Patents Examined by Arthur D. Donnelly
  • Patent number: 6889127
    Abstract: A method of providing a vehicle monitoring system for ensuring accurate vehicle milleage readings. A comparison is made between velocity measurements from several sources to detect unauthorized modifications made to a vehicle in an effort to ensure accurate vehicle odometer readings. The vehicle velocity measured on-board is compared with vehicle velocity data signals received from a remote satellite system in light of an allowable tolerance. The system will detect changes in the vehicle such as tire size or tampering with the vehicles on-board measurement devices. The system may communicate out of tolerance conditions to the vehicle operator and the fleet manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommy Gustavsson, Michael Blackard, John Bate, Brian Kidd
  • Patent number: 6889137
    Abstract: Navigation method and navigation system for motor vehicles for navigating from a present location to a destination. In response to an emergency user request, an emergency destination closest to the present location is selected from a database, set as the destination, and a route calculated from the present location to the emergency destination. The navigation system includes a memory having a database for emergency destinations and a device for selecting, from the database, an emergency destination closest to the present location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Rychlak
  • Patent number: 6885940
    Abstract: A method for navigation processing in a satellite positioning system receiver is disclosed. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises separating the three SATPS satellites into a first pair and a second pair, constructing a primary solution and an alternate solution, wherein the primary solution and the alternate solution satisfy the measurement constraints, computing a Doppler difference estimate for the primary solution and a Doppler difference estimate for the alternate solution, computing Doppler difference residuals for the first pair and the second pair of SATPS satellites, and comparing the Doppler difference residuals for said primary and alternate solutions to determine a valid solution. Typically, the computing of a Doppler difference residuals comprises differencing a measured Doppler difference from an estimated Doppler difference for the first pair and the second pair of SATPS satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Sirf Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Jacob Brodie, David Allan Tuck, Mangesh M. Chansarkar
  • Patent number: 6882933
    Abstract: A mobile terminal, and an information providing method and system which immediately provides information, which the user of the mobile terminal desires, for the mobile terminal. Area and related service information are stored in corresponding relationship in a database. An information server which includes means for calculating the area of the destination of the mobile terminal loads information on the destination area from the database to the mobile terminal which moves toward the destination area, using radio communication means before the mobile terminal arrives at the destination area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kondou, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Susumu Matsui, Keishi Takebe
  • Patent number: 6882913
    Abstract: An electrical system for increasing the amount of voltage available to an electric power steering motor under high demand conditions includes a vehicle speed sensor that ascertains the speed of the vehicle, a steering wheel sensor that ascertains the rotational speed of the vehicle steering wheel, and a steering voltage controller that receives the signals provided by the vehicle speed sensor and the steering wheel sensor and processes these input signals to increase the voltage furnished to the power steering system by causing at least one component that consumes electrical power in the vehicle to reduce power consumption, or by causing a component that produces electrical power to increase power output, or by a combination of reducing power consumption and increasing power production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Bullister, Timothy Gerard Offerle
  • Patent number: 6873903
    Abstract: A method for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft is disclosed. It yields the arrival/departure times for a plurality of aircraft with respect to a specified system resource and is based upon specified data and other operational factors pertaining to the aircraft and system resource. This process comprises the steps of: (a) collecting and storing the specified data and operational factors, (b) processing, at an initial instant, the specified data that is applicable at that instant to the aircraft so as to predict an initial trajectory encompassing arrival/departure times for each aircraft, (c) upgrading these initial trajectory predictions for effects of: (1) environmental factors (weather, turbulence), (2) actions of the Air traffic Control system (e.g., stacking incoming aircraft when runway demand is greater than availability), and (3) secondary assets (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventors: R. Michael Baiada, Lonnie H. Bowlin
  • Patent number: 6871131
    Abstract: A method of changing gear in an automated transmission system of a motor vehicle having a multi-ratio gearbox with an input shaft and an output shaft, a take-up clutch located between the input shaft and an output shaft of an engine, a number of pairs of intermeshing gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Martin Brandt, Bard Vestgard, Gunter Hirt
  • Patent number: 6868334
    Abstract: A certain amount of basic map data is installed into the map data storage medium in the navigation apparatus at the time of initial setting or the like (this process will be hereinafter referred to as “pre-install”), and thereafter the user connect to the map data providing center to download necessary data according to need. Thus, the present invention offers efficient method of obtaining map data in the communication-type navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Yuusuke Nakane, Motohiko Takayanagi, Toyohiro Takenaka, Atsuhiko Fukushima, Toru Fujita
  • Patent number: 6859696
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring communications in a machine including electronic control module (ECM) components connected via datalinks. A message is received on a datalink. The source address of the received message is determined. The received message is added to an address list based on the source address, and the address list is evaluated to determine the status of a datalink associated with each ECM component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Marc Schade, James W. Landes, Mark J. Hilbert
  • Patent number: 6859694
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for filing and closing of flight plans. With the present invention, a computing device is provided that includes a flight plan filing device that is capable of electronically transmitting a flight plan to an airport server. The flight plan filing device provides an electronic form, such as an electronic version of FAA Form 7233-1, which may receive input from a user, such as a pilot of an aircraft. The completed electronic form is then transmitted to an airport server which forwards the form to a regulatory agency server which assigns a transponder code to the flight plan and stores the flight plan in association with the transponder code. The airport server further monitors for transponder signals of aircraft within a predetermined distance of the airport. When the airport server receives a transponder signal, the airport server determines whether the aircraft has landed based on the altitude indicated in the transponder signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Neal Andrews, David Bruce Kumhyr
  • Patent number: 6859721
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided to display or otherwise provide addresses in proximity to the device, and to periodically update the addresses as the navigational aid device is transported along a road. The device is adapted to be transported on a road. The device includes a processor and a memory adapted to communicate with the processor. The processor and the memory are adapted to cooperate to provide an address that is proximate to the device. Another aspect includes a method. According to one method embodiment, an address proximate to a navigational aid device is estimated and displayed on the navigational aid device. Other aspects are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Garmin Ltd.
    Inventors: Shane R. Runquist, Stephen C. Robinson, Thomas H. Walters, Mark D. Tompkins
  • Patent number: 6856871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for compensating steering-torque disturbances caused by unequal torque distribution at the front wheels of a motor vehicle with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and an active differential. In this arrangement, the magnitude of the steering-torque disturbance is determined from the torque distribution, the total torque and the steering lever and a compensation torque is exerted on the steering system by means of an active steering-servo device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Mould, Peter Redlich
  • Patent number: 6850840
    Abstract: A method is for describing and generating road networks for determining traffic information or road traffic data and/or for determining the traveling times on routes or stretches of routes by at least one mobile detector. The mobile detector includes a position determining device and a device for data communication with a control center. A road network is for determining traffic information and/or for determining the traveling time by at least one mobile detector, e.g., a vehicle. The road network and/or parts of the road network are substantially described by node and/or contour points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, PTV AG
    Inventors: Ralf Willenbrock, Hans Hubschneider, Ulrich Mehlhaus, Michael Ortgiese
  • Patent number: 6842676
    Abstract: A method for servicing a motor vehicle (10) with an electronic service tool (14) that is placed in bi-directional data communication with an electrical system in the vehicle. With the vehicle's motor not running, but with electric power being applied to the vehicle's electrical system, tool (14) is updated by transmitting from the vehicle to the tool, set data containing a current set of vehicle-related parameters stored in the vehicle. With the motor running, the vehicle is serviced with the tool using the set data transmitted to update the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Rogelio Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6842671
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling handling characteristics of a tire. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a tire having controllable handling characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Matthew Bruce Tropper
  • Patent number: 6836708
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting abnormal behaviour in a vehicle (8) with an engine having engine control module includes providing a database (20), and a vehicle analyzer (12) having a communication device (16) and an interface (14) that links the communication device (16) to a vehicle (8). Engine parameters that are retrieved through the interface (14) during driving experience are uploaded to the database (20) using the communication device (16). The database (20) analyzes the engine parameters from multiple driving experiences to establish historical data and determine normal operation of particular retrieved engine parameters based on the historical data. A vehicle (8) can be diagnosed by comparing its retrieved engine parameters with the database (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Systech International, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Pradeep R Tripathi
  • Patent number: 6836729
    Abstract: An on-vehicle navigation system is provided with a radio wave positioning apparatus (18) and a vehicle speed sensor (13) for a dead reckoning positioning. A method of detecting a vehicle speed pulse drop of a vehicle speed pulse generated by the vehicle speed sensor is provided with: a first calculation process of calculating a first physical quantity of a predetermined type such as a velocity or the like from radio wave positioning data of the radio wave positioning apparatus; a second calculation process of calculating a second physical quantity of the same type as the first physical quantity from the vehicle speed pulse; and a detection process of detecting the vehicle speed pulse drop by using a contradiction caused between the calculated first physical quantity and the calculated second physical quantity as a detection condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tanaka, Seiji Goto, Tatsuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6829531
    Abstract: A channel search in an intelligent transportation system is disclosed. A roadside unit (RSU) currently communicating with an on-board unit (OBU) or a server connected to the RSU predicts a direction in which the OBU is moving, searches or recognizes an RSU managing the predicted OBU and channel information and/or service information of the RSU, and transmits the searched or recognized information to the OBU. Therefore, when the OBU enters a new communication zone, the OBU communicates with the corresponding RSU by applying the previously received channel information. As a result, the OBU is informed of the channels of the next RSU in advance, thereby reducing a channel search time and receiving a wanted service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Byoung Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 6826463
    Abstract: An in-vehicle electronic control unit is equipped with the following: a control section for detecting a button-pushed state; a button-stuck notifying function for notifying button-stuck malfunction information that button-stuck malfunction occurs when the button-pushed state continues for more than a predetermined period; a non-volatile memory for storing the button-stuck malfunction information; and a button-stuck re-notifying function for immediately notifying the button-stuck malfunction information when the button-stuck malfunction information is stored in the memory, when the control section detects the button-pushed state, and when the electric power is turned off and then turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shuzi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6810330
    Abstract: A detector set on a motor vehicle emits a beam of light forward and receives a beam reflected from an object and determines the distance to the object. Displacement in the direction of emission of the beam is detected and corrected by recognizing the received beam as having been reflected by an overhead beam reflector of a known height of a part of the road surface and by measuring the distance to the point where the reflection has taken place. The slope of the beam-reflecting road surface may be used to determine the displacement of the direction of beam emission. The speedometer of the motor vehicle may be checked to determine whether it is running at a constant speed such that only measurements taken while the vehicle is running smoothly can be used for the calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Matsuura