Patents Examined by Faris S Almatrahi
  • Patent number: 11479220
    Abstract: A system includes a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a braking distance based on a gap distance between a primary vehicle and a second vehicle in an adjacent lane, and based on a speed of the second vehicle in the adjacent lane. The instructions include instructions to actuate a braking system of the primary vehicle when the primary vehicle is the braking distance from a third vehicle in a same lane as the primary vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Grant Patrick Mayer
  • Patent number: 11479284
    Abstract: A system and method for automated return of shopping carts includes a motorized, remotely controllable push cart affixed to a back end of a row of nested shopping carts. An intelligent navigational lead cart is placed at a front end of the shopping carts. The lead cart enables operation of the push cart and steers the nested shopping carts to a desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Huu Lam, Jeffrey Wong
  • Patent number: 11479123
    Abstract: A vehicle management system (VMS) computer includes a power distribution controller that includes a plurality of power distribution circuits that are each controlled by the controller to supply power to end component loads. The power distribution controller is communicably coupled to a data processing system by a bus. The VMS computer also includes a plurality of settable circuit breakers, wherein each of the plurality of settable circuit breakers corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of power distribution circuits. The power distribution controller is configured to monitor various values such as voltages, currents, powers, power spikes, and interruptions and to interrupt a respective one of the plurality of power distribution circuits via a settable circuit breaker upon detecting an indication of a fault from the monitored values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory Lloyd Sheffield, Femando Dones, Joseph A. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11474527
    Abstract: There is provided a moving apparatus which includes a control unit that executes traveling control of the moving apparatus, an upper unit that has an article storage unit, and a lower unit that houses the control unit and a drive unit. The upper unit has an upper sensor that detects an obstacle in surroundings at a position of at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface position, and the lower unit has a lower sensor that detects an obstacle in a proximity area of a traveling surface of the moving apparatus. The control unit inputs sensor detection information, detects an obstacle in surroundings of the moving apparatus, executes traveling control to avoid contact with the obstacle, and performs control to display a traveling route recognition display line that indicates a traveling route of the moving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Katayama, Takahito Migita, Yoshinao Sodeyama, Junichiro Misawa, Tatsuma Sakurai, Katsutoshi Kanamori
  • Patent number: 11466435
    Abstract: A work machine (1) having a controller (40) that can perform area limiting control, the work machine further includes a machine control ON/OFF switch (17) that alternatively selects an ON position permitting execution of the area limiting control and an OFF position prohibiting execution of the area limiting control. The controller (40) has an engine control section (63) that performs automatic idling control when a predetermined period of time (T1) has elapsed after a point in time when all of operation levers (1, 23) have attained a neutral state. The engine control section (63) is configured to execute the automatic idling control during when the switch (17) is in the OFF position and not to execute the automatic idling control during when the switch (17) is in the ON position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiho Izumi, Shuuichi Meguriya, Ryuu Narikawa, Kouji Ishikawa, Tarou Akita
  • Patent number: 11447933
    Abstract: A control system for a work vehicle includes a controller. The controller determines a work zone at a work site. The controller determines a target design topography at least partially positioned below an actual topography at the work site. The controller specifies a non-work zone. The non-work zone is a portion in which the actual topography is positioned below the target design topography in the work zone. The controller modifies the work zone based on the non-work zone. The controller generates a command signal to operate a work implement of the work vehicle according to the modified work zone and the target design topography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takaoka, Kazuki Kure
  • Patent number: 11442467
    Abstract: Disclosed subject matter relates to field of vehicle navigation system that performs a method of generating trajectory for navigating an autonomous vehicle. A trajectory generating system associated with autonomous vehicle detects Points of Interest (POIs) for a selected segment which is at predefined distance from current position of autonomous vehicle, in real-time. Further, features of each of the POIs are determined and first level trajectory is generated for selected segment based on features of POIs proximal to selected segment. Furthermore, the trajectory generating system generates second level trajectory for portions of first level trajectory from current position of autonomous vehicle by modifying each portion based on real-time environment data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventors: Manas Sarkar, Balaji Sunil Kumar
  • Patent number: 11435202
    Abstract: A plurality of instances of probe data are received and used to generate a plurality of probe trajectories. A set of selected probe trajectories is defined using spatial familiarity sampling wherein a familiarity score is determined for each instance of probe data of a probe trajectory based on a familiarity model corresponding to already selected probe trajectories. A least familiar familiarity score for a probe trajectory is identified from the familiarity scores determined for the probe trajectory and a determination of whether the probe trajectory is included in the set of selected probe trajectories is performed based on the least familiar familiarity score for the probe trajectory. Only the probe trajectories of the set of selected probe trajectories are map-matched. The map-matched probe trajectories are then used to generate traffic and/or map information/data which is provided to consumer apparatuses for use in performing navigation functions, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Tadej Stajner, Muhammad Kashif Kaleem, Akos Nagy, Olivier Dousse
  • Patent number: 11433920
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle. The system includes a localization system, a memory storing a digital map, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to receive, from the localization system, a current location of the vehicle and determine a future driving segment of the vehicle based on the current location of the vehicle. The electronic processor is further configured to determine at least one performance limitation based on the future driving segment of the vehicle and modify a driving behavior of the vehicle based upon the determined at least one performance limitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Heyl
  • Patent number: 11427196
    Abstract: Systems and methods for causing a vehicle to avoid an adverse action are described. In one aspect, a sensor on first vehicle may determine the existence and location of lane markers or objects, and use that information to cause a second vehicle to avoid exiting its lane or colliding with an object. Data transmitted from a first vehicle to a second vehicle may be used to determine a path for the second vehicle, such that it avoids an adverse action. This data may include information used to determine a pose of the second vehicle, kinematics of the second vehicle, determine dimensions of the second vehicle, and potential adverse actions. This data may be transmitted while the vehicles are platooning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Peloton Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P Switkes, Shad M Laws, Lorenz Laubinger
  • Patent number: 11428540
    Abstract: A tangible, non-transitory machine-readable medium includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive historical driver data indicative of one or more physiological parameters of one or more drivers during one or more prior driving trips, receive historical position data indicative of a respective position of a respective vehicle driven by the one or more drivers during the one or more prior driving trips, establish a correlation between the historical driver data and the historical position data, and identify one or more low-stress road segments using the correlation between the historical driver data and the historical position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Emily Margaret Gray, Daniel Christopher Bitsis, Jr., Qunying Kou, Robert Wiseman Simpson, Manfred Amann, Donnette Moncrief Brown, Eric David Schroeder, Meredith Beveridge Lecocke, Michael J. Maciolek, Bobby Lawrence Mohs, Brian F. Shipley, Justin Dax Haslam, Ashley Raine Philbrick
  • Patent number: 11409283
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle state control apparatus, a vehicle state control method, and a vehicle that make it possible to perform driving assistant in a drive-through area. In the drive-through area, a display unit, a window control unit, and the like in addition to a steering mechanism, a braking device, an engine, a driving motor, and a headlamp (not shown) are appropriately controlled on the basis of a result of image recognition output from an MCU to a bus, information supplied from another unit such as a radar and a lidar, and a sensing result from an in-vehicle sensor. That is, in the drive-through area, the state of the vehicle, which includes operations (such as presentation and opening/closing of the window) in addition to driving (travelling), is controlled. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a drive-through area drive control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Marukawa, Noriko Tanaka, Itaru Shimizu, Yasuhiro Yukawa, Shinnosuke Hayamizu
  • Patent number: 11390256
    Abstract: A brake controller is provided as an inline plug between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle or trailer. The electronics including an accelerometer and wireless communication radio are potted within a brake controller housing package. There is no conventional display or input controls on the exterior of the brake controller package. Input settings, and possibly output messages, are communicated through a smartphone or similar software or hardware application. The brake controller can identify a hazard lighting condition and avoid braking the towed vehicle during the hazard lighting condition, and can also distinguish when braking during signaling a turn, using the turn signals of the towing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CURT Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lange, III, Joecyl Sanchez, Harsh Desai
  • Patent number: 11383814
    Abstract: A sensor that detects a shape of a surrounding environment of a boat and a positional relationship between the surrounding environment and the boat body outputs environment information indicating the shape of the surrounding environment and the positional relationship. A display displays an environment map indicating the surrounding environment. An input accepts an input of a shore arrival target position of the boat body on the environment map and outputs target position information indicating the shore arrival target position. A controller receives the environment information and the target position information, determines a possible shore arrival space of the boat body in the surrounding environment based on the environment information, and corrects the shore arrival target position based on the possible shore arrival space. The controller generates an instruction signal to control a propulsion device so as to cause the boat body to arrive at the shore at the corrected shore arrival target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shu Akuzawa, Hirotaka Aoki, Yusuke Ashida
  • Patent number: 11325250
    Abstract: A mobile robot is configured for operation in a commercial or industrial setting, such as an office building or retail store. The mobile robot can have a motorized base and a robot body on the motorized base, the robot body including a rotatable ring that rotates horizontally around the robot body. A mechanical arm that can contract and extend relative to the robot body is coupled to the rotatable ring and performs a plurality of actions. A controller of the mobile robot provides instructions to the rotatable ring and the mechanical arm and can cause the mechanical arm to open a door, take an elevator to move to a different floor, and test whether a door is locked properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Cobalt Robotics Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. Deyle, Erik Schluntz, Michael Ferguson, Peregrine Badger
  • Patent number: 11273909
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle is disclosed and includes an energy storage device configured to store and discharge energy, a plurality of wheels, one or more processors operatively coupled to the energy storage device, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the brake system to determine the brake system is operating in a backup mode of operation. In response to determining the brake system is operating in the backup mode of operation, the brake system calculates a dynamic slip of the plurality of wheels. The brake system is caused to determine a slip error by comparing the dynamic slip with a target slip value of the plurality of wheels. The brake system is also caused to calculate an antiskid command based on the slip error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nima Forghani, David T. Yamamoto, Steven Elliot Smith
  • Patent number: 11268259
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a work implement. A control system for the work vehicle includes an input device and a controller. The controller is configured to communicate with the input device, receive an input signal indicating an input operation by an operator from the input device, acquire vehicle information including a position of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and orientation information of the work vehicle when the input signal is received, and determine a target design surface indicating a target trajectory of the work implement based on the vehicle information and the orientation information when the input signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Harada, Eiji Ishibashi, Yasuhito Yonezawa, Kazuyuki Kirino
  • Patent number: 11247700
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in response to a request for a three-point turn, a set of forward turning paths is generated based on a maximum forward turning angle associated with an ADV. A set of backward tuning paths is generated based on a maximum backward turning angle associated with the ADV. A set of three-point turn path candidates is generated based on the forward turning paths and the backward turning paths. For each of the three-point turn path candidates, a path cost is calculated using a predetermined cost function. One of the three-point turn path candidates with the lowest path cost is selected as the final three-point turn path to drive the ADV to make a three-point turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fan Zhu, Lin Ma
  • Patent number: 11247552
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed provide for receiving internal hybrid vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information; determining a propulsion power for the hybrid vehicle at a particular location at a particular time based on at least one of the internal hybrid vehicle information, the external static information, and the external dynamic information, and wherein in response to the determined potential propulsion power, predicting a shift event at the particular location at the particular time; determining a current state of charge of a battery, wherein the battery is operatively coupled to an electric motor in the hybrid vehicle; and managing the state of charge of the battery at the particular location at the particular time based on the current state of charge and the determined propulsion power to eliminate the need for the potential shift event at the particular location at the particular time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Follen, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Vivek A. Sujan, Pinak Jayant Tulpule, Mugdha S. Sane
  • Patent number: 11193784
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing an end of trip sequence when a vehicle is nearing its destination. One or more computing devices may generate and display a video indicating a projected trajectory of the vehicle and objects detected by sensors on the vehicle, on a map corresponding to a route the vehicle is currently following, where the video is generated from a perspective of a virtual camera at a default position and default pitch A determination that the vehicle has reached a threshold relative to the route of the vehicle may be made and the position and pitch of the virtual camera may be adjusted to an updated position above the vehicle and a perspective which looks downwards towards a roof of the vehicle. The video may then be generated and displayed from the perspective of the virtual camera at the updated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nirmal Patel, Maria Moon, Peter Crandall, Ryan Powell, Hans-olav Cavelie, Matthew Hall