Patents Examined by Hunter B. Lonsberry
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Patent number: 11690768Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a master controller. The passenger compartment has a plurality of rear passenger seats disposed on a track. Each seat of the plurality of rear passenger seats is configured to move on the track. The master controller is configured to receive a first data from a wheelchair and to direct a movement of each seat of the plurality of rear passenger seats along the track. In response to receiving the first data, the master controller actuates at least one actuator to move at least one of the plurality of rear passenger seats along the track to provide a transportation space for the wheelchair based on the first data received from the wheelchair.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.Inventors: Katsumi Nagata, Stephen McFarland, Jr., Jerry R. Tipper
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Patent number: 11694558Abstract: A method and system for continuously re-planning a vehicle's path, in the face of stationary and moving obstacles, dynamically calculates a new path in real time which is both efficient and maintains minimum safety clearances relative to obstacles. Repulsion signals emanating from obstacles and propagating through delineated sections of a grid representing a geographic space are summed along with values representing the relative distance of the sections from the vehicle origin and vehicle destination. The grid sections having optimal values according to a predetermined criteria represent an efficient and safe travel path between the vehicle origin and destination.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: SMARTSKY NETWORKS LLCInventor: James W. Herriot
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Patent number: 11692834Abstract: A method for: obtaining route request information characterizing a route to be provided to a terminal; determining, at least partially based on the route request information, an intermediate route comprising a plurality of link identifiers respectively identifying links in respective current versions of map regions; determining a final route by replacing, in the intermediate route, link identifiers by respective indications, wherein each indication of the indications respectively indicates whether or not a link or considered-to-be-suited link corresponding to a link, which is identified by the link identifier replaced by the indication and which is contained in a current version of a map region, is considered to be contained in a non-current-version of the map region available to the terminal, wherein the considered-to-be-suited-link is a link that is considered to be suited to be used for a route guiding process at the terminal; and outputting the final route.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.Inventors: Alex Gonopolskiy, Daniel Rolf, Tomasz Jakubowski, Mirko Maischberger
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Apparatus for controlling autonomous driving of a vehicle, system having the same and method thereof
Patent number: 11685409Abstract: An autonomous driving control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a processor that demands a user of a vehicle to take a control authority of the vehicle during an autonomous driving control when a current driving condition is in a limit situation during the autonomous driving control, and starts a minimum risk maneuver to disable reactivation of the autonomous driving control when the control authority is not transferred to the user; and a storage to store a set of instructions to be executed by the processor and data for determination and performance by the processor. In particular, the processor automatically flashes an emergency light when the minimum risk maneuver is started, and controls automatic flashing of the emergency light to not be released by the user when the vehicle is not in a stopped state.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Hee Kyung Kim, Jin Su Jeong, Jae Yong Jeon -
Patent number: 11687077Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying high-priority agents in the vicinity of a vehicle. The high-priority agents can be identified based on a set of mutual importance scores in which each mutual importance score indicates an estimated mutual relevance between the vehicle and a different agent from a set of agents on planning decisions of the other. The mutual importance scores can be calculated based on importance scores assessed from the perspectives of both the vehicle and the agents.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Kai Ding, Minfa Wang, Haoyu Chen, Khaled Refaat, Stephane Ross, Wei Chai
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Patent number: 11670175Abstract: Embodiments, systems, and techniques for vehicle operation assistance are provided herein. Vehicle operation assistance may be provided by a method. An example method includes transmitting a help request for help to a help center based on an emergency status of an occupant of a vehicle. The method also includes receiving availability information from the help center. The availability information indicates availability of one or more potential leader vehicles in an area. The method yet further includes placing the system in a follower mode based on a selection of a leader vehicle from the one or more potential leader vehicles by establishing a connection with the potential leader vehicle. In follower mode the vehicle is a follower vehicle. The method additionally includes wirelessly receiving a navigation instruction from the leader vehicle. The method includes executing a driving maneuver in an autonomous fashion based on the navigation instruction from the leader vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kei Oshida, Xue Bai, Shigenobu Saigusa, Yoichi Sugimoto, Samir Al-Stouhi
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Patent number: 11670183Abstract: Systems and methods for contextual alerts during ground operations are provided. The system generates unique alerts for each type of hot-spot and commands a display system to render an image of the route, the relevant signage features, and the hot-spots. The system receives an assigned runway and references an airport features database to construct a route and travel direction for the aircraft. The system analyzes the signage features associated with the route and identifies the relevant signage features. The system processes the route with external inputs, such as notices to airmen (NOTAM), traffic data, and novel rules and data tables, from which the system identifies various kinds of hot-spots. The hot-spots include those that are aerodrome design based, those that are traffic related, and those that are temporal, based on short term closures or operational scenarios.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2018Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Gobinathan Baladhandapani, Narayanan Srinivasan, Hariharan Saptharishi, Raghupathy P
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Patent number: 11662737Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for validating location of a docking station for docking a mobile robot. In an example, a mobile robot system includes a docking station and a mobile cleaning robot. The mobile cleaning robot includes a drive system to move the mobile cleaning robot about an environment including a docking area within a distance of the docking station, and a controller circuit to detect, from an image of the docking area, a presence or absence of one or more obstacles in the docking area. A notification may be generated to inform a user about the detected obstacles. The mobile device may generate a recommendation to the user to clear the docking area or reposition the docking station, or suggest one or more candidate locations for placing the docking station.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Laura V. Herlant, Brent Hild, Ryan Schneider, Benjamin Glazer
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Patent number: 11662985Abstract: Vehicle developer devices, systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle developer device includes a management computing device, a plurality of electronic control units, and a plurality peripheral devices, wherein one or more individual peripheral devices of the plurality of peripheral devices is a physical representation of an actual vehicle peripheral device. The vehicle developer device further includes a plurality of ports for receiving one or more of at least one additional electronic control units and at least one additional peripheral devices. The management computing device configures the plurality of electronic control units, and simulates operation of a full-scale simulated vehicle. The vehicle developer device is smaller in size than the full-scale simulated vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: WOVEN ALPHA, INC.Inventors: Nikolaos Michalakis, Paul Sastrasinh, Thor Lewis, Shang-Poh Yu, Sho Mikuriya, Hiroko Okuyama
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Patent number: 11662730Abstract: According to one embodiment, during a first planning cycle, a first lane boundary of a driving environment perceived by an ADV is determined using a first lane boundary determination scheme (e.g., current lane boundary), which has been designated as a current lane boundary determination scheme. A first trajectory is planned based on the first lane boundary to drive the ADV to navigate through the driving environment. The first trajectory is evaluated against a predetermined set of safety rules (e.g., whether it will collide or get too close to an object) to avoid a collision with an object detected in the driving environment. In response to determining that the first trajectory fails to satisfy the safety rules, a second lane determination boundary of the driving environment is determined using a second lane boundary determination scheme and a second trajectory is planned based on the second lane boundary to drive the ADV.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: BAIDU USA LLCInventors: Jiacheng Pan, Yifei Jiang, Yajia Zhang, Jiaming Tao, Jiangtao Hu
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Patent number: 11656076Abstract: A method of calibrating a total station using a GNSS device includes physically coupling the total station with the GNSS device at a first location; determining the position of the total station at the first location based on position data received by the GNSS device; decoupling the total station from the GNSS device; moving the GNSS device to a second location while leaving the total station at the first location; determining the position of the GNSS device at the second location based on position data received by the GNSS device; adjusting the position of a camera on the total station to image the GNSS device while at the second location; determining axes of the camera based on the orientation of the camera and the determined positions at the first and second locations; and calibrating encoders of the total station based on the determined axes.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Javad GNSS, Inc.Inventor: Javad Ashjaee
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Patent number: 11654990Abstract: A bicycle includes a frame, a motor, a battery, a key interface, a crank set, and a shell. The frame defines a cavity and an opening providing access to the cavity. The motor is coupled to frame beneath the cavity. The battery extends at least partially into the frame. The battery is configured to power the motor. The key interface is positioned along an exterior of the frame. Turning a key in the key interface releases the battery to facilitate removing the battery from the frame. The crank set is coupled to the motor. The crank set includes crank arms. The shell extends at least partially over the opening.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2022Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: SERIAL 1 CYCLE COMPANY, LLCInventors: Benjamin Raymond Bass, Ben M. Lund, Andrew Schmidt
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Patent number: 11649000Abstract: A saddled electric vehicle (1) having a battery (100) that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle (1) includes a vehicle electronic lock (220) which enables the vehicle (1) to be locked and unlocked, a lock control unit (320) which controls the vehicle electronic lock (220), and a sub battery (327) which supplies electric power to the lock control unit (320), in which the lock control unit (320) enables the vehicle to be unlocked in a state in which the battery (100) is removed from the vehicle (1).Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Akira Kuramochi, Yoshitaka Kobayashi, Hiroki Ichikawa, Takafumi Yamaguchi, Kazuo Tsuji
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Patent number: 11650596Abstract: A load alignment aid with range finding sensors positioned diagonally on a mounting platform to calculate range, vertical alignment, and horizontal alignment. Each sensor measures a distance (d) from the mounting platform to the load. Where d(1) does not equal d(2) and d(1) does not equal d(3), a misalignment due to tilt or chassis misalignment is detected. The aid further includes a display which may show a graphic representation of the approach to a load and an alert for misalignment notification.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Cascade CorporationInventor: Pat McKernan
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Patent number: 11650061Abstract: A device can determine scenario information associated with a plurality of route planning scenarios. The scenario information can include information that describes, for each route planning scenario of the plurality of route planning scenarios, a condition or a configuration based on which a respective route plan is to be generated. The device can calculate, based on a plurality of route plans corresponding to the plurality of route planning scenarios, a set of metrics associated with the plurality of route planning scenarios. The set of metrics can be calculated based on a single user interaction with a user interface. The device can provide information associated with the set of metrics. The providing the information associated with the set of metrics can cause an action, associated with at least one route plan of the plurality of route plans, to be automatically performed.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Faiza Tajammul, Jefferson Ray Tan Hidayat, Brendan Ryan Bycroft, Hayden Sean White, Johanna Emily Read
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Patent number: 11640173Abstract: A control apparatus plans a movement route of a moving body based on a recognition result of an exterior environment of the moving body; corrects the planned movement route, based on a recognition result of an obstacle in the exterior environment of the moving body; and controls the movement of the moving body based on the corrected movement route. The recognition result of the obstacle includes a recognition result of a side portion of the obstacle with respect to the movement route of the moving body, and in the correction, the planned movement route is corrected based on a correction amount continuously obtained based on the recognition result of the obstacle associated with advancement of the moving body.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Hideki Matsunaga, Ichiro Baba
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Patent number: 11636766Abstract: A reversing-assistance system for a vehicle, in particular for a utility vehicle, that exhibits a vehicle wiring harness, including: at least one sensor with a first wireless interface, to register a rear region of the vehicle and to transmit corresponding sensor signals in wireless manner; and a control unit, which is connected to the vehicle wiring harness and which includes a second wireless interface, to receive the sensor signals from the at least one sensor in wireless manner, to evaluate the sensor signals and to make them available; in which the control unit is configured to evaluate vehicle-related data independently of the sensor signals and, based on the data, to carry out a control of at least one component of the vehicle so as to perform a control function that is independent of the reversing assistant. Also described are a related method, a computer readable medium, and a utility vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBHInventor: Christian Staahl
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Patent number: 11632901Abstract: The autonomous travel work machine executes the predetermined operation on the operation target while autonomously traveling, and includes: a driving unit driving a wheel to cause a main body to travel; a reception opening disposed on a side face of the main body regarding a traveling direction of the main body; an operation unit mounted on the main body and executing the predetermined operation on the operation target; and a control unit that controls the driving unit switchably between a first operation of causing the main body to travel against the operation target and executing the predetermined operation by the operation unit on the operation target and a second operation of moving the main body to a position where the operation target can be received in the reception opening and executing the predetermined operation by the operation unit on the operation target received in the reception opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kouki Tsuruda, Shuhei Maruyama, Masashi Takeichi
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Patent number: 11636772Abstract: A system and method for cooperative aerial vehicle collision avoidance provides an ESA-based sensor network capable of high-resolution threat proximity measurements and cooperative and non-cooperative collision avoidance in the full spherical volume surrounding an aerial vehicle. The system incorporates a plurality of ESA panels onto the airframe where the conical scan volumes overlap leaving no gaps in spherical proximity coverage. The resulting received data is stitched together between the neighboring ESA panels and used to determine a position and vector for each threat aerial vehicle within range. The data is transmitted through a cooperative collision avoidance network to nearby aerial vehicles, and presented to the autopilot and flight crew to increase situational awareness. The system determines a maneuver for the aerial vehicle and a maneuver for the threat aerial vehicle based on relative maneuvering capabilities to maintain desired separation.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Jacob G. Teague, James B. West
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Patent number: 11625036Abstract: Techniques are described herein for providing information regarding one or more actions an autonomous vehicle management system is planning to perform. The autonomous vehicle management system can also provide information indicative of one or more reasons for a planned action. This information can be provided through a user interface that displays an indication of the action together with an indication of the reason for the action. The information provided through the user interface can improve the user's trust in the safety of the autonomous vehicle, provide the user with context for evaluating the decisions made by the autonomous vehicle management system, and allow the user to decide for himself or herself whether the actions planned by the autonomous vehicle make sense.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: SafeAl, Inc.Inventor: Bibhrajit Halder