Patents Examined by Garrett Evans
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Patent number: 9126652Abstract: A steering damper control apparatus includes a steering damper configured to generate a damping force which acts on a steering device, a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of a front wheel suspension, a steering angle sensor configured to detect a steering angle of the steering device, and a damping force adjuster configured to adjust the damping force of the steering damper with one of a first command value which is a damping force command value according to a change rate of the pressure, and a second command value which is a damping force command value according to a steering angular speed, based on each detection result of the pressure sensor and steering angle sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masashi Matsuo, Nobuo Hara, Tatsuya Nagata
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Patent number: 9127954Abstract: A navigation system includes a navigation apparatus, a data center, a communication-defective region acquisition device, a communication-defective region search device, and a target region specify device. The data center performs transmits an update data of a target region to the navigation apparatus. The communication-defective region acquisition device acquires information of a communication-defective region. The communication-defective region search device searches for a part of the communication-defective region as a target communication-defective region, which includes a route scheduled to go through. The target region specify device specifies the target region based on the target communication-defective region. The data center includes an update data transmission device that transmits the update data of the target region to the navigation apparatus before the navigation apparatus enters the target communication-defective region.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Shinji Kutomi
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Patent number: 9121939Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for calibrating a crane for crane geometry. A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver antenna is disposed on a point along a boom assembly of the crane, the crane configured to pivot about a pivot point. A working arm of the crane is rotated about the pivot point to at least three different positions. Three locations are determined in a geo-referenced coordinate system of the at least three different positions. A location of the pivot point is determined based on the three locations.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: John F. Cameron, Jean-Charles Delplace, Nicholas C. Talbot, Kevin Legendre
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Patent number: 9120469Abstract: An electronic control unit determines driving force that is generated on wheels and has an identical absolute value and opposite directions to each other in order to suppress pitch behavior and/or heave behavior occurring on a vehicle body in association with travelling of a vehicle. Then, the unit controls the drive of in-wheel motors through an inverter based on the driving force. On the other hand, electronic control unit changes the damping forces of shock absorbers constituting suspension mechanisms in response to the pitch behavior and/or the heave behavior occurring on the vehicle body. In this way, by controlling one of the pitch behavior and the heave behavior that may occur in combination, enhancing of the occurrence of the other one that is not intended can be prevented effectively, and the occurrence of intended behavior on the vehicle body can be controlled independently.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2011Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Etsuo Katsuyama
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Patent number: 9116072Abstract: In a method for checking vehicle tires, wheel sensor signals of at least one wheel of the vehicle are recorded over a time period, and a comparative value is determined to indicate a travel distance of the wheel. A reference travel distance covered by the vehicle in the time period is determined independently of the wheel sensor signals, and an individual ratio value of the wheel is formed from the wheel travel distance and the reference travel distance. The behavior of the ratio value over time is determined, and a determination is made concerning changes to the tire of the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: WABCO GmbHInventors: Sven Gorczyca, Rainer Risse, Axel Stender
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Patent number: 9098996Abstract: A method for combining static runway information with runway status information for a selected runway is described. The method includes retrieving, with a processing device, static runway information for the selected runway from at least one database, retrieving, with the processing device, runway status information for the selected runway from at least one source of dynamic runway status information, generating, through a program executing on the processing device, a depiction of the selected runway on at least one display device, and generating for display proximate the runway depiction, through the execution of the program, a plurality of contextual symbology associated with the runway, the symbology based on the retrieved static runway information and the retrieved dynamic runway status information.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Nima Barraci, Thorsten Wiesemann, Anja Soell
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Patent number: 9090232Abstract: An ECU calculates the thermal margins of the in-wheel motors, on the basis of the thermal capacities of the in-wheel motors, the allowable limit temperatures, and the motor temperatures. Next, the ECU distributes the total requested torque between the requested torques for each wheel using the percentages of the thermal margins. The ECU controls the operation of an inverter such that the in-wheel motors generate the requested torques for the wheels. Thus, the four in-wheel motors generate uniform amounts of heat.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichi Onoda, Kei Takakuwa, Hideki Fukudome, Satoshi Takahashi
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Patent number: 9068855Abstract: A watercraft attitude control system using GPS and other motion inputs in order to predictively control thrust, steering and hull characteristics in ways that will prevent and minimize porpoising motion of a watercraft.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Enovation Controls, LLCInventor: Kennon Guglielmo
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Patent number: 9061684Abstract: It is provided a control device of a hybrid vehicle including an engine and an electric motor as a drive power source for running, a clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and the electric motor, and an automatic transmission coupled to the electric motor in a power transmittable manner to transmit power from the drive power source for running toward drive wheels, the hybrid vehicle being configured to perform engine running using at least the engine as the drive power source for running with the clutch engaged and motor running using only the electric motor as the drive power source for running with the clutch released.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masato Yoshikawa, Naoki Nakanishi
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Patent number: 9050951Abstract: Provided herein is a unit and method to assist the driver with brake operation and to lessen the operation burden. This vehicle deceleration control unit is provided with an engine brake that decelerates the vehicle by putting the vehicle in a state in which the power source is driven from the driven side, and when the driver holds brake operation, the deceleration caused by the engine brake is increased at a first rate. Then, once a predetermined time has elapsed after increasing the deceleration at the rise-up rate, the deceleration is increased from the deceleration at that time further at a second rate that is less than the Rise-up rate. Further, when the driver is increasing or decreasing the brake operation, i.e., does not hold the brake operation, the deceleration due to the engine brake is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Kazuma Oura
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Patent number: 9026331Abstract: A system, computer-implemented method, and computer program product are provided for a monotonic coupling assembly engagement. A coupling assembly actuation force output is increased to a coupling assembly associated with a rotary power source and a piece of driven equipment. A determination is made whether a power source process variable associated with the rotary power source drops below a pause threshold. A current coupling assembly actuation force output is maintained to the coupling assembly in response to a determination that the power source process variable drops below the pause threshold. A determination is made whether the power source process variable rises above a resume threshold. The coupling assembly actuation force output is increased to the coupling assembly in response to a determination that the power source process variable rises above the resume threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: WPT Power CorporationInventors: Bryan D. Schaffner, John G. Boland
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Patent number: 9014896Abstract: A vehicle control system, a server and a vehicle control device which improve energy efficiency of a vehicle based on the information of other vehicles is provided. The system includes a first energy information acquiring mechanism that acquires energy information indicating the energy efficiency of the vehicle including at least accelerator pedal opening information, an identification mechanism that identifies the vehicle of good energy efficiency among a plurality of vehicles based on the energy information, and a drive system control mechanism that controls the drive system of the own vehicle based on the accelerator pedal opening of the other vehicle that has been identified as energy efficient.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Arita
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Patent number: 8983688Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of devices for display and control of setpoints for automatic piloting for aircraft, configured to display the setpoints of speed, heading, climb slope and altitude. The various setpoints are displayed in the form of a graphical representation comprising: wheels graduated in speed and in altitude indicating the aircraft setpoint values; a circular heading rose, graduated and centered on a first symbol representing the aircraft, the heading setpoint being indicated by a second symbol representing the heading to be followed by the aircraft and disposed around the perimeter of the heading rose; and a vertical sectional view comprising a graduated semicircle centered on a third symbol representing the aircraft, the slope setpoint being indicated by a fourth symbol representing the slope to be followed by the aircraft and disposed around the perimeter of the semicircle.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: ThalesInventors: Xavier Servantie, Yannick Le Roux
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Patent number: 8942890Abstract: A torque detecting device and an electric power steering system are provided. A torque sensor includes a first rotor that is fixed to an input shaft and that has a predetermined shaft angle multiplier, and a second rotor that is fixed to an output shaft and that has a shaft angle multiplier different from that of the first rotor. In first to fourth output coils arranged on a stator that is arranged around outer peripheries of the first and second rotors, electric signals having different phases are generated on the basis of a variation of a gap between the stator and the first and second rotors. A twist angle of a torsion bar is calculated on the basis of the electric signals, and a torque that acts between the input shaft and the output shaft is calculated on the basis of the twist angle.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventor: Noritake Ura
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Patent number: 8938335Abstract: In a control unit for a vehicle steering system, which controls an electric motor that is used to change a steering angle on the basis of a target route for a vehicle, a turning angle of a steered wheel with respect to a central axis of a shock absorber is set as a steered element angle, and the steered element angle is used in control over the electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Takeshi Watanabe, Atsushi Ishihara, Hiroshi Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 8935031Abstract: A construction vehicle control apparatus is provided including: a motor generator control unit (160) which, when regenerative electrical power generated by a motor (7) during regenerative braking surpasses acceptable charging electrical power of a capacitor (3), drives a motor generator (5) using the surplus electrical power; an engine controller (2) which detects the rotating speed of an engine (1); a motor control unit (180) which, if the rotating speed of the engine becomes larger than a second set value while the motor generator is being driven by the surplus electrical power, reduces regenerative torque generated by the motor; and a brake control unit (190) which, if the rotating speed of the engine becomes larger than the second set value while the motor generator is being driven by the surplus electrical power, increases regenerative torque generated by a hydraulic brake (30).Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Moriki, Satoru Kaneko, Takashi Ikimi, Noritaka Ito
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Patent number: 8924086Abstract: An airbag is mounted in a vehicle seating system having both the airbag and a pivoting armrest on the same side of the occupant seating position. The armrest pivots between a vertical stored position and a horizontal armrest position. The deployment of the airbag is controlled by deployment logic including: sensing the position of the pivoting armrest to determine the vertical position or the horizontal position; sensing vehicle conditions indicative of a need to deploy the airbag mounted on the seat back; and not deploying the airbag mounted on the seat back if the armrest is in the vertical stored position.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Patent number: 8924098Abstract: Dozers outfitted with manual or electric valves can be retrofitted with a control system for automatically controlling the elevation and orientation of the blade. No modification of the existing hydraulic drive system or existing hydraulic control system is needed. An arm is operably coupled to the existing joystick, whose translation controls the elevation and orientation of the blade. The arm is driven by an electrical motor assembly. Measurement units mounted on the dozer body or blade provide measurements corresponding to the elevation or orientation of the blade. A computational system receives the measurements, compares them to target reference values, and generates control signals. Drivers convert the control signals to electrical drive signals. In response to the electrical drive signals, the electrical motor assembly translates the arm, which, in turn, translates the joystick. If necessary, an operator can override the automatic control system by manually operating the joystick.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.Inventors: Alexey Vladislavovich Zhdanov, Alexey Andreevich Kosarev, Arseny Alexeevich Chugunkin, Ivan Giovanni di Federico, Pavel Stanislavovich Yanchelik, Stanislav Georgievich Saul, Anton Sergeevich Tumanov
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Patent number: 8918262Abstract: A pressure control device of a vehicle, including a pressure controller of a fluid pressure brake system for brake slip-dependent control, including a relay valve having a supply port supplied by a supply pressure, a venting port connected to a pressure sink, a control port and at least two working ports, in which a working port is assigned to at least one brake cylinder and the other working port is assigned to at least one brake cylinder of another wheel, in which each working port of the relay valve is connected to a 2/2-way valve controlled by a control unit and assigned to a respective vehicle side and establishes a connection between the relevant working port and the assigned brake cylinder or blocks the connection, depending on control unit actuation, and in which the control port of the relay valve is connectable to a brake control pressure formed in accordance with the braking input, to a supply pressure of a pressure reservoir or to a pressure sink by a valve system formed by one 3/2-way or two 2/2-Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbHInventors: Friedbert Roether, Adnan Mustapha, Gerhard Wieder, Dirk Brenner
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Patent number: 8898005Abstract: An on-board apparatus includes: a map data storage unit in which map data that include altitude information are stored; a subject vehicle position detection unit that detects a subject vehicle position; and a calculation target geographical point setting unit that sets a calculation target geographical point based upon the subject vehicle position, wherein a road grade at the calculation target geographical point is calculated based upon altitudes of a plurality of geographical points that include at least a geographical point present ahead of the calculation target geographical point and a geographical point present behind the calculation target geographical point.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Mizuno, Keisuke Mutou