879 results about "Semi active" patented technology

Methods and systems for damping vibrations in a surgical system are disclosed herein. The surgical system can include one or several moveable set-up linkages. A damper can be connected with one or several of the set-up linkages. The damper can be a passive, active, or semi-active damper. The damper can mitigate a vibration arising in one of the set-up linkages, and the damper can prevent a vibration arising in one of the linkages from affecting another of the set-up linkages. The active and semi-active dampers can be controlled with a feedback model and a feed-forward model.

Methods of transparent connection failover allowing a remote computer (i.e., a client), to continue to use a network connection to communicate with one of at least two or more other computers (i.e., the backup servers) over a network, when one of the other computers (i.e., the primary server) fails. With the mechanisms of this invention, there is no need for the client to establish a new connection to a backup server when the primary server fails. The failover is preferably executed within a bridge layer between the TCP layer and the IP layer of the server's TCP / IP stack. No modifications are required to the network infrastructure, the client's TCP / IP stack, the client application or the server application. The methods support active or semi-active replication of the server application, and do not require rollback of the application during failover. The invention also provides mechanisms for bringing up new backup servers.

A high performance Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system and the operating method thereof. The RFID system includes a reader, a plurality of passive tags, and at least one local reader to communicate with nearby passive tags and further forward results to the reader. A repeater tag or a semi-active tag can serve as a local reader. An operating method of the high performance RFID system, a repeater tag operating method, a semi-active tag electric power detecting method, and an operating method for searching for no electric power tags are further provided.

A method and apparatus for steering of a flexible needle into tissue using a steering robotic platform for manipulation of the needle shaft, and by use of a semi-active arm for locating and orienting of the steering robot on the patient's body. As opposed to other steering methods, the robot does not hold the base of the needle, which is its proximal region, but rather grips the shaft of the needle by means of a manipulatable needle gripping device, near its distal end. The needle gripper attached to the robotic platform may be equipped with a traction assembly to provide motion to the needle in its longitudinal direction, such that it co-ordinates the entry of the needle with the desired entry angle. The gripping of the needle at its distal end, close to its insertion point, provides the needle manipulator with a low profile, with concomitant advantages.

An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat is disclosed, utilizing an adaptive energy absorber or variable profile energy absorber (VPEA) for mitigating occupant injury due to extreme vehicle movement (e.g., during a vehicle shock event), and / or for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of the vehicle seat during normal vehicle operating conditions. Various configurations of dual-goal energy absorption apparatuses using both VPEA and fixed load energy absorbers (FLEAs) that enable both shock mitigation and vibration isolation are disclosed. A semi-active control absorption system, comprising a VPEA and FPEA configured to work in series, is also disclosed.

If an active smart node detects that an object leaves a center region of a FOV for a boundary region, the active smart node predicts a possible path of the object. When the object gets out of the FOV, the active smart node predicts the object appears in a FOV of another smart node according to the possible path and a spatial relation between cameras. The active smart node notifies another smart node to become a semi-active smart node which determines an image characteristic similarity between the object and a new object and returns to the active smart node if a condition is satisfied. The active smart node compares the returned characteristic similarity, an object discovery time at the semi-active smart node, and a distance between the active smart node and the semi-active smart node to calculate possibility.

An improved radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and related reader system and process are provided, wherein the RFID tag includes an on-board battery for enhanced signal transmission range, relatively rapid signal transmission speed, and optimized completion of a data transaction between the tag and a reader. The RFID tag further includes a power management system for activating the tag battery on an as-needed basis, and for thereupon enabling limited portions of the tag circuitry as required for a specific communication protocol, thereby conserving battery power and prolonging battery service life. In one preferred form, the battery is integrated with an antenna structure of single or dual mode with respect to frequency or type. This combination battery-antenna may be designed for recharging from a source of ambient energy.

A regenerative damper and method for regenerative damping are disclosed. The regenerative damper uses the kinetic energy of undesirable vehicle motion to generate electrical current in a circuit. The electricity is generated by a power screw that operates like an alternator. Vehicle energy efficiency is increased by using the electrical current to charge a battery. The regenerative damper can be semi-active or passive. The semi-active embodiment is able to adapt to operating conditions to improve vehicle ride and handling, whereas the passive embodiment has a fixed response, regardless of operating conditions.

A touch sensing apparatus for receiving input from one or more touch stimulating devices employs a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signaling arrangement to transmit signals from the touch stimulating devices for identification and location determination. Active devices are powered by an EM field and generate a touch stimulating signal that is spread spectrum encoded for identification, and signal pickups in a propagation layer receive the touch stimulation signals which are identified by the DSSS encoding and located using received signal strength (RSS) techniques. Semi-active devices are powered by an EM field and receive code instructions to generate specific spread spectrum signals and generate a touch-stimulating signal. Touch stimulating devices are either tethered or tether-free, and powered by batteries or EM fields.

A method and algorithm for semi-active suspension damper control is described. The algorithm controls the damper setting to limit vehicle body movement in terms of body modal velocities of heave, roll and pitch. The main input, body movement, is measured with accelerometers. The control output comprises a request in percent of damper control range. Vehicle speed-dependent minimum and maximum limits are applied. The method includes monitoring vehicle speed and a modal sensing system. A common damping rate for the dampers is determined based upon parameters for speed, heave, pitch, and roll. Each damper is controlled based upon the common damping rate adjusted based upon a location of each of the controllable suspension dampers. The output comprises a single signal, translated to a front and rear setting. The purpose is to always have a balanced setting of the four dampers.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for guiding a weapon to a target using an optical seeker having dual semi-active laser (SAL) and laser radar (LADAR) modes of operation. The dual mode seeker incorporates a laser light source, an optical package including a quadrant detector for operating in SAL mode and a LADAR receiver for operating in LADAR mode. The seeker further includes a high speed scanning mirror for switching between modes to guide the weapon to the target. The method for guiding a weapon to a target includes receiving radiation from the target and tracking the radiation to guide the weapon; monitoring the detected radiation such that if the radiation falls below a predetermined level, a laser system on-board the weapon continues guiding the weapon by generating a laser beam; reflecting the laser beam off the target so that the reflected laser radiation is received from the target to track the radiation and guide the weapon to the target.

Mechanisms for achieving consistent message ordering within a fault-tolerant distributed computer system based on semi-active or passive replication are described. The mechanisms communicate message ordering information from the primary replica to its backup replicas in such a way as to minimize the end-to-end request / response time, to minimize the number of additional messages that are multicast, and to ensure that, in the event of a fault, a backup replica has, or can obtain, the messages and the message ordering information that it needs to reproduce the actions of the primary replica.

A vehicle includes a semi-active suspension including suspension dampers controllably adjustable in accordance with electronic stability control commands and ride and handling commands. Vehicle steering response states, turning direction states and vehicle dynamics states are binary coded in respective state variables and suspension control calibrations are binary coded in calibration words. Integrity and security of state variables and calibration words are ensured in efficient binary digit resource allocation schemes.

The invention relates to a method and its system which is utilized the automobile vibration energy to piezoelectric generate electricity. The piezoelectric device is set in the automobile suspension system, utilized the vibration energy to generate electric energy, and used as an electric supply to store and utilize. The system includes that no less than one piezoelectric device set in the automobile suspension system and used to transform the vibration energy to electric energy; an electric power exchange system, used to adjust and transform the electric energy produced by the piezoelectric device, and used the electric energy to the energy storage device or final power utilization load; no less than one energy storage device or final power utilization load. The piezoelectric device is connected to the electric power exchange device, and it is respectively connected to the energy storage device or final power utilization load. The invention supplies new energy source for the vehicle, especially for the electric automobile or mixing dynamic automobile. The gained electric energy can be directly used for the dynamic electric source, so that effectively increase the continuous driving mileage of the vehicle. Proper control strategy is adopted. And the invention also possesses the function of semi-active vibration reduction.

A system, apparatus and method for creating and managing group services in a cellular network for easy, fast and reliable connection of a subscriber(s) to one or more group services. A first terminal device stores service descriptions records for a first group of services in a cellular network. The first terminal is equipped with a communication module including a first RFID / NFC interface. A tangible object, typically a passive or semi-active tag with a RFID / NFC tag / transponder stores service description records for a first group of services. The first terminal is capable of initiating a new group of services group in the cellular network by way of communicating with the tangible object by touching the first RFID / NFC interface. A second communication module is capable of joining to the group of services group by way of reading the information from the tangible object over the second RFID / NFC interface upon touching the tangible object.

The invention discloses a damping-adjustable vibration isolation platform with quasi-zero stiffness. The damping-adjustable vibration isolation platform comprises a bearing assembly, a fixed platform frame and damping assemblies. The bearing assembly is used for bearing vibration isolation objects. The fixed platform frame is provided with an open end and a cavity which is communicated with the open end, and the bearing assembly and the damping assemblies are contained in the cavity. The damping assemblies comprise the damping-adjustable upper damping assembly and the damping-adjustable lower damping assembly which are arranged in the cavity in the longitudinal direction, and the bearing assembly is connected with the fixed platform frame through the upper damping assembly and the lower damping assembly. The vibration isolation platform solves the difficulty existing when a traditional linear vibration isolation system isolates low frequency or ultra-low frequency vibration, and also overcomes the defects that an active or semi-active control vibration isolation device is complex in structure, high in manufacturing cost, high in energy consumption and the like; the vibration isolation platform is simple in structure, applicable to wide-frequency-domain vibration isolation, capable of being widely applied to precise equipment with strict vibration isolation requirements and has good engineering adaptability. Besides, damping is simple and convenient to adjust.

A system and method for tracking an airborne target including an illumination source (e.g., a diode laser array) is used to enhance a target signature and a detector (e.g., a passive high-speed camera) is used to detect to electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared radiation) reflected off the target. The received electromagnetic radiation may be processed by a digital computer and passed through a spatial filter that implements a band limited edge detection operation in the frequency domain. The filter may remove low spatial frequencies that attenuate soft edged clutter such as clouds and smoke as well as filter out artifacts and attenuated medium to high spatial frequencies to inhibit speckle noise from the detector as well as speckle from the laser return off the target.

The invention discloses a real-time control device and a real-time control method for a motion direction of an electromagnetic energy-regeneration semi-active suspension of a vehicle. A bi-directional controllable double ratchet mechanism composed of a first ratchet mechanism and a second ratchet mechanism which are jointly arranged on an input shaft of an energy-regeneration motor rotor is arranged between an energy-regeneration motor and a nut-ball screw mechanism. The first ratchet mechanism and the second ratchet mechanism respectively comprise a ratchet, a pawl, a pawl rotating shaft, a tensioning spring and an electromagnet. The electromagnets are electrically connected with a control unit, and the rotating directions of the two ratchets combined with the pawls are opposite. When the control unit inputs control signals to a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet of the first ratchet mechanism and the second ratchet mechanism, the input shaft of the energy-regeneration motor rotor can only rotate anticlockwise or clockwise, and the suspension can only be stretched or compressed. When the control unit does not input control signals to the first electromagnet or the second electromagnet, the suspension can only be stretched and compressed. When the vehicle is subjected to a large inertial force, by real-time control of the motion direction of the related suspension, pitching and side tipping of the vehicle are reduced, and the running safety of the vehicle is improved.

The present invention provides regenerative passive and semi-active suspension systems. A regenerative suspension system generally includes at least one regenerative damper, a module, an electric switch, and a battery. The at least one regenerative damper converts mechanical vibration energy within a vehicle into a voltage, which the damper passes to the module. The module measures the voltage from the regenerative damper, and in response, changes electric switch settings for each regenerative damper between an open circuit, a closed circuit completed by a power resistance, and a closed circuit completed by circuitry for charging a battery. Additionally, the module sets electric switch levels to adjust the damping forces within each regenerative damper.

Mechanisms for achieving consistent message ordering within a fault-tolerant distributed computer system based on semi-active or passive replication are described. The mechanisms communicate message ordering information from the primary replica to its backup replicas in such a way as to minimize the end-to-end request / response time, to minimize the number of additional messages that are multicast, and to ensure that, in the event of a fault, a backup replica has, or can obtain, the messages and the message ordering information that it needs to reproduce the actions of the primary replica.

A shock and vibration isolation system for mounting equipment to a base wall uses a semi-active damper in parallel with a spring arrangement to provide optimum isolation with respect to both shock and vibration. The system comprises a load plate configured for attachment of the equipment thereto and a base plate configured for attachment to the base wall. The base plate is substantially parallel to the load plate with a spring arrangement disposed intermediate the load plate and the base plate. The spring arrangement engages the load plate and the base plate to bias the load plate and the base plate in a separated relationship. The system also comprises a damping arrangement disposed intermediate the load plate and the base plate. The damping arrangement is adapted for providing a selectively variable reaction force to the load plate and the base plate responsive to a relative displacement of the load plate with respect to the base plate.

A tunable vibration absorption device is provided that is suitable for active or semi-active vibration absorption or damping of vibrations in vibrating structures. It comprises a stack including a force actuator mechanism for generating an axial actuation force and a force sensor mechanism which is responsive to an external force acting on the stack to generate a force signal. A controller unit is electrically connected to the force sensor mechanism for receiving the force signal generated by the force sensor mechanism, and it is also electrically connected to the force actuator mechanism for adjusting the axial actuation force generated by the force actuator mechanism in response to the received force signal generated by the force sensor mechanism.

This invention defines a method and mechanisms for maintaining a consistent group membership, based on the leader-follower strategy of Semi-Active or Passive replication. Each member of the group is assigned a rank, and a precedence, determined by the order in which it is added to the group. The Primary maintains the membership of the group, while each Backup monitors the behavior of the Primary. When a Backup detects that the Primary is faulty, the Backup announces that it is the new Primary and removes the faulty Primary from the membership of the group. The group membership algorithm disclosed here does not require a consensus decision to reconfigure the membership and effects a membership change more quickly in the common case where the Backup of lowest rank takes control as the new Primary when it determines that the existing Primary failed.

The present invention relates to a semi-active damper controlled by a control circuit including a direct control loop made up of an inverse model of the damper. The inverse model of the damper determines an ideal value for an electrical current ith for controlling a compression controlled-restriction valve and an expansion controlled-restriction valve on the basis of a measured value for a relative speed +E,dot y+EE between the two ends of the damper and on the basis of a force reference value Fc. The semi-active damper of the invention is applicable as a transverse secondary suspension for a passenger rail vehicle.

The invention relates to a switch type semi-active suspension system, which comprises four sets of switch type semi-active vibration absorbers, two acceleration sensors and a detection control system, wherein each two sets of the switch type semi-active vibration absorbers are arranged diagonally and act between a car body and a bogie; each set of switch type semi-active vibration absorbers respectively comprise a vibration absorber body A, high-speed switch valves A1 and A2, an adjustable damper valve A4 and a pressure sensor, wherein the high-speed switch valve A1 is used for communicating a rodless cavity with an oil storage cavity of the vibration absorber body; a check valve A3 is arranged between the oil storage cavity and the rodless cavity; the high-speed switch valve A2 is used for communicating the rodless cavity with a rod cavity; the adjustable damper valve A4 is arranged between the rod cavity and the oil storage cavity; and the pressure sensor is used for detecting the pressure of an oil way led out of the rod cavity of the vibration absorber body; and output signals of the acceleration sensor and the pressure sensor are transmitted to a controller after being processed, and the high-speed switch valves A1 and A2 are controlled by the controller to act.

The invention relates to a semi-active control magnetorheological hydraulic mount for an automotive powertrain, which belongs to a semi-active control element used for vibration control of an engine and is an engine mount filled with magnetorheological fluid, wherein the viscosity of the fluid changes along with the change of the strength of a magnetic field, and the semi-active control magnetorheological hydraulic mount mainly comprises a metal framework, a rubber main spring, a coil holder, an electromagnetic coil, a magnetic conductive channel body, an inertia channel assembly, a rubber basement membrane, a bottom framework and the like, and can control the strength of applied current according to the working condition of the engine by utilizing the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid and the following performance of the strength of the magnetic field, further change the viscosity of the fluid, lead the vibration of the engine to be well attenuated in a wider frequency band and further actively isolate the transfer of vibration noise of the engine into an automobile in the wider frequency band. A vibration damper for the magnetorheological hydraulic mount for the engine can effectively isolate the vibration of the engine, reduce the noise in the automobile and improve the NVH properties of the whole automobile, thereby having great market potential and broad prospects.

The invention relates to virtual prototype and MATLAB control system joint simulation with the aim of improving dynamic performance of vehicles. The technical problems solved by the invention are to provide a modified sky-hook control simulation technology of the four-axle heavy truck suspension system coupling the virtual prototype and MATLAB, and improve the road friendliness and smoothness of vehicles, aiming at the shortcomings of the prior art. The method of the invention is based on the ADAMS / View platform to build a four-axle heavy truck virtual prototype model and all grades of bilateral track multipoint random excitation pavement models; a modified sky-hook control algorithm is provided according to the modern control theory, ADAMS and Matlab / Simulink joint simulation are adoptedto realize the semi-active control and active control of modified sky-hook of suspension system damping. The important innovation of the invention is to realize the ADAMS / MATLAB joint simulation of the four-axle heavy truck suspension system; and the designed and modified sky-hook control algorithm is applicable to the semi-active control and active control of the suspension system, and can effectively improve the road friendliness and smoothness of the four-axle heavy truck and have stronger robustness.

A semi-active control methodology is provided for a spring / mass system, for example a real-time adjustable shock absorber system. The methodology includes defining a plurality of operating zones based on system parameters and user-definable or preset inputs. The methodology also includes processing to account for non-inertial spring / mass system response and multidimensional forces acting on the system, and an acceleration hedge calculation to accurately define system operation at extrema of travel. The methodology is generally directed at producing a plurality of valve control signals, selecting among the valve control signals, and applying the selected control signal to the valve in a closed-loop feedback system to adjust the energy in the spring / mass system.

A proximity sensor for use with a guidance system of a smart bomb including a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a smart bomb and a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor. A laser radiation sensor system is attached to the proximity sensor, which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angles to the target to the guidance system.