element is to be set in an engaged condition in case a vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a determination reference and determining that the friction element is to be set in a disengaged condition in case the vehicle speed is lower than the determination reference, and a engagement control unit that performs control to engage or disengage the friction element on the basis of a determination result of the determining unit, wherein the engagement control unit comprises a prohibiting unit that prohibits setting of the friction element in the engaged condition until a predetermined condition is established, regardless of the determination result, after the friction element has been modified from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054756 | DRIVING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, METHOD FOR THE HAPTIC WARNING OF A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND USE THEREOF - A driving assistance system for motor vehicles, having a hazard sensor, is described that uses the brake system of the motor vehicle for the haptic warning of a driver, in that selected brake actuators of the vehicle are activated and deactivated according to a predetermined pattern. In this manner, depending on the pattern, a vibration of a steering wheel of the vehicle may be generated, as well as a response of the vehicle which simulates driving on an uneven roadway or a “washboard” roadway, or driving over an obstacle. In addition, a haptically perceivable warning signal may also be provided for a given deflection direction of the steering wheel via the difference in braking force between left and the right front wheels. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054757 | SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING CORNERING PERFORMANCE OF A VEHICLE CONTROLLED BY A SAFETY SYSTEM - A system for controlling a vehicle having a brake assembly for exerting braking force on at least one wheel on the basis of a number of control parameters is provided. The system has a safety system configured to generate the control parameters as a function of a control quantity associated with the braking force to be exerted on the at least one wheel; and a vehicle handling enhancement system configured to: calculate a reference vehicle yaw acceleration on the basis of at least the longitudinal speed of the vehicle and the steer angle of the vehicle; and adjust the control quantity to zero the difference between the actual yaw acceleration and the reference vehicle yaw acceleration. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054758 | Method for Maintaining a Brake Rotor - A disc braking system of a vehicle determines the actual temperature of a brake rotor. The disc braking system compares the actual temperature of the brake rotor to a critical temperature of the brake rotor. The critical temperature of the brake rotor is a temperature above which damage and/or warping to the brake rotor may occur. The disc braking system applies a corrective measure to prevent damage to the brake rotor when the actual temperature of the brake rotor is greater than the critical temperature of the brake rotor. The corrective measure may include, but is not limited to: displaying a warning, adjusting a fraction control system of the vehicle, scheduling maintenance for the vehicle. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054759 | METHOD FOR CHECKING THE PLAUSIBILITY OF A TEMPERATURE VALUE IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A method for checking the plausibility of a temperature value in an internal combustion engine has the following steps: ascertaining a measurement value (TCO) of the temperature value, ascertaining a model value (TCO_SUB) of the temperature value, comparing the measurement value (TCO) and/or the model value (TCO_SUB) to at least one threshold value (TCOMAX), determining the plausibility of the temperature value as a function of the comparison, and defining the threshold value (TCOMAX) as a function of the temperature value in the internal combustion engine. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054760 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - To provide a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can effectively utilize a scavenging effect while suppressing a torque difference in the internal combustion engine provided with a variable valve mechanism which makes a valve overlap period variable. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054761 | CYLINDER-TO-CYLINDER AIR/FUEL RATIO IMBALANCE DETERMINATION SYSTEM OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A cylinder-to-cylinder air/fuel ratio imbalance determination system obtains an imbalance determination parameter that increases or decreases as a difference between the air/fuel ratios of different cylinders increases, based on output values of an air/fuel ratio sensor, and makes a cylinder-to-cylinder A/F imbalance determination, based on the result of comparison between the imbalance determination parameter and a threshold value for imbalance determination. The determination system changes the amount of fuel injected into one or more of the cylinders so as to create a forced imbalance condition in which the air/fuel ratio of a particular cylinder deviates from the air/fuel ratio of the remaining cylinders, and obtains an air/fuel ratio sensor evaluation parameter (e.g., rate of change ΔAF of the detected air/fuel ratio) in this condition. Then, the determination system determines whether the air/fuel ratio sensor is adequate for making a cylinder-to-cylinder A/F imbalance determination, by comparing the evaluation parameter with a reference parameter (an evaluation parameter obtained based on output values of a reference air/fuel ratio sensor in the same forced imbalance condition). | 2011-03-03 |
20110054762 | EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION APPARATUS FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A technique is provided which, in an exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for an internal combustion engine, can calculate a low-pressure EGR rate and a high-pressure EGR rate in an accurate manner, and control the flow rates of both a low pressure EGR passage and a high pressure EGR passage in a closed-loop control manner, thereby to make the temperature of intake air and a supercharging pressure stable and to suppress the deterioration of exhaust emissions as well as the deterioration of power performance. The low pressure EGR rate, representative of the proportion of an amount of low pressure EGR gas to an amount of intake air sucked into the internal combustion engine, and the high pressure EGR rate, representative of the proportion of an amount of high pressure EGR gas to the amount of intake air, are calculated by using a CO | 2011-03-03 |
20110054763 | Intake Manifold Oxygen Control - A method for controlling intake manifold oxygen for an engine having a fresh air inlet and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) circuit includes the steps of: establishing an ideal excess oxygen ratio for combustion in the engine; calculating a total mass flow of oxygen to be delivered to an intake manifold of the engine to maintain the ideal excess oxygen ratio; determining a mass flow of EGR oxygen in the mass flow of EGR gas; and controlling a desired mass flow of fresh oxygen to be delivered to the intake manifold such that the sum of the desired mass flow of fresh oxygen and the mass flow of EGR oxygen is equal to the desired total mass flow of oxygen, by re-adjusting the EGR valve. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054764 | Exhaust gas oxygen sensor diagnostic method and apparatus - An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust system, an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system and a sensor malfunction monitor. In order to maintain operation during a fuel cut-off situation, the sensor malfunction monitor is arranged to control the fuel cut-off sequencing. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054765 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESTARTING AN ENGINE - Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine being coupled to a transmission. One example method comprises, under selected braking conditions, shutting-off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling, and in response to a foot-off-brake event, restarting the engine by at least partially engaging the transmission to assist in spinning-up of the engine from rest while the vehicle is traveling. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054766 | Diagnostic system and method for hydraulically-actuated cam phasers - A diagnostic system for an engine includes a phaser control module that commands a first cam phaser position of a cam phaser of the engine for a first period and a second cam phaser position of the cam phaser for a second period, and a phaser diagnostic module that diagnoses a phaser control error for the cam phaser based on a first pressure of fluid supplied by an oil control valve to the cam phaser measured during the first period, and a second pressure of fluid supplied by the oil control valve to the cam phaser measured during the second period. The first and second pressures are measured on one of an advance-side fluid chamber and a retard-side fluid chamber of the cam phaser. The phaser diagnostic module detects one of a phaser mechanical fault and a phaser hydraulic system fault. A related method is also provided. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054767 | Computer-implemented method for ensuring the privacy of a user, computer program product, device - A computer-implemented method and product ensures the privacy of a user and the utility of data communicated by a device, such as a vehicle telematics device, to a server, comprising receiving data at the device during the time period; processing, by the device, the received data; summarizing, by the device, the processed data in a matrix, wherein the rows and columns of the matrix define circumstances of movement of the device, wherein the matrix includes a plurality matrix-entries, and wherein each matrix-entry includes a distance covered by the device during the time period under a pair of said predefined circumstances of movement; and transmitting the summarized data from the device to the server. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054768 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING VEHICLE FUEL EFFICIENCY - A method for optimizing the fuel efficiency of a motor vehicle includes electronically receiving data on an ambient environment of a motor vehicle. The data is electronically compared to a current operational status of the vehicle. The current operational status is automatically adjusted based on the comparing to optimize the fuel efficiency of the motor vehicle. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054769 | CONTROL MODULE FOR A VEHICLE - A control module for a vehicle for increasing fuel efficiency can include a controller configured to receive at least one input signal containing at least one vehicle operating parameter and to generate at least one output signal based upon the vehicle operating parameters. The output signal is configured to modify at least one of the operating characteristics of the vehicle. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054770 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING AND COMMUNICATING GEOGRAPHIC ROUTE INFORMATION BETWEEN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES - Provided is a method, wireless communication device and computer program product for generation and communication of a geographic route from a first device to a second device. The method involves presenting a reference map using the first device; receiving route input using the first device, said route input indicative of the geographic route relative to the reference map; processing said route input with respect to a reference coordinate system to generate processed route information indicative of the geographic route; and communicating said processed route information to the second device. The method may further involve receiving and processing processed route information, using the second device, the processing performed at least in part based on the reference coordinate system and an output reference map to generate route output indicative of the geographic route relative to the output reference map; and presenting said route output using the second device. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054771 | Method of Operating a Navigation System to Provide Route Guidance - A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A plurality of features visible from a road segment of the route is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. An importance rating for each of the identified features is determined. The guidance message references the identified feature having a highest determined importance rating. The importance rating considers a permanence or a seasonal dependency of the identified feature. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054772 | Method of Operating a Navigation System to Provide Route Guidance - A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A preferred name of a feature visible from a road segment is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. A guidance message stating the preferred name of the feature visible from the road segment is determined. The preferred name includes at least one visible descriptor selected from a group consisting of a color of the identified feature, a building material of the identified feature, a shape of the identified feature, an architectural style of the identified feature, and a decorative element of the identified feature. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054773 | Electronic Blind-Navigation Device and Electronic Blind-Navigation Cane having the same - An exemplary electronic blind-navigation device suitable for being arranged on a carrier includes an information receiving interface, a guiding interface, a direction detecting device and a processing circuit. The direction detecting device is configured for detecting a direction pointed by the carrier to obtain a pointing direction information. The processing circuit is configured for receiving the pointing direction information and a navigation information supplied from a navigation device. The navigation information includes a traveling direction information. The processing circuit is further configured for determining whether two directions supplied by the pointing direction information and the traveling direction information are the same. When the two directions thereof are the same, the processing circuit controls the guiding interface to send out at least one of a touch guiding signal and a voice guiding signal. Furthermore, an electronic blind-navigation cane having the same is also provided. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054774 | NAVIGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ALTERING MAP INFORMATION RELATED TO AUDIBLE INFORMATION - Methods and devices are disclosed for providing map information to a user via a portable navigation device. In at least one embodiment, the method includes displaying map information including at least one icon and a route to a desired destination, producing audible information related to the route, and altering the at least one icon for display when the audible information relates to the at least one icon. In at least one embodiment, a navigation device is disclosed for providing map information to a user. The navigation device includes a display device to display map information including at least one icon and a route to a desired destination, an output device to produce audible information related to the route, and a processor to alter the at least one icon for display when the audible information relates to the at least one icon. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054775 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH GPS APPLICATION TRIGGERED DISPLAY - A portable electronic device includes a GPS receiver, a display and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to determine and update a position of the electronic device from data obtained by the GPS receiver as the electronic device moves. The circuitry is also configured to provide a series of navigational alerts as the electronic device moves to a user specified destination, and effect at least one of turning on or turning off the display in response to recognizing a predetermined condition relating to position or movement of the electronic device. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054776 | LOCATION-BASED WEATHER UPDATE SYSTEM, METHOD, AND DEVICE - A weather update system, method, and device for providing and receiving weather data. The mobile computing device includes a processor and a location data receiver capable of establishing a geospatial location of the mobile computing device based on received data signals. The mobile computing device is configured to receive updated weather data in response to a threshold condition having been, met, such as a threshold distance having been traveled by the mobile computing device or a threshold time having elapsed. The mobile computing device is also configured to receive weather alerts. The system includes a weather data server network configured to receive current and forecasted weather data for a plurality of locations and times, stored in a high-resolution grid structure and including current locations of a user devices or favorite locations for users. The weather data server network is configured to transmit weather data for the geospatial location of a mobile computing in response to a threshold condition having been met. The system also has an interactive map configured to enable a user to select a location for which the user would like to receive weather data and to store such locations as favorites. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054777 | Method of Operating a Navigation System to Provide Route Guidance - A method of operating a navigation system to provide a route guidance message for traveling a route is disclosed. A plurality of features visible from a road segment of the route is obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. An importance rating for each of the identified features is determined. The guidance message references the identified feature having a highest determined importance rating. The importance rating considers a permanence or a seasonal dependency of the identified feature. The importance rating is adjusted to favor the identified feature closest to the lane in which the vehicle is currently located. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054778 | Method and Apparatus for Displaying Three-Dimensional Terrain and Route Guidance - According to one aspect of the present invention, an information display device for displaying three-dimensional route and terrain includes a plurality of databases for storing information; a display control unit to dynamically manage said information with different levels-of-detail (LODs); and a user interface communicatively coupled with the control unit to display said managed information with different levels of detail. In one embodiment, the control unit may include a terrain scaling unit which is configured to dynamically increase or decrease the height or “3D-ness” of the terrain based on the angle and height of the viewing. The control unit may also include an LOD control unit and a scene stitching unit. In addition, the information display device provides a three-dimensional real-time rendering environment including three-dimensional guidance information which allows the user to understand complex maneuvers without using two-dimensional overlays. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054779 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOMMENDING A ROUTE - A method and apparatus for recommending a route. The route recommending method includes obtaining user's current body information; obtaining geographic information from a current position to a destination; and determining a recommended route to the destination on the basis of the body information and the geographic information. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054780 | LOCATION TRACKING FOR MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE - A mobile computing device comprises a wireless transceiver and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to store a data set for a predetermined location, the data set comprising location data and a location name. The processing circuit is further configured to compare a current location to the location data, to compare an updated location to the location data at a time calculated based on heuristic data, and to generate a notification message based on the mobile computing device arriving at or near the predetermined location. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054781 | VELOCITY CALCULATION DEVICE, VELOCITY CALCULATION METHOD AND NAVIGATION DEVICE - A velocity calculation device includes a vertical direction acceleration detection unit that is mounted on a mobile object to detect the acceleration of a vertical direction generated corresponding to the unevenness of a surface on which the mobile object moves; a horizontal direction angular velocity detection unit that is mounted on the mobile object to detect the angular velocity around a horizontal axis perpendicular to a direction of travel of the mobile object generated corresponding to the unevenness of the surface on which the mobile object moves; and a velocity calculation unit for calculating the velocity in the direction of travel of the mobile object based on the acceleration of the vertical direction and the angular velocity around the horizontal axis. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054782 | Method and apparatus of measuring and analyzing user movement - A method and apparatus or measuring a person's movement via a plurality of sensors is enclosed. One example method may include measuring at least one rotational value during the movement via a first sensor. Additional measurements may include measuring at least one linear value during the movement via a second sensor, and measuring a force applied from a portion of the person's body via a third sensor. The measurements may be used to generate a user interface display of the person's movement on an electronic device. | 2011-03-03 |
20110054783 | DATA STRUCTURE OF ROUTE GUIDANCE DATABASE - It is an object to realize a route guidance that follows a real passage mode without a feeling of wrongness. In a route guidance device, aside from a two-dimensional road network for a route search, a three-dimensional road network used for the route guidance and guiding line shape data are prepared. The guiding line shape data are three-dimensional guidance display data that guide you to go straight through a crossroads, to turn right, to turn left, etc. in accordance with a passage mode or guide you to change a car lane before you enter a crossroads. A link node of the two-dimensional road network is associated with the guiding line shape data through the three-dimensional road network. The route search is carried out by using the two-dimensional road network. The route guidance is carried out by using the guiding line shape data associated with the link node acquired by the route search. This can realize an instinctively understandable route guidance that follows a passage mode without increasing a load of a route search. | 2011-03-03 |