Patents Examined by Jess Whittington
  • Patent number: 11498558
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to control a hybrid powertrain, comprising a combustion engine, an electric machine, a gearbox with input shaft and output shaft, wherein the combustion engine and the electric machine are connected to the input shaft. The method comprises the following steps: a) disconnecting the combustion engine from the input shaft with a coupling device, b) engaging a starting gear in the gearbox, which starting gear is higher than the gear at which the combustion engine's torque at idling speed is able to operate the input shaft, c) generating a torque in the input shaft with the electric machine, d) accelerating the electric machine, and e) connecting the combustion engine to the input shaft with the coupling device when the electric machine has reached substantially the same rotational speed as the combustion engine. The invention also relates to a hybrid powertrain and a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Mats Liwell, Mattias Nilsson, Fredrik Sunden, Afram Kourie
  • Patent number: 11498609
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire vehicle includes a steering actuator configured to turn a wheel and a reaction actuator configure to apply a torque to a steering wheel. An electronic control unit of a control apparatus for the vehicle is configured to execute normal steering control for turning the wheel and applying a reaction torque to the steering wheel according to a rotation of the steering wheel, and, when an activation condition including that the normal steering control is not needed is satisfied, execute rotation suppression control for suppressing the rotation of the steeling wheel without prohibiting the rotation of the steering wheel. Specifically, the electronic control unit is configured to, based on a steering speed or a steering torque, determine a rotation suppression torque for suppressing the rotation of the steering wheel, and control the reaction actuator such that the rotation suppression torque is applied to the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaharu Yamashita, Shintaro Takayama, Yosuke Yamashita, Hiroaki Hanzawa
  • Patent number: 11499627
    Abstract: Techniques related to vehicle operation. A processor determines that at least one condition is met related to a vehicle. In response to the at least one condition being met, the processor generates a natural language output having a query. The processor determines that an affirmative response to the query is received and causes a downshift of a transmission of the vehicle in response to the affirmative response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Humble, James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover, Tim Rumbell
  • Patent number: 11495125
    Abstract: A system comprises a computer including a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions such that the processor is programmed to determine two or more clusters of vehicle operating parameter values from each of a plurality of vehicles at a location within a time. Determining the two or more clusters includes clustering data from the plurality of vehicles based on proximity to two or more respective means. The processor is further programmed to determine a reportable condition when a mean for a cluster representing a greatest number of vehicles varies from a baseline by more than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Linjun Zhang, Juan Enrique Castorena Martinez, Codrin Cionca, Mostafa Parchami
  • Patent number: 11486718
    Abstract: A system and method for predicting travel time of a vehicle on routes of unbounded length within arterial roads. It collects historical information from probe vehicles positions using GPS technology in a periodic fashion and the sequence of links traversed between successive position measurements. Further, it collects information of neighborhood structure for each link within the arterial roads network. Any of the existing conditional probability distribution functions could be used to capture the spatio-temporal dependencies between each link of the arterial network and its neighbors. It learns the parameters of this data driven probabilistic model from historical information of probe vehicle trajectories traversed within the arterial roads network using an associated expectation maximization method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Avinash Achar, Venkatesh Sarangan, Anand Sivasubramaniam
  • Patent number: 11485394
    Abstract: A locomotive control system includes a locomotive having a traction motor and sensors. The traction motor provides tractive effort for propelling the locomotive and the sensors measure performance conditions of the locomotive. The system also includes a controller having one or more processors communicatively coupled with the traction motor. The controller selects one or more baseline conditions that designate operational conditions under which the locomotive is to operate, and monitors the performance conditions that are generated by the locomotive during operation of the locomotive according to the operational conditions designated by the one or more baseline conditions. The controller identifies a flashover condition or a plugging condition of the locomotive by comparing the performance conditions that are generated by the locomotive during operation of the locomotive with the one or more baseline conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Premsunder Ravi, Chandra Mouleswar Reddy S., Munishwar Ahuja, Shankar Chandrasekaran, Bret Worden
  • Patent number: 11482061
    Abstract: A vehicle readiness system includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive subsystem diagnostic data regarding a status of a subsystem of a vehicle, receive inventory data regarding an inventory of equipment present on the vehicle, receive inspection data regarding a condition of an inspection point on the vehicle, determine a readiness score for the vehicle based on the subsystem diagnostic data, the inventory data, and the inspection data, and transmit a readiness report based on the readiness score, the subsystem diagnostic data, the inventory data, and the inspection data to at least one of a display device of the vehicle or a user device separate from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Linsmeier, Chad T. Dolphin
  • Patent number: 11480980
    Abstract: An anti-spin system for an aircraft can include an anti-spin module configured to execute a computer implemented method. The method can include receiving flight data from one or more aircraft flight data systems, determining if the aircraft is near stall or in a stall using the flight data, and determining if the aircraft is in uncoordinated flight while near stall or in a stall to determine if the aircraft is near spin or in a spin using the flight data. If the aircraft is determined to be near spin, the method includes at least one of sending an alert to a warning indicator in a cockpit to warn the pilot of a spin or near spin condition, or sending a signal to an automated control system for inputting automatic control to the aircraft to avoid a spin by coordinating the aircraft or avoiding a stall while uncoordinated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Brent Naslund, John D. Winter
  • Patent number: 11472475
    Abstract: A control apparatus and method of a motor-driven power steering system are provided. The apparatus and method are capable of suppressing catch-up that occurs at a high steering speed even without using an expensive motor, thereby contributing to improving commercial value and reducing the manufacturing cost of a vehicle. The method includes determining a target steering speed using driver-steering input information and vehicle state information and determining the target steering speed corresponds to a condition for avoiding catch-up using the determined target steering speed. A current compensation value is then determined for reducing catch-up using the target steering speed in response to determining that is the target steering speed corresponds a condition for avoiding catch-up and motor current is compensated with the current compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seong Hack Lee, Sang Woock Ryu
  • Patent number: 11472443
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a mobile transport for delivering temperature-controlled contents includes a plurality of compartments each having an interior space and a front panel defining a wall. Each front panel opens in response to a predetermined condition. A temperature controller individually controls a temperature setting within at least one compartment, and a germicidal controller provides a germicide to the interior space of each compartment. In operation, the mobile transport receives an order signal including pickup location, customer identification, and delivery location. After the item has been placed in a compartment, the temperature controller sets the temperature setting for that compartment according to the item. The front panel of the compartment opens in response to receiving an open request signal satisfying the predetermined condition at the delivery location, the open request signal including information relating to the customer identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BIB Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Deloss Pickett, Sean O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 11465605
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a steering system and method for a machine includes a vehicle control system configured to command steering of the machine, and a steering sensor in communication with the vehicle control system. The steering sensor is configured to detect a position of a steering actuator of the machine. The vehicle control system is configured to detect an acceleration rate of the machine and to command steering of the machine based at least in part on the position of the steering actuator and the acceleration rate of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Caleb Van De Stroet
  • Patent number: 11465649
    Abstract: A vehicle control system comprising a vehicle control device, and a remote operation terminal. The vehicle control device controls a host vehicle capable of traveling in each of an autonomous self-driving mode, a remote self-driving mode, and a manual driving mode. The remote operation terminal remotely operate the host vehicle. The vehicle control device acquires a nearby-vehicle driving mode representing a driving mode of a nearby vehicle that is a vehicle near the host vehicle. In a case in which the nearby-vehicle driving mode of the nearby vehicle is a remote self-driving mode and a driving mode of the host vehicle is the autonomous self-driving mode, the vehicle control device controls travel of the host vehicle in the autonomous self-driving mode so that a distance between the nearby vehicle and the host vehicle becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Ito, Tsukasa Nakanishi, Yuta Morikawa, Naoki Yamamuro, Yuki Tatsumoto
  • Patent number: 11465466
    Abstract: When receiving the transportation request from the user (step S200), the management center extracts the unoccupied vehicle according to the transportation request and selects it as a transportation vehicle (step S201). After selecting the transportation vehicle, the management center transmits to the transportation vehicle the transportation information including the instruction for start-up of air-conditioning (step S202). When receiving the drop-off completion information from the transportation vehicle (step S205), the management center selects the standby area (step S206) and transmits to the transportation vehicle standby information including the instruction for shut-down of air-conditioning (step S207).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Morita, Koji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11460315
    Abstract: An approach is provided for providing a shared vehicle parking search route. The approach involves determining that a vehicle is nearing a destination. The approach also involves determining a boundary of a service area in which the vehicle is to remain. The approach further involves generating a parking search route for the vehicle to locate a parking space in proximity to the destination based, at least in part, on the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, David Falla-Cepeda
  • Patent number: 11447134
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a system for controlling a vehicle includes at least one sensor configured to detect at least one localization reference and at least one processor configured to determine a location of the vehicle with a first precision based on an indication from the at least one sensor while the vehicle is traveling in a first lane of a roadway. The processor is configured to determine that at least one characteristic of the first precision is below a threshold and, based on the at least one characteristic being below the threshold, maneuver the vehicle to a second lane of the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Nandita Mangal, Michael H. Laur
  • Patent number: 11450205
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting and responding to an emergency vehicle are discussed. A vehicle computing system may determine that an emergency vehicle based on sensor data, such as audio and visual data. In some examples, the vehicle computing system may determine aggregate actions of objects (e.g., other vehicles yielding) proximate the vehicle based on the sensor data. In such examples, a determination that the emergency vehicle is operating may be based on the actions of the objects. The vehicle computing system may, in turn, identify a location to move out of a path of the emergency vehicle (e.g., yield) and may control the vehicle to the location. The vehicle computing system may determine that the emergency vehicle is no longer relevant to the vehicle and may control the vehicle along a route to a destination. Determining to yield and/or returning to a mission may be confirmed by a remote operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah Tariq, Ravi Gogna, Marc Wimmershoff, Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha
  • Patent number: 11441912
    Abstract: Technologies disclosed herein facilitate identification of a trip route from an origin of a user to a desired destination of the user, wherein the trip route includes multiple transportation modalities, at least one of which is an autonomous vehicle (AV), and dispatching of the AV to a pickup location for the user in connection with providing transportation to the user along a portion of the identified trip route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Mohamed M. Elshenawy
  • Patent number: 11440494
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Autonomous operation features and related components can be assessed using direct or indirect data regarding operation. Vehicle collision and/or smart home incident monitoring, damage detection, and responses are also described, with particular focus on the particular challenges associated with incident response for unoccupied vehicles and/or smart homes. Operating data associated with the autonomous vehicle and/or smart home may be received. Within the operating, an unusual condition indicative of a likelihood of incident may be detected. Based on the unusual condition, it may be determined that the incident occurred. Accordingly, a response to the incident may be determined. The response may be implemented by the autonomous vehicle and/or smart home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Blake S. Konrardy, Gregory L. Hayward, Scott Farris, Scott T. Christensen
  • Patent number: 11433872
    Abstract: An example method includes making a first determination that a load of a cooling system of a vehicle is expected to increase and become greater than a capacity of the cooling system; operating, in response to making the first determination, the vehicle in a first mode where a combustion engine and an electric motor operate such that a charge level of a power supply of the vehicle increases or is maintained above a threshold charge level; making, after operating the vehicle in the first mode, a second determination that the load of the cooling system has become greater than the capacity of the cooling system; and operating, in response to making the second determination, the vehicle in a second mode where the combustion engine and the electric motor operate such that the charge level of the power supply decreases or is maintained below the threshold charge level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Simon Ellgas, Andrew Warburton
  • Patent number: 11433876
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a preceding vehicle information acquiring device for acquiring preceding vehicle information relating to a preceding vehicle, including a parameter relating to a distance between vehicles which becomes greater the wider the distance between a host vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and an electronic control unit for controlling the internal combustion engine, in which, the electronic control unit is configured so that when the parameter becomes a first predetermined value or more during the idle reduction mode where the internal combustion engine is automatically made to stop, it makes the internal combustion engine automatically restart and so that if the host vehicle continues stopped even after making the internal combustion engine automatically restart, it again makes the internal combustion engine automatically stop when the preceding vehicle has stopped before the parameter becomes a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Kuretake