Patents Examined by Atul Trivedi
  • Patent number: 11531334
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling agriculture equipment which combines geographical coordinates, machine settings, machine position, path plans, user input, and equipment parameters to generate executable commands based of a variety of different in-field agricultural operation objectives for a vehicle equipped with an automatic or electronically controlled locomotion systems capable of reading and executing the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Raven Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Josh Hurd
  • Patent number: 11529982
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided for controlling adhesion of wheels to a route surface. The control system includes one or more processors configured to determine adhesion values representative of adhesion between the wheels of a vehicle and the route surface based on angular speeds of the wheels. The one or more processors are configured to generate a target slip value for the wheels that are coupled with at least two different axles of the vehicle by processing the adhesion values and modifying the target slip value continuously in time to maximize an average value of the adhesion values of the wheels. The one or more processors also are configured to control a torque applied to at least one of the axles based on the target slip value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: FAIVELEY TRANSPORT ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Tione
  • Patent number: 11524668
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle brake system that includes an actuatable brake master cylinder, a hydraulic brake booster, and at least one brake circuit that has at least one hydraulically actuatable wheel brake and at least one hydraulic-pressure generator driven by electric motor. The method includes monitoring a state of actuation of the brake master cylinder is monitored, and, upon detecting a maximum state of actuation, activating the hydraulic-pressure generator to increase the hydraulic pressure adjusted by the brake master cylinder in the brake circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Reize, Dino Harrer, Stefan Epple
  • Patent number: 11518390
    Abstract: A histogram is calculated based on a road surface image of a portion around a vehicle, and the histogram is separated into a histogram that represents an in-sunlight road surface and includes a first peak value and a histogram that represents a shadow road surface and includes a second peak value to output the histograms, thereby further enhancing the accuracy of road surface detection around the vehicle as compared with conventional art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujiyoshi, Kohei Mori
  • Patent number: 11520354
    Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be dynamically directed to rendezvous with autonomous vehicle trains or convoys. Current location and/or route information of the Autonomous Vehicle Train (AVT) may be received by an autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may compare its current location and/or route information to determine a rendezvous point with the AVT. The autonomous vehicle may route itself to the rendezvous point with the AVT. Once there, the autonomous vehicle may verify the identification of the AVT, such as by using sensors/cameras to verify a lead vehicle of the AVT (e.g., by verifying make/model, color, and/or license plate). The autonomous vehicle and lead vehicle may communicate to allow the autonomous vehicle to join the AVT. A minimum level of autonomous vehicle functionality may be verified prior to the autonomous vehicle being allowed to join the AVT. As a result, vehicle traffic flow and travel experience by passengers may be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven J Harris, Theobolt N Leung, Jay T Hieb
  • Patent number: 11513028
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing an elastic deformation of a hollow element, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one sensor that is arranged in a watertight capsule which is connected in a watertight manner to a connector device comprising at least one watertight electrical connector that is electrically connected to the at least one sensor, the at least one watertight electrical connector forming a first waterproof barrier of the connector device between an outside of the watertight capsule and the at least one sensor, and wherein the connector device comprises at least one further waterproof barrier that is formed between the first waterproof barrier and the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS, LIEBHERR AEROSPACE LINDENBERG GMBH
    Inventors: Jacques Bellera, Patrick Hellio, Nicolas Queiras, Marcelo Duval, Tobias Storz
  • Patent number: 11514810
    Abstract: A method of providing visual feedback to a driver based on data collected during vehicle operation. A processor at the vehicle analyzes vehicle data and determines when predetermined threshold values have been reached for particular parameters. Whenever such a threshold is reached, an audible indication is provided to the driver, indicating that the baseline has been exceeded. Certain parameters have at least two threshold values. When a first threshold value is reached, an alert is presented to the driver, but no data is recorded or reported. When a second threshold value is reached, another alert is presented to the driver, and data is recorded for reporting to a driver manager or supervisor. This approach provides a driver warning, that if they correct the triggering behavior, their supervisor is never notified of that behavior. However, if the behavior escalates, and the second threshold is breached, the behavior is recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Michael McQuade, Michael Charles King
  • Patent number: 11511710
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a braking device for a vehicle. It is the purpose of the present invention to enable automatic braking upon detection of a braking action of a preceding vehicle which is concealed by an obstacle. The braking device for a vehicle according to the invention, comprises a brake pedal, a brake actuator, a control unit which is adapted to activate the brake actuator in dependence on the position of the brake pedal; wherein the brake actuator is activatable in dependence on a first signal, and wherein the first signal contains information about a first characteristic of a preceding vehicle covered by an obstacle, characterized in that the braking device is adapted to receive the first signal from a stationary transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: Marco Scheffler
  • Patent number: 11511735
    Abstract: There is provided a signal processing apparatus, a signal processing method for appropriate driving control. The signal processing apparatus includes a safety determination unit that determines safety of a preceding vehicle on a basis of sensor-related information related to a sensor provided in the preceding vehicle, the sensor being relevant to a safety function, and a control signal generation unit that generates, on a basis of a result of the determination of the safety, a control signal for controlling a host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yukawa, Noriko Tanaka, Asako Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11505168
    Abstract: First target braking forces for front and rear wheels are calculated by distributing a target braking force of automatic braking to the front and rear wheels at a first front/rear wheel distribution ratio when braking operation is started by a driver during execution of the automatic braking control, second target braking forces for the front and rear wheels are calculated by distributing the braking force requested by the driver to the front and rear wheels at a second front/rear wheel distribution ratio preset to be different from the first front/rear wheel distribution ratio such that a pitch moment applied to a vehicle body due to braking forces of the front and rear wheels becomes zero, and braking forces of the front and rear wheels are controlled so as to be sums of the first and second target braking forces of the front and rear wheels, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Akahane
  • Patent number: 11499838
    Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program product may be provided for providing traffic data to a client device. The system may receive from the client device, a request for traffic data corresponding to road segments of at least one map area, said request identifying the at least one map area and determine road segment identifiers corresponding to each of the road segments of the at least one map area and determine traffic data for at least a portion of the road segment identifiers, said traffic data obtained from a traffic data source. The system may further determine a plurality of traffic ranges based on the obtained traffic data and generate a bloom filter set, each bloom filter of the bloom filter set corresponding to a traffic range of the plurality of traffic ranges, wherein each bloom filter encodes road segment identifiers corresponding to the respective traffic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Raul Cajias, Daniel Rolf
  • Patent number: 11498533
    Abstract: There is presented a method for controlling an activation threshold of a safety system of a vehicle. The method comprises receiving map data from a remote data repository, said map data comprising a geographical location of a dynamic object located in a surrounding area of an expected path of the vehicle, determining a geographical location of the vehicle by means of a localization system of the vehicle, and lowering an activation threshold value of the safety system when the geographical location of the vehicle is within a predefined distance from the dynamic object. The presented method provides for an efficient means for preparing e.g. an emergency brake assist system of a vehicle in potentially critical situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Zenuity AB
    Inventor: Sten Henrik Ahnfalk
  • Patent number: 11492783
    Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body mounted on the lower traveling body; and a receiver, a direction detecting device, a controller, and a display device mounted on the upper turning body, wherein the receiver is configured to receive an image captured by a camera-mounted autonomous aerial vehicle, the direction detecting device is configured to detect a direction of the shovel, the controller is configured to generate information related to a target rotation angle of the camera-mounted autonomous aerial vehicle based on the direction of the shovel, and the display device is configured to display the captured image in a same direction as a direction of an image that is captured when the camera-mounted autonomous aerial vehicle rotates by the target rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nishi, Sou Sakuta, Takaaki Morimoto, Takeya Izumikawa
  • Patent number: 11487289
    Abstract: Techniques are described for repairing an autonomous vehicle. One of the methods includes receiving a message that an autonomous vehicle requires repair, the message including a time period during which the autonomous vehicle is available for repair. The method includes scheduling a time for the repair with a third-party, the third party having an address. The method also includes directing the autonomous vehicle to autonomously drive to the address at the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Cameron Paul, Paul Joseph Craig
  • Patent number: 11475765
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a driver assistance system for determining the position of a stopping point of a vehicle at an infrastructure device comprising: a control unit; a communication device for receiving data from a server or from the infrastructure device; and a sensor arrangement for capturing vehicle data or environmental data. The control unit determines the location of the stopping point at the infrastructure device based at least in part on the data and the vehicle data or environmental data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Grubwinkier
  • Patent number: 11470760
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle monitoring system includes one or more noncontact sensors configured to sense multiple objects along a scanline. A comparative vehicle monitor is in communication with the one or more noncontact sensors. The comparative vehicle monitor is configured to provide a specified row width and to identify one or more crop rows from the scan line and determine one or more lengths of scan line segments between identified crop rows. The comparative vehicle monitor is further configured to determine a vehicle position including one or more of a vehicle angle or a vehicle location according to the specified row width and the one or more determined lengths of scan line segments between the identified crop rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Raven Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Van Roekel, Alex John Weidenbach, John D. Preheim, Drew John Waltner, Joel Quentin Quanbeck
  • Patent number: 11474240
    Abstract: A golf rangefinder system comprises a GPS golf rangefinder device and an accessory. The golf rangefinder device comprises a housing defining a forward housing portion with a display screen viewable therein, and a rearward housing portion with a convexity projecting therefrom. A magnet centrally positioned at a distal most portion of the convexity. The accessory includes a clip with a hook-shaped member and a receptacle portion for mating with the convexity of the housing of the golf rangefinder device. A second magnet is positioned in a recess in the receptacle portion. The receptacle portion configured as a concavity and conforming to the convexity of the rangefinder device whereby when the accessory and rangefinder device are in proximity with each other they are magnetically coupled with the convexity positioned in the concavity. The accessory and rangefinder slidably rotatable and movable with respect to one another while still maintaining the magnetic coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Bushnell Inc.
    Inventors: John DeCastro, Ryne Fisher, Scott O. Nyhart, Timothy J. Tiel
  • Patent number: 11468774
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooperative ramp merger are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a swarm module, position module, identification module, constraint module, and cooperative module. The swarm module causes a host vehicle to join cooperating vehicles of proximate vehicles to assist the merging vehicle. A position module identifies relative positions of the host vehicle and the proximate vehicles. An identification module selects a role for the host vehicle based on the relative positions of the host vehicle and the cooperating vehicles and identifies a duplicate role. A constraint module calculates a merge location area based on the relative positions of the host vehicle and the proximate vehicles and the ramp location and a duplicate sequence based on the duplicate role. A cooperative module determines a cooperative action for the host vehicle based on the role of the host vehicle, the merge location area, and the duplicate role.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soroush Jalali, Hossein Nourkhiz Mahjoub, Yasir Khudhair Al-Nadawi
  • Patent number: 11458890
    Abstract: A warning condition adjusting apparatus may include: a determination unit configured to determine whether a parking direction of an ego vehicle is a first direction or a second direction, using traveling information of a target vehicle; and a change unit configured to maintain a preset warning condition of a rear cross collision warning (RCCW) system when the parking direction of the ego vehicle is the first direction, and change the warning condition of the RCCW system when the parking direction of the ego vehicle is the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eun Seok Kang
  • Patent number: 11453387
    Abstract: A surface characterization system includes an active suspension a system with a wheel controller to control a first and second wheel of a vehicle where the active suspension causes a difference in loading between the first and second wheel. The wheel controller may cause the first wheel to slow and receive a signal indicative of a change of state of the vehicle. The wheel controller may cause the second wheel to oppose the change of state caused by the first wheel. The surface characterization system may estimate tire-surface parameterization data associated with the first tire and a surface upon which the vehicle is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Andreas Huennekens, David Martins Belo, Johannes Edren