Patents Examined by Edward J. Pipala
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Patent number: 9710290Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a software component, which transmits a setting command for setting an actuator on a control system of a motor vehicle, to the control system, the coupling device including a monitoring unit, which is designed to carry out an assessment for each setting command as to whether its implementation will transfer the motor vehicle into a dangerous state, the coupling device being further designed to transmit, as a function of this assessment, a monitored setting command corresponding to the setting command to an implementation unit, the implementation unit being designed to control the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jochen Ulrich Haenger, Markus Schweizer, Carsten Gebauer, Bernd Mueller, Christian Lasarczyk, Thomas Heinz, Rakshith Amarnath
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Patent number: 9709983Abstract: This unit implements a remote-control console (20) supporting a tablet (18). The console comprises a TX/RX module (48) interfaced with a TX/RX module (50) of the tablet to form a first Wi-Fi local network, which is a short-range standard network. The console comprises another specific TX/RX module (54), interfaced with an TX/RX module (58) of the drone (10) to form a second Wi-Fi local network, which is an optimized long-range network, both being networks operating on non-shared channels. A bidirectional routing module (78) ensures the interfacing between the two Wi-Fi networks, to allow the transparent exchange of data between the drone (10) and the tablet (18), as well as with levers and buttons of the console (64, 66) or with a peripheral (80) connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Parrot DronesInventors: Henri Seydoux, Arsene Ferrand, Nicolas Brulez, Farid Zaouia
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Patent number: 9701241Abstract: A system and method for early detection of turning intent and automatic actuation of a turn signal in a vehicle is provided. The system has an image recognition system and turn determination unit for identifying turn predictors and processing them to determine if a turn is about to happen. In response, a corresponding turn signal is automatically initiated for a predetermined period of time, and further vehicle systems can be updated.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Volkswagen AG and Audi AGInventors: Kaushik Raghu, Premkumar Natarajan
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Patent number: 9694796Abstract: A hill-hold control system for a vehicle. The hill-hold control system includes a first wheel brake (120A, 120B), a second wheel brake (120C, 120D), a braking indicator (brake pedal), a drive away indicator (accelerator), and a controller (130). The controller is configured to determine that the vehicle is at standstill, detect from the braking indicator that braking is no longer desired, adjust a braking pressure at the first wheel brake, adjust a braking pressure at the second wheel brake, detect from the drive away indicator an operator's desire to drive away, and when the operator's desire to drive away is detected, removing the braking pressure at the first wheel brake and the braking pressure at the second wheel brake.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jiamu Hu, James Timpa, Joseph J. Anderson, Dushyant Wadivkar, Arthur Stephenson, Nick LaPlaca
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Patent number: 9694674Abstract: A fuel system comprises a fuel tank including at least a top wall, a bottom wall, and one or more stanchions positioned within the fuel tank, each stanchion coupled to the top wall and the bottom wall. A strain gauge is positioned on the outside of the fuel tank, opposite an intersection of a stanchion and the top wall, such that degradation of the stanchion results in results in pressure-dependent deformation of the fuel tank that is registered by the strain gauge. In this way, degradation of deformable fuel tanks, such as polymeric fuel tanks, may be diagnosed and indicated.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aed M. Dudar, Scott A. Bohr, Kevin Lucka, Wolfgang Krings
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Patent number: 9696159Abstract: A system and method for providing directional information to a user using existing infrastructure elements (150) is disclosed. The method comprising determining a route of infrastructure elements (150) between a current location and a remote location, wherein the current location is associated a first element in the route and the last element in the route being closest to the remote location, wherein each of the elements in the route are identified by at least one of: a physical identification and a data identification, and providing a visual indication, progressively, to each of the infrastructure elements in the route at a predetermined time and for a determined period, wherein the progressive display of the visual indication provides for direction control information.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.Inventors: Hongxin Chen, Engel Johannes Knibbe, Xin Ge, Dan Jiang, Yong Qin Zeng, Lei Feng
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Patent number: 9688266Abstract: A torque-generating system includes one or more torque-generating devices, a transmission having an output member, and a controller. The controller executes a method to control an operation of the system when the output member is operating at zero output speed. The controller is programmed to determine a torque request level and an actual speed of the output member, and an effective speed of the output member, as a calibrated non-zero value, using the torque request level when the determined actual speed is zero. The controller calculates an effective power of the powertrain using the effective speed and torque request level. A control action is executed with respect to the powertrain using the calculated effective power, including transmitting powertrain control signals to the torque-generating device(s) to select an appropriate powertrain operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: John J. Janczak, Eric Piper, Jeffrey J. Waldner
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Patent number: 9682689Abstract: An intelligent emergency braking system for a vehicle includes a camera, an ultrasonic transceiver of a parking aid system, and a computer. The camera is configured to provide captured image data, and the transceivers are configured to provide transceiver data. The computer processes the image and transceiver data and invokes automatic braking if the following conditions exist: the confidence with which the computer calculates that a detected object is a person or is an object vehicle exceeds a first predetermined level, and the ultrasonic transceiver provides the computer with transceiver data consistent with the object detected through the captured image data.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Dirk Parker, Kevin Cockings, Mark Cund
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Patent number: 9682624Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for managing the power consumption of an automotive vehicle, and thereby for optimizing the power consumption of the vehicle. The devices and systems for managing the power consumption of the vehicle typically include power management logic that can calculate an applied power for the vehicle engine based on information provided from the external environment of the vehicle, the operational status of the vehicle, one or more command inputs from a driver, and one or more operational parameters of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Invent.ly, LLCInventors: Martin Koebler, Jason H. Harper, Stephen J. Brown, Nicole G. Goldstein
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Patent number: 9676293Abstract: An electric vehicle driving force control device capable of decreasing discrepancy generated between a driver's acceleration pedal operation and output torque actually generated by a drive motor is provided. The electric vehicle driving force control device includes target torque setting unit 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 for setting target torque by limiting an upper limit of a target torque basic value from the target torque basic value and the maximum discharge power equivalent motor torque. The target torque setting unit corrects the target torque basic value such that, on a graph indicating a relationship between an acceleration opening and the target torque, an acceleration opening generating a limited target torque shifts to an acceleration opening side greater than the acceleration opening, and target torque smaller than the target torque basic value is generated in an accelerator opening region which is smaller than the limited accelerator opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATIONInventor: Kensuke Osamura
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Patent number: 9675505Abstract: A system for preventing fall-related injuries is described. The system comprises a re-useable airbag which can be mounted on a wheelchair, power chair, stroller or scooter or can be design as a hip protector to be put on a waist of a wearer. The system further comprises a fall detection unit that can automatically trigger inflation of the airbag system in case of a fall.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: MOBISAFE SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Siamak Arzanpour, Maryam Soleimani, Arina Aboonabi
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Patent number: 9658075Abstract: A travel assist system, a travel assist method, and a computer program that prevent frequent corrections of a travel plan due to variations in congestion information are provided. Congestion information is acquired from a VICS center. The current state of a vehicle is acquired. It is determined whether or not the congestion status of an expected travel route for the vehicle has been varied from the congestion information using a criterion based on the state of the vehicle. In the case where it is determined that the congestion status of the expected travel route has been varied, the travel plan 48 is corrected using the congestion status after the variation.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta Sanami, Takayuki Miyajima, Satoshi Hirano, Akira Matsuda, Tomoki Kodan, Kuniaki Tanaka
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Patent number: 9631943Abstract: A system for identifying a landmark for use in autonomous vehicle navigation is provided. The system includes at least one processor programmed to receive at least one identifier associated with the landmark; associate the landmark with a corresponding road segment; update an autonomous vehicle road navigation model relative to the corresponding road segment to include the at least one identifier associated with the landmark; and distribute the updated autonomous vehicle road navigation model to a plurality of autonomous vehicles. The at least one identifier is determined based on acquisition, from a camera associated with a host vehicle, of at least one image representative of an environment of the host vehicle; analysis of the at least one image to identify the landmark in the environment of the host vehicle; and analysis of the at least one image to determine the at least one identifier associated with the landmark.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.Inventors: Amnon Shashua, Shai Shalev-Shwartz
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Patent number: 9631932Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for mapping. In one aspect there is provided a method which may include sampling a position and a viewpoint of a three-dimensional map view presented at a browser while traversing the three-dimensional map; sending to a database a query including the sampled position and the sampled viewpoint; and receiving, in response to the sent query, a recommended browsing path including a recommended position and a recommended viewpoint for traversing the three-dimensional map presented at the browser. The recommended browsing path represents an aggregation including crowd-sourced information for position and viewpoint. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Lixin Fan, Kimmo Tapio Roimela, Yu You
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Patent number: 9606540Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, a method for environmental based localization may include capturing an input image of a ceiling comprising a plurality of skylights. Features can be extracted from the input image. The features can be grouped into a plurality of feature groups such that each of the feature groups is associated with one of the skylights. Line segments can be extracted from the features of each feature group, automatically, with one or more processors executing a feature extraction algorithm on each feature group separately. At least two selected lines of the line segments of each feature groups can be selected. A centerline for each of the feature groups can be determined based at least in part upon the two selected lines. The center line of each of the feature groups can be associated with one of the skylights.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Crown Equipment CorporationInventors: Mark Bell, Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lucas B. Waltz, Jacob Thomson
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Patent number: 9581454Abstract: A route information processing apparatus includes: a processor configured to execute a program; and a memory configured to store the program, wherein, based on the program, the processor performs operations to: calculate maximum values corresponding to a Frechet distance between one line segment of one or more line segments between observation points included in a trajectory and each of sets of two nodes corresponding to the one line segment, the nodes being included in a route graph including linked paths which link nodes; and acquire a path corresponding to the trajectory having a smallest value among the maximum values of the one or more line segments.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Junichi Shigezumi, Tatsuya Asai, Hiroaki Morikawa, Hiroya Inakoshi
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Patent number: 9581453Abstract: A method for making available at least one position information item about a parked motor vehicle is disclosed, wherein a detector device of the motor vehicle detects the motor vehicle driving into a multi-level parking garage, and as a result of the detection of the driving in, transmission of at least one current first position information item by the motor vehicle to a vehicle-external central data-processing device is triggered. Furthermore, in the case of reception of the first position information item by the central data-processing device of the at least one first position information item, this information item is stored by the central data processing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Peter Lacher
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Patent number: 9557177Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-sensor merging based super-close distance autonomous navigation apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a sensor subsystem, an information merging subsystem, a sensor scanning structure, and an orientation guiding structure, wherein a visible light imaging sensor and an infrared imaging sensor are combined together, and data are acquired by combining a passive measurement mode composed of an optical imaging sensor and an active measurement mode composed of a laser distance measuring sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyInventors: Tianxu Zhang, Sufei Fan, Yimeng Chen, Heng Yao, Zhengtao Li, Zheng Wang, Wei Huang, Zhenghua Huang
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Patent number: 9551586Abstract: A contextual description of the arrival location can be determined based on individual or combined attributes, which include (i) a text-based identifier of one or more of the multiple places, and (ii) a spatial relationship as between one or more of the places, or as between the multiple places and the arrival location. The contextual description can be provided for a navigation interface of a computing device used by the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Fei Guo
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Patent number: 9546881Abstract: A control method of a server is provided. Location information is extracted from photographed data. The photographed data is linked to a course of travel having a pre-stored street image, by applying a predetermined standard based on the extracted location information. The photographed data is provided together with the linked course of travel having the pre-stored street image.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Woo-Yong Chang, Seung-dong Yu, Se-jun Park, Min-jeong Moon