Patents Examined by Garrett Evans
  • Patent number: 9463776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for actuating a closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement has a closure element, a drive arrangement associated with the closure element, a control arrangement and a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor element that is particularly in the form of a proximity sensor, wherein operator control event monitoring involves the control arrangement being used to monitor the sensor measured values from the sensor arrangement for whether there is a predetermined operator control event, and the result of the operator control event monitoring is taken as a basis for actuating the drive arrangement, the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle being able to be altered by an adjusting process and/or by a fitting process during use based on normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt
    Inventor: Andre Gunreben
  • Patent number: 9463808
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and program products are described for determining available capacity in a transportation mechanism. An object module identifies one or more objects within a transportation mechanism based on input received from a sensor. A capacity module determines an available capacity of the transportation mechanism as a function of the one or more identified objects. A service module services a call request in response to the available capacity satisfying a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Rod D. Waltermann, Arnold S. Weksler
  • Patent number: 9440642
    Abstract: A drive system for a hybrid vehicle includes a planetary gear unit, a first rotating machine connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear unit, an engine connected to a carrier of the planetary gear unit, a second rotating machine and drive wheels connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear unit, a regulating mechanism that regulates rotation of the carrier, a first running mode in which the vehicle runs using the second rotating machine as a power source, and a second running mode in which the vehicle runs using the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine as power sources while the regulating mechanism regulates rotation of the carrier. The carrier is rotated by the first rotating machine when the vehicle shifts from the first running mode to the second running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 9428026
    Abstract: A damper control device controls vibration of an unsprung member by controlling a damping force of a damper interposed between a sprung member and the unsprung member of a vehicle on the basis of a damping property prepared in advance. The damper control device includes a correction unit that extracts a sprung resonant frequency component of a stroke velocity of the damper, and corrects a damping force target value of the damper on the basis of the extracted above-spring resonant frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Kubota, Masatoshi Okumura
  • Patent number: 9421872
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of detachable battery packs that accommodate a rechargeable battery module and a battery management system (BMS) in a case. In a state where the battery pack is installed in the vehicle, the BMS performs information communication with another BMS, and one BMS is a master and communicates with another BMS which is a slave and combines information of the battery packs. In a state where the battery pack is detached from the vehicle, a control of a charging state is independently performed by the BMS with respect to the rechargeable battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Tsuji, Masakazu Takano, Junichi Inami, Toshinori Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9424748
    Abstract: Methods for reporting traffic conditions on road segments containing a bottleneck include: (a) calculating an amount of traffic congestion on a segment of a roadway, the segment containing a bottleneck, based on a free-flow speed specific to a subsection of the segment from which a report of an observed speed is received; and (b) communicating, by the computer processor, information indicative of the amount of traffic congestion on the segment to a client. Apparatuses for reporting traffic conditions on road segments containing a bottleneck are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Leon Oliver Stenneth
  • Patent number: 9415690
    Abstract: The regenerative energy produced during the braking of a vehicle is used for powering a secondary battery, that is independent from the main battery, and, in the event of a complete failure of said main battery, allows the continued operation of the basic services such as power steering, lights, the brake servo unit, and electronics, as a result of the combined action of said autonomous system that includes a capacitor bank which powers said services either directly or via the secondary battery. The system comprises an interface of the electronic power and control unit, an electronic power and control unit, applied to the steering and pedals, and an ECU power controller and port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: MICROELECTRONICA MASER, S.L.
    Inventors: Francisco Ferrer-Dalmau Nieto, Francisco Javier Vicandi Unanue, Carlos Javier Iriondo Arrizabalaga, Jesus Maria Iriondo Arrizabalaga
  • Patent number: 9410808
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting location information using a navigation algorithm are provided. The method includes searching for neighboring Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, receiving, if at least one GPS satellite is detected, pseudo-range information from at least one of the detected GPS satellites and storing the received pseudo-range information, calculating a displacement of a pedestrian terminal based on step detection of a pedestrian, correcting the calculated displacement of the pedestrian terminal using the received pseudo-range information, and measuring the location of the pedestrian terminal is measured using the corrected displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Seoul National University R & DB Foundation
    Inventors: Kyong-Ha Park, Chan-Gook Park, Hyun-Su Hong, Sung-Min Park, Seung-Hyuck Shin
  • Patent number: 9413537
    Abstract: An information update system is provided with a vehicle (10), a plurality of charger (20), and a server apparatus (30). The vehicle applies a first signature to position information associated with the vehicle, and transmits to a charger when a battery is charged. The charger applies a second signature to the position information with the first signature applied thereto. The charger further transmits, to the vehicle, identification information associated with the charger with a third signature applied thereto. The vehicle further applies a fourth signature to the identification information. The vehicle or the charger transmits to the server apparatus the position information with the first signature and the second signature applied thereto, and the identification information with the third signature and the fourth signature applied thereto. The server apparatus updates stored position information on the basis of the transmitted position information and the transmitted identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirokazu Oishi
  • Patent number: 9409572
    Abstract: A drive assist system includes: a movable body (20) in which drive assist is performed by an assist device (40, 50, 60) and which includes a movable body holding unit (23); an external holding unit (14) located outside the movable body (20); and a controller (22) configured to determine whether or not an operation position where the assist device (40, 50, 60) operates is related to the operation of the assist device (40, 50, 60), select the external holding unit (14) as a unit in which the operation result of the assist device (40, 50, 60) is to be held when it is determined that the operation position is not related to the operation of the assist device (40, 50, 60), and select the movable body holding unit (23) as the unit in which the operation result of the assist device (40, 50, 60) is to be held when it is determined that the operation position is related to the operation of the assist device (40, 50, 60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Uno
  • Patent number: 9403533
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle using a control unit during operation of a fully-automatic driver assistance system is designed to guide the vehicle independently of the driver. The control unit actuates a drive unit and/or a brake unit during operation of said driver assistance system such that the motor vehicle maintains a predefined distance to a vehicle in front which is detected as a target object, the control unit also actuating the actuation unit of a steering system such that the motor vehicle is kept within its own detected lane. If the vehicle in front, detected as the target object, leaves the detected lane and if there is no new preceding vehicle, a braking action is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk De Bruin, Joachim Schiehlen, Andreas Bogner
  • Patent number: 9399404
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a charging system, capable of increasing the rapid charging capacity of an on-vehicle all-solid-state battery, and reducing the effect of confining pressure on the all-solid-state battery. This is achieved by a charging system for an all-solid-state battery to be mounted in a vehicle, the charging system comprising: a charging section that charges an all-solid-state battery, a pressing section that applies confining pressure to the all-solid-state battery, and a pressure control section that controls the confining pressure, wherein the pressure control section directs the pressing section so that the confining pressure during charging is higher than the confining pressure during discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiro Ose, Tomoharu Sasaoka, Hajime Hasegawa, Kazuhito Kato, Kengo Haga, Daichi Kosaka
  • Patent number: 9387854
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle may be configured to use environmental information for image processing. The vehicle may be configured to operate in an autonomous mode in an environment and may be operating substantially in a lane of travel of the environment. The vehicle may include a sensor configured to receive image data indicative of the environment. The vehicle may also include a computer system configured to compare environmental information indicative of the lane of travel to the image data so as to determine a portion of the image data that corresponds to the lane of travel of the environment. Based on the portion of the image data that corresponds to the lane of travel of the environment and by disregarding a remaining portion of the image data, the vehicle may determine whether an object is present in the lane, and based on the determination, provide instructions to control the vehicle in the autonomous mode in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: David I. Ferguson, Wan-Yen Lo
  • Patent number: 9381816
    Abstract: A method for reconnecting a relay in a vehicle battery management system includes: measuring an insulation resistance between a positive electrode or a negative electrode of a battery and a vehicle chassis; turning off each of relays connected between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery and a load when the measured insulation resistance is less than a reference value; re-measuring the insulation resistance; and performing a relay-on sequence for turning on each of the relays when the resistance value of the re-measured insulation resistance is greater than the reference value. A relay reconnection number of the relay-on sequence, based on a repetition of the measuring and re-measuring, is set and limited so as to not exceed a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kyung In Min, Yoon Jun Lee, Dong Il Kim
  • Patent number: 9376032
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a motor generator generating driving power for traveling of the vehicle; an ECU for controlling the motor generator; and an inclination detecting unit for detecting an inclination of a road surface. The ECU executes a driving power change operation that causes the vehicle to travel while switching between a first state (high output state) of the motor generator where first-level driving power is generated and a second state (low output state) of the motor generator where driving power smaller than that in the first state is generated. When it is recognized that the vehicle is traveling on a downhill, based on the inclination detected by the inclination detecting unit, the ECU sets the driving power in the first state to be smaller than that when the vehicle travels on a flat road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Patent number: 9372088
    Abstract: The Canine Handler Operations Positioning System (the Inventors) taught by the present invention consists of one or more dog-worn sensor, one or more handler's shoe-worn sensor, and algorithms for maintaining localization of units of canines and handlers traveling in GPS and GPS-denied areas. The present invention adapts the localization algorithms from the human-based system to dogs, increase performance, reduce SWAP, and further refine the system based on user feedback. The human worn system is modified for the human handler for maximum operational practicality in regard to batteries, size, and interoperability to a radio. The Canine Handler Operations Positioning System (the Inventors) focuses on developing the dog-worn positioning system, modifying the handler's positioning sensor if needed, and integrating the system with an OCU. The complete the Inventors system would provide a positioning solution for both the dog(s) and handler(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ROBOTIC RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Daniel Lacaze, Karl Murphy
  • Patent number: 9361736
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for dynamically presenting desired vehicular-reference information for a motor vehicle under evaluation is provided. In one aspect, an example method includes: (a) a computing system receiving, via a user interface, (i) vehicular-reference data indicating at least one vehicle parameter, and (ii) first information-presentation data indicating at least one information-presentation preference; (b) the computing system selecting at least one first piece of vehicular-reference information based on at least one of the received vehicular-reference data and the received first information-presentation data; (c) the computing system selecting a presentation window based on at least one of the received vehicular-reference data and the received first information-presentation data; and (d) the computing system causing a visual depiction of (i) the selected vehicular-reference information and (ii) the selected presentation window to be displayed on a graphical display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC
    Inventor: David Costantino
  • Patent number: 9358963
    Abstract: A safety arrangement and method are described for controlling automatic travel of a fully automated vehicle. One or more forward-looking detection systems are provided for detecting objects in a future path of the vehicle. A control unit is configured to determine a detection confidence for the detected objects. The control unit is further operable to, upon low confidence for existence of a detected object, control a brake system of the vehicle to apply a predetermined limited amount of braking until high confidence is obtained for existence or non-existence of the previously detected object. Thereafter the control unit is further operable to apply full braking if high confidence is obtained for existence of the previously detected object and to discontinue braking if high confidence is obtained for non-existence of the previously detected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Solyom, Jonas Ekmark
  • Patent number: 9352709
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle (1), particularly the supply of power to a motor vehicle (1), during and/or in the time period following a collision, wherein the motor vehicle (1) is at least partially deenergized, wherein the supply of electrical power of a vehicle system (9) is determined and switched during and/or following the collision based on at least one criterion (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Oliver Brenneis, Jörn Freyer, Christopher Hantschke
  • Patent number: 9352744
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to selectively apply regenerative torque to cause deceleration in response to braking demand; the powertrain further including a torque converter configured to decouple the electric machine from wheels of the vehicle. The vehicle is also provided with a controller programmed to, during a regenerative braking event, receive a signal defining a regenerative torque limit, and in response to a fault condition associated with the regenerative torque limit, generate a replacement regenerative torque limit based upon a torque converter open speed to decrease roughness during transitions into and out of regenerative braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Francis Thomas Connolly, Zhengyu Dai, Ming Lang Kuang, Bernard D. Nefcy