Patents Examined by Jay Khandpur
  • Patent number: 11685373
    Abstract: A method for detecting and processing the carriageway condition of a carriageway on which a vehicle is driven, by means of at least one noise sensor provided on the vehicle, in particular by means of at least one mechanical vibration sensor, wherein noise signals travelling through the vehicle are sensed by a noise sensor and conclusions as to the carriageway condition are drawn from the sensed noise signals. According to said method, the section of route on which the vehicle is currently being driven is determined, the determined carriageway condition is assigned to the section of route, said section of route and the carriageway condition that has been determined and assigned to the section of route are transmitted to a computer network, in particular to a cloud-based computing service, and the information relating to the carriageway condition assigned to a section of route is made available via the computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Thomas Niemann, Hauke Baumgärtel, Julien Bungalski
  • Patent number: 11686588
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for receiving location data for a first location and a second location and generating a plurality of candidate routes to travel from the first location to the second location, based on the location data, each candidate route comprising a plurality of segments. The systems and methods further generate a safety score for each segment of each candidate route of the plurality of candidate routes, generate a safety score for each candidate route based on safety scores generated for each segment associated with each candidate route, select a best candidate route using the safety score associated with each of the candidate routes, and provide a recommendation for a travel route comprising the best candidate route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Houtan Shirani-Mehr, Kapil Gupta, Mir Shahrouz Takyar, Jaikumar Ganesh
  • Patent number: 11682243
    Abstract: A driving assistance device includes a first acquisition unit that acquires hazardous event data for notifying the occurrence of a hazardous event during driving from a driving situation sensing device provided in a vehicle, a second acquisition unit that acquires a deterioration degree of a traveling environment registered in advance in association with a position where the driving situation sensing device senses the hazardous event data, and a determination unit that determines, on a basis of the hazardous event data and the deterioration degree of the traveling environment, whether a hazardous event indicated by the hazardous event data was caused by a driving operation of the driver of the vehicle or the traveling environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Inagaki
  • Patent number: 11681289
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a permission unit configured to permit a remote operation using a remote operation device outside the vehicle, a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the remote operation device, information on surroundings of the subject vehicle acquired from sensors, a receiving unit configured to receive a remote operation signal that is input by an operator outside the vehicle via the remote operation device, a travel control unit configured to remotely drive the vehicle based on the remote operation signal, and a replacement reception unit configured to, while the vehicle is remotely driven, receive an instruction from an occupant to replace the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Nozaki, Tatsuya Matsunami, Takashi Hayashi, Tomoya Makino, Yohei Tanigawa
  • Patent number: 11670175
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Oshida, Xue Bai, Shigenobu Saigusa, Yoichi Sugimoto, Samir Al-Stouhi
  • Patent number: 11670187
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a control unit. The control unit acquires actual traveling information about a first vehicle that travels along a first traveling route, and generates control information for reproducing a traveling state of the first vehicle on the first traveling route, based on the acquired traveling information about the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Nakanishi, Tadashi Yamada, Josuke Yamane, Mitsuhiro Miura, Tomo Sasaki, Tomoyuki Kozuka, Tae Sugimura
  • Patent number: 11661087
    Abstract: Method, control unit, and target arrangement of a leading vehicle for triggering a follower vehicle, which is situated at a lateral distance from the leading vehicle, to coordinate its movements with the leading vehicle. The target arrangement comprises a target configured to be placed at a lateral distance from to the leading vehicle. The target is also configured to be recognized by at least one forwardly directed sensor of the follower vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Marcello Cirillo, Magnus Granström, Mattias Nilsson, Julien Bidot, Jiwung Choi, Rui Oliveira
  • Patent number: 11654823
    Abstract: An object is to provide a light-irradiation technique that are capable of making the driver of a vehicle around a vehicle platoon aware of changes in the vehicle configuration of the vehicle platoon. During no changes in the vehicle configuration of a vehicle platoon, a controller performs control in such a manner that an irradiation device of the vehicle casts light in a steady-state mode common in the vehicle platoon. In a process where the vehicle merges with another of the vehicle alone or another of the vehicle platoon, the controller performs control in such a manner that the irradiation device of the merging vehicle casts light in a transition mode. In a process where the vehicle leaves the vehicle platoon, the controller performs control in such a manner that the irradiation device of the leaving vehicle casts light in the transition mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Aono, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Patent number: 11648948
    Abstract: A method determines a quality characteristic, in which the quality characteristic is representative for the procurement of a vehicle-specific friction coefficient of a vehicle and a standardized friction coefficient of a friction coefficient map. The friction coefficient data are received, the friction coefficient data being representative for a friction coefficient measured depending upon the position of a vehicle and a quality characteristic representative for the vehicle. The friction coefficient map is provided, the friction coefficient being representative for standardized friction coefficients of a vehicle fleet of a route network. Depending upon the friction coefficient data and the friction coefficient map, the quality characteristic is determined again and transmitted to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Bonfigt, Barbara Bunk, Andrew Mellett, Reinhard Schmerer, Jeffrey Tchai
  • Patent number: 11644541
    Abstract: An emitting device (26) for a scanning optical detection system of a vehicle for monitoring at least one monitoring region (14) for objects is described, having at least one light source (40a, 40b) for generating at least one optical emission signal (32a, 32b) and having at least one diffraction unit (50a, 50b), which has a diffractive effect on the at least one emission signal (32a, 32b), for controlling at least one beam direction (66a, 66b) of the at least one emission signal (32a, 32b). At least one diffraction unit (50a, 50b) which is settable to set the beam directions (66a, 66b) associated with the respective signal paths (41a, 41b), is arranged in at least two different signal paths (41a, 41b) of one emission signal or various emission signals (32a, 32b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Bertschinger, Daniel Stricker-Shaver, Jan Simon, Thomas Schuler
  • Patent number: 11635298
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include identifying a transportation task within a dynamic transportation network, accessing a database of door closing event locations, wherein the database is populated from observed door closing events within the dynamic transportation network, determining location information specifying at least one of a pickup location and a drop-off location for the transportation task based at least in part on the database of door closing event locations, and providing the location information to a transportation provider computing device, wherein a transportation provider performs the transportation task that comprises at least one of picking up a transportation requestor at the pickup location and dropping off the transportation requestor at the drop-off location. Other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Jonathan DiCarlo
  • Patent number: 11636766
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Staahl
  • Patent number: 11628840
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention outputs a signal regarding a target braking/driving force for guiding a vehicle in a target traveling direction to a braking/driving controller. The signal regarding the target braking/driving force is acquired based on information regarding a running route of the vehicle and a physical amount regarding a motion state of the vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus outputs a signal regarding a steering correction torque for correcting a steering torque according to a behavior of the vehicle to a steering force controller. The signal regarding the steering correction torque is acquired based on a vehicle-body slip angle of the vehicle and the target braking/driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamichi Imamura, Satoshi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11614337
    Abstract: A system and method for the classification of geographic locations based on vehicle trip logs, including: grouping a plurality of trip records by vehicle, wherein the plurality of trip records include start times and locations and stop times and locations; sorting the plurality of trip records for a vehicle in one of descending or ascending order with respect to stop times; calculating a plurality of time differences between consecutive trips of the plurality of trip records; storing the plurality of time differences in a stop time array; for a first plurality of time differences, storing the associated stop locations in a first location array; for a second plurality of stop times, storing the associated stop locations in a second location array; and computing a time difference median for each of the first location array and the second location array and returning the time difference medians as results for each location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Joakim Soderberg
  • Patent number: 11592527
    Abstract: A headlamp module of a vehicle includes a housing including a window, an illumination submodule disposed inside the housing and configured to provide illumination light to be transmitted through the window toward a scene in front of the vehicle, and a first LiDAR sensor disposed inside the housing and laterally displaced from the illumination submodule. The first LiDAR sensor includes one or more laser sources configured to emit laser beams to be transmitted through the window toward the scene, the laser beams being reflected off of one or more objects in the scene, thereby generating return laser beams to be transmitted through the window toward the first LiDAR sensor and one or more detectors configured to receive and detect the return laser beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Mark A. McCord, Jun Pei, Liqun Han, Dongyi Liao, Wei Wei
  • Patent number: 11590984
    Abstract: A control system and method for controlling a vehicle subsystem are provided. The control system includes a remote parameter sensor configured to generate a remote parameter signal indicative of a value of a universal parameter associated with an environment in which a vehicle is operating. The system further includes a local parameter sensor configured to generate a local parameter signal indicative of the value of the universal parameter and a local controller. The controller is configured to receive the local parameter signal along a first signal path, receive the remote parameter signal and a command signal configured for controlling a function of the vehicle subsystem along a second signal path, compare the local and remote parameter signals and implement the function of the vehicle subsystem responsive to the command signal if the remote parameter signal meets a predetermined condition relative to the local parameter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Daniel P. Zula, Nianqing Zhou, Vadim V. Nikiforov, Rajkumar Senthilkumar
  • Patent number: 11577752
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting fully automatic vehicle guidance functions, which are realized by means of a vehicle system of a motor vehicle, during the operation of the motor vehicles in a predefined navigation environment. A stationary infrastructure device that communicates with the motor vehicles is associated with the navigation environment. Function limits of each vehicle guidance function are defined by means of limit operation parameters of the vehicle guidance function. Current traffic situation information describing dynamic objects in the navigation environment is determined by the infrastructure device by means of environment sensors of the navigation environment. The current traffic situation information is used, together with a digital map describing stationary objects and properties of the navigation environment, to determine at least one piece of risk information for each motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Florian Schuller, Christian Feist
  • Patent number: 11568752
    Abstract: A gateway retrieval alert device is configured for use in an aircraft ground support system. The gateway retrieval alert device is connected to an intercom gateway, either through a direct wireless connection or through a direct connection to a headset of a tug operator, the headset in turn being wirelessly connected to the intercom gateway. The integrity of the wireless link to the intercom gateway is monitored, and when the integrity of the link falls below a set threshold, an alert is issued. The alert is issued externally to the communication network between the ground crew and pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: David Clark Company Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert A. Daigle, Nick Cannata
  • Patent number: 11535258
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for determining a rain event warning are described herein. In the context of a method, an indication of the rain event warning for one or more locations may be received. The method may obtain, for a respective rain event warning, sensor data corresponding to a weather condition within a region that includes the location with which the respective rain event warning is associated. The method may evaluate the sensor data to determine whether the sensor data is indicative of the weather condition (e.g., rain). The method may determine a rain event warning confidence based at least in part on evaluation of the sensor data. The method may cause the rain event warning to be published in an instance in which the rain event warning confidence satisfies a confidence threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Leon Stenneth, Amarnath Nayak, Alex Averbuch, Ram Marappan
  • Patent number: 11532235
    Abstract: A flight deck system for providing task management assistance in managing the flight path to the flight crew is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Barbara Holder, Stephen Whitlow, Christopher Heine, Steven Crouch, Kelsey Keberle