Patents Examined by Imran Mustafa
  • Patent number: 8565938
    Abstract: A method of optimizing a flight plan of an aircraft used in a flight management system of an aircraft is disclosed. This method makes it possible to constrain the real cost index of the mission executed to the optimal cost index CIopt predetermined by the aircraft operator, by acting on objectives ETAopt and EFOBopt of values of ETA and of EFOB to be achieved. Objectives are linked to this optimal cost index, in order to make the system return from a cost index CIm to the optimal cost index CIopt, while taking account of various constraints imposed by the ATC or the CTFM. Both constraints mext influence the cost index and constraints which limit the field of possible solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: François Coulmeau, Guy Deker, Hervé Goutelard
  • Patent number: 8560224
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a navigation system for calculating a route to an intersection destination establishes an optimum route to the intersection. The method and apparatus creates a virtual zero-length dummy link, connects one end of the virtual zero-length dummy link to all link-spot pairs indicating an original intersection destination, sets another end of the virtual zero-length dummy link as a temporary destination, calculates possible routes between the temporary destination and a current vehicle position and selects the optimum route. After determining the optimum route, the navigation system removes the virtual zero-length dummy link and starts the route guidance operation to the intersection destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tien Vu, Lei Zhao
  • Patent number: 8554428
    Abstract: A powertrain control system is disclosed. The powertrain control system may have a power source and a CVT coupled to an output of the power source. The powertrain control system may further have a controller in communication with the power source and the CVT. The controller may have a map with a plurality of speed modes, and, for at least one of the plurality of speed modes, the controller may be configured to vary an actual power source speed based on at least one of a CVT output speed or a ground speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Milton Carter Hubbard, Brian Douglas Hoff, Mark Edward Rettig, Steven James Juricak
  • Patent number: 8548679
    Abstract: An overturn prevention control device for a two-wheel vehicle having a vehicle body, a front wheel, an actuator that steers the front wheel, a rear wheel, and a rear-wheel driving portion, includes an angular velocity sensor and a control unit arranged to output a steering angle command signal for controlling the actuator. The angular velocity sensor includes a detection axis, is mounted on the vehicle body such that the detection axis is downwardly inclined at a predetermined angle relative to a forward direction of the vehicle body, and detects an angular velocity about the detection axis. The angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor includes an angular velocity in a lateral direction of inclination and an angular velocity in an azimuthal direction. The zero-set error and offset noise are incorporated into the azimuth angle command. Thus, the two-wheel vehicle can be prevented from overturning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Hirata, Shigeru Tsuji, Tomonari Watanabe, Shigeki Fukunaga, Koichi Yoshikawa, Koji Kawai
  • Patent number: 8538676
    Abstract: The present invention includes a mobile geographic information system and method. The method includes the steps of inputting data representing a user position, defining a first circularly spatially extended point (CSEP) about the user in response to the user position data, defining a first waypoint associated with a geographic feature, defining a second CSEP about the first waypoint, and providing a qualitative user position relative to the geographic feature in response to a predetermined topological relationship between the first CSEP and the second CSEP. The mobile geographic information system includes a database containing geographic information including information related to a geographic feature and information relating to a first waypoint associated with the geographic feature and a mobile device in communication with the database, wherein the mobile device includes a controller and a position sensor for determining a user position associated with the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ipointer, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Wuersch, David Caduff
  • Patent number: 8538672
    Abstract: A collision sensing system for a vehicle (10) includes a two-dimensional coil sensor (14) that is attached to a vehicle structure (19) A controller (20) is in communication with the two-dimensional coil sensor (14) and detects a collision event in response to movement of the vehicle structure (19) relative to a conductive member (98) of the vehicle (10). A collision detection and safety countermeasure system (12) for a vehicle (10) includes a coil sensor (14) that is adhered to a vehicle structure (19). A controller (20) is in communication with the coil sensor (14) and generates a countermeasure signal in response to movement by the vehicle structure (19) relative to a conductive member (98) of the vehicle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Paul Simmons, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Clay Maranville, Richard Soltis, David Bauch
  • Patent number: 8515621
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a steering wheel position of a motor vehicle which has an evaluation unit and a servo-assisted steering device, a position sensor being assigned to the servo-assisted steering device. After loss of an on-board power system voltage, the servo-assisted steering device conducts a steering angle value which is absolute at least in one circular segment to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit detects an absolute steering angle position which is transmitted to the servo-assisted steering device which accepts the absolute value obtained from the evaluation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Thorsten Wilhelm Hestermeyer, Thomas Frese, Alois Thoene
  • Patent number: 8489304
    Abstract: A torque distribution control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a torque distribution controller configured to control a sub-driving-wheel distribution torque to be transmitted to right and left sub-driving wheels via right and left torque distribution clutches in accordance with a target distribution torque. A driving-torque calculator is configured to calculate a driving torque output from a driving source. A target-distribution-torque calculator is configured to calculate the target distribution torque to be distributed to the sub-driving wheels in accordance with the driving torque. A target-distribution-torque correction device is configured to correct the target distribution torque to increase when the target distribution torque is lower than or equal to a first threshold value and an increase rate of the target distribution torque is higher than or equal to a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Noguchi, Yusuke Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 8452487
    Abstract: In a system reporting a malfunction in connection of a first communication line and a desired source apparatus which is due to be connected to the first communication line. In a first memory section, information showing that the source apparatus is due to be present in the system is stored in advance and a malfunction informing apparatus connected to a second communication line. Whether or not the communication is interrupted is checked based on connection information in a second memory section and the information stored in the first memory section. The connection information shows connection history showing that the source apparatus was connected to the first communication line. Through the second communication line, it is informed to a destination apparatus that there is a malfunction in the connection of the source apparatus and the first communication line, when it is checked that the communication is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Taichi Yamaguchi, Katsutoshi Haruna
  • Patent number: 8447455
    Abstract: A target route generation system which generates a target route for a robot (R) to travel along autonomously is provided with a route candidate generation element (110) which generates a plurality of travel route candidates to connect the terminating point and the starting point by connecting links stored at a link storing element (211), state recognition elements (115 to 118) which recognize a state of the robot (R), and a route evaluation IC element (120) which evaluates a cost of a travel route candidate including therein an action point stored in an action point storing element (212) lower as the necessity for passing by the action point is higher in view of the state of the robot (R) recognized by the state recognition elements (115 to 118). According to the system, the robot can be made to travel through the action point with a high necessity in view of the state of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8437915
    Abstract: To accurately extract a pulsating component generated due to a cogging torque or a torque ripple to reduce a pulsation, the pulsating component is extracted using a bandpass filter having a variable time constant, and the time constant is set according to a frequency of cogging torque or torque ripple to be extracted. Further, a reference angle for a rotation angle of a motor is preset according to a generation harmonic order of the cogging torque or torque ripple, and the time constant of the bandpass filter is set from a time period required for the motor to rotate by the reference angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Endo, Masahiko Kurishige, Isao Kezobo
  • Patent number: 8437918
    Abstract: In the invention, a system is proposed for the automatic and dynamic correction of an orientation of a light beam emitted by a vehicle light source according to the attitude of the vehicle, by associating an image processing with static correction adapted to the slow variations in the attitude caused in particular by variations in load within the vehicle and an image processing with dynamic correction adapted to the rapid variations in the attitude due in particular to braking and acceleration of the vehicle, by means of a device for making the fusion of and filtering signals emitted simultaneously by the devices. A device for controlling the rotation of the light source orients the light source in a way appropriate to the driving according to the information received from the fusion and filtering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Joel Leleve
  • Patent number: 8437900
    Abstract: A control device for guided travel of an unmanned vehicle, in which the unmanned vehicle is guided to travel by receiving a signal sent from a GPS satellite by the unmanned vehicle, measuring its own vehicle position based on the signal, and controlling such that a positional shift between the vehicle position and a target point that is a passing point sequentially set on a target traveling course falls into an allowable range for controlling error, wherein a guidable range is set in advance such that a position measurement error is added to the allowable range for controlling error; the position measurement error is obtained based on position measurement accuracy information from the signal; the allowable range for controlling error is changed according to the obtained position measurement error; and control is performed such that the positional shift falls into the changed allowable range for controlling error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiharu Nishijima, Masaki Mori
  • Patent number: 8423254
    Abstract: The proposed automatic deceleration device includes a recognizing section for recognizing the driving environment; a first target deceleration calculating section for obtaining the target deceleration depending on the recognized driving environment; a second target deceleration calculating section for obtaining the target deceleration irrespective of the driving environment; and a changeover section for switching between the deceleration obtained depending on the driving environment and the deceleration obtained irrespective of the driving environment on the basis of the vehicle information including the recognized driving environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taisetsu Tanimichi
  • Patent number: 8412410
    Abstract: An embodiment of a feedback control method and unit of a servo controlled system which acts on the environment surrounding a user for adjusting at least one feature of the environment which affects the psychophysical state of the user; the control unit has: a memory device in which there is stored a desired optimal value or a range of desired optimal values of a psychophysical feedback parameter of the user correlated with the perception that the user has of the feature of the environment adjusted by the servo controlled system; an estimation device for cyclically estimating a real value of the psychophysical feedback parameter of the user by means of at least one measurement performed directly on the user; and a driving device for cyclically driving the servo controlled system for seeking the optimal desired value of the psychophysical feedback parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventors: Amedeo Visconti, Antonio Calvosa
  • Patent number: 8412417
    Abstract: A seatbelt device of a vehicle, the seatbelt device comprising: a belt reel around which a webbing, used to tie down a passenger seated in the vehicle, is wrapped up; a motor transmitting a driving force to the belt reel; an electric current detection unit detecting an electric current flowing through the motor; a vehicle-condition detection unit detecting a condition of the vehicle; a rotation detection unit detecting a rotational position of the belt reel; and a control unit that sets a target electric current corresponding to a predetermined vehicle condition detected by the vehicle-condition detection unit and controls the motor so that the electric current detected by the electric current detection unit equals the target electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shotaro Odate
  • Patent number: 8401726
    Abstract: A Maintenance Interval Determination and Optimization Tool (MIDOT) provides optimized maintenance schedules for performing maintenance tasks on one or more components or systems based on component survival functions and economic analysis of non-safety tasks associated with maintenance schedules. MIDOT is used for specified platforms such as aircrafts. The MIDOT filters maintenance history data, uses a statistical analysis to predict likely maintenance needs, and performs an economic analysis to optimize aircraft maintenance schedules. Specifically, the MIDOT calculates component survival probability, based on the specific usage of one or more related components within the platform and determines an optimal maintenance task interval to perform a maintenance task associated with the one or more related components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ken D. Bouvier, Brian C. Fredgren, Fritz Scholz, Roberto E. Altschul, Shuguang Song
  • Patent number: 8386162
    Abstract: A controller determines whether or not the map data that includes the position information of the user device and the position information of the other party can be displayed on the screen of the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale. When the result of the determination specifies that the map that includes the position information of both parties cannot be displayed at the predetermined reduced scale, the controller 11 splits the display panel into two screens, and displays the map data that include the user device position information and the map data that include the other party position information on separate screens. When the result of the determination specifies that the map that includes the position information of both parties can be displayed, the central control device displays the single map data that include the position information of both parties on the single screen of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Kagota
  • Patent number: 8370013
    Abstract: A system for producing an estimation of the overall speed of a vehicle relative to the ground is described which comprises the generation of a measurement of the instantaneous road grip coefficient (?r) of at least one wheel (1) of a vehicle with electric traction wherein a rotary electric machine (2) is coupled to said wheel to drive it individually in traction and in braking. This system comprises an indicator of the torque applied at each instant to that wheel based on the measurement of the current (Ic) in the electric machine, an indicator of the instantaneous dynamic load on said wheel and a stage for calculating the instantaneous road grip coefficient of said wheel (1) relative to the ground based on the torque indicator and the dynamic load indicator in order to determine the ratio of the tangential force applied to the ground by the wheel under the action of said torque to the normal force applied to the ground by the wheel under the action of the dynamic load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Linda, Daniel Walser
  • Patent number: 8370037
    Abstract: A method for the protection of an automatically actuated clutch of a vehicle from overload, comprising the steps of determining a driving situation of the vehicle, continuously determining the energy input in the clutch, and, preventing or reducing an overload state via targeted intervention in vehicle management as a function of the determined driving situation and the input energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bjoern Stehle, Klaus Henneberger