36th week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 47 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100228320 | Metallic Implant with Reduced Secondary Electron Generation - An implant includes a housing and at least one electronic component. The housing is made of a first material and has an outer surface and an inner surface. The shield is positioned within the housing proximate the inner surface, the shield made of a second material. The second material has an atomic number greater than the atomic number of the first material. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228321 | Systems for Fitting a Cochlear Implant to a Patient - Systems for fitting an implantable cochlear stimulator to a patient include an interface unit configured to display a graphical representation of an implant fitting line as part of a graphical user interface. The implant fitting line has a slope and a horizontal position and represents a mapping relationship between a plurality of audio frequencies and a plurality of stimulation sites within a cochlea of the patient. The interface unit is further configured to facilitate adjustment of the slope and/or horizontal position of the fitting line. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228322 | GLOBAL PARAMETER ADJUSTMENT FOR MULTIPLE STIMULATION PROGRAMS - A user may modify a stimulation parameter in a plurality of stimulation programs with a single adjustment. During stimulation therapy, the user, such as a patient, may desire to change a parameter of the plurality of stimulation programs. The patient may press a single button on an external programmer to make the parameter change, or global adjustment, to all of the plurality of stimulation programs. This global adjustment eliminates the need for the patient to navigate through each of the plurality of stimulation programs separately and adjust the parameter. Additionally, changing the plurality of stimulation programs may be desirable for uniform stimulation therapy between programs used by the patient. The external programmer may calculate an appropriate parameter change for each stimulation program to keep parameter ratios equal between the plurality of stimulation programs. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228323 | REMOTE CONTROL FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A system and method for modifying the parameters of an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device that communicates with a remote control device that, in turn, communicates through the browser of a computer or any other device capable of using mark-up language protocol. The computer optionally communicates with other computers and/or devices through a network. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228324 | Electronic Identification of External Cables for External Medical Devices - Disclosed is an improved external cable box assembly and external trial stimulator (ETS) for use with an implantable medical device. The improved external cable box assembly has memory and logic circuitry embedded in it which allows the cable box to be identified. Associated logic circuitry in the improved ETS allows the ETS to read and write characteristics—such as electronic identifiers or cable addresses—of the external cable box assemblies and to store the values of those characteristics in its memory, associating characteristic values with each of its ports. If the external cable box assemblies become unplugged from the ETS and then are reconnected to incorrect ports on the ETS, logic in the ETS will either alert the patient to swap the port locations of the external stimulation cables, or the ETS will automatically reroute the correct therapy through each port. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228325 | SHORT DURATION PRE-PULSING TO REDUCE STIMULATION-EVOKED SIDE-EFFECTS - A method and neurostimulation system of providing therapy to a patient is provided. At least one electrode is place in contact with tissue of a patient. A sub-threshold, hyperpolarizing, conditioning pre-pulse (e.g., an anodic pulse) is conveyed from the electrode(s) to render a first region of the tissue (e.g., dorsal root fibers) less excitable to stimulation, and a depolarizing stimulation pulse (e.g., a cathodic pulse) is conveyed from the electrode(s) to stimulate a second different region of the tissue (e.g., dorsal column fibers). The conditioning pre-pulse has a relatively short duration (e.g., less than 200 μs). | 2010-09-09 |
20100228326 | HEADS FOR DERMATOLOGY TREATMENT - Methods and apparatus for dermatology treatment are provided which involve the use of continuous wave (CW) radiation, preheating of the treatment volume, precooling, cooling during treatment and post-treatment cooling of the epidermis above the treatment volume, various beam focusing techniques to reduce scattering and/or other techniques for reducing the cost and/or increasing the efficacy of optical radiation for use in hair removal and other dermatological treatments. A number of embodiments are included for achieving the various objectives indicated above. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228327 | PORTABLE THERAPEUTIC INSTRUMENT FOR CORONARY HEART DISEASE - A portable therapeutic instrument for coronary heart disease comprises a main body and a semiconductor laser disposed in the main body. The main body includes an upper housing and a lower housing connected with each other. Finger-fixing sheathes are disposed on the lower housing. The finger-fixing sheathes consist of three upright dividers. Near the bottom of the leading edge of each of the three upright dividers is centrally disposed a laser transmission protruding-hole. A laser light power control circuit, a time control circuit, a charge control circuit, and a display control circuit are disposed in the main body. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228328 | LEAD ELECTRODE MARKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEPLOYMENT - A lead includes a lead body having at least two electrodes and a lead marker. The lead marker corresponds to a size and spacing of each of the at least two electrodes. The spacing between the electrodes and lead marker corresponds to an operative length of a first lead introducer configured to be used with the lead. Lead systems that include one or more lead introducers and kits including the same are also disclosed. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228329 | NOVEL MEDICAL ELECTRODE MOUNTING - A medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes an insulative carrier and at least one conductive component. The at least one conductive component includes an electrode portion disposed on a first side of the carrier and at least one tab extending away from the electrode portion, through the carrier to a second side of the carrier. The electrode portion of the at least one component includes an outward facing contact surface and an inward facing surface, the inward facing surface being disposed opposite the contact surface and against a surface of the first side of the carrier. The electrode assembly further includes a joint coupling a flexible elongate conductor to the tab of the at least one component on the second side of the carrier, and an insulative layer extending over the joint and the tab and the conductor, the insulative layer being bonded to the second side of the carrier. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228330 | LEAD CONFIGURED FOR HISIAN, PARA-HISIAN, RV SEPTUM AND RV OUTFLOW TRACT PACING - Disclosed herein is an implantable medical lead for implantation within a right ventricle of a heart and powered by an implantable pulse generator. The lead includes a lead body having a proximal end configured to couple to the generator, a distal end, an electrode at the distal end, and a distal portion extending proximally from the distal end. When the distal portion is in a non-deflected state, the distal portion biases to assume a configuration including first, second and third generally straight segments and first and second bends. The first segment is proximal of the distal end, the second segment is proximal of the first segment, the third segment is proximal of the second segment, the first bend is between the first and second segments, and the second bend is between the second and third segments. When the distal portion is implanted in the right ventricle, the configuration is at least partially the cause of the electrode being at least one of: positioned against the right ventricle septum; positioned in the outflow tract of the right ventricle; positioned for Hisian pacing; and positioned for para-Hisian pacing. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228331 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL LEAD HAVING A BODY WITH HELICAL CABLE CONDUCTOR CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - Disclosed herein is an implantable medical lead. The lead may include a longitudinally extending body having a distal end, a proximal end, a helical core assembly extending between the distal and proximal ends, and an outer jacket about the helical core assembly. The helical core assembly may have at least one helical ridge. In some instances, the at least one helical ridge may be at least two helical ridges and the helical core may further include least two helical troughs. In some such cases, the at least two helical ridges may define the at least two helical troughs. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228332 | CASE FOR DEFIBRILLATOR ELECTRODE PADS AND RELEASE LINER - A case for defibrillator electrode pads on a release liner is described which protects the pads prior to use and retains them in either an electrically connected or electrically disconnected configuration. When the case is closed, spring contacts on opposite sides of the inside of the case retain the pads and release liner in place. The retention either holds electrical conductors in contact with each other to retain the pads in electrical connection with each other, or in a different configuration in which the pads are not electrically connected. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228333 | Drug eluting surface covering - A thin-walled sheath is placed over a balloon having an antirestenotic drug placed on the balloon of a balloon dilatation catheter. The sheath protects the drug from dissolution into the blood and allows improved delivery to the lesion site. A rolling action of the sheath prevents the drug from loss due to shearing motion. The sheath can also provide a protected surface for carrying the drug and providing exposure to the lesion site for delivery of the drug. The sheath can also serve as a delivery sheath for providing delivery of a stent via a single catheter introduction for drug delivery and stent delivery. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228334 | Medical Devices and Method for Making the Same - Medical devices, such as stents, and methods of the devices are described. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228335 | STENTS MODIFIED WITH MATERIAL COMPRISING AMNION TISSUE AND CORRESPONDING PROCESSES - A stent scaffold combined with amniotic tissue provides for a biocompatible stent that has improved biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The amnion tissue can be variously modified or unmodified form of amnion tissue such as non-cryo amnion tissue, solubilized amnion tissue, amnion tissue fabric, chemically modified amnion tissue, amnion tissue treated with radiation, amnion tissue treated with heat, or a combination thereof. Materials such as polymer, placental tissue, pericardium tissue, small intestine submucosa can be used in combination with the amnion tissue. The amnion tissue can be attached to the inside, the outside, both inside and outside, or complete encapsulation of the stent scaffold. In some embodiments, at least part of the covering or lining comprises a plurality of layers of amnion tissue. The method of making the biocompatible stent and its delivery and deployment are also discussed. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228336 | MEDICAL DEVICES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - Medical devices, such as stents, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a medical device includes an alloy having tantalum, tungsten, zirconium and niobium. For example, the alloy can include from about 20% to about 40% by weight of tantalum, from about 0.5% to about 9% by weight of tungsten, and from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of zirconium. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228337 | MIRROR IMAGE STENT AND METHOD OF USE - that at least a proximal end ring in combination with its associated links is the mirror image of a distal end ring and its associated links. The rings that form the proximal end and the rings that form the distal end have a radial stiffness associated therewith, and said stiffness is greater than a stiffness of the rings that form the interior portion of the stent. The dual stiffness of the stent leads to a more uniform expansion in the presence of uneven radial forces on the stent during the expansion process. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228338 | STENTS WITH TAPERED STRUTS - A stent may include a stent body having a stent axis. The stent body may include structural members defining openings through the stent body. The structural members are provided with regions having different widths. The relative sizes of the widths are selected to control the length of the stent body as the stent body is radially expanded from an undeployed orientation to a deployed orientation. In one embodiment, the regions having different widths are provided by tapering the widths of selected segments of the structural member. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228339 | 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. Loops in the stent are disposed and adapted to cooperate, so that after expansion of said stent within a curved lumen, the stent is curved and cells on the outside of the curve open in length, but narrow in width, whereas cells on the inside of the curve shorten in length, but thicken in width to maintain a density of the stent element area which is much more constant than otherwise between the inside and outside of the curve. The stent also minimizes flaring out by eliminating free loops of the radially supporting circumferential bands of loops. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228340 | STENT AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A STENT - A method for determining the position of a stent within a body, comprising the steps of: providing a 3D dataset of voxels representing a 3D image containing the stent;
| 2010-09-09 |
20100228341 | ENDOPROSTHESES - A hydrophilic ceramic coating is formed on an endoprosthesis preform. The hydrophilic ceramic coating is porous and can store nano-sized drug particles. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228342 | Laminated Drug-Polymer Coated Stent with Dipped and Cured Layers - The present invention provides a method of applying a drug-polymer coating on a stent. A stent framework is dipped into a first polymeric solution including a first polymer, a first therapeutic agent, and a first solvent. The polymeric solution is dried and the first polymer is cured to form a thin drug-polymer layer on the stent framework. The steps of dipping the stent framework into the first polymeric solution, drying the first polymeric solution, and curing the first polymer are repeated until a target drug-polymer coating thickness is disposed on the stent framework. A drug-polymer coated stent including a stent framework and a laminated drug-polymer coated stent, a system for treating a vascular condition, and a method of treating a vascular condition are also disclosed. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228343 | PHASE-SEPARATED BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYMER COMPOSITIONS FOR MEDICAL USES - A variety of phase-separated biocompatible polymer compositions are described. In preferred embodiments the polymers are bioresorbable and/or biodegradable, and have desirable mechanical properties, such as fracture and/or fatigue toughness, that have previously not been a primary design criteria for such polymers. The polymer compositions are useful in a variety of medical applications, such as in the fabrication of medical devices. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228344 | Accommodating Intraocular Lens - A deformable intracapsular implant device for shaping an enucleated lens capsule sac for use in cataract procedures and refractive lensectomy procedures. In one embodiment, the intraocular implant devices rely on thin film shape memory alloys and combine with the post-phaco capsular sac to provide a biomimetic complex that can mimic the energy-absorbing and energy-releasing characteristics of a young accommodative lens capsule. In another embodiment, the capsular shaping body is combined with an adaptive optic. The peripheral capsular shaping body carries at least one fluid-filled interior chamber that communicates with a space in a adaptive optic portion that has a deformable lens surface. The flexing of the peripheral shaping body in response to zonular tensioning and de-tensioning provides an inventive adaptive optics mechanism wherein fluid media flows between the respective chambers “adapts” the optic to increase and decrease the power thereof. In one embodiment, the capsular shaping body carries a posterior negative power adaptive optic that can be altered in power during accommodation to cooperate with an independent drop-in exchangeable intraocular lens. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228345 | SYSTEM FOR FORMING AND MODIFYING LENSES AND LENSES FORMED THEREBY - A lens for placement in a human eye, such as intraocular lens, has at least some of its optical properties formed with a laser. The laser forms modified loci in the lens when the modified loci have a different refractive index than the refractive index of the material before modification. Different patterns of modified loci can provide selected dioptic power, toric adjustment, and/or aspheric adjustment provided. Preferably both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the lens are planar for ease of placement in the human eye. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228346 | Accommodating Intraocular Lens - An accommodating intraocular lens is provided that having optical parameters that are altered in-situ using forces applied by the ciliary muscles, in which a lens body carries an actuator separating two fluid-filled chambers having either the same index of diffraction or different indices of refraction, actuation of the actuator changing the relative volumes of fluid within an optic element of the lens and altering the optical power of the lens. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228347 | FLUSH PATCH FOR ELASTOMERIC IMPLANT SHELL - An elastomeric fluid-filled prosthetic implant having a shell and a patch providing a reinforced access region on the shell for introduction of manufacturing implements, such as a gel-filling tool. The shell may cover the entire inner face of the patch, or a substantial part thereof, and a peripheral edge of the patch and the shell cooperate to form a flush interface with no sudden surface steps on both interior and exterior surfaces of the implant. The removal of any surface steps eliminates undesirable tactile discontinuities and stress points that may cause the shell wall to wear or may irritate the surrounding tissues. The prosthetic implant may be a breast implant formed of a silicone elastomer. The patch may be the same material or a liquid silicone rubber, but at least has similar material properties such as elastic modulus, durometer and elongation. The patch may include a channel, such as a self-sealing channel, used for introducing silicone to the mold to form the shell, for venting the mold cavity during the mold process, and/or for introducing the silicone gel into the hollow prosthesis. The patch may be combined with a fluid fill valve for manually adjusting the amount of a fluid such as saline within the shell after the mold process. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228348 | Polymer Films for Medical Device Coating - A method for depositing a coating comprising a polymer and impermeable dispersed solid on a substrate, comprising the following steps: discharging at least one impermeable dispersed solid in dry powder form through a first orifice; discharging at least one polymer in dry powder form through a second orifice; depositing the polymer and/or impermeable dispersed solid particles onto said substrate, wherein an electrical potential is maintained between the substrate and the impermeable dispersed solid and/or polymer particles, thereby forming said coating; and sintering said coating under conditions that do not disrupt the activity and/or function of the substrate. A similar method is provided for depositing a coating comprising a hydrophobic polymer and a water-vapor-trapping material on a substrate. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228349 | BULKING OF UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER FOR TREATMENT OF OBESITY - A method for treatment of obesity involves implantation of bulking devices within the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) to inhibit swallowing, thereby limiting food intake and treating obesity. One or more bulking devices are implanted within or near the UES to create a partial obstruction, partially impair UES muscle function, or both. The bulking devices make swallowing difficult, limiting the rate of food intake by a patient, and discouraging the patient from quickly consuming an excessive amount of food at one time. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228350 | SPINAL NUCLEUS REPLACEMENT IMPLANTS - An intervertebral prosthesis implantable within a disc space and disposed between upper and lower vertebral endplates is provided. The prosthesis comprises a plurality of prosthesis components insertable into the disc space, wherein the components have at least one set of complementarily-shaped and sized surfaces, and wherein the at least one set of complementarily-shaped surfaces comprises a slot, and a rod that fits in the slot. A method of implanting an intervertebral prosthesis according to the present invention also is provided. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228351 | Transforaminal Prosthetic Spinal Disc Replacement - An intervertebral implant includes a first endplate having a first surface configured to substantially engage with a first vertebral body and a second surface having an extension with a concave contact surface, the concave contact surface being spaced apart from the second surface. The implant further includes a second endplate having a first surface configured to substantially engage with a second vertebral body and a second surface comprising a convex contact surface, and the second endplate having first and second side rails positioned along and above the second surface defining a first and second arcuate slots on opposing sides of the second surface. A plate connecting the first and second endplates is also provided. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228352 | GLENOID IMPLANT ANCHOR POST - A prosthesis that mechanically couples with both cancellous bone and cortical bone of a glenoid includes a head portion comprising a rear surface and an articular surface, an anchor member, and a plurality of deformable fins extending radially outward from the anchor member. The anchor member includes a distal end and a proximal end connected to the rear surface of the head portion. The plurality of deformable fins extend radially outward from the anchor member and includes at least a first proximal fin adjacent to the rear surface of the head portion positioned to engage with the cortical bone. The anchor member may also include at least one distal fin located proximate the distal end of the anchor member positioned to engage with the cancellous bone. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228353 | CATHETER DELIVERABLE FOOT IMPLANT AND METHOD OF DELIVERING THE SAME - Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating alignment of the foot to treat patients with flat feet, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and metatarsophalangeal joint dysfunction. An enlargeable implant is positioned in or about the sinus tarsi and/or first metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the foot. The implant is insertable by minimally invasive means and enlarged through a catheter or needle. Enlargement of the implant alters the range of motion in the subtalar or first metatarsal-phalangeal joint and changes the alignment of the foot or toe. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228354 | Hip prosthesis with monoblock ceramic acetabular cup - An improved hip prosthesis includes an acetabular cup bearing component constructed from a relatively hard and high strength ceramic material for articulation with a ball-shaped femoral head component which may be constructed from a compatible ceramic or metal material. In one form, the acetabular cup further includes a ceramic porous bone ingrowth surface adhered thereto for secure ingrowth attachment to natural patient bone. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228355 | HIP SOCKET WITH ASSEMBLEABLE MALE BALL SHAPE HAVING INTEGRALLY FORMED LIGAMENT AND FEMALE RECEIVER AND INSTALLATION KIT - A hip implant assembly including a spherical shaped ball and an elongated stem. An annular defining rim separates the ball from the stem and abuts, in a maximum inserting condition, over an exterior reconditioned surface of the femur and upon inserting the stem within an interior passageway formed within the femur. A cup shaped support seats the ball in a universally articulating permitting fashion via a flexible and resilient ligament which extends from the ball and is received within a recess passageway of the cup. The cup also includes a mounting surface with a central projecting portion which is in turn resistively fitted within an undercut defined recess formed in the ilium bone in communication with a base surface of the reconditioned acetabulum socket. A corresponding installation kit assists the preparation of the femur and ilium bones defining the hip joint, as well as the installation of the implant body into the upper conditioned femur end and the cup shaped and outer socket support to a reconditioned acetabulum defined in the ilium bone. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228356 | ORTHOPAEDIC IMPLANTS AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME - Orthopaedic implants, orthopaedic implant sets, and/or methods for making the same. Aspects and embodiments of the present invention may include orthopaedic implants having an elongated insertion region including proximal, distal, and transition portions, wherein at least portions of at least one face each of the proximal and transition portions are defined by spaced apart constant radii of curvature. The same or other aspects and embodiments may include sets of orthopaedic implants in which proximal portions of the implants grow at different rates than distal portions of the implants. The same or other aspects and embodiments may include methods for making implants and/or sets of implants by studying the geometries of differently sized bony anatomies. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228357 | GROWING PROSTHESIS - A growing prosthesis comprising a joint replacement part, a prosthesis stem, a stem-anchoring element, and an element with corresponding drive provided for the lengthening of the growing prosthesis. The element provided for the lengthening of the growing prosthesis is a spindle element arranged in the stem-anchoring element. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228358 | BONE FILLING CEMENT - The present invention relates to an injectable bone cement for filling bones with mechanical properties equivalent to those of vertebral spongy bone comprising 70 to 99 wt. % of an acrylic polymer combined with an inorganic type radiopaque compound and 1 to 30 wt. % of calibrated hydrophilic flexible solid particles, said calibrated hydrophilic flexible solid particles being chosen from gelatin, poly(glycerol sebacate) or a mixture thereof. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228359 | IMPLANT OF CROSS-LINKED SPIDER SILK THREADS - The present invention provides the use of spider silk threads for the production of tissue implants for medical use. A scaffolding matrix is provided for implantation, which matrix is comprised of spider silk thread and/or segments of spider silk threads which are cross-linked. The cross-linked spider silk thread segments essentially maintain a three-dimensional shape into which it is formed by pressing between moulds. The three-dimensional shape obtainable by moulding is sufficiently stable to be used as an implant or for colonizing by mammalian cells while essentially maintaining the three-dimensional shape. In a further embodiment, the scaffolding matrix of cross-linked spider silk segments is at least partially covered by cells autologous or heterologous to the implant recipient. The matrix colonized with cells is obtainable by in vitro cultivation of isolated cells in suspension with the scaffolding matrix. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228360 | CONTROL OF A PASSIVE PROSTHETIC KNEE JOINT WITH ADJUSTABLE DAMPING - The invention relates to the control of a passive prosthetic knee joint with adjustable damping in the direction of flexion such that a prosthetic unit attached to the knee joint can be adapted for climbing stairs. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228361 | FLEXIBLE PRONG ADAPTOR FOR STUMP SOCKET FOR PROSTHETICS - A socket adaptor for use in creating a laminated stump socket for attaching a prosthetic limb to a patient having a stump. It includes a separate main body and a plurality of flexible prongs that are permanently affixed to the main body. The main body is formed of relatively rigid and inflexible metal. The prongs are made of flexible sheet metal that can be repeatedly bent without weakening or breaking. Each prong is bendable by hand from a first position wherein the prong is substantially flat and extends radially outward in a plane from a base of the main body to a second position wherein the prong are conformed to fit to a stump socket. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228362 | TREMOR STABILIZING SYSTEM FOR HANDHELD DEVICES - A handheld device for canceling unintentional muscle movement. The device includes a base comprising a handgrip for a user to hold, a gripping element linked to the base for releasably connecting the handheld device to an object, a sensor that detects movement of the base, a controller linked to the sensor, and at least one actuator that operates under control of the controller to cause movement of the gripping element in a direction that at least partially counteracts the detected movement of the base. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228363 | ANALYTICAL SERVER INTEGRATED IN A PROCESS CONTROL NETWORK - A process control system integrates the collection and analysis of process control data used to perform certain computationally expensive process control functions, like adaptive model generation and tuning parameter generation, in the same control device in which one or more of the process control routines are implemented, to thereby provide for faster and more efficient support of the process control routines. This system replaces a layered approach using multiple processing devices by integrating an analytical server which performs computationally expensive analyses used by one or more control routines directly into the real-time control device in which the one or more control routines are located. This integration provides the ability to analyze large quantities of data for multiple process loops controlled by a particular device in a fast and efficient manner. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228364 | PLANT INFORMATION MANAGING DEVICE AND PLANT INFORMATION MANAGING METHOD - Terminal devices | 2010-09-09 |
20100228365 | METHOD FOR CREATING REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICATIONS FOR PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR POWER PLANT INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGY - A method for supporting the creation of a requirements description for a process control system for power plant instrumentation and control technology is provided. To create a technically clear requirements description for a process control system for power plant technology, a textually formulated requirements description is checked for the observance of previously specified formulation rules directed at the design of the process control and, technically ambiguous passages of text according to the formulation rules are output for revision. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228366 | System And Method For Analyzing Golfer Driving Accuracy - In a method for analyzing the driving accuracy of a golfer, the number of fairway hits and the severity level of the number of fairway misses is adjusted based on a course rating and slope rating of the current and average courses in a database. An adjusted total stroke cost is applied to a driving accuracy handicap lookup table to produce a driving accuracy handicap. This handicap is graphically displayed to the user by itself, or compared to the driving accuracy handicap of users of the same or similar skill level. Finally, a hole-by-hole analysis can be graphically displayed to give a graphic representation of where the golfer needs improvement. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228367 | DATA CARD FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM AND RELATED COMPUTER SYSTEM - A data card for a computer system capable of providing a loudspeaker mode for a mobile phone call is disclosed. The data card includes an antenna, an RF module, a first signal processing unit for processing a baseband signal for generating a first analog audio output signal corresponding to audio data played by a speaker when the computer system operates in the loudspeaker mode, a second signal processing unit, a transmission interface for outputting a first digital audio output signal corresponding to the audio data to the computer system, wherein the first digital audio output signal is generated according to the first analog audio output signal through an encoding process, a microphone device, and an audio codec for performing the encoding process on the first analog audio output signal in order to generate the first digital audio output signal. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228368 | APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AN AUDIO SIGNAL AND METHOD THEREOF - A method of processing an audio signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving, by an audio processing apparatus, an input signal; extracting a low frequency signal, a mid frequency signal and a high frequency signal from the input signal; obtaining at least one of a low-band gain and a harmonic control factor, based on a loudspeaker characteristic; obtaining mid-band gain based on the loudspeaker characteristic; generating a modified low frequency signal by applying the low-band gain to the low frequency signal; when the harmonic control factor is obtained, generating a harmonic signal from the modified low frequency signal using the harmonic control factor, generating a modified mid frequency signal by applying the mid-band gain to the mid frequency signal; and, generating a mixed signal by mixing the modified mid frequency signal, the high frequency signal, and at least one of the modified low frequency signal and the harmonic signal. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228369 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SUPPORT GENERATION FOR AN OBJECT MADE BY MEANS OF A RAPID PROTOTYPE PRODUCTION METHOD - The present invention is directed to an improved method for supporting an object made by means of stereo lithography or any other rapid prototype production method. The generation of the support begins by determining the region that requires support in each layer of the object and defines a number of support points in this region. In a next step, a support mesh is generated connected to the object using these support points. The present invention also discloses different techniques that reduce superfluous edges to further optimize the support mesh. Finally, a support is generated from this support mesh. The present invention may facilitate the generation of supports data by employing more automation and less user analysis. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228370 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TUNING ADVANCED PROCESS CONTROL PARAMETERS - A method of advanced process control (APC) for semiconductor fabrication is provided. The method includes providing a present wafer to be processed by a semiconductor processing tool, providing first data of previous wafers that have been processed by the semiconductor processing tool, decoupling noise from the first data to generate second data, evaluating an APC performance based on proximity of the second data to a target data, determining a control parameter based on the APC performance, and controlling the semiconductor processing tool with the control parameter to process the present wafer. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228371 | SUBSTRATE POSITIONING DEVICE AND SUBSTRATE POSITIONING METHOD - It is intended to achieve a high level of positioning accuracy for a substrate assuming a two-layer structure constituted with a transparent layer with a high level of light transmissivity and a nontransparent layer with a low level of light transmissivity. A substrate positioning device according to the present invention characterized in that only the edge of the nontransparent layer, not the edge of the transparent layer, is exclusively detected and the substrate is positioned based upon the detection results. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228372 | PER-STATION START TIME CONSTRAINT - A per-station start time scheduler identifies a station that is unavailable to perform a task over a time interval. The scheduler identifies a plurality of stations and a start time of a task. The scheduler monitors each of the plurality of stations using a station time constraint corresponding to the task. Upon detecting that a station is unavailable to perform a task over a time interval, the scheduler sends a notification specifying the station that is unavailable to perform the task. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228373 | VERSION CONTROL FOR OBJECTS IN A PROCESS PLANT CONFIGURATION SYSTEM - A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228374 | SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus and a method for processing semiconductor substrates are provided. The method may include providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface and a plurality of features on the surface, each feature being positioned on the surface at a first respective point in a first coordinate system, plotting the position of each feature at a second respective point in a second coordinate system; and generating a translation between the first and the second coordinate systems. The generating of the translation may include calculating an offset between the first and the second coordinate systems. The calculating of the offset may include calculating an offset distance between a reference point of the first coordinate system and a reference point of the second coordinate system and calculating an offset angle between an axis of the first coordinate system and an axis of the second coordinate system. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228375 | DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PREPARING AN OPHTHALMIC LENS FOR MACHINING - A preparation device ( | 2010-09-09 |
20100228376 | USE OF PREDICTION DATA IN MONITORING ACTUAL PRODUCTION TARGETS - A method and system for the use of prediction data in monitoring actual production targets is described herein. In one embodiment, a process is provided to receive data from a plurality of source systems in a manufacturing facility and generate a prediction pertaining to a future state of the manufacturing facility based on the data received from the plurality of source systems. A recent state of the manufacturing facility is determined based on the data received from the plurality of source systems and a comparison between the recent state and the prediction is facilitated. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228377 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE QUALITY OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES, IN PARTICULAR LASER-WELDING PROCESSES - A system and a method for controlling the quality of an industrial process, of the type that comprises the steps of: providing one or more reference signals for the industrial process; acquiring one or more real signals that are indicative of the quality of said industrial process; and comparing said one or more reference signals with said one or more real signals in order to identify defects in said industrial process. According to the invention, the method moreover comprises the operations of: obtaining a transformed signal from said reference signal; obtaining a transformed signal from said real signal; and calculating energies of said transformed reference signal and said real signal, respectively, said comparison operation comprising; comparing with one another said energies of said transformed reference signal and said transformed real signal, respectively, in order to extract corresponding time-frequency distribution for selected frequency values; calculating energies of said time-frequency distributions; and comparing the energies of said time-frequency distributions with threshold values in order to identify energy values associated to defects. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228378 | STOCKER APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A stocker apparatus includes openers for receiving FOUPs acting as containers each for storing a plurality of substrates, to feed and collect the substrates to/from a substrate treating apparatus main body, a transport mechanism for holding and transporting the FOUPs, and racks arranged above the openers for receiving the FOUPs. The racks include an incoming rack for receiving the FOUPs from an external transport device, an outgoing rack for delivering the FOUPs to the external transport device, and a mid-treatment storage rack for keeping an empty FOUP after the substrates are fed therefrom. The openers include a feed-only opener for feeding the substrates, and a collect-only opener for collecting the substrates. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228379 | Exposure mask manufacturing method, drawing apparatus, semiconductor device manufacturing method, and mask blanks product - A method of manufacturing an exposure mask includes generating or preparing flatness variation data relating to a mask blanks substrate to be processed into an exposure mask, the flatness variation data being data relating to change of flatness of the mask blank substrate caused when the mask blank substrate is chucked by a chuck unit of an exposure apparatus, generating position correction, data of a pattern to be drawn on the mask blanks substrate based on the flatness variation data such that a mask pattern of the exposure mask comes to a predetermined position in a state that the exposure mask is chucked by the chuck unit, and drawing a pattern on the mask blanks substrate, the drawing the pattern including drawing the pattern with correcting a drawing position of the pattern and inputting drawing data corresponding to the pattern and the position correction data into a drawing apparatus. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228380 | METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING THE CUTTING PATTERN FOR PIECES OF WOOD SUCH AS LOGS - A method for identifying the cutting pattern for pieces of wood such as logs comprises the following operating steps:
| 2010-09-09 |
20100228381 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELING APPARATUS AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT - A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a stage, a supply mechanism, a head, a movement mechanism, and a lifting and lowering mechanism. On the stage, a powder material is accumulated. The supply mechanism supplies the powder material on the stage for each predetermined layer thickness. The head ejects a liquid for forming a three-dimensional object to the powder material on the stage. The liquid is capable of binding the powder material. The movement mechanism moves the stage so that the liquid is supplied from the head to the powder material by the predetermined layer thickness. The lifting and lowering mechanism lowers the stage for each predetermined layer thickness. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228382 | IN-LINE WAFER MEASUREMENT DATA COMPENSATION METHOD - An in-line wafer measurement data compensation method is presented, and the steps of the method includes: acquire a pre-wafer measurement data, a current wafer measurement data, and a current offset; establish an auto regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and an exponential weighted integrated moving average (EWIMA) model, and input the pre-wafer measurement data, the current wafer measurement data, and the current offset to the ARIMA model and the EWIMA model; then get outputs of the ARIMA model and EWIMA model, wherein the outputs are wafer estimation data. Thereby, the semiconductor manufacturer could reduce the sampling time of an in-line measurement and still maintain an acceptable production performance and maintain control process stability. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228383 | Embroidery data generating apparatus and computer-readable medium storing embroidery data generating program - The embroidery data generating apparatus includes a data acquisition device that acquires target data and reference data from a plurality of image data, a feature point extraction device that respectively extracts a feature point from the target data and the reference data, a displacement vector identification device that identifies a displacement vector based on the feature point of the target data and the feature point of the reference data, a parameter setting device that sets embroidery parameters based on the displacement vector, and an embroidery data generating device that refers to the embroidery parameters and generates embroidery data. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228384 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING TRANSFORMED CONTROL DATA FOR CONTROLLING A TOOL ON A MACHINE TOOL - The invention relates to a method and a device for generating transformed control data for controlling a tool on a machine tool for machining a workpiece clamped in a clamping means of the machine tool, including the steps of: (1) determining control data indicating which first tool path is to be traveled by the tool of the machine tool with which first tool orientation for machining the clamped workpiece if the workpiece is clamped in the clamping means in accordance with a clamping situation target state means; (2) detecting a clamping situation current state; (3) detecting a clamping situation deviation between the clamping situation current state and the clamping situation target state; and (4) generating transformed control data by executing a transformation of a part of the determined control data in dependence of the detected clamping situation deviation. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228385 | System, method and operating unit for forming mixed layers for pallets | 2010-09-09 |
20100228386 | Method and System for Enabling Automated Receiving and Retrieving of Cargo for Storing Purposes - The invention relates to a system of enabling automated receiving/retrieving of stocks of cargo for storing purposes. The system uses at least one service level and one or more storage levels. The service level is operated and organized in such a way that it is able to receive, interchange cargo, and extract cargo simultaneously and batch way. The system is redundant and allows continued operation even if some of its components malfunction. The service area comprising (a) a plurality of pallets for conveying said cargo; (b) a matrix of blocks of predetermined shape upon which said cargo and said pallets located; (c) at least one elevator block for transporting said pallet to different areas of said system; (d) at least one box; (e) at least two buffer for allowing transport of said pallets in at least two orthogonal directions in each of said areas. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228387 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS SORTING OPERATION IN A MULTIPLE SORTER ENVIRONMENT - The present application relates to a system and method for sorting mailpieces prior to their delivery to the postal authority. The system and method allow for the running of different first pass sort schemes on multiple sorters in a sorting facility without stopping operations for no-count mode, without losing mailpiece tracking, or waiting for all first pass sorting to complete before re-running the mail that was not sorted to the finest depth of sorting. With the present application, mailpieces that can be run a second time can be run concurrently during first pass without the high risk no-count mode or loss of data integrity. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228388 | WORKPIECE PICKUP APPARATUS AND WORKPIECE PICKUP METHOD - A workpiece pickup apparatus is provided. The workpiece pickup apparatus includes: a gripping unit which sucks a workpiece so as to lift up the workpiece; a lowering unit which lowers the gripping unit from a waiting position towards the workpiece; a detecting unit which detects a physical amount which corresponds to a force with which the gripping unit presses the workpiece; a comparison unit which compares the detected physical amount with a reference physical amount; and a controller which controls a movement of the gripping unit based on a comparison result of the detected physical amount and the reference physical amount. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228389 | TRAVEL CONTROL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR TRAVELING VEHICLES - A ground controller and traveling vehicles are connected to a communication system on the ground. Position instructions are given to the traveling vehicles in each position control cycle. The traveling vehicles generate a plurality of velocity instructions and torque instructions by themselves to carry out the position instructions. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228390 | System and method for auto-machine menu configuration - A system and method for providing a satellite vend operation. A first (parent) vending machine is operable to dispense a product from a product storage display area located in a second (child) vending machine. The first (parent) vending machine can control or interact with the functions of the second (child) vending machine. A programming menu on the first (parent) vending machine is automatically configured for a satellite vend operation when the first (parent) vending machine pairs with the second (child) vending machine. An operator is provided, in the programming menu located on the parent vending machine, relevant information associated with the child vending machine and relevant information associated with the parent vending machine. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228391 | System and method for inter-machine combination discount vend - A system and method for providing a combination vend operation. The system and method include a first (parent) vending machine operable to discount a product when an associated product is selected. The combination vend operation may be performed when the discounted product and the associated product are in different vending machines. The same of first (parent) vending machine directs a second (child) vending machine to dispense the discounted product during the combo vend operation. A consumer may purchase the discounted product at the discounted price after or while purchasing the associated product. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228392 | Medication Storage And Dispensing Unit Having A Vial Dispenser - A medication storage and dispensing unit is provided which includes a support platform and a vial dispenser supported by the support platform. The vial dispenser may include a chute configured to store a plurality of vials of medication and a gate configured to be alternately positioned in a closed position in which the vials remain within the chute and an open position in which a vial is dispensed from the chute. The medication storage and dispensing unit may be computer controlled so as to include a computing device configured to receive user input regarding dispensation of a vial. The computing device may be further configured to actuate the gate to thereby permit the gate to move to the open position such that the vial is dispensed from the chute. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228393 | Neuronal network structure and method to operate a neuronal network structure - A neuronal network structure including a plurality of automata interconnected one with each other through synaptic links forming a connectivity matrix. The neural network structure acts as a machine that can be operated such that the machine shows different behaviours including periodic and non-periodic patterns, multistable patterns and more complex patterns such as spirals. A method to operate a neuronal network structure. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228394 | MOBILE ROBOT AND CONTROLLING METHOD OF THE SAME - Disclosed is a mobile robot and a controlling method of the same. An entire movement region is divided into a plurality of regions, and a partial map is gradually made by using feature points of a plurality of images of the divided regions. Then, the map is compensated into a closed curved line, thereby making an entire map. Furthermore, when the mobile robot is positioned at a boundary of neighboring regions of the cleaning region, the boundary where a closed curved line is formed, the mobile robot compensates for its position based on a matching result between feature points included in the map, and feature points extracted from images captured during a cleaning process. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228395 | TOUCH SENSITIVE ROBOT - A touch sensitive robot includes a body having a control panel, a touch sensor, a driver, and a controller. The touch sensor includes a first conductive belt, a second conductive belt, a power source, and a current sensor. The first conductive belt is wrapped on the body. The second conductive belt is wrapped around but spaced away from the first conductive belt. The power source and the current sensor are connected in series between the first conductive belt and the second conductive belt to form a closed circuit when a point of the second conductive belt is touched to contact the first conductive belt. The current sensor is for measuring the flow of the electrical current of the close loop. The controller is for controlling the driver to turn the body based upon the measurement of the current sensor to orient the control panel to the touch point. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228396 | Inverse kinematics - A real-time method for controlling a system, the system including a plurality of controlling means each having at least one variable parameter (q) and a controlled element having a trajectory which is controlled by the controlling means, wherein the trajectory is related to the variable parameters by a variable matrix, the method comprising defining a control transfer matrix (K) relating the variable parameters dq to the trajectory dx, and using a feedback loop in which a feedback term is computed that is dependent on an error (e) which is the difference between the desired trajectory (dxd) which can have an arbitrary dimension specified as (m) and a current trajectory (dx). | 2010-09-09 |
20100228397 | Apparatus for the operation of a robot - The invention relates to an apparatus for the operation of a robot having a product gripper which is designed to represent at least one approach position of the product gripper for the picking up and/or placing down of a product, in particular of a food product, as a graphical element on a display device. The apparatus is designed so that the respective graphical element can be directly displaced on the display device for the setting of the coordinates of the respective approach position, with the coordinates of the respective approach position being changed automatically in response to such a displacement of the graphical element in accordance with the displacement. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228398 | System and method for remotely monitoring and controlling pump jacks - A simplified system and method for remotely monitoring and optionally further controlling pumpjack operating parameters of a pumpjack located at a distant site but within wireless cell phone station reception. Sensors situated on a pumpjack monitor and create analog output of operational conditions of the pumpjack. Digitizing means digitize the analog output of the sensors to digital data, and modem means transmit the digital data via a wireless cellular network to a network server. A user's computer communicates with the network server via the internet, and accesses the digital data to obtain information regarding the operational conditions of the pumpjack. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228399 | PRESSURE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY AND SYSTEM FOR THE CONTROLLED STORAGE AND DISPENSING OF A FLUID - A pressure regulator assembly includes an integrated body. The integrated body has an inlet for connecting to a gas cylinder, a bore extending from the inlet to a pressure regulator, a passage extending from the pressure regulator to an outlet, and a fill port in communication with the bore. The pressure regulator assembly includes the pressure regulator operable to reduce pressure of a fluid flowing therethrough between the bore and the passage to a sub-atmospheric pressure; and an isolation valve operable between an open position and a closed position. The isolation valve is operable to seal the passage from the outlet in the closed position and to provide fluid communication between the outlet and the passage in the open position. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228400 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPENSING OIL AND FUEL ADDITIVES - An engine system includes a concentration determination module and an additive dispensing module. The concentration determination module determines an amount of an additive in at least one of an oil system of an engine and a fuel system of the engine. The additive dispensing module dispenses a supplemental additive into at least one of the oil system and the fuel system when the amount of the additive is less than or equal to a predetermined amount. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228401 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING OCEAN WAVE ENERGY INTO ELECTRICITY - A system and method for harnessing power associated with ocean waves and converting that power into electricity. The apparatus is a buoy that houses a vertically oriented central shaft, a pendulum, a generator mechanism, and other components that synergistically operate to optimize power output of the buoy. Both the load on the pendulum and the effective length of the pendulum may be varied in response to changing environmental conditions. Also, the buoy may be part of a network that shares environmental data and a series of best tuning responses to that data, across the network. A library of environmental data and associated tuning responses is built at a central location and shared across the network. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228402 | Power sparing synchronous apparatus - Embodiments include a system, an apparatus, a device, and a method. An apparatus includes a synchronous circuit including a first subcircuit powered by a first power plane having a first power plane voltage and a second subcircuit powered by a second power plane having a second power plane voltage. The apparatus also includes an error detector operable to detect an incidence of a computational error occurring in the first subcircuit. The apparatus includes a controller operable to change the first power plane voltage based upon the detected incidence of a computational error. The apparatus also includes a power supply configured to electrically couple with a portable power source and operable to provide a selected one of at least two voltages to the first power plane in response to the controller. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228403 | CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING DYNAMIC ROTATION SPEED OF FAN, METHOD OF CONTROLLING DYNAMIC ROTATION SPEED OF FAN, AND PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING DYNAMIC ROTATION SPEED OF FAN - A first reception unit receives “ambient temperature” which is a temperature of surroundings where the computer is installed. A second reception unit receives “first device temperature” which is a temperature of a first device provided in the computer. A third reception unit receives “second device temperature” which is a temperature of a second device provided in the computer. A fan rotation speed indicating unit determines the rotation speed of the fan based on a comparison between the ambient temperature, first device temperature, and second device temperature which are received by the first to third reception units and a fan rotation speed description table describing a relationship between the respective temperature and fan rotation speed and instructs the fan to rotate at the determined rotation speed. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228404 | Method and system for configuring and provisioning a vehicle - A telematics method and system facilitates customizing a plurality of vehicle content files, parameters, and features based on edits and selections from a user interface. A telematics provider maintains a database comprising a table, or tables that associate(s) user identification information with a vehicle VIN and equipment/features/content installed in/on vehicle devices associated with the VIN. Database updates may occur automatically, or upon a user instruction, when a TCU wirelessly transmits current equipment, content, and feature configuration information to a TOC coupled with the database. The telematics provider's server may provide the interface that facilitates the user logging in and editing features, content, and operational and performance parameters currently configured/installed in/on the vehicle' equipment and devices. The telematics provider may forward the user input from the interface to another provider after it verifies user log in credentials before the other provider begins a download to vehicle devices associated with the VIN. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228405 | SHARED VEHICLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A locking and holding mechanism for a personal vehicle is composed of a connection device mounted to the vehicle and a receptacle mounted to a solid fixture. The receptacle is configured to directly receive and engage the connection device of the vehicle and, once received, the vehicle is locked to the receptacle held in a stable position. The connection device easily attaches a vehicle to a dock and enables a vehicle management system to charge, lock, hold in place and monitor the vehicle's presence when docked in a charge station. When docked in a charge station, if the status of the vehicle is altered unexpectedly the vehicle is equipped with communication equipment to alert the management system that the vehicle's status has changed. The apparatus identifies a user through an ID device and/or code. A user in good standing accesses a user interface via a communication gateway to secure access to a vehicle by electronically detaching the vehicle from the dock. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228406 | UAV Flight Control Method And System - Disclosed herein is a method and system for flying a ducted-fan air-vehicle, such as an unmanned air-vehicle. The method includes receiving a first input associated with a target point of interest and pointing the gimbaled sensor at the target point of interest. The method further includes receiving a second input corresponding to a desired flight path and selecting a velocity vector flight command to achieve the desired flight path. Selecting the velocity vector flight command includes converting attitude data from the gimbaled sensor into a velocity vector flight command. The method further includes operating the flight of the UAV according to the selected velocity vector flight command and the gimbaled sensor remains fixed on the target point of interest during the flight of the UAV. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228407 | METHOD OF DETERMINING AND CONTROLLING THE INERTIAL ATTITUDE OF A SPINNING, ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE AND SYSTEMS THEREFOR - A method of and apparatus for determining and controlling the inertial attitude of a spinning artificial satellite without using a suite of inertial gyroscopes. The method and apparatus operate by tracking three astronomical objects near the Earth's ecliptic pole and the satellite's and/or star tracker's spin axis and processing the track information. The method and apparatus include steps and means for selecting preferably three astronomical objects using a histogram method and determining a square of a first radius (R | 2010-09-09 |
20100228408 | Helicopter ship board landing system - A system for maneuvering an aircraft for operations in connection with a sea-going vessel, the vessel having a designated area for landings and sling-load operations. Each of the aircraft has a navigation unit (INU) comprising a GPS receiver and an inertial navigation unit. The INU's are updated by data from the GPS receivers and the data from the shipboard unit's GPS receiver and INU are transmitted to the aircraft. The aircraft performs RTK calculations to determine a vector to the shipboard GPS antennas and modifies the vector with data from the INU's. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228409 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWERED DESCENT GUIDANCE - A method and apparatus for landing a spacecraft having thrusters with non-convex constraints is described. The method first computes a solution to a minimum error landing problem for a convexified constraints, then applies that solution to a minimum fuel landing problem for convexified constraints. The result is a solution that is a minimum error and minimum fuel solution that is also a feasible solution to the analogous system with non-convex thruster constraints. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228410 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPUTING RAIL CAR SWITCHING SOLUTIONS IN A SWITCHYARD INCLUDING LOGIC TO RE-SWITCH CARS FOR BLOCK PULL TIME - A system for computing car switching solutions in a railway switch yard. The system is computer based and has an input for receiving data conveying information about one or more arrival trains arriving at the switch yard and data conveying information about departure trains to depart the switch yard. A processing entity processes the data and computes car switching solutions for the railcars. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228411 | MOBILE BODY - The present invention has a theme of a mobile body capable of suppressing rapid acceleration along a downward slope at a time of start. The mobile body comprises a driving force generation device which generates a driving force of the mobile body; a power accumulation device capable of supplying a power to the driving force generation device; a fuel cell capable of supplying a power to the driving force generation device; and a control device which controls driving of the driving force generation device. The control device prohibits to start driving the driving force generation device by the power supply of the power accumulation device in a case where the mobile body is positioned on a downward slope when starting the mobile body. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228412 | MULTI-MODE HYBRID TRANSMISSION AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING A QUASI-ASYNCHRONOUS SHIFT IN A HYBRID TRANSMISSION - Improved methods for executing a clutch-to-clutch quasi-asynchronous shift in a hybrid transmission, and a hybrid transmission using the same, are presented herein. The method includes: pre-filling the on-coming clutch; determining if the shift is completed using the on-coming or off-going clutch; slipping the off-going clutch first if the shift operation uses the off-going clutch; determining on-coming clutch slip speed and acceleration profiles; determining if the on-coming clutch is filled and whether the slip sign is correct; if using the off-going clutch, locking the on-coming clutch and exhausting the off-going clutch if the on-coming clutch is filled and the slip sign is correct; if using the on-coming clutch, determining whether the on-coming clutch slip is less than a slip threshold and exhausting the off-going clutch if the on-coming clutch is filled and the slip sign is correct; and locking the on-coming clutch if the slip is less than the slip threshold. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228413 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - In the case where a connector of a charging cable is connected to a charging connector provided on a hybrid vehicle, a connector signal CNCT indicating that the connector of the charging cable is connected to the charging connector provided on the hybrid vehicle is input to a power supply ECU and an HV_ECU having an operating frequency higher than that of the power supply ECU. When the connector signal CNCT is input, the power supply ECU activates the HV_ECU. The HV ECU controls the electrical system of the hybrid vehicle so as to charge a battery pack. The HV_ECU stops the charging when the input of the connector signal CNCT is stopped during charging of the battery pack. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228414 | INFORMATION DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE - A vehicle has an apparatus ( | 2010-09-09 |
20100228415 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING THE COST OF EFFICIENT VEHICLES - A system and method are described for reducing the cost of efficient vehicles. For example, a computer-implemented system according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: a vehicle equipped with a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code to perform a specified set of operations, the vehicle further comprising a data communication interface; a fuel pump of electrical charging station having a data communication interface, wherein the fuel pump of electrical charging station and the vehicle establish a digital data communication channel using the data communication interfaces as the vehicle is being refueled or charged; wherein the fuel pump of electrical charging station provides an amount of fuel or electricity to the vehicle and, after or during fueling or recharging, transmits an indication of the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by the vehicle to a third party server; wherein the third party server is maintained by a third party having a contractual relationship with an owner/operator of the vehicle in which the vehicle has been provided to the owner/operator at a reduced cost in exchange for an agreement by the owner/operator to provide the third party a supplemental payment based on the amount of fuel or electricity consumed by vehicle, wherein in response to receipt of the indication of the amount of fuel or electric consumed by the vehicle, the third party charges the owner/operator a supplement amount based on the amount of fuel or electricity used by the owner/operator. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228416 | HYBRID TYPE WORKING MACHINE - A charge accumulating circuit accumulates regeneration power. The charge accumulating circuit includes a DC bus line which is connected to a smoothing capacitor, a charge accumulating capacitor with an internal resistance, and a converter which connects the DC bus line and the charge accumulating capacitor to each other, and performs a charge/discharge operation. The control device changes the OFF state of the first switch to the ON state when the start key is turned on, measures a physical quantity involved with a discharge characteristic of the charge accumulating capacitor, and calculates at least one of the internal resistance and a capacitance of the charge accumulating capacitor on the basis of a measurement result. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228417 | DRIVER HANDS ON/OFF DETECTION DURING AUTOMATED LANE CENTERING/CHANGING MANEUVER - A system and method for determining whether a vehicle driver is holding a steering wheel of the vehicle while the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode. The vehicle will include an electric power steering (EPS) system and may include an active front steering (AFS) system, both of which include a motor that can apply a high frequency and low amplitude perturbation signal to the steering wheel of the vehicle that is not felt by the vehicle driver and does not cause the vehicle to turn, but is able to be detected by a steering angle sensor. The method subtracts a steering angle command signal from the steering angle signal and removes road disturbances, and then determines whether the induced perturbation signal is present in the steering angle sensor signal. If the perturbation signal is present, then the system knows that the vehicle driver is not holding the steering wheel. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228418 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING VIDEO WITH IMPROVED SPATIAL AWARENESS - Methods and systems are provided for displaying a video data stream captured by a surveillance module associated with an aerial vehicle during execution of a flight plan. A method comprises displaying a timeline corresponding to the video data stream on a display device associated with the aerial vehicle and displaying a first indicator on the timeline. In accordance with one embodiment, the first indicator corresponds to a first waypoint of the flight plan, wherein the first indicator is positioned on the timeline such that the first indicator corresponds to a first segment of the video data stream at a first time. The first time is based at least in part on a position of the aerial vehicle. | 2010-09-09 |
20100228419 | METHOD TO ASSESS RISK ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING AN AUTONOMIC VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle is configured to execute an autonomic lane change maneuver and is equipped with a spatial monitoring system. Each of a plurality of objects located proximate to the vehicle is monitored. Locations of each of the objects are predicted relative to a projected trajectory of the vehicle. A collision risk level between the vehicle and each of the objects is assessed. | 2010-09-09 |