Patents Examined by Jean-Paul Cass
  • Patent number: 11807062
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to a collaborative relationship between a vehicle and a UAV. In one exemplary implementation, a computer that is provided in the vehicle uses images captured by an imaging system in the UAV together with images captured by an imaging system in the vehicle, to modify a suspension system of the vehicle based on a nature of the terrain located below, or ahead, of the vehicle. The computer may, for example, modify a suspension system before the vehicle reaches a rock or a pothole on the ground ahead. In another exemplary implementation, the computer may generate an augmented reality image that includes a 3D model of the vehicle rendered on an image of a terrain located below, or ahead of, the vehicle. The augmented reality image may be used by a driver of the vehicle to drive the vehicle over such terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Lazarevski, Austin Thind, James Carthew, Timothy Panagis, Nelson Brock
  • Patent number: 11804052
    Abstract: A method for setting a target flight path of an aircraft in a physical environment, the method includes: displaying a virtual three-dimensional model corresponding to the physical environment; setting a start point in the virtual three-dimensional model according to a user input indicative of a position of the start point; continuously tracking a trajectory of a physical object moved in a space corresponding to the virtual three-dimensional model while displaying within the virtual three-dimensional model a continuous path corresponding to the trajectory of the physical object from the start point; setting an end point of the continuous path in the virtual three-dimensional model according to a user input indicative of a position of the end point; and generating the target flight path of the aircraft in the physical environment based on the continuous path from the start point to the end point in the virtual three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Mizufuka, Michael Leyva, Takunori Iki
  • Patent number: 11801848
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting a control of a vehicle system based on a condition of an occupant. The system includes a replaceable or upgradeable electronic skin removably coupled to an interior vehicle component. The electronic skin includes at least one sensor positioned therein, configured to monitor/obtain a biometric, physiological, or wellness condition measurement from an occupant. The system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled thereto. An occupant comfort module is provided including instructions that, when executed, collect and monitor feedback from the at least one sensor; determine that the feedback exceeds a predetermined threshold; and determine an adjustment for a vehicle system based on the feedback. A control module may be provided including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the vehicle system to change at least one setting based on the adjustment determined by the occupant comfort module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Patent number: 11794342
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for robot motion planning using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). One of the methods includes determining that a current plan for performing a particular task with a robot requires modification; in response, generating one or more flight plans for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on a robotic operating environment comprising the robot; obtaining, using the UAV in accordance with the one or more flight plans, a new measurement of the robotic operating environment comprising the robot; and generating, based at least on a difference between the new measurement of the robotic operating environment and a previous measurement of the robotic operating environment, a modified plan for performing the particular task with the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Michael Barrett Hill, Adam Nicholas Ruxton
  • Patent number: 11794917
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hybrid-electric aircraft powerplant includes running a first control loop for command of a thermal engine based on error between total response commanded for a hybrid-electric powerplant and total response from the hybrid-electric powerplant. A second control loop runs in parallel with the first control loop for commanding the thermal engine based on error between maximum thermal engine output and total response commanded. A third control loop runs in parallel with the first and second control loops for commanding engine/propeller speed, wherein the third control loop outputs a speed control enable or disable status. A fourth control loop runs in parallel with the first, second, and third control loops for commanding the electric motor with non-zero demand when the second control loop is above control to add response from the electric motor to response from the thermal engine to achieve the response commanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Leonid Guerchkovitch, Manuj Dhingra, Boris Karpman, Aaron J. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11794807
    Abstract: The steering control apparatus determines whether or not a deviation degree of a current traveling route of a vehicle with respect to a target traveling route is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold, when steering control is switched from manual steering control to automatic steering control. In the automatic steering control, a command steering angle is calculated so that a difference between a real traveling route of the vehicle and the target traveling route is eliminated. However, when the deviation degree is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold, the steering control apparatus recalculates the command steering angle used in the command steering angle tracking control based on a steering angle at the time of starting the automatic steering control and the command steering angle so that a real steering angle after switching to the automatic steering control changes gradually to the command steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Irie, Yoji Kunihiro, Yutaka Aoki, Yoshio Kudo
  • Patent number: 11793098
    Abstract: A system for detecting the levelness of ground engaging tools of a tillage implement including an agricultural implement including a frame and ground engaging tools supported relative to the frame. The system includes a first sensor and a second sensor configured to capture data indicative of a material flow past one or more first ground engaging tools and second ground engaging tools, respectively. The system includes a controller configured to monitor data received from the first sensor and the second sensor and compare one or more first monitored values and one or more second monitored values associated with the material flow past the first ground engaging tool(s) and the second ground engaging tool(s), respectively. The controller is further configured to identify that at least a portion of the ground engaging tools are not level when the first monitored value(s) differs from the second monitored value(s) by a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Barrick
  • Patent number: 11789466
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for controlling a system moving through an environment includes receiving a stream of event data from an event camera, the stream of event data representing a pixel location, a time stamp, and a polarity for each event detected by the event camera. A compressed representation of the stream of data is generated. The compressed representation is provided to a neural network model trained on prior compressed representations using reinforcement learning to learn actions for controlling the system. A control action is generated via the neural network model to control the movement of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Sai Hemachandra Vemprala, Sami Tariq Mian, Ashish Kapoor
  • Patent number: 11776279
    Abstract: An approach is provided for an unknown moving object detection system. The approach, for instance, involves capturing a plurality of unknown object events indicating an unknown object detected by one or more computer vision systems. The approach also involves clustering the plurality of unknown object events into a plurality of clusters based on one or more clustering parameters. The approach further involves selecting at least one cluster of the plurality of clusters based on a selection criterion. The approach further involves determining at least one operating scenario for the one or more computer vision systems based on a combination of the one or more clustering parameters associated with the selected at least one cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventor: James Fowe
  • Patent number: 11772616
    Abstract: Breakaway detection and alerting is described for a towed vehicle. In one example, a system includes a wired breakaway detector having a detector to generate an electric breakaway detection signal when a breakaway cable is not in a breakaway cable socket and an electrical cable to indicate the electric breakaway detection signal, and a wireless interface configured to be attached to the towed vehicle outside of the interior driver's area, to receive the electric breakaway detection signal from the breakaway detector and having a wireless transceiver to transmit a wireless breakaway alert signal in response to receiving the electric breakaway detection signal. A portable brake activation system receives the wireless breakaway alert signal from the wireless interface in the interior driver's area of the towed vehicle and activates the towed vehicle braking system through the attached brake pedal in response to the wireless breakaway alert signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Danko Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Decker, Jr., Jerad M. Burkhart
  • Patent number: 11774973
    Abstract: Provided is a storage device storing a movement assistance program, the program being configured to cause a computer to implement the functions of: a terrain information acquisition instruction section that instructs a terrain information acquisition device mounted on a flying machine to acquire terrain information representing a terrain lying between a present location of a ground-moving machine and a destination; a zone classification section that makes a classification based on a predetermined movement permission condition and the terrain information to divide the terrain lying between the present location and the destination into a movement-permitted zone and a movement-prohibited zone; and an output section that outputs at least one selected from a movement route of the ground-moving machine, the movement-permitted zone, and the movement-prohibited zone, the movement route leading from the present location to the destination without passing through the movement-prohibited zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11767056
    Abstract: The autonomous LC control is started in response to receiving a start instruction of autonomous lane change. When the driver performs a steering intervention in a same direction as a direction of steering requested by the autonomous LC control, and establishment of a stop condition of lane change is not recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, the autonomous driving control is continued. When the steering intervention in the same direction is performed, and establishment of the stop condition is recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, termination of the autonomous driving control is announced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 11760201
    Abstract: A vehicle display device, that includes: a first display device provided inside a vehicle cabin; a second display device provided inside the vehicle cabin and separately from the first display device; a memory; and a processor connecting to the memory and being configured to: set a running plan of a vehicle, to display a scheduled action of the vehicle on the first display device based on the running plan, and to display the scheduled action on the second display device in a case in which at least one of a distance to, or a time interval until, the scheduled action has reached a prescribed value or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Ogata, Satoaki Takabatake, Koji Kimura, Junji Miyazaki, Yuki Yoshida, Tadashi Morishita
  • Patent number: 11755021
    Abstract: A system configured to cause a vehicle to autonomously maneuver to a safe haven during a triggering event includes a communication component configured to receive parameters corresponding with conditions of the triggering event and, based on the parameters and on characteristics of the safe haven, instruct the vehicle to maneuver to the safe haven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Alexander B. Nagelberg, Bradly Jay Billman, Donnette L. Moncrief Brown
  • Patent number: 11741763
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media, are disclosed in which a variety of data describing the condition of an object can be obtained and probabilistic likelihoods of causes and/or value of damages to the object can be calculated. In a variety of embodiments, data obtained from third-party systems can be utilized in these calculations. Any of a number of machine classifiers can be utilized to generate the probabilistic likelihoods and confidence metrics in the calculated liabilities. A variety of user interfaces for efficiently obtaining and visualizing the object, the surrounding geographic conditions, and/or the probabilistic likelihoods can further be utilized as appropriate to the requirements of specific applications of embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Connor Walsh, Rebecca Harasymczuk, Caleb Brian Slaughter Gore, Ryan Carmichael
  • Patent number: 11740099
    Abstract: A device is provided to extract scan lines data from images of a route, said scan line data comprising only a portion of the an image that extends along a scan line, and to store this data in memory together with respective positional data pertaining to the position of the device traveling along the route in a navigable network. This scan line and positional data can be obtained from a plurality of devices in a network and transmitted to computing apparatus, for example, for use in a production of a realistic view of a digital map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TomTom Global Content B.V.
    Inventors: Henk van der Molen, Jeroen Trum, Jan Willem van den Brand
  • Patent number: 11731617
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for vehicle navigation. In one implementation, a system may comprise an interface to obtain sensing data of an environment of the host vehicle. A processing device may be configured to determine a planned navigational action for the host vehicle; identify a target vehicle in the environment of the host vehicle; predict a following distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle that would result if the planned navigational action was taken; determine a host vehicle braking distance based on a braking capability, acceleration capability, and speed of the host vehicle; determine a target vehicle braking distance, based on a speed and maximum braking capability of the target vehicle; and implement the planned navigational action when the predicted following distance is greater than a minimum safe longitudinal distance based on the determined host vehicle braking distance and the determined target vehicle braking distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Shai Shalev-Shwartz, Shaked Shammah, Amnon Shashua, Barak Cohen, Zeev Adelman, Oded Berberian
  • Patent number: 11733046
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating multi-modal transportation proposals are presented. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a processor and a memory storing instructions. The processor may execute the instructions to receive a request for transportation from an origin location to a destination location and to generate a proposal identifying a route between the origin location and destination location. Generating the proposal may include determining a primary modality for a primary segment with a primary starting location and a primary ending location. A starting portion may be identified from the origin location to the primary starting location and an ending portion may be identified from the primary ending location to the destination location. A secondary modality may be identified for transportation along the starting portion and/or the ending portion. The primary and secondary modality may be assigned to the proposal, which may be transmitted to a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Parker Spielman, Mayank Gulati, Karina Goot
  • Patent number: 11726478
    Abstract: A marking maintenance system comprising a marking database, a drone, and a data network communicatively coupled to the marking database and drone. The marking database is arranged to store marking data associated with one or more markings. The marking data can include one or more marking locations within a geographic area and a type of infrastructure associated with each of the one or more marking. The drone is arranged to determine the location of the drone via one or more location sensors, receive data from the marking database, and deploy to each marking location within a portion of the geographic area. The drone is also arranged to determine whether each marking within the portion of the geographic area is sufficiently present using one or more marker sensors and repair each marking within the portion of the geographic area that is determined to not be sufficiently present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: USIC, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Tullman
  • Patent number: 11720849
    Abstract: Methods and systems of prescribing navigational instructions to autonomous vehicle, aerial as well as terrestrial, are discussed. In one embodiment, mission relevant data is collected and passed to an assessment unit. The assessment unit assess data relevant to the mission, rules and authorizations. The assessment unit either approves the mission by sending mission instructions or denies the mission by sending a rejection response. A mission is an assembly of one or more navigational containers, a navigational container being a repository for navigational guidance and rule-based authorization assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Corverity Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Urban