Patents Examined by Atul Trivedi
  • Patent number: 11453335
    Abstract: An intelligent ultrasonic system may include: a camera sensor unit configured to take an image of a road ahead of a driving vehicle; an ultrasonic signal input unit configured to receive an ultrasonic signal sensed through one or more ultrasonic sensors mounted on the vehicle; a feature extraction unit configured to extract a feature of the received ultrasonic signal; a data collision unit configured to collect one or more data related to a surrounding situation of the road on which the vehicle is driven; and a control unit configured to divide the surrounding situation into two or more classes based on the one or more data collected through the data collection unit, and change or reset an existing parameter to a parameter corresponding to any one class of the classes when the surrounding situation corresponds to the one class or is changed to the one class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyu Hoon Lee, Ji Su Kim, Jang Yeol Yoon, Dong Soo Park, Jin Young Oh
  • Patent number: 11449053
    Abstract: An autonomous driving system includes: a Human Machine Interface; and a control device configured to control autonomous driving of a vehicle, present a first operation instruction to a driver of the vehicle during the autonomous driving, the first operation instruction requesting the driver to perform a first response operation performed in response to a first request or a first proposal by presenting the first request or the first proposal to the driver via the Human Machine Interface, and prohibit presenting a second operation instruction different from the first operation instruction until the first response operation is completed or until a timing at which the first response operation is predicted to be completed, the second operation instruction requesting the driver to perform a second response operation performed in response to a second request or a second proposal by presenting the second request or the second proposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuta Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11442168
    Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a plurality of lidar sensors having respective fields of sensing exterior the vehicle, with the fields of sensing of first and second lidar sensors partially overlapping at an overlap region. The lidar sensors emit a respective pattern of light and provide a respective output to an ECU based on sensed light that is reflected by objects present in the field of sensing of the respective lidar sensor. The pattern of light emitted by the second lidar sensor differs from the pattern of light emitted by the first lidar sensor. The ECU determines misalignment of the second lidar sensor relative to the first lidar sensor based at least in part on the light sensed by each of the lidar sensors that is reflected by an object present in the overlap region when the respective pattern of light is emitted by the respective lidar sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Peter Nicke, Benjamin May
  • Patent number: 11440471
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system perceives an environment surrounding an ADV including a vehicle in front of the ADV. The system determines whether the vehicle in front is slipping backwards based on the perception. The system determines whether the vehicle in front is situated on a road with a slope based on map information. The system determines whether a tail light or a brake light of the vehicle in front is turned on based on the perception. If it is determined that the vehicle in front is situated on a sloped road, is slipping backwards, and the tail light or the brake light is not turned on, the system calculates a time to impact or a distance to impact based on the distance and speed of the vehicle in front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11440550
    Abstract: On a road on which a first lane, a second lane, and a third lane or a road shoulder are adjacent to each other, a vehicle control device executes an automatic lane change from the first lane to the second lane. In the case that a traffic regulating object that regulates passage of traffic in the third lane or on the road shoulder is placed in the third lane or on the road shoulder, and an external environment recognition unit recognizes the traffic regulating object, a lane change control unit restricts the automatic lane change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daichi Kato, Mo Zhang, Chihiro Oguro, Nozomu Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 11433903
    Abstract: Sensor and method for detecting road conditions while a vehicle is moving, the sensor comprising a dual optical frequency comb, optical means for directing the output beam of the comb towards a verification site of the road, a photodetector and receiving optics for directing the back reflected light towards the photodetector, the photodetector being provided with electronics for obtaining the RF spectrum of the detected signal and resolving the optical spectrum of the verification region from the RF spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID
    Inventors: Marta Ruiz Llata, Pablo Acedo Gallardo, Oscar Elías Bonilla Manrique, Julio Enrique Posada Román, Pedro Martín Mateos
  • Patent number: 11433900
    Abstract: A vehicle environment detection system (40) in an ego vehicle (1), including a sensor arrangement (4) and a main control unit (8) is arranged to detect and track at least one oncoming vehicle (9), and to determine whether the ego vehicle (1) has entered a curve (17). The main control unit (8) is arranged to determine a common curve (12) with a radius (R), along which common curve (12) the ego vehicle (1) is assumed to travel, determine a measured oncome direction (13, 13?) of the oncoming vehicle (9) on the common curve (16), corresponding to an outcome angle (?track), determine a difference angle (?) between the measured oncome direction (13, 13?) and an oncome direction (13) corresponding to if the oncoming vehicle (9) would be moving along the common curve (12), compare the difference angle (?) with a threshold angle (?max), and to determine that the oncoming vehicle (9) is crossing if the difference angle (?) exceeds the threshold angle (?max).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Arriver Software AB
    Inventors: Michael Maas, Andreas Schmid, Christopher Unverdorben
  • Patent number: 11433861
    Abstract: A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune Kakeshita, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Kohei Morotomi
  • Patent number: 11427097
    Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to electric vehicle charging ports having integrated contactless communication units (CCUs). The electric vehicle charging ports include male and female connector assemblies that can be coupled together in a manner that enables consistent and reliable operation of contactless communications and power transfer. The connector integrates power and alignment such that when two connector assemblies are coupled together, power connections are made in combination with establishing contactless communications links between counterpart CCUs in both connector assemblies. The fixed alignment of the connector assemblies ensures that contactless communication channels, spanning between the connector assemblies, are aligned to enable consistent and reliable operation of contactless communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Roger D. Isaac, Alan Besel
  • Patent number: 11420627
    Abstract: A driving assistance device is configured to perform deceleration control in such a way that a vehicle stops at a target position determined by a deceleration target ahead of the vehicle. The driving assistance device is configured to calculate a predicted vehicle speed of the vehicle at the target position when the deceleration control is performed, based on the current vehicle speed of the vehicle, the distance to the target position, and the deceleration that varies depending on the type of the deceleration target. When the predicted vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined value, the driving assistance device is configured not to perform the deceleration control or to reduce the deceleration in the deceleration control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotada Otake
  • Patent number: 11407370
    Abstract: A vehicle computer system (e.g., on-board vehicle computer system) obtains a fuel economy performance goal for a vehicle (e.g., an engine speed goal or a vehicle speed goal) that is based on a configuration of the vehicle; calculates a count of events in which a current value exceeds the goal; compares the count of events with a threshold count; and generates one or more notifications based at least in part on the comparison (e.g., for display on an operator interface). The vehicle computer system also calculates an engine speed and a vehicle speed score for a driver of the vehicle based at least in part on comparisons of current speeds with the speed goals. Scoring and other data may be displayed or stored for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Seger, Zachary Slaton
  • Patent number: 11410557
    Abstract: A parking support device is provided which, when calculating a parking route followed by a host vehicle, calculates the parking route based on the reliability of obstacle information acquired by a sensor mounted on the host vehicle, thereby improving the convenience of a driver of the host vehicle. A parking support device 10 includes an obstacle information analysis unit 303 that recognizes an external world from external world information detected by a camera 2 and a sonar 3 that acquire the external world information, and a parking route calculation unit 304 that calculates a parking route of a host vehicle 1 based on information on an obstacle in the external world recognized by the obstacle information analysis unit 303, and the parking route calculation unit 304 sets a distance between the obstacle and the host vehicle 1 in the parking route according to a degree of reliability of information on the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsuda, Yoshiyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11400934
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooperative ramp merger are described herein. In one embodiment, a system for assisting with a merge based on a ramp location of a ramp is provided. A swarm module causes a host vehicle to join a swarm created to assist the merging vehicle in the merge maneuver. A position module identifies relative positions of the host vehicle and other members of the swarm. An identification module selects a role for the host vehicle based on the relative positions of the host vehicle and the other members of the plurality of members. A constraint module calculates a merge location area based on the relative positions of the host vehicle and the other members of the plurality of members and the ramp location. A cooperative module determines a cooperative action for the host vehicle based on the role of the host vehicle and the merge location area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soroush Jalali, Hossein Nourkhiz Mahjoub, Yasir Khudhair Al-Nadawi
  • Patent number: 11402848
    Abstract: A collision-avoidance system for use with an autonomous-capable vehicle can continuously receive image frames captured of the roadway to determine drivable space in a forward direction of the vehicle. The system can determine, for each image frame, whether individual regions of the image frame depict drivable space. The system can do so using machine-learned image recognition algorithms such as convolutional neural networks generated using extensive training data. Using such techniques, the system can label regions of the image frames as corresponding to drivable space or non-drivable space. By analyzing the labeled image frames, the system can determine whether the vehicle is likely to impact a region of non-drivable space. And, in response to such a determination, the system can generate control signals that override other control systems or human operator input to control the brakes, the steering, or other sub-systems of the vehicle to avoid the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Gray
  • Patent number: 11402221
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an autonomous navigation system which enables autonomous navigation of a vehicle along one or more portions of a driving route based on monitoring, at the vehicle, various features of the route as the vehicle is manually navigated along the route to develop a characterization of the route. The characterization is progressively updated with repeated manual navigations along the route, and autonomous navigation of the route is enabled when a confidence indicator of the characterization meets a threshold indication. Characterizations can be updated in response to the vehicle encountering changes in the route and can include a set of driving rules associated with the route, where the driving rules are developed based on monitoring the navigation of one or more vehicles of the route. Characterizations can be uploaded to a remote system which processes data to develop and refine route characterizations and provide characterizations to one or more vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Matthew E. Last, Philip J. Sieh, Benjamin Lyon
  • Patent number: 11396284
    Abstract: A system for diagnosing engine braking performance of an engine comprising a plurality of cylinders comprises an exhaust manifold pressure sensor configured to detect an exhaust manifold pressure corresponding to exhaust gas emitted from a plurality of cylinders. A controller is configured to determine an exhaust manifold pressure value corresponding to at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders that is being used for engine braking, from an exhaust manifold pressure sensor signal received from the exhaust manifold pressure sensor. The controller is also configured to determine an engine braking value based on the exhaust manifold pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Cecil, Adrian P. Dale, Anshul Shambav, Anthony K. Perfetto, David J. Stroh, J. Steven Kolhouse, Ryan E. Schultz, Samuel C. Geckler, Thomas M. Yonushonis
  • Patent number: 11390287
    Abstract: A device for identifying a road surface includes: storage for storing a deep learning-based road surface model; and a controller configured to identify a type of a road surface on which a vehicle is currently traveling, using the road surface model. The device for identifying a road surface can identify a type of a road surface on which the vehicle is traveling based on deep learning and control the terrain mode of the vehicle based on the identified type of the road surface. The type of the road surface on which the vehicle is traveling may be identified with a high accuracy and an optimal terrain mode may be set, thereby improving not only travel stability but also riding comfort of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, AJOU UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jung Mo Koo, Sang Pil Hwang, Hyung Il Koo, Yong Gyun Kim, Beom Geum Cho, So Yeon Kim, Min Sang Kim
  • Patent number: 11383679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for maintenance of a vehicle, comprising—determining (S2, S8) the position, in a fixed coordinate system, of at least one first part (2011, 4, 3011) of a vehicle, —characterized by determining (S3) the identity of the vehicle, —retrieving (S4, S10), by means of the vehicle identity, spatial data indicating how a second part (202, 2011, 4) of the vehicle is spatially related to the first part (201), and—determining (S8, S11) the position, in the fixed coordinate system, of the second part (202, 2011, 4) based at least partly on the first part position and the spatial data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Magnus Svensson
  • Patent number: 11380203
    Abstract: Recent location and control information received from “lead” vehicles that traveled over a segment of land, sea, or air is captured to inform, via aggregated data, subsequent “trailing” vehicles that travel over that same segment of land, sea, or air. The aggregated data may provide the trailing vehicles with annotated road information that identifies obstacles. In some embodiments, at least some sensor control data may be provided to the subsequent vehicles to assist those vehicles in identifying the obstacles and/or performing other tasks. Besides, obstacles, the location and control information may enable determining areas traveled by vehicles that are not included in conventional maps, as well as vehicle actions associated with particular locations, such as places where vehicles park or make other maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Ernest Canavor, Charles Edward Cartwright, Gur Kimchi, Brandon William Porter
  • Patent number: 11376916
    Abstract: A damping force of a suspension is controlled appropriately in accordance with a road surface condition. An ECU (600) includes: a road surface determining section (84) configured to determine a road surface condition; and a rolling attitude control section (682) configured to calculate a steering-based desired control variable, which is a candidate for a control variable for controlling a damping force of a suspension, in accordance with a result of the determination by the road surface determining section (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Isshiki, Eishi Ishimaru, Kyouichi Tagami, Katsutoshi Yokoi