355results about "Control mechanism" patented technology

A force feedback mouse interface device connected to a host computer and providing realistic force feedback to a user. The mouse interface device includes a mouse object and a linkage coupled to the mouse that includes a plurality of members rotatably coupled to each other in a planar closed-loop linkage and including two members coupled to ground and rotatable about the same axis. Two actuators, preferably electromagnetic voice coils, provide forces in the two degrees of freedom of the planar workspace of the mouse object. Each of the actuators includes a moveable coil portion integrated with one of the members of the linkage and a magnet portion coupled to the ground surface through which the coil portion moves. The grounded magnet portions of the actuators can be coupled together such that a common flux path between the magnet portions is shared by both magnets. At least one sensor is coupled to the ground surface that detects movement of the linkage and provides a sensor signal including information from which a position of the mouse object in the planar workspace can be determined.

A method and apparatus for conducting proximity operations is disclosed. The method called inverser proximity operations includes maneuvering an active vehicle into general proximity to a target vehicle, transmitting from the target vehicle to the active vehicle data representing relative position and velocity between the target vehicle and the active vehicle, and maneuvering the active vehicle in accordance with the data to effect a desired proximity operation. Another method called distributed proximity operations includes maneuvering a carrier vehicle into general proximity to a target vehicle, releasing one or more active vehicles from the carrier vehicle, transmitting from the carrier vehicle to the active vehicle(s) data representing relative position and velocity between the target vehicle and the active vehicle, and maneuvering the active vehicle(s) in accordance with the data to effect a desired proximity operation. The proximity operations are similarly suitable for aeronautical systems, such as when using an active aircraft to re-fuel a target aircraft, such as a drone. Whether for space, air, or other environments, the proximity operations described can be used for re-fueling, repairing, and replacing components and / or systems.

An automated tool includes a quick change spindle assembly. In another aspect of the present invention, the quick change spindle includes an attachment assembly for interchangeable fastener drivers. A further aspect of the present invention employs release member to actuate a drive member in the spindle assembly causing a retainer to uncouple a fastener driver with the spindle.

A robot with a body, at least one leg on each side of the body, and a hip connecting the leg to the body. The hip is configured to abduct and adduct the leg. A linkage is configured to rotate the leg along a predetermined path.

Machine tool having a bed, a table arranged on the bed, a first saddle provided free to travel back and forth, a second saddle supported on the first saddle and provided free to travel side to side, a spindle head provided free to travel perpendicularly on the second saddle, a main spindle situated above the table and by the spindle head supported free to rotate on its center axis, a front cover provided on the front side of the bed and furnished with doors that open and close sideways, and top covers configured with one end sideways shiftably connected to the front side of the first saddle, and with another end connected extensibly / retractably to the top of the front-cover doors, therein being configured for permitting back-and-forth-directed movement of the first saddle.

An improved protective shield for attachment to the A-arms of an ATV for preventing the intrusion of debris that may damage the suspension or CV joint. The improvements enhance the shield's ability to reduce debris build up and to be more easily cleaned by suspending the shield below the suspension members and providing washout and drainage holes.

A parallel kinematic machine has a parallel kinematic mechanism including an end effecter and a parallel link mechanism. A numerical control device controls a position and orientation of the end effecter based on kinematics of the parallel kinematic mechanism. A posture setter sets an adjustment tool on the end effecter in a known posture in a reference coordinate system defined outside the parallel kinematic mechanism based on a measurement method. A data acquirer acquires data in accordance with a measurement method selecting code for designating the measurement method used by the posture setter in setting the adjustment tool in the known posture, and defines a correlation between kinematic parameters for the parallel kinematic mechanism and the reference coordinate system. A calculator calculates the kinematic parameters based on the acquired data by using a relational expression describing forward kinematics of the parallel kinematic mechanism.

An SEA architecture for controlling the torque applied by an SEA that has particular application for controlling the position of a robot link. The SEA architecture includes a motor coupled to one end of an elastic spring and a load coupled to an opposite end of the elastic spring, where the motor drives the load through the spring. The orientation of the shaft of the motor and the load are measured by position sensors. Position signals from the position sensors are sent to an embedded processor that determines the orientation of the load relative to the motor shaft to determine the torque on the spring. The embedded processor receives reference torque signals from a remote controller, and the embedded processor operates a high-speed servo loop about the desired joint torque. The remote controller determines the desired joint torque based on higher order objectives by their impedance or positioning objectives.

A magnetic sensor has a magnet (30) and a magneto-resistive element (20), arranged on a substrate such that magnetic field lines through the magneto-resistive element are substantially parallel to a plane of the substrate. Movement of a movable magnetically permeable element (40) near the substrate is detected as it alters the number of field lines through the element. The sensor can be more sensitive than devices arranged with perpendicular field lines, and can be easier to manufacture and integrate. Applications include analog pointers, pressure sensors and microphones. The sensor can use magnets placed either side of the element to detect changes in size of a gap above the element. As the gap closes, less of the parallel oriented field passes through the magneto resistive element.

A hybrid cascade Model-Based Predictive control (MBPC) and conventional control system for thermal processing equipment of semiconductor substrates, and more in particular for vertical thermal reactors is described. In one embodiment, the conventional control system is based on a PID controller. In one embodiment, the MBPC algorithm is based on both multiple linear dynamic mathematical models and non-linear static mathematical models, which are derived from the closed-loop modeling control data by using the closed-loop identification method. In order to achieve effective dynamic linear models, the desired temperature control range is divided into several temperature sub-ranges. For each temperature sub-range, and for each heating zone, a corresponding dynamic model is identified. During temperature ramp up / down, the control system is provided with a fuzzy control logic and inference engine that switches the dynamic models automatically according to the actual temperature. When a thermocouple (TC) temperature measurement is in failure, a software soft sensor based on dynamic model computing is used to replace the real TC sampling in its place as a control system input. Consequently, when a TC failure occurs during a process, the process can be completed without the loss of the semiconductor substrate(s) being processed.

An alignment apparatus which moves a object comprises a first structure having a holding member which holds the object, a second structure having a magnet which constitutes a linear motor, the linear motor drives the first and second structure, and a flow passage formed between the holding member and the magnet.

An operation apparatus is designed for use with a system to deal with operation information of the system. In the operation apparatus, an operation piece is manually operable to move in a linear or circular direction to a position indicative of the operation information. A detection section detects the position of the operation piece and outputs position data corresponding to the detected position. A drive section responds to position data inputted from the system to automatically move the operation piece to a position corresponding to the inputted position data. An acquiring section provisionally acquires a plurality of reference position data which are outputted from the detection section when the operation piece is placed at a plurality of reference positions such that the respective reference position data correspond to the respective reference positions. A correcting section corrects the position data outputted from the detection section according to the provisionally acquired reference position data and outputs the corrected position data to the system.

This invention is concerned with packaged food products which contain specific combinations of functional additives aimed at addressing specific health indicators, in particular flatulence, gastro-intestinal health, stress and immune system responsiveness, in pet animals. There is provided a commercially packaged mammal pet food product that includes a manufactured, shelf-life stable food substrate and a combination of functional additives. The functional additives include at least one non-palatable plant-based remedy and / or dietary fiber source that are present to strengthen and / or maintain a specified health indicator of a mammal pet animal. The food product is portioned and packaged with the functional additives being present in predetermined concentrations and amounts sufficient to be effective in achieving said indications on regular feeding of the pet animal with said food product. The food substrate is present in a proportion sufficient to mask the flavor and / or odor of the non-palatable additive and is made-up of a unique combination of materials that are able to be processed at lower temperatures to preserve the natural botanical functional additive's activity. Functional additives intended to address dietary flatulence problems include a combination of Yucca extract, charcoal and salts of zinc, such as zinc acetate. Functional additives to promote or maintain gastro-intestinal health include a combination of L-glutamine, D-glucosamine sulphate, sugar beet pulp, slippery elm. Functional additives to strengthen or maintain a pet animal's natural body defenses include a combination of vitamin E, vitamin B complex, primrose oil vitamin C and Marigold meal. Functional additives to promote or maintain reduction of stress and / or improved behavior of a pet animal include a combination of Valerian root extract, Kava root extract, vitamin B complex and magnesium salt.

A controller tower positioning system for a work vehicle for securing the controller tower to one of at least two positions. The system employs a mounting bracket fixed to the floor or a frame member of the work vehicle, a movable controller tower rotatably mounted to the mounting bracket and a resistive element strategically mounted to the controller tower and the mounting bracket to provide resistance to movement away from either of the two positions and a toggle effect as the controller tower is moved from one of the two positions to the other. The controller assembly is physically restrained at the free end of the controller tower.

A device and method for operating a vehicle having an operating member that is displaceable with respect to a vehicle body and operated by a driver, controls an acceleration of the vehicle according to a displacement position of the operating member, displaces the operating member to a predetermined initial position when electric power starts to be supplied, and prohibits acceleration of the vehicle according to a displacement position of the operating member when the operating member is being displaced to the initial position until the operating member reaches a position which does not instruct the vehicle to accelerate. With this type of device for operating a vehicle, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from moving against the wishes of the driver at the start of operation.

An operation member includes a body having an operating end and a coupling end, and a skirt member. The skirt member is arranged at the coupling end. The skirt member includes a base plate outwardly extending from the coupling end, a wall extending from the base plate, and a groove defined between the outer surface of the wall and the body. The electronic device includes a casing, an operation member, and a circuit module. The casing has portions defining an opening. The circuit module has a circuit board including a controller disposed thereon. The above-mentioned operation member is sleeved onto the controller and passes through the opening. The outer surface of the operation member and the opening define a gap therebetween. The groove is correspondingly arranged proximate to the gap to gather small particles entering the gap.

An SEA architecture for controlling the torque applied by an SEA that has particular application for controlling the position of a robot link. The SEA architecture includes a motor coupled to one end of an elastic spring and a load coupled to an opposite end of the elastic spring, where the motor drives the load through the spring. The orientation of the shaft of the motor and the load are measured by position sensors. Position signals from the position sensors are sent to an embedded processor that determines the orientation of the load relative to the motor shaft to determine the torque on the spring. The embedded processor receives reference torque signals from a remote controller, and the embedded processor operates a high-speed servo loop about the desired joint torque. The remote controller determines the desired joint torque based on higher order objectives by their impedance or positioning objectives.

A bicycle chain wheel assembly is provided with a chain wheel and a chain wheel cover. The chain wheel has a central mounting portion and an outer gear with a plurality of outer gear teeth. The chain wheel cover is disposed on an exteriorly facing side of the chain wheel. The chain wheel cover has a mounting portion coupled to the chain wheel and an outer peripheral portion with a chain drop prevention protrusion projecting outwardly from the outer peripheral portion at a location that is radially inward of the outer gear teeth.

A vehicle operating apparatus which accelerates, decelerates and steers a vehicle in accordance with the operation of the operating lever is provided with a reaction force generating means which generates a reaction force opposing the operating lever, a current sensor which senses failure of the reaction force, and an electric control apparatus which decreases the responsiveness of driving control to the operating lever when a failure is sensed. A steering control apparatus provides driving control equal to that of the state prior to the sensing of a failure when the operating speed of the operating lever at the time of the failure exceeds a prescribed value. Additionally, at the time of detection of a failure, an electric control apparatus reduces vehicle speed by an engine control apparatus.

A machine tool capable of eliminating a laborious attachment / detachment work of a cover member is provided. The machine tool includes a door device 5 having a first door 6 to cover a machining-area opening 3e when machining a workpiece and a second door 7 to cover the machining-area opening 3e when not machining the workpiece and formed to be visible an inside thereof, in which the first door 6 and the second door 7 are arranged in a movable manner between a position-in-use covering the machining-area opening 3e and a position when opened opening the machining-area opening 3e.

The present invention includes a knob assembly which provides rotational movement and translational travel along an axis of dual and independent rotary knobs. The present invention controls electronics within a housing, without requiring protrusion into the housing. Having no protrusions into the housing avoids exposure of the electronics within the housing to environmental contaminants or electromagnetic interference. The components of the dual independent push button rotary knob assembly may operate without need for O-rings, gaskets, or any other applied sealants to prevent containments from entering the housing. Assembly of the knob assembly is simplified, because the rotary knob assembly may be installed and replaced without any tools and without need to access the interior of the housing. Furthermore, if any part of the assembly is damaged, the rotary knob assembly, in part or whole, may be replaced without compromising any seal provided to the exterior surfaces of the housing.

A guard for shielding a coupling joint joining rotating shafts includes first and second cylindrical components configured to telescopingly adjustably engage to enclose the coupling joint. The cylindrical components are made from opposing identical semi-cylindrical cover halves, each with lateral flanges, with one set of lateral flanges forming an inwardly-facing longitudinal slot for slidably receiving the other pair of lateral flanges. A fastener extended through overlapping flanges fixes the length adjustment. A pair of supports includes a vertically adjustable bracket on spaced stands, the brackets being configured to wedgingly engage the supports when secured in a vertically adjusted position thereon. The cover halves, supports and brackets can be thermoformed from heat.

In a cover arrangement for a machine tool for covering guide and drive structures, comprising a pleated wall arrangement which can be expanded and compressed upon movement of a carriage between which and a machine wall it is connected. The pleated wall structures is provided with armor lamellas which are anchored to the pleat sections of the wall structures and over-lap for covering the pleated wall structure which is movably supported on guide tracks which are disposed in planes extending at an obtuse angle facilitating installation and removal of the cover arrangement.

A machining system having a machining envelope, a housing, a hopper, and a seal. The housing defines at least a portion of the machining envelope. The hopper has a top surface defining an opening. The seal is disposed between the housing and the top surface. The hopper is configured to receive particulates when positioned below the machining envelope.

A cover opening and closing mechanism switches a cover body on a corresponding surface of a main body between a closed position for closing the corresponding surface and an open position for opening the same. The cover opening and closing mechanism includes a forcing device for always urging the cover body toward the closed position; a push button; a switching device having a cam facing the button, an acceleration gear engaging a gear part provided on the cover body, and a striker; and a latch device for locking the striker in the open position of the cover body and releasing the lock when the button is pushed. The switching device switches the cover body from the closed position to the open position against a force of the forcing device.