Patents Examined by Calvin Cheung
  • Patent number: 11308812
    Abstract: A system includes a flight plan database and a flight plan engine. The flight plan database is configured to store a local flight plan. The local flight plan includes one or more flight actions associated with a plan event condition including at least one of a time, a waypoint, or a position. The flight plan engine is configured to, while a platform is in an operational state, compare the plan event condition of at least one flight action to a current event condition to determine an action state of the at least one flight action, generate a group flight plan including the at least one action based on the action state, and transmit the group flight plan to one or more remote platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason L. Langer, Mark A. Jannusch
  • Patent number: 11299237
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a wireless transmitter and an operation device. The operation device comprises a base, a brake lever, operation portions and an electronic controller. The base is to be removably attached to a handlebar. The operation portions includes first, second and third operation portions. The first operation portion is arranged on the base. The second and third operation portions are arranged adjacent to the brake lever and are disposed between the brake lever and the handlebar. At least one of the operation portions includes a lever. At least one of the operation portions includes a button. The electronic controller is configured to transmit an operation signal to the wireless transmitter upon operation of any of the operation portions to control at least one bicycle component that is any one of a shifting device, a brake device, an adjustable seatpost, a suspension and a drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Taketoshi Sato, Hideki Ikemoto, Takao Harada, Daisuke Noborio, Kazuhiro Takeda, Ryuji Abe
  • Patent number: 11300419
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices to provide estimations of vehicular pick-up/drop-off zone (PDZ) availability. A request for vehicular PDZ availability at a location is received from a vehicular autonomy system of a vehicle. The request specifies an estimated time of arrival at the location. The PDZ availability at the location at the estimated time of arrival is estimated using a probabilistic model. A response to the request is generated based on the estimated PDZ availability. The response indicates the estimated PDZ availability. The response is transmitted to the vehicular autonomy system responsive to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shenglong Gao, Brent Goldman, Konrad Julian Niemiec, Michael Voznesensky
  • Patent number: 11294395
    Abstract: An accompanying vehicle selection system includes: a first vehicle that is provided with a driver's seat; a plurality of second vehicles that have different functions from the first vehicle, and that are configured to travel in accompaniment with the first vehicle; and a control unit that is provided in the first vehicle, and that determines, based on input information, which vehicle from among the plurality of second vehicles is to travel in accompaniment with the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamada, Masaki Ito, Shotaro Inoue, Akihiro Muguruma, Michio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11292458
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating trajectories for a vehicle user interface showing a driver's perspective view. Methods include generating an ego-vehicle predicted trajectory for an ego-vehicle; and generating at least one road agent predicted trajectory for a road agent that is external to the ego-vehicle. After the predicted trajectories are generated, the method continues by determining that at least one predicted trajectory overlaps either an object or another predicted trajectory, when displayed on the user interface showing a driver's perspective view. The method includes modifying the at least one road agent predicted trajectory to remove the overlap. The method then proceeds with updating a display of the user interface to include any modified road agent predicted trajectory. Systems include a trajectory-prediction module to execute the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Maiko Hirano, Yusuke Sawamura
  • Patent number: 11297042
    Abstract: An example apparatus comprises a memory resource configured to store a private key associated with a vehicle and store a data matrix comprising data corresponding to operation of the vehicle. The apparatus may further include a processing resource configured to generate a first secure message comprising data corresponding to the vehicle, transmit the first secure message, receive a second secure message comprising an updated data matrix, and update the data matrix based, at least in part, on the updated data matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Troia, Antonino Mondello
  • Patent number: 11293762
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program product for generating updated map data are provided. The method comprises obtaining first sensor data associated with a plurality of first road signs within a geographic region, obtaining second sensor data associated with the geographic region, and determining a sign matching efficiency for the geographic region, based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data. The method further comprises generating the updated map data, based on the determined sign matching efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Leon Stenneth, Ram Marappan, Danny Savla, Deekshant Saxena, Pranil Pandit
  • Patent number: 11285834
    Abstract: The vehicle condition monitoring and diagnosis method includes the steps of preparing a wired communication path between a gateway and the charger of a vehicle, initiating first communication to charge a battery supplying power to a driving motor between the gateway and the charger through the wired communication path, initiating charging according to a result of the first communication, receiving, by the gateway, a vehicle condition monitoring and diagnosis request from the charger through the first communication, and connecting the gateway to the charger through second communication to transmit vehicle condition monitoring and diagnostic information separately from the charging through the wired communication path, if the gateway is capable of performing vehicle condition monitoring and diagnosis according to the vehicle condition monitoring and diagnosis request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventors: Hae Yun Kwon, So Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 11273830
    Abstract: An object of the vehicle control device according to the present invention is to provide a driver with acceleration/deceleration control of a vehicle with less discomfort even in a situation where correction of measurement of an inter-vehicle distance is required due to a temperature change or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11275376
    Abstract: Large-scale unmanned monitoring devices, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), drones or rovers capable of operating within environmental conditions not suitable for human personnel and lesser capable monitoring devices may inspect system components within an area of interest (AOI) such an electric power distribution system including generation, transmission, and distribution elements for autonomous detection of damage to the components. The large-scale unmanned monitoring devices may inspect the system components while the environmental conditions are occurring. Work orders for repairing the damage are autonomously generated and resources identified within the work orders are autonomously provisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Florida Power & Light Company
    Inventors: Iliana Maria Rentz, Eric D. Schwartz, Jeffrey D. Dubs
  • Patent number: 11268820
    Abstract: A route generator and method of operating the same including; calculating route traversal values for a plurality of blocks in a first group simultaneously, each block including a plurality of cells, traversal values being values that consider terrain movement cost data and data indicating progress towards a route endpoint on a per-cell basis, wherein the plurality of blocks are chosen such that the blocks in the first group fail to share any edges with other blocks in the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Erik S. Freed
  • Patent number: 11270528
    Abstract: A vehicle maintenance scheduling and fault monitoring apparatus includes a vehicle system maintenance rules generation module and a vehicle system fault detection module. The rules generation module determines a correlation between pairs of precedent historical vehicle fault data, of historical time-stamped vehicle fault data, and a subsequent different historical vehicle fault data, and generates vehicle system maintenance rules based on the correlation determined for the pairs of the precedent historical vehicle fault data and the subsequent different historical vehicle fault data. The fault detection module monitors faults of the vehicle system, determines an imminent occurrence of a subsequent vehicle fault, based on application of the vehicle system maintenance rules to the plurality of time-stamped precedent vehicle fault data, and generates a maintenance report corresponding to the imminent occurrence of the subsequent vehicle fault so that proactive maintenance is performed on the vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nile Hanov, James M. Ethington, Liessman E. Sturlaugson
  • Patent number: 11266058
    Abstract: An agricultural machine performs a prescribed agricultural operation in a field. The machine is controlled to change the agricultural operation to a check strip operation. A location where the check strip operation is commenced is sensed and a location where the check strip operation ceases is also sensed. A dimension of the check strip, and its location, are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Brian Storm, Cowan L. Wasser, Jonathan D. Fauser, Douglas J. Feldmann, Ray M. Scheufler, Matt P. Stemper, Darin S Krantz
  • Patent number: 11260857
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode or an autonomous vehicle. For instance, a polygon representative of the shape and location of a first object may be received. A polyline contour representation of a portion of a polygon representative of the shape and location of a second object may be received. The polyline contour representation may be in half-plane coordinates and including a plurality of vertices and line segments. Coordinates of the polygon representative of the first object may be converted to the half-plane coordinate system. A collision location between the polyline contour representation and the polygon representative of the first object may be determined using the converted coordinates. The autonomous vehicle may be controlled in the autonomous driving mode to avoid a collision based on the collision location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Dong Li, Victor Puchkarev
  • Patent number: 11260856
    Abstract: An information display device includes a surrounding environment detector, a vehicle information acquirer, a predictor, an avoidance path provider, and an information display. The surrounding environment detector detects position relevant information related to a position of at least a surrounding object in a surrounding environment of a vehicle. The vehicle information acquirer detects vehicle information including a speed and a steering direction of the vehicle. The predictor predicts a contact of the vehicle with the surrounding object, based on the position relevant information and the vehicle information. When the predictor has predicted that there is a possibility of the contact of the vehicle with the surrounding object, the avoidance path provider assumes an avoidance path for avoiding the contact, based on the position relevant information and the vehicle information. The information display displays the avoidance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tokunaga, Nobuyuki Nakano, Toshiya Mori
  • Patent number: 11255688
    Abstract: A system and method provides a route and turn-by-turn directions based on estimates of current and future traffic along the route. A client device may request turn-by-turn directions between an initial and a final location. A server may identify a plurality of routes between the locations. Each route of the plurality of routes may be divided into route segments. For each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a travel time. The travel time may be based on estimated vehicle volume data generated from information received from other users vehicle Based on the estimated travel time for each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a total travel time for the particular route. The server may repeat this estimate for each of the plurality of routes between the locations and select the route with the lowest estimated travel time. Based on the selected route, the server may generate turn-by-turn directions and transmit the directions to the client device for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: David M. Barth
  • Patent number: 11256271
    Abstract: An example method involves determining an expected demand level for a first type of a plurality of types of transport tasks for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the first type of transport tasks associated with a first payload type. Each of the UAVs is physically reconfigurable between at least a first and a second configuration corresponding to the first payload type and a second payload type, respectively. The method also involves determining based on the expected demand level for the first type of transport tasks, (i) a first number of UAVs having the first configuration and (ii) a second number of UAVs having the second configuration. The method further involves, at or near a time corresponding to the expected demand level, providing one or more UAVs to perform the transport tasks, including at least the first number of UAVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC
    Inventors: Jesse Blake, James Schmalzried, Scott Velez, Andre Prager, Eric Teller, Matthew Nubbe
  • Patent number: 11225165
    Abstract: A system includes a first battery in a vehicle. The vehicle is capable of being coupled at least temporarily with a second, removable battery and is powered by at least one of the first or the second battery. The system also includes a controller in the vehicle which is configured to estimate an amount of travel-related charge based at least in part on a pickup and drop off location. It is decided whether to charge the first battery using the second battery based at least in part on the amount of travel-related charge and a measured amount of stored charge in the second battery. If it is decided to do so, the first battery is charged using the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thrun, Damon Vander Lind
  • Patent number: 11226626
    Abstract: The technology relates to detecting a person directing traffic. For instance, a first vehicle may be controlled in an autonomous driving mode. Sensor data is received from a perception system of the first vehicle, the sensor data identifying a person. Behavior of the person is observed using the sensor data. The observed behavior of the person and the observed behavior of a second vehicle are used to determine a likelihood value indicative of whether the person is directing traffic. The first vehicle is maneuvered in the autonomous driving mode based on the determined likelihood value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: David Harrison Silver, Carl Kershaw, Pankaj Chaudhari
  • Patent number: 11226631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for controlling speed of a shuttle vehicle, and a shuttle vehicle, and relates to the field of control. The method includes: controlling the shuttle vehicle to perform an accelerated motion from a starting point of a specified displacement at a initial speed, wherein the accelerated motion comprises a first accelerated motion with the acceleration increasing with time is performed at first, and a second accelerated motion with the acceleration decreasing with time is performed; controlling the shuttle vehicle to perform an uniform motion; and controlling the shuttle vehicle to perform a decelerated motion, wherein the decelerated motion comprises a first decelerated motion with the acceleration decreasing with time is performed at first, and a second decelerated motion with the acceleration increasing with time is performed, and the shuttle vehicle arrives at a destination of the specified displacement at an end speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING JINGDONG QIANSHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaotao Chen