| 36th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 56 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20080215124 | Apparatus for Cosmetic Skin Rejuvenation Treatment - The present invention relates to an apparatus for cosmetic skin rejuvenation treatment, comprising a continuous wave light source accommodating a high-intensity discharge lamp ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215125 | Directional stimulation of neural tissue - A multi-contact electrode for neural tissue stimulation is described. The electrode has an axis and includes a plurality of electrodes going along the axis. Each electrode ends with a contact, and at least one of the contacts has an internal edge, resulting in non-uniform electrical properties throughout the contact surface facing the tissue. Also described are methods of making an electrical contact with an internal edge, and methods and systems for characterizing internal edge. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215126 | Medical Electrode System - An electrode system includes an implantable flexible electrode, especially an epidural electrode, having at least one distal electrical contact ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215127 | Medical Electrical Lead Providing Far-Field Signal Attenuation - A bipolar pacing and sensing lead incorporates a range of active surface areas for each of the anode and cathode electrodes, and a range of inter-electrode spacings between the anode and cathode electrodes which, in combination, provide acceptable near-field signal amplitudes and attenuate the amplitudes of unwanted signals, such as far-field R-waves, far-field P-waves, and T-waves. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215128 | ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENT FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL SIGNALS TO THE SKIN OF AN ANIMAL - An electrode arrangement for applying electrical signals to skin of an animal comprising a flexible electrically non-conductive substrate, at least one electrode provided on a first surface of the substrate for applying electrical signals to the skin when placed on the skin, at least one connector connected to a respective electrode for providing electrical signals to the respective electrode and an electrically non-conductive sealing arrangement connected to the substrate for sealing the substrate and the skin to prevent ingress of moisture to the at least one electrode and to the at least one connector at the connection to the respective electrode. The electrode, or each electrode, comprises a plurality of spaced electrically conductive elements to allow flexion of the electrode arrangement and electrically conductive material between the plurality of spaced electrically conductive elements to form a two-dimensional electrically conductive path across at least a portion of the first surface of the substrate. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215129 | Endolumenal Prosthesis with Bioresorbable Portions - The present invention relates to an endolumenal prosthesis comprising a tubular body adapted to convert from a contracted condition to an expanded condition. The tubular body develops along a longitudinal axis and comprises: a plurality of coils and at least one bridge. The coils develop along a substantially circumferential direction and the bridge connects two coils. The coils are realised in a persistent material, while the bridge is realised in a bioabsorbable material. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215130 | MEDICAL DEVICE DELIVERY CATHETER - Apparatus for delivering a medical device to a location in a patient's body includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, a pod coupled with the distal end of the catheter body and adapted to house the medical device during delivery to the location and to open to release the medical device, and at least one distal actuator coupled with at least one of the pod and the medical device. The distal actuator is adapted to promote opening of the pod. A method involves advancing a pod at the distal end of an elongate catheter to the location within the body and activating an actuator coupled with the pod and/or the medical device to cause the pod to open. Opening the pod releases the medical device. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215131 | METHOD FOR LOADING A MEDICAL DEVICE INTO A DELIVERY SYSTEM - A process to load a medical device comprising a shape memory material into a delivery system is described herein. According to one aspect, the method includes applying a force to the medical device to obtain a delivery configuration thereof, where the device is at a first temperature within an R-phase temperature range of the shape memory material during application of the force. The medical device is cooled in the delivery configuration to a second temperature at or below a martensite finish temperature of the shape memory material. The force is then removed from the medical device, and the device is loaded into a delivery system. Preferably, the medical device substantially maintains the delivery configuration during the loading process. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215132 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICES HAVING TEXTURED SURFACES AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME - Textured coatings for implantable medical devices can be provided in metallic or polymer surface layers having surface texture factors down to nanometer and sub-nanometer levels. Implantable devices having such textured surfaces and methods of coating such devices comprises providing a substrate surface of an implantable device and forming a coating layer of the substrate surface by directing a mixture of atoms of a first type of material and a second type of material toward the substrate surface while simultaneously and collinearly bombarding the substrate surface with ions, wherein the first type of material is substantially resistant to a removal process and the second type of material is substantially susceptible to a removal process. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215133 | LONGITUDINALLY FLEXIBLE STENT - An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portion. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The cells also provide increase coverage of a vessel wall. The stent has a reduced crimped profile due to the differing lengths of adjacent structural members within the cells, resulting in loops which are not aligned around the circumference of the stent. Also, this stent may contain a second type of square cells, which are adapted predominately to minimize flaring of the stent ends and to provide additional stiffness. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215134 | Vascular band - A vascular band ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215135 | Device Allowing the Treatment of Bodily Conduits at an Area of a Bifurcation - The device includes a stent and a separating device, the stent having a number of areas of separation and the separating device being able to be introduced through the wall of the stent at an area of separation. According to embodiments of the invention, each area of separation has a number of separable junctions; the activation of the separating device separates at least one of the separable junctions of the area of separation so as to separate the stent into two stent sections at the area of the bifurcation and to allow the stent sections to further expand to respectively conform to a shape of the main conduit and to a shape of the secondary conduit at the area of the bifurcation. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215136 | DIFFERENTIAL DRUG RELEASE FROM A MEDICAL DEVICE - The invention relates to a medical device, such as an intravascular stent, useful for delivering two or more therapeutic agents to a body tissue of a patient at different rates, and methods for making and using such medical device. The medical device includes a substrate and/or coating having a plurality of pores, dispersed in said pores are a plurality of a first and second therapeutic agents, wherein said first therapeutic agent is bonded to one or more molecule(s) of a first material and the second therapeutic agent bonded to one or more molecule(s) of a second material, such that when the medical device, is in use (e.g., implanted into a body lumen such as a blood vessel), bonded first therapeutic agent is released from the medical device at a rate that is slower than the rate at which the bonded second therapeutic agent is released from the medical device. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215137 | THERAPEUTIC DRIVING LAYER FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE - The present invention regards the delivery of therapeutic at a target site. Systems that employ the present invention may employ a medical device sized to be inserted into a target site, a driving layer covering at least a portion of an accessible surface of the medical device, and a therapeutic interfaced with at least a portion of the driving layer. In this system, the driving layer may have a material characteristic that serves to release the therapeutic from the medical device when the medical device is at the target site. Other systems that employ the invention may also have properties that include having a driving layer with a higher solubility than the therapeutic at the target site, a medical device that is hydrophobic while the therapeutic is hydrophilic, and a coating covering at least a portion of the therapeutic. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215138 | COATED IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A coated implantable medical device | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215139 | STENT WITH A COATING FOR DELIVERING A THERAPEUTIC AGENT - The invention relates generally to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to the body tissue of a patient, and methods for making such a medical device. More particularly, the invention is directed to a stent, such as an intravascular stent, having an inner and outer coating compositions disposed thereon. In another embodiment, the inner coating composition and outer coating composition are separated by a barrier coating composition. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215140 | STENTS COATED WITH BIOMOLECULES AND PROCESS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION - A stent comprising a basic stent body, at least one anchor group on the surface of the basic stent body, and at least one biomolecule which is bound to the at least one anchor group, the anchor group being the same or different and selected from the group of compounds with the general formula (I) | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215141 | Coating for a Stent and a Method of Forming the Same - A coating for a stent and methods for coating a stent are provided. The coating may be used for the sustained delivery of an active ingredient or a combination of active ingredients. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215142 | CROSS-LINKING OF ANTIOXIDANT-CONTAINING POLYMERS - The present invention relates to methods for making cross-linked, oxidatively stable, and highly crystalline polymeric materials. The invention also provides methods of treating irradiation-cross-linked antioxidant-containing polymers and materials used therewith. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215143 | ASSEMBLY FOR PLACING A PROSTHETIC VALVE IN A DUCT IN THE BODY - The present invention is an assembly comprising a prosthetic valve to be implanted; a radially expandable stent comprising at least one zone intended to be expanded to allow the stent, in the expanded state, to bear against the wall of the body duct to be fitted with the valve, this bearing making it possible to immobilize this stent with respect to this wall; and means for mounting the valve with respect to the stent, making it possible to connect the valve to the stent in such a way that the placement of the stent allows the valve to be mounted in the body duct, and expansion means such as a balloon catheter being provided to trigger expansion of the stent at the implantation site. According to the invention, the valve and the stent are designed in such a way that, at the moment when the stent is expanded, the valve is situated outside the zone or zones of the stent that are subjected to said expansion means. The invention thus consists in separating the valve and said zone or zones to be expanded, so that the expansion of the stent can be effected with an expansion force suitable for perfect anchoring of this stent in the wall of the body duct to be fitted with the valve, and without any risk of destruction or damage of the valve. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215144 | Replacement prosthetic heart valves and methods of implantation - A replacement prosthetic heart valve for engagement with a structure of a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve, the replacement heart valve including a stent structure and at least two leaflets attached within the interior area of a tubular body portion of the stent structure. The stent structure includes a generally tubular body portion having an interior area, at least two upper flange portions for positioning at an outflow end of the previously implanted heart valve, wherein the upper flange portions extend radially outward from the tubular body portion and are biased toward an inflow end of the replacement heart valve, and at least one lower flange portion for positioning at an inflow end of the previously implanted heart valve, wherein the lower flange portions extend radially outward from the tubular body portion and are biased toward an outflow end of the replacement heart valve. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215145 | CARDIAC VALVE IMPLANT WITH ENERGY ABSORBING MATERIAL - Methods and devices are provided for support of a body structure. The devices can be adjusted within the body of a patient in a minimally invasive or non-invasive manner such as by applying energy percutaneously or external to the patient's body. The energy may include, for example, acoustic energy, radio frequency energy, light energy and magnetic energy. Thus, as the body structure changes size and/or shape, the size and/or shape of the annuloplasty rings can be adjusted to provide continued reinforcement. In certain embodiments, the devices include a body member including a shape memory material, and an energy absorption enhancement material configured to absorb energy in response to an activation energy. The energy absorption enhancement material is in thermal communication with said shape memory material. The body member has a first size of a dimension in a first configuration and a second size of the dimension in a second configuration, and is configured to be implanted in the first configuration into a heart. The body member is configured to transform from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to the activation energy. The second configuration is configured to reduce a dimension of a cardiac valve annulus in the heart. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215146 | Intra-Ocular Artificial Lens for Iris-Driven Accommodation - An intra-ocular artificial lens with variable optical strength, wherein the artificial lens comprises two optical elements which are movable relative to each other in a direction extending transversely of the optical axis, wherein the optical elements have a form such that in different relative positions they together have different optical strengths, wherein the movable optical elements are connected to positioning means which are adapted for coupling to the iris of the eye for the purpose of driving. This measure makes use of the fact that one or both of the optical elements can be displaced relative to each other through the driving of the natural orbicularis muscle of the iris in order to obtain an accommodating function. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215147 | Intraocular lens system - The present invention discloses a multi-component intraocular lens implanted in an optical system of a human eye, including one or more foldable removable components, each component being foldable. One component acts as a base lens, including a flange with a slot. Another component acts is an optical assembly that may include a top lens joined to or integrated with a mid lens. The top lens, the mid lens or the optical assembly may include at least one projection that engages the slot of the base lens. A medical adhesive may be applied to an outer circumferential surface of the top lens to join the top lens to the mid lens or may be applied to a top surface of the top lens opposing a bottom surface of the mid lens. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215148 | Implanting a Therapeutic Appliance Into the Cochlea - A set of fenestration burrs, for fenestrating otic capsule bone ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215149 | Lightweight Silicone Implant and Manufacturing Method Thereof - Disclosed herein are a lightweight silicone implant which is manufactured by filling a foamed silicone sponge and/or vacant silicone capsules in a silicone bag or a cohesive gel bag and sealing the bag, and a method for manufacturing the same. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215150 | TENDON OR LIGAMENT BIOPROSTHESES AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - The disclosure describes implantable bioprosthesis having an implantable construct with a multi-fiber array of collagen fibers attached together. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215151 | Bone barrier device, system, and method - A bone barrier device can comprise a barrier material that can be inserted into the interior of a bone and adapted to prohibit substantially all of a bone filler material from flowing through and/or around the barrier material into and through a compromised portion of the bone. Such a barrier device may be inserted into a void created in the interior of a vertebral body so as to prevent the flow of bone cement through and/or around the barrier material into a compromised endplate and/or vertebral body wall. The bone barrier device may comprise a barrier material having an open weave, mesh, and/or through hole design adapted to reduce the flow, and to allow some flow, of bone filler material through and/or around the barrier material. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215152 | System and Method for Restoration of Nutrient Flow to Nucleus Pulposa - Disclosed are methods and devices for restoring or establishing nutrient flow to the nucleus pulposa. An implant comprises a nutrient flow path for extending between a source of nutrients and the nucleus pulposa. The implant is positioned within the patient such that a first end is in nutrient flow communication with a subject nucleus pulposa, and the source end is positioned in nutrient flow communication with a source of nutrients. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215153 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING SPINAL SURGERY - An embodiment of an intervertebral prosthetic device for implantation in a spine includes a rigid fixation member and a compressible member. The fixation member is configured to be placed in a cavity of a first vertebral body and against bone of the first vertebral body. The compressible member is configured to be placed in a cavity in an intervertebral disc and to be secured to the first fixation member. Another embodiment includes two compressible members and one fixation member. In this embodiment, the first and second compressible members are sized to substantially replace the nucleus pulposus of first and a second intervertebral discs, respectively, on either side of a vertebral body. The fixation member is sized to fit within a cavity in the vertebral body between the first and second compressible members. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215154 | INTERVERTEBRAL DISC ANULUS IMPLANT - Systems for minimally invasive disc augmentation include an anulus augmentation implant suited for minimally invasive deployment. A nucleus augmentation component may be included. The anulus augmentation implant shields weakened regions of the anulus fibrosis and/or resists escape of natural nucleus pulposus and/or the nucleus augmentation component. Methods and deployment devices are also disclosed. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215155 | INTERVERTEBRAL PROSTHETIC DISC - A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower plates, a core disposed between the plates, and at least one projection extending from at least one of the upper and lower curved surfaces of the core into at least one recess of one of the inner surfaces of the plates. The recess is oversize with respect to the projection to allow sliding movement of the plate over the core while retaining the core between the plates during such sliding movement. The projection(s) may include a rod extending through an axial hole in the core, multiple surface features of the core, or the like. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215156 | Joint Prostheses - The present invention provides an implantable joint prosthesis configured to replace a natural joint, and methods for implantation. The prosthesis may include a first component implantable in a first bone, having a first bearing surface, and a second component implantable in a second bone, having a second bearing surface which corresponds to the first bearing surface. Each bearing surface may include a flattened section such that when the bearing surfaces are placed in cooperation with one another in a preferred orientation, the flattened sections are aligned. Alternatively, the bearing surfaces may have and asymmetric configuration, with non-congruent surfaces that may enable correction of deformity. Several types of implantable joint prostheses are disclosed, including: carpometacarpal, metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, distal interphalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, ankle, knee, shoulder, and hip. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215157 | MODULAR FEMORAL PROVISIONAL - A provisional prosthetic system that replicates the characteristics of a corresponding, nonprovisional femoral prosthesis. The provisional prosthetic system may include a frame component and a shell component. The frame component of the provisional prosthetic system may be configured to be attached directly to a resected femur. In one exemplary embodiment, the frame component is impacted onto the resected femur to firmly seat therewith. Once the frame component is secured to the resected femur, a shell component of the provisional prosthetic system may be positioned on and secured to the frame component. In one exemplary embodiment, the frame component is made from a metallic material. This allows for the frame component to maintain the rigidity necessary to facilitate proper trialing. In another exemplary embodiment, the shell component is a plastic. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215158 | Prosthetic hip joint having polycrystalline diamond articulation surfaces and at least one solid polycrystalline diamond compact - A prosthetic joint in which at least one bearing component is made from solid diamond. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215159 | Orthopaedic Surgical Instrument - A method of manufacturing an orthopaedic surgical instrument comprising the steps of forming a generally planar shim having a predetermined shape; creating a plurality of holes or slots in the plane of the shim; temporarily shielding said holes or slots. from a plastic moulding process; overmoulding said shim with a plastic substrate using said plastic moulding process; and creating a cutting surface at each of said holes or slots. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215160 | Resurfacing-Hip Implant Construction Set - Described here is a set for the construction of a resurfacing hip implant. It comprises a thin metal cup for cemented insertion into the natural acetabulum, a thin metal cap for cemented placement upon the natural femoral head, and an inlay which can be placed in the cup of the acetabulum as a sliding partner for the cap for the femoral head. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215161 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOTION-CONTROLLED FOOT UNIT - A system and method associated with the movement of a limb. In one example, the system, such as a prosthetic or orthotic system, includes an actuator that actively controls, or adjusts, the angle between a foot unit and a lower limb member. A processing module may control movement of the actuator based on data obtained from a sensor module. For instance, sensing module data may include information relating to the gait of a user and may be used to adjust the foot unit to substantially mimic the movement of a natural, healthy ankle. The system may further accommodate, for example, level ground walking, traveling up/down stairs, traveling up/down sloped surfaces, and various other user movements. In addition, the processing module may receive user input or display output signals through an external interface. For example, the processing module may receive a heel height input from the user. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215162 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A DIGIT TO POSITION A PROSTHETIC OR ORTHOTIC DEVICE - A method and system for determining a grip or grasp pattern of a prosthetic terminal device or other orthotic device using the position of the thumb or other digit as the initial determination of the grasping function. The system comprising sensors, an electronic control system and a motor drive. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215163 | Method For Operating a System - A method for operating a system, as well as a computer program and a computer program product for executing the method. In the method for operating a system, which includes a plurality of control units, in the event that a special state exists for one of the control units, at least one of the other control units is informed about it. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215164 | Method and Device for Controlling Movement of a Movable Machine Element of a Machine - The movement of a machine element associated with a machine axis of a machine is simulated with a model by inputting in the model a movement to be performed by the machine element, and determining with the model at least one of a position profile, a velocity profile and a torque profile suitable for optimized movement of the movable machine element, as well as a predetermined quality function and a limitation for the movement of the machine axis. The position profile, velocity profile or torque profile is then used as a reference or pilot control variable in a control loop to control the moving machine element. The predetermined quality function is an integral of the square of a torque or of a variable which is directly related to the torque. The method can be used to optimize the guided movement of the machine element. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215165 | Control loop for regulating a combustion process - In a control loop for regulating a combustion process in a plant (e.g., a power-generating plant, a waste incineration plant or a cement works) having a controlled system for converting material by way of the combustion process while supplying air, with at least one flame body being formed, and having at least one observation device for imaging the flame body, other sensors for determining the input data, at least one adjustment device that can be controlled by output data for supplying at least material and/or air, and a computer for evaluating the input data in relation to target values and for determining the output data by using a current process model, the computer has a feature extraction module that extracts features from the input data using an information measure. The features are informative for the target values, and are for use in an alternative process model. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215166 | Process For Producing Sandwich Structures With Particulate Material Pattern - The present invention is concerned with a process for forming a very well defined pattern of particulate material in a composite material comprising a web material and particulate absorbent material. The present invention relates also to a method for determining the equipment design and process parameter for such a process. In a particular application, the present invention provides a process for preparing liquid absorbent structures, such as may be useful for disposable absorbent articles. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215167 | Feed delivery system for enhancing ruminant animal nutrition - A feed delivery system for a dairy farm wherein a third-party supplier of the system can provide the dairy farm with lists of approved hybrids for the feed components, necessary information inputs for practicing the feed method, and all or a portion of its component needs for the feed ration corresponding to a feed ration that contains: at least one primary forge source selected from the group consisting of brown midrib corn silage, dual-purpose corn silage, leafy corn silage, and grass silage; a secondary forage source selected from the group consisting of dual-purpose corn silage, alfalfa haylage, alfalfa dry hay, grass silage, and alfalfa/grass mix; a corn grain of floury and/or vitreous endosperm starch grain into which normal dent corn or mutt corn may be blended in order to achieve a predetermined level of in vitro starch digestibility; such grain component being further processed to produce a specific particle size of the blended starch. The feed delivery system can also provide the dairy farm with real-time characterizations of at least some of its feed ingredients, and re-penning strategies for maximizing the milk productivity of the cows. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215168 | TRANSACTION AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SUCH AS FOR FANTASY SPORTS - A transaction system is described herein for managing league decisions and the collection and payment of assets related to fantasy sports transactions. The transaction system may be accessible to transaction participants, such as league commissioners and team owners, through a hosted service on the Internet that provides a user interface for viewing transaction information and an authorization method determined by the participants for completing transactions. In this way, the transaction system provides a structured environment in which fantasy sports transactions are completed. The transaction system stores the assets associated with the transaction in a league account until conditions are satisfied for the assets to be distributed at the end of the season to owners' accounts based on an agreed-upon process. Payments can be issued from each owner's account to the owner. Thus, the transaction system allows transactions to be completed even in conditions where the commissioner is unavailable or team owners do not unanimously agree on the disposition of the transaction. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215169 | Audio System - A method of selecting an audio source includes the step of providing an audio system that includes a source of audio data which can be supplied to a speaker to produce sound. A portable audio source device is enabled to be operatively connected to the audio system. When the portable audio source device is operatively connected to the audio system, the audio system automatically stops supplying audio data from the source of audio data to the speaker and starts supplying audio data from the portable audio source device to the speaker to produce sound. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215170 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL CONTENT - A system, method, and machine-readable medium are disclosed for the controlled, non-real-time conveyance of digital content for playback. Digital content and associated metadata are marked, rated, categorized, and then converted into encoded digital data. The resulting encoded digital data is transmitted as a plurality of data streams through a communications facility such as a satellite, wireless, or physical network. The data streams are received by a content receiver where they are decoded into metadata and digital content for controlled conveyance and playback. A digital content management module comprising a content selection algorithm compares metadata associated with candidate digital content to a predetermined content selection profile. If the metadata matches predetermined selection parameters of the selection profile, the candidate digital content and its associated metadata are stored in a machine-readable medium for controlled conveyance and playback. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215171 | Vehicle for recording and reproducing digital data - An apparatus comprising a vehicle and a media player/recorder physically connected with the vehicle, the media player/recorder comprising a wireless receiver to receive a signal representing encoded media data; a storage device to store the encoded media data; a processor comprising a storage controller to retrieve the encoded media data from the storage device, and a digital signal processor to decode the encoded media data retrieved by the storage controller; and an output circuit to output the decoded media data from the processor. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215172 | Non-Linear Presentation of Content - Media content ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215173 | System and Method for Providing Acoustic Analysis Data - A music recommendation system receives a user selection of desired music, retrieves analysis data associated with the selected music, and generates a playlist of songs based on the analysis data. The analysis data is generated based on a processing of one or more audio signals associated with the selected music. The analysis data may downloaded from a central server. If the analysis data is not available from the central server, it is generated locally at a user end, and uploaded to the central server. A plurality of user-selectable shuffling mechanisms are provided to allow the order of the songs to be shuffled according to the selected shuffling mechanism. The end user device may also receive recommendation of new music from different providers based on the analysis data of music for which the recommendation is to be based. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215174 | METHOD OF CORRECTING DIE MODEL DATA - A die is produced based on die model data. The produced die is corrected. The corrected die is three-dimensionally measured by a measuring tool to produce measured three-dimensional die data. A polygonal surface represented by the measured three-dimensional die data and a model surface represented by the die model data are compared with each other. The polygonal surface is brought into proximity to the model surface, and the absolute values of the distances between a plurality of pairs of measuring points on the polygonal surface and corresponding points on the model surface are calculated. The die model data are corrected based on the absolute values of the distances. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215175 | AVAILABLE TO PROMISE ALLOCATION OPTIMIZATION TOOL - A distributed, network-based system and computer program product determines an optimal allocation of available to promise components in a supply chain. An aggregate demand request is generated by a demand entity intelligent agent. The aggregate demand request is propagated via a network throughout the supply chain to a plurality of supply entity intelligent agents. The supply entity intelligent agents respond with an evaluation of available to promise supply capability. Optimal allocation of the available to promise supply is made by calculating a sequence of squared set solutions of unit demand problems using a message-based communications protocol between the demand entity and supply entity intelligent agents. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215176 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED HIGH SCALE FABRICATION OF CUSTOM ITEMS - Method and system for providing volume manufacturing of customizable items including receiving a data package including a plurality of manufacturing parameters, each of the plurality of manufacturing parameters associated with a unique item, verifying the received data package, and implementing a manufacturing process associated with the received data package is provided. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215177 | METHOD OF CALCULATING COORDINATES AT CUTTING WORK COMPLETION IN SHOULDER CUTTING BY MEANS OF ROTATING TOOL - Using parameters such as diameters of a rough cutter and a finishing cutter, a position of a tool at cutting work completion in a rough work, a finishing cutting area, specifications of a rotating tool (the number of cutting edges, a cutting force eigenvalue, a compliance transfer function), etc., a cutting force acting on a cutting edge of the rotating tool is found, and results thereof are made use of to analyze a characteristic equation being a loop transfer function of a vibration system composed of the rotating tool and a work, whereby it is possible to predict presence of generation of self-excited vibration of the finishing cutter performed after a rough work in a shoulder cutting work. Thereby, the rotating tool operates stably in a finishing work and besides shoulder cutting of a work can be performed in a high work efficiency. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215178 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THERMAL DISPLACEMENT IN MACHINE TOOL - After a thermal displacement correcting program has started, a temperature is measured with a temperature sensor in S | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215179 | Online Controlled Picking in a Warehouse - A computer-implemented method of controlling picking operations of a number of users in a warehouse, wherein goods are located at source locations, each picking operation comprising: an operation of preparation, wherein, at the source location, the good is introduced in a handling unit, HU, an operation of placing the HU on a picking equipment, the picking equipment being a tool for transferring the HU, an operation of transferring the HU to the destination location, wherein a sequence of picking instructions are presented online individually to the number of users via instruction presenting means which are associated with the respective users, each picking instruction specifying the HU to be transferred, the equipment to be used, and the first and second position, whereby execution of each of the picking operation steps is controlled by online data verification such that a subsequent picking operation instruction may be changed, and presented to the users via the instruction presenting means depending upon result of the verification. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215180 | ARRANGEMENT FOR DYNAMIC LEAN REPLENISHMENT AND METHODS THEREFOR - A dynamic lean replenishment method for handling inventory management is provided. The method includes performing analysis to determine a projected inventory stock. The analysis is performed in accordance with at least one of a synchronous mode and an asynchronous mode. In the synchronous mode, a computer is configured to perform the analysis to determine the projected inventory stock after consumption has occurred. The consumption is deemed to have occurred when a first bin of a plurality of bins is consumed and changes from a bin state of on-hand to the bin state of empty. In the asynchronous mode, the computer is configured to perform the analysis to determine the projected inventory stock after a preset time interval. The method also includes comparing the projected inventory stock to a safety stock to determine replenishment. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215181 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING INVASIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES USING A SURGICAL ROBOT - A method and system for performing invasive procedures includes a surgical robot which is controlled by a guidance system that uses time of flight calculations from RF transmitters embedded in the robot, surgical instrument, and patient anatomy. Sensors around the room detect RF transmissions emitted by the RF transmitters and drive the robot according to a preprogrammed trajectory entered into the guidance system. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215182 | GENETIC ROBOT PLATFORM AND GENETIC ROBOT BEHAVIOR EXPRESSION METHOD - A genetic robot platform and a genetic robot behavior expression method. When a controller of a robot platform driving a genetic robot, which has robot-behavior-expression-related information as gene information and of which an expression behavior is determined according to the gene information, recognizes a stimulation, the controller determines whether there is a preset instinctive behavior corresponding to the recognized stimulation. When there is a preset instinctive behavior corresponding to the recognized stimulation, the controller determines whether the recognized stimulation corresponds to the first generated stimulation or a repeatedly-generated stimulation, and determines an instinctive behavior to be expressed according to the recognized stimulation and the number of times of repeated stimulations. Then, the controller enables the robot to perform the instinctive behavior corresponding to the currently-recognized stimulation by expressing the determined instinctive behavior. Accordingly, there is an effect of providing a robot which is implemented to be more similar to real life. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215183 | Interactive Entertainment Robot and Method of Controlling the Same - A entertainment robot includes a recognition unit, an environment detecting unit, an intelligent unit, and a behavior unit. The recognition unit receives an input signal from a user and outputs a corresponding command signal. The environment detecting unit detects background information and outputs a corresponding environment signal. The intelligent unit outputs a corresponding behavior signal based on the command signal and the environment signal. The behavior unit controls the operation of the entertainment robot based on the behavior signal. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215184 | Method for searching target object and following motion thereof through stereo vision processing and home intelligent service robot using the same - A home intelligent service robot for recognizing a user and following the motion of a user and a method thereof are provided. The home intelligent service robot includes a driver, a vision processor, and a robot controller. The driver moves an intelligent service robot according to an input moving instruction. The vision processor captures images through at least two or more cameras in response to a capturing instruction for following a target object, minimizes the information amount of the captured image, and discriminates objects in the image into the target object and obstacles. The robot controller provides the capturing instruction for following the target object in a direction of collecting instruction information to the vision processor when the instruction information is collected from outside, and controls the intelligent service robot to follow and move the target object while avoiding obstacles based on the discriminating information from the vision processor. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215185 | Unmanned ground robotic vehicle having an alternatively extendible and retractable sensing appendage - An unmanned robotic vehicle is capable of sensing an environment at a location remote from the immediate area of the vehicle frame. The unmanned robotic vehicle includes a retractable appendage with a sensing element. The sensing element can include a camera, chemical sensor, optical sensor, force sensor, or the like. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215186 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOLAR AFFECTED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL - The present invention relates to systems and methods for environmental control. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a solar affected environmental control system. The system includes a set of input devices, a priority device, an output device, and a control module. The input devices measure environmental values such as temperature, light, environmentally generated water heat, and environmentally generated electricity. The priority device interfaces with a user to define a goal that corresponds to a hierarchy of environmental objectives. For example, the goal may define temperature, visual light, and then environmentally generated electricity as the hierarchy in which the user wishes to prioritize the environmental objectives. The output device is an adjustable solar module that has an affect on the environmental values. For example, a rotatable skylight mounted panel may have an adjustable effect on both temperature and visual light, depending on the angle of rotation. The control module is an electrical device that includes a mathematical algorithm configured to correlate the environmental values and the user-defined goal so as to generate a set of output device settings. The control module is electrically coupled to the output device to facilitate adjustment according to the output device settings, so as to affect the environmental values in a manner consistent with the goal. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for controlling a set of environmental values, including the acts of receiving environmental values, receiving a user-defined goal corresponding to a priority of environmental objectives, applying an algorithm to correlate the environmental values and the goal to generate a set of solar output device settings, and adjusting a solar output device according to the output device settings so as to affect the environmental values in a manner consistent with the goal. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215187 | NON-INVERTER BASED DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE FOR USE IN A DYNAMIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A microsource is provided, which includes a generator, a prime mover, and a controller. The prime mover includes a shaft connected to drive the generator to generate power at a frequency controlled by a rotation rate of the shaft. The controller calculates an operating frequency for the generator based on a comparison between a power set point and a measured power flow. A requested shaft speed for the prime mover is calculated by combining a maximum frequency change, a minimum frequency change, and the calculated operating frequency A shaft speed adjustment is calculated for the prime mover based on a comparison between the requested shaft speed and a measured shaft speed of the prime mover. A fuel command for the prime mover is calculated based on the shaft speed adjustment. A rotation rate of the shaft of the prime mover is adjusted based on the calculated fuel command to control the frequency. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215188 | Temperature Control Method and Temperature Controller - The temperature of a predetermined object is controlled by feedback control that uses the temperature control algorithm of a homeothermic plant. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215189 | Control System For a Motor Vehicle - A control system for a motor vehicle, including a manual actuating means with a number of degrees of freedom for selecting and/or activating entries in a menu structure and a screen display with display areas for displaying the menu structure. At least two degrees of freedom of the manual actuating means move a cursor for selecting and/or activating one of the entries in an active display area. A first degree of freedom corresponds to a turning movement, and in a clockwise direction about a z-axis a second degree of freedom corresponds to a turning movement in a counterclockwise direction about a z-axis. In addition, cursor movement in the active display area is effected by the first and/or second degree of freedom, depending on the orientation of the displayed entries. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215190 | TURRET ENVELOPE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A FIRE FIGHTING VEHICLE - A turret control system and method is disclosed. The turret control system includes one or more control modules, such as an envelope control module, turret targeting module, a turret pan module, a turret deploy module, a turret store module. The preferred turret control system also provides improved turret control flexibility and improved operator feedback. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215191 | Vehicle control system and method using control allocation and phase compensation - A vehicle control system and method combining control allocation and phase compensation for forming a phase compensated actuator command signal based on a control demand signal. A feedback unit includes a matrix multiplication unit for forming an estimated behaviour signal, from a control efficiency matrix and the actuator command signal. The estimated behaviour signal is fed to a second summation unit for forming a difference signal. The difference signal from the summation unit is processed by a filter unit for forming a feedback signal which is connected to a first summation unit for forming a modified control demand signal, such that the modified control demand signal is adjusted to always represent a control demand realisable by the vehicle. The modified control demand signal of the first summation unit is further connected to the second summation unit and to a control allocator which output is then connected to the matrix multiplier to form a feedback loop. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215192 | INTERACTIVE DEVICE FOR LEGACY COCKPIT ENVIRONMENTS - Disclosed is an aircraft computing and display device that includes a general purpose processor, a touch screen display and a housing. The processor executes logical instructions in the form of computer software. The touch screen display forms an interactive human-machine interface by displaying video graphics and accepting user input with a pressure sensitive surface. The housing retains the processor and the touch screen and is physically configured to replace a legacy device mounted in a cockpit instrument panel of the aircraft. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215193 | ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG HAVING FILTER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for filtering information from an electronic flight bag system (EFB) used on a mobile platform, for example, on an aircraft. In one embodiment the system makes use of an EFB having a display with a selection to enable a filter. When the filter is enabled, the user is presented with a plurality of options for limiting retrieved information to only specific types of information or data. This allows one, two or more layers of filtering to be implemented on the information that is searched and obtained from the EFB, and enables a limited subset of information to be obtained that is available for viewing on a display associated with the EFB. The system and method eliminates or significantly reduces the amount of non-relevant information that the crew members are required to review when attempting to obtain specific types of information from the EFB. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215194 | FORMULATION OF A PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE MESSAGE RELATING TO THE FUNCTIONAL DEGRADATIONS OF AN AIRCRAFT - A method of preventive maintenance is disclosed for an aircraft. The aircraft includes components, including items of equipment of the aircraft and/or electronic modules and/or physical links. The lifetime information for the components is known. The aircraft also includes means for monitoring the components, a centralized maintenance system, and means for estimating the life time of the components. The aircraft carries out a set of functions, each being ensured by a chain of components. The method comprises several steps including, a first step of locating the degradations of the items of equipment, a second step making it possible to allocate the located degradations to the various functions of the aircraft, a third step of estimating the lifetime of the functions identified in the second step, and a fourth step of formulating the maintenance message constructed on the basis of the previous steps. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215195 | Terrain Avoidance Method and System For an Aircraft - The invention concerns a terrain avoidance method and system for an aircraft. The system comprises a collision alarm device ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215196 | METHOD AND SYSTEM USED BY AN AIRCRAFT TO FOLLOW A DESCENT TRAJECTORY MATCHED WITH A TIME SCHEDULE - The present invention relates to a method and a system used by an aircraft to follow a descent trajectory matched with a time schedule. The method is characterized in that the speed of the aircraft is servo-controlled to the speed required to comply with the time schedule by adjusting the pitch angle when the aircraft is not below the planned altitude on the trajectory beyond a threshold and by adjusting the engine thrust when the aircraft is below the planned altitude on the trajectory beyond the threshold. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215197 | Method and Device for Detecting a Risk of Collison of an Aircraft with the Surrounding Terrain - The invention concerns a device ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215198 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING TAKEOFF RUNWAY INFORMATION AND PREDICTING END OF RUNWAY OVERRUN - The present invention discloses a method of providing takeoff runway information. The method includes determining an aircraft's position on an airfield by a global positioning system (“GPS”) receiver in the aircraft and retrieving takeoff runway data from a database based on the aircraft's position as determined by the GPS receiver. Apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215199 | VEHICLE-USE DUAL VOLTAGE TYPE POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS - The vehicle-use dual voltage type power supply apparatus including a high voltage power supply system and a low voltage power supply system has a configuration that the target power generation cost is calculated individually for each of the two power supply systems in accordance with SOC as a variable of its own battery, so that the electricity cost reduction type power generation control can be performed individually for each of the two power supply systems. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215200 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HYBRID VEHICLES WITH RECONFIGURABLE MULTI-FUNCTION POWER CONVERTER - A multi-directional power conversion system for providing power to a motor of a hybrid vehicle includes an electric control unit; an electric motor which provides a driving force to the vehicle; a primary energy storage device; and a secondary energy storage device. An energy management system communicates parameters of the energy storage devices to the electronic control unit. A power manipulating device is coupled between the primary energy storage device and the secondary energy storage device that is configured to manage power between the energy sources and deliver electricity external the vehicle. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215201 | Method for Controlling a Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain with Divided Power Flow Paths - A method is disclosed for enhancing reverse driving torque in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain in which an electric motor is used for providing forward driving torque as well as reverse driving torque. An electric generator, functioning as a motor, supplies an added reverse driving torque using a gearset in which the engine provides a reverse driving reaction torque for the gearset. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215202 | Method and System for Guiding a Person to a Location - Method and system for guiding a person to a location includes providing a processor, coupling an operator control such as a user interface to the processor to enable the person to enter a phone number which is provided to the processor, the processor being arranged to determine a physical location associated with the entered phone number, and guiding the person to the physical location associated with the entered phone number as determined by the processor. The method may be implemented in a vehicle context whereby the processor is arranged on a vehicle and the person is guided to the physical location by controlling a steering system, a throttle and/or brakes of the vehicle to automatically guide the vehicle to the physical location. Alternatively, the person may be guided to the physical location by providing audible and/or visual directions to the person operating the vehicle. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215203 | METHOD FOR CREATING SPIRAL SWATHS FOR IRREGULAR FIELD BOUNDARIES - A method for calculating spiral swath paths in an area with irregular boundaries and providing automatic guidance of a vehicle along the calculated spiral swath paths. A baseline swath path is generated, and at least one adjacent swath path is calculated based on the minimum turning radius of the vehicle and associated implement. An algorithm calculates the continuous spiral swath path by monitoring a position data points at the end point of the previous swath path at the starting point of the at least one adjacent swath path, configuring a radius of curvature for each individual swath path determining the radius of curvature for each swath path and joining the individual swath paths into one continuous spiral swath path. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215204 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCED SYNTHETIC VISION AND MULTI-SENSOR DATA FUSION TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES - The invention provides, in some aspects, improved methods, apparatus and systems for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation that utilize multiple data links between a UAV and a control station in order to transmit control and actionable intelligence data. Such methods, apparatus and systems can be used, for example, to monitor a selected environment (e.g., an oil field or other terrain/environment of interest). In a related aspect, such data links comprise satellite communication channels. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215205 | DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A diagnostic device of an internal combustion engine diagnoses a condition of a differential pressure sensor. The sensor in a normal condition detects a differential pressure of an exhaust gas between upstream and downstream sides of a diesel particulate filter disposed in an exhaust system of the engine. The sensor in a fault condition detects no differential pressure of the exhaust gas. The device has a block obtaining a first signal from the sensor when the engine is operated in a low flow rate region of the exhaust gas and obtaining a second signal from the sensor when the engine is operated in a high flow rate region of the exhaust gas. A diagnostic block of the device judges from a difference between levels of the first and second signals whether the sensor is in the normal or fault condition. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215206 | Information communication system, facility-side apparatus and program, user-side apparatus and program, status detecting device and program, updating device and program - An information communication system includes a user-side apparatus that is associated with a user and a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting. The user-side apparatus transmits to the facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user of the user-side apparatus. The user identifying information item is used for identifying an appearance characteristic of the user. The facility-side apparatus outputs the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215207 | Device For Testing Systems, Functions or Components of a Motor Vehicle Independently of a Test-Bench - The invention relates to a motor vehicle that is provided with a device for testing the systems, functions or components of the vehicle. According to the invention, the vehicle is jacked-up and is equipped with an actuator or a driver to operate the brakes of the vehicle. The vehicle propulsion can rotate freely against the load of at least one brake of the vehicle and the freely rotating wheel or wheels have no frictional connection to the tread contact area of the vehicle. The brakes and/or the propulsion load can be controlled by actuators having a controller or by the driver in accordance with specific signals of the operating condition of the drive train of the vehicle. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215208 | System and Method for Interfacing with a Control Network of a Vehicle - According to one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a system adapted for, among others, interfacing with a control network of a vehicle, said system comprising a program for monitoring data available in said control network and adapted to send selected data to a data link of said vehicle; a processor for receiving said selected data from said data link and decoding said selected data into decoded data available for subsequent use. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215209 | Driving-environment setup system, in-vehicle device and program thereof, portable device and program thereof, management device and program thereof - A driving-environment setup system has a plurality of portable devices, each of which transmits a feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices and transmits an environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user. An in-vehicle device of the system detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver's seat and identifies one of the associated users as a driver when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the detected physical feature. The in-vehicle device sets a driving environment for the driver based on the received environment identification information item. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215210 | Anti-Rolling Method and System For a Vehicle and Corresponding Vehicle - An anti-rolling method and system for a vehicle and a corresponding vehicle. The device controlling the roll of a vehicle includes at least one actuator capable of acting on the roll, a module for estimating a state of roll based on a turn angle of front wheels of the vehicle, the anti-rolling torque applied to the vehicle, and speed of the vehicle, and a module for providing a rule of asymptotic rejection of disturbances acting on the roll. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215211 | Arrangement For Triggering a Vehicle Safety Device - An arrangement is provided for triggering a vehicle safety device. A proximity sensor ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215212 | Method For Controlling Driving Functions of a Motor Vehicle - A procedure for controlling the driving functions of a vehicle with a control unit, which analyzes sensor signals measuring particular driving states and uses this information to generate driving instructions or similar. Driving instructions of this kind can be communicated to the driver of the vehicle or passed directly to the systems concerned as control instructions. Because the road gradient or the resulting vehicle inclination significantly influences driving, the procedure includes measuring the inclination of the vehicle, relative to the horizontal, by at least one inclination sensor, transmitting the inclination sensor signals to the control unit and analyzing these inclination sensor signals for the generation of driving instructions or similar, when in inclination-related driving states. Preferably both the longitudinal and the transverse inclination are measured and analyzed. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215213 | Method and Device For Determining the Synchronous Force When Shifting a Twin Clutch Transmission of a Motor Vehicle - A method for determining the synchronous force when shifting a twin clutch transmission of a motor vehicle includes the following steps: preparing a situation table that defines typical shifting situations based on currently active gears, and of at least one operating parameter of the motor vehicle, preparing an assignment table that assigns pre-determined synchronous forces to typical shifting situations, detecting an intention to shift, determining the typical shifting situation corresponding to the respective intention to shift, and establishing the synchronous force, which corresponds to the determined typical shifting situation from the assignment table. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215214 | Control apparatus and control method for vehicular drive apparatus - A control apparatus and a control method for a vehicular drive apparatus that includes a driving power source, and a power transmission device that transmits power from the driving power source to a drive wheel are provided. It is determined that a malfunction occurs in the power transmission device, when a comparison value remains equal to or above a predetermined value for a predetermined period. The comparison value is obtained by making a comparison between an actual value and a theoretical value that relate to a rotational speed of a predetermined rotational member that constitutes at least a part of the vehicular drive apparatus. The predetermined period is set according to an operating state of the power transmission device. Thus, it is possible to reduce the possibility that it is erroneously determined that a malfunction occurs, and to quickly determine that a malfunction occurs. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215215 | Shift-by-wire system - A shift-by-wire system improves responsiveness to a shift command and ensures safety. An electric motor generates a rotational output to be used to switch the ranges of an automatic transmission. A by-wire control circuit unit electrically controls the rotation of the electric motor to comply with an inputted shift command. If a re-shift command is inputted during switching control, the by-wire control circuit unit modifies rotation control. The modification can be implemented until the rotational position of the electric motor reaches a new target rotational position to comply with the re-shift command. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215216 | Method and Control Unit for Damping Load Impacts with an Open Torque Converter Lockup Clutch - A method controls an internal combustion engine in a drive train having a hydraulic torque converter with a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, during a changeover from an overrun mode into a traction mode. In the method, the rotational speeds of the pump wheel and of the turbine wheel are sensed simultaneously and compared with one another, and a deviation of the rotational speed of the pump wheel from the rotational speed of the turbine wheel being determined. If the rotational speed of the turbine wheel is higher than the rotational speed of the pump wheel and the deviation drops below a predefined threshold value, the torque of the internal combustion engine is set in dependence on the deviation and a rate of change of the rotational speed of the pump wheel. Furthermore a control unit is configured to carry out such a method. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215217 | Control and Transmission of Straddle Type Vehicle, and the Same - A control system for an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission of a straddle type vehicle in which an intentional shift down operation is easily made in an AT mode. An MT mode temporarily selecting section makes the gear change mode selecting section select the MT mode temporarily and makes the gear ratio control section change the gear ratio of the transmission to a gear ratio from among a plurality of predetermined gear ratios that is positioned lower than a current gear ratio when a mode change signal is inputted in AT mode. An AT mode returning section returns the gear change mode selected by the gear change mode selecting section to AT mode when a release signal is outputted after MT mode is temporarily selected by the MT mode temporarily selecting section. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215218 | Control Device For Automatic Transmission - ECU executes a program including the step (S | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215219 | Hydraulic Actuating Device for an Automotive Friction Clutch - A hydraulic actuating device ( | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215220 | Method and Device for Control of an Automated Friction Clutch Between an Engine and a Gearbox - A method for controlling and reducing the load on an automated clutch. Based on a variety of parameters, a conclusion based on the load status of the clutch or the friction elements regarding thermal load or wear is obtained. A clutch control module compares the load values, determined in this way, to the associated threshold values. If these threshold values are exceeded, the clutch control module initiates measures for reducing the load on the clutch. The measures do not require action by an operator and are based on action of the clutch controller, the drive motor, and/or the transmission such that the thermal load and/or the wear on the clutch are reduced. A plurality of load values and measures are considered for starting or stopping the vehicle on a gradient via the accelerator and for gear change operations during driving. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215221 | Clutch reference position - A process and device for the currentless referencing of a clutch position in non self-locking clutch actuating systems which are switched without current for a first predetermined, passive period of time or until an actuator standstill occurs, in order to verify a clutch reference position, then the clutch position achieved is determined by first measurement and current is supplied to the clutch actuating system for a predetermined, active period of time, the clutch actuating system being then switched again without current for another predetermined, passive period of time or until an actuator standstill occurs, the clutch position being determined by another measurement; finally the measured clutch position is checked to determine whether it can be verified as a new clutch reference position. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215222 | Braking System - A braking system including a brake, a brake actuator which is operable to apply a force to the brake to effect braking, an automatic braking controller, and a manually operable brake actuator control device, the brake actuator control device including a manually operable control part which is movable between a release position and an apply position and which is adapted such that movement of the control part by a user from the release position to the apply position causes the brake actuator to apply the brake and movement of the control part by a user from the apply position to the release position causes the brake actuator to release the brake, the brake actuator control device being characterised in that it further includes a control actuator which engages with the control part and which is adapted to effect movement of the control part from the release position to the apply position on receipt of an appropriate signal from the automatic braking controller. | 2008-09-04 |
| 20080215223 | BRAKING CONTROL DEVICE OF VEHICLE - In a braking control device which performs braking control to stabilize vehicle behavior, a driving state switching unit changes a driving state of a vehicle. A slip condition detecting unit detects a slip condition of the vehicle. A braking control permission judging unit determines whether actuation of braking control is permitted. The braking control permission judging unit is arranged so that, if the driving state is changed to a direct-connection four-wheel-drive condition by the driving state switching unit, the braking control permission judging unit permits actuation of braking control when the slip condition detected by the slip condition detecting unit exceeds a predetermined slip condition. | 2008-09-04 |
