Patents Examined by Gerrad A Foster
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Patent number: 10532768Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling the position of a vehicle to ensure stable position of a vehicle against tilting due to a rapid change in vehicle speed. The method includes: determining whether a vehicle speed is rapidly changing in a straight direction on the basis of an extent of depression of a pedal that changes a position of a steering wheel and a change in vehicle speed; determining whether the vehicle is tilting on the basis of a change in a yaw-rate by means of the controller when the vehicle speed is rapidly changing in the straight direction; and providing compensation torque in the direction opposite the direction in which the vehicle is tilted by operating a steering motor when the controller determines that the vehicle is tilting.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Kyung Bok Lee, Suk Jin Ko, O Sung Kwon, Nam Young Kim
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Patent number: 10489994Abstract: A computer is programmed to receive audio data from a first vehicle sensor following an instruction to a second vehicle to actuate sound output. The computer generates diagnostic data about the received audio data. The computer may then actuate output based on the diagnostic data.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Aed M. Dudar
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Patent number: 10479465Abstract: Reconfigurable vehicles, methods of configuring modular vehicles are provided. Vehicles may have modules that may be coupled to the vehicle at discrete positions and at discrete angles. Configurations for the modular vehicles may be further determined automatically depending on desired vehicle characteristics. Modular vehicles may be configured manually, and a predicted vehicle characteristic may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Inventor: Eduardo Moreno
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Patent number: 10473476Abstract: An authoritative candidate is selected for determining a location of a point of interest (POI). Source data including name and location for POIs is received from multiple data sources. The received data is normalized for ease of comparison, and coordinates for each candidate are compared to coordinates of other candidates to determine which candidates lie outside of a consensus set of candidates. A consensus set of candidates are those that are each located on a same side of a road segment. Candidates that are not part of the consensus set are eliminated from consideration. Further criteria are then applied to the consensus set of candidates. The authoritative candidate can be used to render digital maps that include the POI. In addition, the authoritative candidate's location can be used to provide vehicle route guidance to the POI.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Shivendra Pratap Singh, Daniel Wolf, Gaurang Ramakant Khetan, Chandan Prakash Sheth
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Patent number: 10450716Abstract: A power limiting stress-strain monitor system for a machine includes at least one stress-strain sensor supported on a structural component of the machine. The power limiting stress-strain monitor system also includes an electronic controller including a processor and a memory. The processor receives a signal from the stress-strain sensor, determines a degree of stress-strain at a location of the stress-strain sensor based on the signal, identifies a machine system associated with the stress-strain, and modifies a control signal to the machine system based on the degree of stress-strain.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Matthew Behmlander, Jeremy Roe Hammar
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Patent number: 10432039Abstract: A parking assist system is used in a wireless power supply system which performs wireless power supply between a ground-side coil unit and a vehicle-side coil unit. The parking assist system determines a position of a vehicle relative to each of a first region in which the power supply is possible when a gap between the vehicle-side coil unit and the ground-side coil unit is maximum and a second region in which the power supply is possible when the gap is minimum. The parking assist system determines possibility of the power supply, based on a result of the determination on the vehicle position, and displays a result of the determination on the possibility of the power supply, for an occupant of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shihang Mo, Yukinori Tsukamoto, Kengo Maikawa
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Patent number: 10426675Abstract: An anti-collision system for use by a mobility scooter to reduce collisions between the mobility scooter and objects or ledges is disclosed. The system comprising an input/output communication interface and an anti-collision circuitry configured to: receive a movement signal from the mobility scooter, the movement signal signaling a movement variable and a direction, receive proximity data from one or more proximity sensors through the input/output communication interface, perform a determination as to whether the received proximity data indicates the mobility scooter is within a proximity threshold, wherein the proximity threshold corresponds to the movement variable, and in response to determining the received proximity data indicates the mobility scooter is within the proximity threshold, provide one or more control signals to a controller, the controller in communication with at least a motor or a brake of the mobility scooter.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Inventor: Kevin Erickson
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Patent number: 10415980Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communicating information to a visitor of a site, e.g., a theme park, historical site, zoo, etc., providing mementoes of the visit and/or communicating information encouraging future, e.g., repeat, visits are described. In various embodiments costumed characters, vending carts and/or other items of interest may move around a site and thus be at different locations at different times of the day. In some embodiments beacon transmitters are inserted in the costumes of the characters, on the vending carts and/or on other moveable items. Each beacon transmitter transmits a unique wireless signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: CECELUMEN, LLCInventors: James S. Buscemi, Jim Webster, Justin Maestri
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Patent number: 10415978Abstract: In one aspect, a method for determining a location of a landmark using a map is described. Trajectory data is obtained indicating movement of a device at an area. The trajectory data indicates a landmark. A map is obtained of the area. At least a portion of the trajectory data is compared and/or matched with at least a portion of the map. Based on the matching, a location of the landmark is determined in the map. Various implementations involve system, devices and software relating to the above method.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun Yang, Dongfang Zheng, Jasvinder Singh, Koichi Mori
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Patent number: 10400797Abstract: To provide a hydraulic control system for a working machine with high fuel efficiency and higher versatility to be capable of being adapted to special work. The hydraulic control system for the working machine according to the present invention includes: a plurality of directional control valves (31, 32, . . . ), more than one of which is connected in parallel to each of a plurality of hydraulic pumps (11, 12, 13) to supply hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump to each of the corresponding actuators (4, 5, 6, 50); operating devices (110, 120, 130, 140) to which an operator inputs manipulated variables; a connection map (182) storing a precedence order for connection between a plurality of hydraulic pumps and a plurality of directional control valves; and a controller (100) controlling the connection conditions of the pumps and the actuators on the basis of the connection a¥map and operation signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Udagawa, Hiroaki Tanaka, Yasutaka Tsuruga, Kazunori Nakamura
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Patent number: 10378689Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a pig tracking and locating system that is able to pinpoint the exact location of a pig so that if the pig becomes stuck, it can be more efficiently located and retrieved without excessive searching. A representative system includes an unmanned underwater vehicle that travels with or very near the pig as it progresses through a pipeline, and gathers and stores information transmitted by the pig. This information may include location data that can be transmitted in the event the pig becomes stuck.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Casey Giron, Wolfgang Hartmut Nitsche, John Laureto Maida, Jr., Satyan Gopal Bhongale, Li Gao
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Patent number: 10370096Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining data from at least one sensor, processing, by a processor, the data to determine an independent rotor phase lag for each of a plurality of axes associated with a rotorcraft, and issuing, by the processor, at least one command to provide for on-axis moments in accordance with the independent rotor phase lag for each of the axes.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATIONInventors: Anthony Litwinowicz, Kenneth S. Wittmer, Matthew T. Luszcz
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Patent number: 10350998Abstract: An apparatus for selecting an operation of a safety driving device for a vehicle includes an input unit capable of selectively controlling operations of a plurality of safety driving support devices for the vehicle, wherein input levels inputted through the input unit are differentiated to determine whether to operate each of the plurality of the safety driving support devices for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Seung Hwan Lee
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Patent number: 10338585Abstract: An aircraft flight control system includes at least two flight control computers at least one of which is utilized at any one time to control aircraft flight, each of the at least two flight control computers having at least two processors, each processor being responsive to an aircraft input signal indicative of at least one of a plurality of aircraft flight parameters and being responsive to control laws to provide a control output command signal indicative of a desired control of an aircraft flight control surface. Also, at least one of the at least two processors for each of the at least two flight control computers comprises an abnormal response monitor that is responsive to at least one aircraft input signal indicative of at least one of a plurality of aircraft flight parameters to determine whether the control output command signal is within an acceptable value.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignees: BOMBARDIER INC., C SERIES AIRCRAFT LIMITED PARTNERSHIPInventor: Gregory Burte
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Patent number: 10336312Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes a combustion engine, an exhaust aftertreatment system connected to the combustion engine, and an electrical power collector for intermittently collecting electrical power from external power supply track during driving of the vehicle. The vehicle propulsion system includes a heating system that is arranged to heat at least one component of the exhaust aftertreatment system and/or the combustion engine. The electrical power collector is arranged for supplying the heating system with electrical power when collecting electrical power from the external power supply track.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2013Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Volvo Truck CorporationInventor: Maria Bruce
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Patent number: 10308236Abstract: A method to control a hybrid vehicle with a parallel architecture and with a known speed profile divided into a plurality of reference time intervals with a constant speed or with a constant acceleration. The method includes the steps of determining a driving torque to be transmitted to the drive wheels, which allows the mean specific fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine to be minimized as a function of the power, of the mechanical energy requested in the reference time interval and of the constant speed or acceleration in the reference time interval; then determining the optimal distribution of the mechanical energy so as to globally minimize the cumulative fuel consumption over the entire actuation profile; and controlling the reversible electrical machine to deliver an additional driving torque as a function of the driving torque to be transmitted to the drive wheels.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.Inventors: Samuele Arcangeli, Luca Poggio, Francesco Marcigliano, Andrea Balluchi, Emanuele Mazzi, Luca Arzilli
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Patent number: 10304332Abstract: A method performed by a database managing system for maintaining a database comprising reported traffic-affecting events is provided. The system derives a position of a first vehicle supporting detection of vehicle surroundings and determines by comparing the vehicle position to positions of reported traffic-affecting events comprised in the database, that the first vehicle is approaching at least a first traffic-affecting event. The system prompts the first vehicle to attempt to detect the first traffic-affecting event, which prompting comprises providing to the first vehicle an expected position of the first traffic-affecting event. The system receives a response from the first vehicle, which response indicates whether or not the expected position was at least partly unobstructedly observable by the first vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventors: Peter Harda, Joakim Lin Sorstedt
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Patent number: 10295353Abstract: A method of performing routing in relation to a multi-modal transportation network involves representing a multi-modal transportation network using a plurality of segments, each being indicative of a navigable segment of the network, and each segment having data representative of a traversal time for the segment associated therewith. The plurality of segments of the multi-modal transportation network includes a first subset of segments indicative of a public transport network, and a second subset of segments indicative of a road network which may be joined, left and traveled through by a user substantially freely at any time. The traversal time data associated with segments of the public transport network associated with interchange points with the road network is based on a transit time indicative of a time taken to travel along the segment, and an additional waiting time.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: TOMTOM NAVIGATION B.V.Inventors: Felix Godafoss König, Thomas Gerhard Helmut Schickinger, Leon van Helvoort, Heiko Schilling
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Patent number: 10289116Abstract: Techniques for facilitating an autonomous operation, such as an autonomous navigation, of an unmanned vehicle based on one or more fiducials. For example, image data of a fiducial may be generated with an optical sensor of the unmanned vehicle. The image data may be analyzed to determine a location of the fiducial. A location of the unmanned vehicle may be estimated from the location of the fiducial and the image. The autonomous navigation of the unmanned vehicle may be directed based on the estimated location.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven Gregory Dunn, Carl Ryan Kelso, Neil Whitney Woodward, III
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Patent number: 10266161Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a collision determination unit that determines whether collision of the vehicle occurs or not; and a second braking control unit that, when the collision of the vehicle is determined as occurring, causes at least either of an ESB system and a VSA system to perform emergency braking control of the vehicle, and causes the VSA system to perform ABS braking control based on an ABS brake demand depending on a slip state of each wheel, irrespective of whether a brake pedal is pressed down or not. In a case where the vehicle collides, where the brake operation is performed, and where the ABS braking control is performed, the second braking control unit causes the emergency braking control based on an emergency brake demand to be continued instead of the braking control based on the press-down operation of the brake pedal by a driver.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Shotaro Odate