Patents Examined by James E Stroud
  • Patent number: 10668617
    Abstract: There is provided a robotic cart pulling vehicle for automated docking and pulling a cart, such as a wheeled hospital cart for e.g. linen. In particular the vehicle is provided with a unique gripping means for holding the cart. Furthermore, the robotic vehicle implements a positioning system for safely driving on hospital corridors and further comprises one or more sensors to indicate the position of the robot relative to the surroundings for avoiding unnecessary impacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: MOBILE INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS A/S
    Inventor: Niels Jul Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 10648822
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and displaying a comparison of multiple modes of transportation for reaching a destination. One method includes receiving a start location and a destination location, and stops in between, receiving information related to at least one third party operated mode of transportation from a third party determining data related to the at least one third party operated mode of transportation and at least one user operated mode of transportation, generating and displaying determined data for at least one option for each of the plurality of modes of transportation, receiving a selection of a sort category, and determining the option of each mode of transportation to be displayed and an order in which the modes of transportation are displayed based on the selection of the sort category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Meghan Newlin, Cristian J. Whitney, Austin Brown, Kent Dennis Hollrah, Lindsay E. Moore
  • Patent number: 10642279
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John A. Lockwood, Joseph F. Stanek
  • Patent number: 10635117
    Abstract: Tracking movement of a lead vehicle and following vehicles driving to a common destination to maintain a specific relationship of the lead vehicle with the following vehicle(s) traveling through traffic conditions or obstacles such as traffic lights, intersections with stop signs, merging onto other roads, and other traffic obstacles such as road construction on the route to the common destination. The specific relationship is maintained by using data regarding the following vehicles of: real-time speed of the following vehicle, the following vehicle's current location, distance from the following vehicle to the lead vehicles, presence of other vehicles between the lead vehicle and following vehicle, and presence of other vehicles in adjacent lanes to the following vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie Rodriguez, Abdolreza Salahshour
  • Patent number: 10597025
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a hybrid driveline that includes an engine and an electric machine are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine and electric machine are operated according to a solution of a Hamiltonian that includes a first co-state and a second co-state, an engine fuel flow parameter, a rate of change of battery state of charge parameter, and an emissions flow rate parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kukhyun Ahn, Mohammad Shakiba-herfeh, David Richens Brigham, Alexander T. Zaremba, Mark John Jennings
  • Patent number: 10564647
    Abstract: A method for automatic determination and/or monitoring of a target trajectory for a vehicle by which a starting point corresponding to the current position of the vehicle is connected to a target point. The method includes determining different trajectories of the vehicle that connect the starting point to the target point, detecting a further target trajectory for each road user, wherein each of the further target trajectories connects the starting point of the respective road user to a target point corresponding to the respective road user, determining the trajectories of the vehicle as collision-free trajectories that do not result in a collision with one of the further road users if the respective road user is moving on the target trajectory, and determining and/or monitoring the target trajectory of the vehicle depending on the collision-free trajectories of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Reza Balaghiasefi, Michael Düring, Kai Franke
  • Patent number: 10529231
    Abstract: Users who are traveling on a path between a first location and a second location may be informed by navigation devices about the user's selected route. The path may also feature two or more lanes, which may present comparative advantages (e.g., a toll-restricted lane may present less traffic, and a toll-free lane may present more traffic at a reduced cost). Presented herein are techniques for enabling navigation devices to advise users about the lanes of the path. A travel service may collect information about the respective lanes, such as traffic density and the typical travel duration of users utilizing the lane during various periods, and may transmit information about the predicted travel durations of the respective lanes to the device. Such information may enable the device to advise the user to choose a selected lane, according to the predicted travel durations of the lanes of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: INRIX Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Scofield
  • Patent number: 10527450
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus for an autonomous vehicle includes circuitry configured to receive at least one route between a start location and a destination, display the at least one route on a first screen that allows selection of a first set of routes from the at least one route, receive a plurality of characteristics corresponding to each of the at least one route. Each characteristic of the plurality of characteristics is associated with a measure and a longest block within which each characteristic can be performed continuously. The circuitry further configured to divide a route of the at least one route to generate a plurality of segments based on the plurality of characteristics, and display the first set of routes, the plurality of characteristics corresponding to the first set of routes, the measure and the longest block corresponding to the plurality of characteristics on a second screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John-Michael McNew, Kazutoshi Ebe, Danil V. Prokhorov, Michael J. Delp
  • Patent number: 10508927
    Abstract: A navigation server and the like are provided which can provide to a user more meaningful information that takes into consideration a movement history of the user. Positions of a moving body X at time points of switching between an operation ON state and an operation OFF state are extracted as “first designated locations” from among a chronological order of positions (probe information) of the moving body X transmitted from a navigation client 2. A designated location is extracted from among the first designated locations of the moving body X based on a requirement that the designated location is outside a base area of the moving body X. The designated location is then stored and held in, or registered in, a server storage device 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Sengoku, Yuji Takeuchi, Shunsuke Hazama
  • Patent number: 10493957
    Abstract: Provided is a device and method for applying a control state based on vehicle occupancy of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes sensing an identification parameter for each of a set of initial vehicle occupants. The method prioritizes the vehicle authority level for the each vehicle occupant of the set of initial vehicle occupants, and producing an initial vehicle control priority among the set of initial vehicle occupants. Based on the initial vehicle control priority, applying the vehicle control state parameter to an autonomous vehicle operational mode. The method, when a vehicle occupancy change event occurs, senses an identification parameter for each vehicle occupant of a set of subsequent vehicle occupants. The method continues by prioritizing the vehicle authority level for the each vehicle occupant of the set of subsequent vehicle occupants and producing a subsequent vehicle control priority among the set of subsequent vehicle occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher T. Tarte
  • Patent number: 10490074
    Abstract: Various aspects related to frequency biasing to compensate for frequency variations caused by Doppler shift in V2V communication systems are described. In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus, e.g., a UE, may be configured to determine a velocity of the apparatus, and determine a frequency biasing adjustment based on the determined velocity of the apparatus. The apparatus may be further configured to communicate with UE based on an adjusted carrier frequency determined based on a carrier frequency and the determined frequency biasing adjustment. In some configurations, a driving environment of the apparatus maybe considered, and the frequency biasing adjustment is determined further based on the determined driving environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Libin Jiang, Shailesh Patil, Peter Gaal, Durga Prasad Malladi
  • Patent number: 10480951
    Abstract: Identifications of areas of interest are received from trusted sources such as contacts in a social networking application. The areas of interest can include geographic boundaries that identify regions such as blocks or portions of streets. The areas of interest can be associated with constraints such as modes of transportation (e.g., car, bicycle, walk, etc.) or times (e.g., 9 am-5 pm, at night, in the morning, etc.), and can be positive or negative (e.g., go here or don't go here). When generating a route for a user, the map application considers the areas of interest based on the constraints associated with the areas of interest and other information such as what mode of transportation that the user is using and when the user is planning on traveling the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ana Lilia Otero Diaz, David Grochocki, Jr., Elizabeth Salowitz
  • Patent number: 10471844
    Abstract: A method of charging the battery of the vehicle includes starting charging of the battery; starting operation of an air conditioner using power supplied from the battery; and reducing an operation amount of the air conditioner while charging the battery and operating the air conditioner, thereby shortening the time required for charging the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ki Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 10459449
    Abstract: Example systems and methods are disclosed for implementing vehicle operation limits to prevent vehicle load failure during vehicle teleoperation. The method may include receiving sensor data from sensors on a vehicle that carries a load. The vehicle may be controlled by a remote control system. The load weight and dimensions may be determined based on the sensor data. In order to prevent a vehicle load failure, a forward velocity limit and an angular velocity limit may be calculated. Vehicle load failures may include the vehicle tipping over, the load tipping over, the load sliding off of the vehicle, or collisions. The vehicle carrying the load may be restricted from exceeding the forward velocity limit and/or the angular velocity limit during vehicle operation. The remote control system may display a user interface indicating to a remote operator the forward velocity limit and the angular velocity limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Kevin William Watts
  • Patent number: 10450003
    Abstract: A parking assist device for assisting parking of a vehicle, includes: a detecting unit that detects whether there is any obstacle and detects available parking areas for the vehicle, on the basis of a taken image of the surrounding area of the vehicle; and a selecting unit that selects an available parking area where the vehicle is parked with low risk of contact with the obstacle, from the detected available parking areas, on the basis of whether there is the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasushi Tani, Tetsuya Otoshi
  • Patent number: 10452068
    Abstract: A neural network may be utilized for autonomously driving a self-driving vehicle (SDV). The neural network can establish a destination location in local coordinates relative to the SDV. The neural network may then identify one or more navigation points in a forward operational direction of the SDV, and process sensor data from a sensor system of the SDV, the sensor data providing a sensor view of the forward operational direction of the SDV. Utilizing the sensor data, the neural network can operate acceleration, braking, and steering systems of the SDV to continuously follow the one or more navigation points along an established route to the destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nemanja Djuric, John Houston
  • Patent number: 10455070
    Abstract: Techniques described herein include a platform for providing user interaction with a vehicle's functions on a mobile device. In some embodiments, the vehicle and mobile device may both be in communication with a service provider computer, that may facilitate communications between the two. In some embodiments, a user is provided with various details related to the vehicle's condition as well as a list of functions that may be initiated by the user. The user is able to select one or more of the listed functions to be performed by the vehicle while located any distance from the vehicle. In some embodiments, the service provider computer may determine whether the user is authorized to initiate a particular vehicle function. Upon selection of a vehicle function from the list of vehicle functions, a processor device in the vehicle executes the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yong-Syuan Chen, Jen-Chieh Hsiao
  • Patent number: 10424195
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a traffic prediction system, a vehicle-mounted display apparatus, a vehicle, and a traffic prediction method. The traffic prediction system includes: a vehicle configured to acquire a driving probability for at least one drivable route; and a server apparatus configured to receive the driving probability for the at least one drivable route from the vehicle, and to calculate a volume of traffic for the at least one drivable route based on the driving probability for the at least one drivable route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: ChulMin Kim, Dongyoul Lee, Young Su Kim, SiJun Kim
  • Patent number: 10407179
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a control unit with a weather module configured to receive weather data and to identify a wind shear zone at a location based on the weather data, the weather module further configured to generate wind shear coordinate data and wind shear characteristic data based on the weather data. The control unit further includes a display module configured to generate display commands based on the wind shear coordinate data and wind shear characteristic data from the weather module. The vehicle system further includes a display device coupled to receive the display commands from the control unit and configured to display a three-dimensional forward perspective view corresponding to a vehicle environment. The display device is further configured to display first wind shear symbology within the view at a position that indicates the location of the wind shear zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jayasenthilnathan B, Saravanakumar Gurusamy, Madhava Gadicherla, Roger Burgin
  • Patent number: 10407085
    Abstract: A train travel prediction device includes a required time database that records a station-to-station required timetable created in advance between stations and indicating a relation of a time difference between a last station departure time of a target train and a next station departure time of a precedent train with respect to a required time of the target train to a next station by the use of a train simulation on the basis of a train moving condition and an operation prediction unit that creates a prediction schedule on the basis of information of the required time acquired for each target train during a prediction period by referring to the station-to-station required timetable recorded in the required time database on the basis of information of a train schedule and a train arrival-departure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kawabata, Yusaku Nagasaki, Koki Yoshimoto