Patents Examined by John Q. Nguyen
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Patent number: 9423267Abstract: A position detector is configured to detect a current position of a moving body. A condition detector is configured to detect moving conditions including a forward direction of the moving body. A display unit is configured to display a predetermined image overlaid on the landscape in front of the moving body. A storage unit is configured to store the position of each intersection in a route along which the moving body moves and the position and shape of each object existing around the intersection. A selector is configured to select any one of the objects existing around an intersection for which guidance is needed when the moving body nears the intersection. A drawing controller is configured to draw on the display unit, a guide figure indicating the object selected by the selector.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: JVC KENWOOD CORPORATIONInventor: Katsumi Tomizawa
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Patent number: 9423783Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the prevention of erroneous actuator access in a multifunctional general electronic control system wherein the actuator access requirements emanate from different system services (1), a rights management (2), which determines the authorization of actuator access requirements, a mode of operation control unit (4), and an access management (6) are integrated into the general control system. The rights management (2), in the event of an access requirement by a system service (1), brings about an adjustment or a change of the mode of operation according to predefined rules in consideration of the instantaneous mode of operation of the general system and reports the current mode of operation to the access management (6).Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: CONTINETAL TEVES AG & CO. OHGInventors: Andreas Kohl, Christian Kebbel
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Patent number: 9421964Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, an electric motor, and a clutch disposed in a power transmitting path between the engine and the electric motor, a drive mode of the hybrid vehicle being switched on the basis of a required drive force of the hybrid vehicle, between a first drive mode in which said engine is placed in an operated state while said clutch is placed in an engaged state, and a second drive mode in which said electric motor is exclusively used as a drive power source to run the hybrid vehicle while said engine is placed in a rest state and while said clutch is placed in a released state; and a range in which said second drive mode is established being narrower when a temperature of said clutch is comparatively high, than when said temperature is comparatively low.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Yuji Inoue, Shintaro Matsutani, Yousuke Michikoshi
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Patent number: 9415759Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system for monitoring pressures on the service and emergency brakes, tires and suspension of a tractor trailer. The system also monitors electrical stoplight power to the ABS brakes as well as various additional vehicle systems listed within the claims. The monitoring system also provides visual and audible alarms to the operator as well as an additional output to signal a wireless device to warn the operator's employer if the warning is ignored.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Haldex Brake CorporationInventors: James L. Greene, David G. Engelbert
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Patent number: 9415849Abstract: In one embodiment, a general-purpose wireless mobile device having a touch-sensitive screen and executing a remote control application is used to remotely control a vehicle (e.g., a marine vessel). The general-purpose wireless mobile device communicates via a wireless network with an interface (e.g., a server) that is coupled to an electronic control system of the vehicle (e.g., the vessel). In operation, environmental information and/or system status information is collected through the electronic control system, propagated to the interface (e.g., server), and then sent over the wireless network to the wireless mobile device. Similarly, control input is sent over the wireless network to the interface (e.g., server), which passes the information to the electronic control system, which in turn issues appropriate control signals to the vehicle subsystems (e.g., marine subsystems) to control the motion of the vehicle (e.g., the vessel).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignees: Savant Systems, LLC, Apple, Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Jobs, Robert P. Madonna, Michael C. Silva, Cameron Pulsford, Nicholas J. Cipollo
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Patent number: 9415686Abstract: A display control apparatus, with respect to multiple display areas of a display screen of a display apparatus, assigns one display image to one of the display areas by performing a predetermined calculation. The display control apparatus includes a display image managing section storing image information related to the display image, a display area managing section storing area information related to each display area, a mandatory exclusion information storing section storing mandatory exclusion information that defines multiple display image combinations so that the display image is included in each of the display image combinations, and a display image assignment control section. The display image assignment control section, based on the mandatory exclusion information, determines the display image combinations, generates a display image combination list, and assigns the display image to the display area based on the display image combination list.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2012Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshihiro Ueda, Hitoshi Sugiyama, Shigeo Katoh
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Patent number: 9409490Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote systems such as electric vehicles. In one aspect, a wireless power receiver includes a first inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter. The wireless power receiver further includes a second inductive element, laterally separated from the first, configured to receive wireless charging power from the transmitter. The wireless power receiver further includes a position detector configured to determine a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on characteristics of the first and second inductive elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATEDInventor: Kiyotaka Kawashima
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Patent number: 9403496Abstract: Provided is a communication system capable of enhancing convenience for remotely operating a movable-body-mounted apparatus mountable in a movable body such as a vehicle. For example, a communication system includes a movable-body-mounted apparatus including: a movable body information storage part which stores movable body information including a received signal quality of a radio wave used for communication to/from a center server and information on a vehicle; a separation determination part which determines whether or not a user who moves along with the vehicle is separated from the vehicle; and a movable body information notification part which notifies the user of the movable body information stored in the movable body information storage part when the separation determination part determines that the user is separated from the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Yuichi Kobayashi, Katsuya Miyata, Tetsuo Nakano, Mitsuhiro Kitani, Hirokazu Aoshima, Noboru Kiyama
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Patent number: 9401090Abstract: A collision avoidance system uses map information to manage power. The collision avoidance system operates at a first communications range when a vehicle is determined, based upon the map information, to be in a relatively low collision risk scenario. When the collision avoidance system determines that the vehicle is approaching a situation of increased collision risk, such as an intersection, the communications is increased. The communications range may be increased by increasing the power to the antenna system or using antenna diversity techniques.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yutaka Mochizuki
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Patent number: 9399500Abstract: A bicycle wireless control system is basically provided with a first electric component and a second electric component. The first electric component includes a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits a plurality of control signals in response to a single operation of at least one operating member. Each of the control signals is transmitted for a predetermined transmission period at a predetermined non-transmission interval between adjacent ones of the control signals. The second electric component includes a wireless receiver and a controller. The wireless receiver wirelessly receives the control signal. The controller periodically operates the wireless receiver for at least two predetermined listening periods that each includes a set of predetermined listening periods with a non-listening interval therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Akinori Hashimoto, Takaya Masuda
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Patent number: 9395233Abstract: A method and system of determining a vehicle's driving characteristics such as the vehicle mass, drag force coefficients and driving surface inclination. The vehicle's mass, drag force coefficients and inclination are determined using signals input from the vehicle's accelerometer.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Hussein A. Dourra, Michael A. Hall, Peter G. Hartman
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Patent number: 9393956Abstract: A parking support apparatus includes: a host vehicle positional information acquisition unit acquiring host vehicle positional information indicating a current position of a vehicle; an obliqueness calculation unit calculating obliqueness between a vehicle length direction and a longitudinal direction of the parking space, based on the host vehicle positional information; an obliqueness correction path calculation unit calculating an obliqueness correction path along which a position of the vehicle reaches a front end of the parking space, based on the obliqueness when the vehicle travels forward from a stop position at a steering angle; and a centering path calculation unit calculating a centering path which has a width at a central portion of the parking space in a width direction and along which the vehicle travels forward toward a central region set in the longitudinal direction, after a position of the vehicle reaches the front end of the parking space.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroki Inagaki
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Patent number: 9383010Abstract: The present invention provides a method of selecting and implementing a shift schedule for a transmission in a vehicle that includes an output speed sensor and a controller. The method includes measuring output speed with the output speed sensor and comparing the measured output speed to an output speed threshold. The controller receives throttle percentage and compares the throttle percentage to a throttle threshold. The method also includes calculating output acceleration and transmission gear ratio with the controller. The shift schedule is selected based on the measured output speed, calculated output acceleration, calculated transmission gear ratio, and throttle percentage.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Jared S. Shattuck
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Patent number: 9382010Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of a gas turbine engine supplying power to an aircraft. The engine is controlled according to a reading of an amount of power drawn from the supplied power. The reading is fed directly to a control system, which issues commands for controlling engine parameters comprising an acceleration reference signal, load shedding, variable geometry positioning, and fuel flow. The control system may further issue commands for controlling the amount of power drawn. The control system may further use the reading to monitor the engine's condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2013Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Bryan Chen, Dariusz Chmiel, Philippe Beauchesne-Martel, James Robert Jarvo
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Patent number: 9379559Abstract: A system for charging a vehicle includes a forward model for modeling vehicle charging data for a plurality of vehicles, and a charge exchange market which, based on the forward model, facilitates an agreement for transmitting power to a first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles via a dynamic power grid including a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles. A system of managing power consumption in the vehicle includes, an optimizing unit for optimizing a plurality of parameters to determine a power to be consumed by the vehicle based on a plurality of power source signatures for a plurality of power sources, and an operating mode setting unit for setting an operating mode for powering the vehicle based on the determined power.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Brian A. O'Connell, Rick Hamilton, James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover
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Patent number: 9376785Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling body; an upper rotating body provided on the lower traveling body; an electrical energy storage device provided on the upper rotating body; a converter connected to the electrical energy storage device; and a controller that controls the converter. The controller applies a current to the electrical energy storage device and the converter at the time of starting up the shovel, detects the status value after having applied the current, and controls the converter based on a comparison result between the detected status value and a predetermined value to restrict an output of the electrical energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Masanori Yumura, Kazuya Yokoyama
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Patent number: 9367967Abstract: Systems and methods for odometer monitoring are disclosed herein. One example method includes storing an odometer value and a vehicle position in response to an initial triggering event, and determining a second odometer value and a second vehicle position in response to a subsequent triggering event. The odometer value is compared with the second odometer value to detect any odometer value change from the initial triggering event to the subsequent triggering event. The vehicle position is compared with the second vehicle position to detect any vehicle position change from the initial triggering event to the subsequent triggering event. From the comparisons, it is determined whether odometer tampering has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, General Motors LLCInventors: William A. Biondo, George Baker
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Patent number: 9364178Abstract: A vehicle includes a detection system, configured to acquire data regarding operation of the vehicle, and a robotic driving device, configured to provide robotic control of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a control system configured to determine whether the robotic driving device is activated, such that the vehicle is in robotic driving mode; receive a request by a prospective operator of the vehicle to deactivate the robotic driving device to initiate a manual driving mode; determine whether the prospective operator is impaired based on the data; and selectively grant or refuse the request based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde
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Patent number: 9360340Abstract: Presentation of navigation directions in mapping applications is customized by obtaining navigation instructions that direct a user from a starting point to a destination. The navigation instructions are displayed via a user interface. For each of the navigation instructions, an individually operable user control for specifying an instruction-specific presentation rule is provided. Instruction-specific presentation rules are received prior to the user departing from the starting point toward the destination. The navigation instructions are presented during navigation in accordance with the received instruction-specific presentation rules.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: GOOGLE INC.Inventors: Zhou Bailiang, Robertus Christianus Elisabeth Mariet
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Patent number: 9361270Abstract: A method of controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine. The industrial machine includes a dipper, a hoist rope attached to the dipper, a hoist motor moving the hoist rope and the dipper, and a computer having a controller. The method includes monitoring a speed of the hoist motor, determining an acceleration rate of the hoist motor, comparing the acceleration rate of the hoist motor to a threshold reverse factor, determining an impact situation when the acceleration rate is less than the threshold reverse factor, and sending a reverse torque control command signal to the hoist motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Colwell, Mooyoung Lee