Patents Examined by Jaime Figueroa
  • Patent number: 11971257
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus with localization. The method includes determining a sensor-based reference position using a position sensor of the vehicle, determining an image-based reference position of the vehicle based on image information of the vehicle captured using a camera of the vehicle, setting an acceptance range for the image-based reference position based on a driving situation of the vehicle, and comparing an error level of the image-based reference position to the acceptance range and estimating a current position of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Cheol Jeon, Chul Woo Kang, Kyungboo Jung
  • Patent number: 11971719
    Abstract: Low profile object detection can be performed on mowers or other vehicles that may be autonomous. An autonomy controller can be employed on a mower to receive and process sensor data for a detection area to determine whether an object may be present in a region of interest within the detection area. When the autonomy controller determines that an object may be present, it can cause the ground speed of the mower to be slowed and can commence buffering region of interest sensor data over a period of time. The autonomy controller can process the buffered region of interest sensor data to determine whether an object is present in the region of interest, and if so, can alter the path of the mower appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: FireFly Automatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Eli D. Wilson, Steven R. Aposhian, Eric E. Aston, William M. Decker
  • Patent number: 11971712
    Abstract: An agent for navigating a mobile automated system is disclosed herein. The navigation agent receives a navigation instruction and visual information for one or more observed images. The navigation agent is provided or equipped with self-awareness, which provides or supports the following abilities: identifying which direction to go or proceed by determining the part of the instruction that corresponds to the observed images (visual grounding), and identifying which part of the instruction has been completed or ongoing and which part is potentially needed for the next action selection (textual grounding). In some embodiments, the navigation agent applies regularization to ensures that the grounded instruction can correctly be used to estimate the progress made towards the navigation goal (progress monitoring).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Salesforce, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Yao Ma, Caiming Xiong
  • Patent number: 11970176
    Abstract: In an abnormality determination device for determining presence or absence of an abnormality of a 6-axis inertial measurement sensor installed in a vehicle to detect a forward-backward acceleration, a lateral acceleration, a vertical acceleration, a roll rate, a pitch rate, and a yaw rate of the vehicle, the abnormality determination device includes: a 3-axis inertial measurement sensor that detects the forward-backward acceleration, the lateral acceleration, and the yaw rate; and an abnormality determination unit that determines presence or absence of an abnormality of the 6-axis inertial measurement sensor, wherein the abnormality determination unit determines the presence or absence of an abnormality of the 6-axis inertial measurement sensor by comparing the forward-backward acceleration, the lateral acceleration, and the yaw rate acquired by the 6-axis inertial measurement sensor with the forward-backward acceleration, the lateral acceleration, and the yaw rate acquired by the 3-axis inertial measurement
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Hosoya
  • Patent number: 11970079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for investigating an ageing condition of a battery (10) which is provided for power supply to an electric motor (20), comprising the steps of: determining at least one graphical progression of at least one operating parameter of the battery (10), checking the at least one graphical progression on at least one sinusoidal curve portion, if at least one sinusoidal curve portion is recognised, extracting the at least one sinusoidal curve portion, calculating an impedance of the battery (10) by means of impedance spectroscopy with reference to the at least one sinusoidal curve portion, and determining the ageing condition of the battery (10) with reference to the calculated impedance. The invention further relates to a computer program (30), a memory means, a control device (40) and a vehicle (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Fabian Kai-Dietrich Noering, Martin Wünsch, Konstantin Jonas, Rainer Füssler
  • Patent number: 11970155
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving turning performance of a vehicle includes: a turning characteristic detection module configured to detect a turning situation based on vehicle information obtained from at least one sensor and to calculate a required driving force to be implemented in the vehicle for a turning motion; a driving force estimation module configured to estimate a limited driving force applicable to a drive wheel; and a turning characteristic control module configured to control and apply a braking force corresponding to a difference between the required driving force and the limited driving force to a motor to inhibit a wheel slip, when the required driving force is greater than the limited driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Ki Kim, Sang Ho Lee, Sung Wook Hwang, Jae Il Park
  • Patent number: 11970134
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a processing device provided in a vehicle, an application unit (app unit) implemented by execution of an application program by the processing device, a function restriction determining unit determining whether function restriction on the app unit is to be performed based on a used key code, and a function restriction applying unit instructing the app unit to apply a determination result of the determination. The function restriction determining unit determines whether the function restriction on the app unit is to be performed based on a key code of the used electronic key at a plurality of predetermined times, and the function restriction applying unit instructs the app unit to apply the determination result upon activation of the application unit and when a notification of the determination result is received from the function restriction determining unit after the activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenori Hiruta, Takashi Mori, Hiroyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11969225
    Abstract: A teleoperated surgical system is provided that includes a surgical instrument that includes an end effector mounted for rotation about a slave pivot axis; a master control input includes a mount member, first and second master grip rotatably secured at the mount member for rotation about a master pivot axis; sensor to produce a sensor signal indicative of a slave grip counter-force about the slave pivot axis; one or more motors to impart a shear force to the mount member, perpendicular to the master pivot axis; one or more processors to convert the sensor signal to motor control signals to cause the motors to impart the feedback shear force to the first and second master grip members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant M. Kadokura
  • Patent number: 11969898
    Abstract: A predictive system and process that predicts safety system activation in industrial environments when collaborative robots (COBOTs), automated guidance vehicles (AGVs), and other robots (individual or collectively “robots”) are interacting (i) between one another or (ii) between a robot and human. As provided herein, the predictive system is not meant to substitute traditional safety systems, but rather to detect and classify robot-to-robot and robot-to-human interactions and potential interactions thereof so as to limit or avoid those interactions altogether, thereby increasing safety and efficiency of the robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: DATALOGIC IP TECH S.R.L.
    Inventors: Francesco D'Ercoli, Marco Cumoli, Claudio Saporetti
  • Patent number: 11964393
    Abstract: A robot control system determines which of a number of discretizations to use to generate discretized representations of robot swept volumes and to generate discretized representations of the environment in which the robot will operate. Obstacle voxels (or boxes) representing the environment and obstacles therein are streamed into the processor and stored in on-chip environment memory. At runtime, the robot control system may dynamically switch between multiple motion planning graphs stored in off-chip or on-chip memory. The dynamically switching between multiple motion planning graphs at runtime enables the robot to perform motion planning at a relatively low cost as characteristics of the robot itself change. Various aspects of such robot motion planning are implemented in particular systems and methods that facilitate motion planning of the robot for various environments and tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: REALTIME ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Sorin, George Konidaris, Sean Murray, William Floyd-Jones, Peter Howard, Xianchao Long
  • Patent number: 11964398
    Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomous robot distributed processing are provided. A method includes receiving, at a robot, camera output from a camera located on the robot. The method may further include outputting the camera output to a mobile client device. The method may also further include receiving at the robot, from the mobile client device, object recognition metadata based upon the camera output. The method may additionally include outputting a notification from the robot to a user of the mobile client device based upon the object recognition metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Micropharmacy Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Pekarek-Kostka, John E. Kulesza
  • Patent number: 11967912
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a motor control device capable of estimating a delay with high accuracy even in a case where there is a fluctuation in disturbance torque or delay time and of suppressing the influence of the delay. For this end, the present invention includes a motor MTR, an ECU 2 that controls the rotation of the motor MTR, and an ECU 1 that sends a torque command to the ECU 2 based on a command value. The ECU 1 includes a disturbance estimation block 100 and a delay estimation block 200. The disturbance estimation block 100 estimates disturbance torque (?d) using a torque command input to the ECU 2 and a feedback value of the motor MTR. The delay estimation block 200 estimates a delay using a torque command output from the ECU 1, the feedback value of the motor MTR, and the disturbance torque (?d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroaki Sato, Toshiyuki Ajima, Kenichiro Matsubara, Daisuke Goto
  • Patent number: 11965308
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for evenly distributing the loading of material in a loading container of a transport vehicle (e.g., articulated dump truck) by a work machine (e.g., excavator). At least one sensor mounted on the work machine generates data corresponding to at least a portion of the loading container. The captured data is processed to determine a current profile of material loaded in the loading container, wherein output signals are generated corresponding to a difference between the current profile and a predetermined target profile for the material loaded in the loading container. In certain embodiments, the output signals are used to assist an operator of the work machine with manual loading via an onboard display unit and superposed images associated with the current and/or target profiles. In other embodiments, the output signals automatically control at least part of the loading process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jon C. Gilbeck, Jonathan Spendlove, Zimin Vilar
  • Patent number: 11964660
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an arm control path, a deploy control path and a communication module. The arm control path may be configured to trigger an arm signal. The deploy control path may be configured to trigger a deploy signal. The communication module may be configured to communicate a remote signal to/from an end device, generate a bypass signal in response to the remote signal and generate the remote signal in response to detecting the arm signal. An activation signal for an actuator may be generated in response to the arm signal and the deploy signal. The arm signal and the deploy signal may be generated independently. The communication module may enable the remote signal to activate the end device. The bypass signal may be compatible with the arm control path and ensure an independent and parallel path for the arm control path to generate the arm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: VEONEER US SAFETY SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Haitham Islim, John Fitzpatrick, Ron Wantuck, James Gramenos
  • Patent number: 11958478
    Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a method for automatically avoiding or mitigating a potential collision of an external moving object with a motor vehicle, the method comprising: detecting whether a potential collision of the motor vehicle with the external moving object exists under a predetermined activation condition; and if it is determined that a potential collision exists, automatically changing a movement characteristic of the motor vehicle without changing a direction currently indicated by a steering wheel when the motor vehicle meets a predetermined movement condition, in order to avoid or mitigate the occurrence of the potential collision. Also disclosed are a corresponding control system for a motor vehicle, a corresponding computer-readable storage medium and a corresponding motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Zijian Yang
  • Patent number: 11958484
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes processor circuitry to control a lateral position of the autonomous vehicle during autonomous driving at least based on a default lateral position and a user interface arranged to receive an input indicative of an off-set of the lateral position from a user of the autonomous driving vehicle, wherein the processor circuitry is arranged to receive, from the user interface, information regarding the off-set of the lateral position of the autonomous driving vehicle during driving in the lateral position, calculate a maximum right and a maximum left off-set of the lateral position, calculate a dynamic off-set value based on the received off-set and the maximum right and the maximum left off-set, adjust the lateral position based on the off-set information, and control the lateral position at least based on the dynamic off-set value and the default lateral position of the autonomous driving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Dev. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Magnus Brandin, Per Landfors
  • Patent number: 11958458
    Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a collision detector, a braking controller, a motional state detector, and a minor collision determiner. The collision detector is configured to detect a collision between a vehicle and another object. The braking controller is configured to cause a braking device of the vehicle to generate a braking force in accordance with the detecting of the collision by the collision detector. The motional state detector is configured to detect a motional state of the vehicle. The minor collision determiner is configured to determine, based on an output from the motional state detector, that a minor collision occurs that is a collision not detected by the collision detector. The braking controller is configured to cause the braking device to generate the braking force if the collision detector does not detect the collision and the minor collision determiner determines that the minor collision occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi Shiraishi, Takashi Takeda, Shintaro Ikeda, Satoru Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11951986
    Abstract: Systems and methods of electrically heating catalyst (EHC) driver notification are provided. With the goal of increasing driver cooperation in reducing emissions, EHC driver notification systems notify the driver when the EHC is in an inefficient operation state. This notification is provided to the driver so that the driver may consciously operate the vehicle in a fashion that reduces emissions while the EHC is in the inefficient operation state. EHC driver notifications systems may also restrict operation of the vehicle when the EHC is in an inefficient operation state. However, for safety reasons, these systems provide the driver a function to bypass the restriction as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Alessandro Concas
  • Patent number: 11950970
    Abstract: Provided is a medical support arm system including a support arm that is a multilink structure having a plurality of links connected by a joint unit including an actuator, and supports a medical unit. The medical support arm system further includes a control device including an external force estimation unit to estimate an external force acting on the joint unit on the basis of a drive characteristic of the actuator, and a joint control unit to control drive of the joint unit on the basis of an external torque estimated by the external force estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Matsuda, Fumiyasu Suzuki, Atsushi Miyamoto, Yohei Kuroda, Kenichiro Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 11951868
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed at an apparatus for an active converter dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a system to connect a first trailer towed behind a towing vehicle to a second trailer. The apparatus further includes a kinetic energy recovery device for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer. The active dolly is operable in a number of modes to increase vehicle performance and efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ELECTRANS TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Brian Layfield, Amir Khajepour, Brian Fan, John Loewen