Patents Examined by Jordan Fei
  • Patent number: 8428816
    Abstract: A method to monitor integrity of a signal generated and communicated in a distributed control module system for a hybrid powertrain system includes generating and verifying signal within an originating control module. A message is generated based upon the signal. The message is transmitted and received at a receiving control module. The signal is extracted from the message and its integrity is verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hanne Buur, William R. Cawthorne, Trenton W. Haines, Jeong J Park, Leonard G. Wozniak
  • Patent number: 8311707
    Abstract: A method of detecting a minispare tire in a vehicle having a vehicle control system. The method includes detecting a rotational velocity of each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle; determining whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle based on the rotational velocities detected at each of the plurality of wheels; adjusting the vehicle control system if a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle; sensing a hydraulic pressure of a braking system of the vehicle; and suspending determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle if the hydraulic pressure exceeds a predetermined critical pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Nachiket D. Patil
  • Patent number: 8306717
    Abstract: When a target vehicle speed setting unit switches from a target vehicle speed to a higher target vehicle speed, a reaction force controller of a reaction force apparatus lowers, at the same ratio, a reaction force applying characteristic, which corresponds to the target vehicle speed before being switched to the higher target vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Suzaki, Hirotaka Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 8170755
    Abstract: A method of detecting a minispare tire in a vehicle having a vehicle control system. The method includes detecting a rotational velocity of each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle; determining whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle based on the rotational velocities detected at each of the plurality of wheels; adjusting the vehicle control system if a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle; sensing a hydraulic pressure of a braking system of the vehicle; and suspending determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle if the hydraulic pressure exceeds a predetermined critical pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Nachiket D. Patil
  • Patent number: 8095272
    Abstract: A rotatable grip (ancillary operation member) is provided on a part of a steering wheel body of a steering wheel (main operation member) for turning wheels. When the grip is rotated, a difference is generated between left and right wheels, and a yaw moment generated with this difference can assist or suppress the turning of a vehicle. Because the grip constitutes a part of the steering wheel body, it is possible to rotate the grip to assist or suppress the turning of the vehicle, while operating the steering wheel to turn the vehicle. Because both the steering wheel body and the grip can be operated by the same hand of a driver, operational burden on the driver is alleviated. Thus, it is possible to concurrently provide an excellent operability of the main operation member for controlling a kinetic state of the vehicle, and an excellent operability of the ancillary operation member for controlling the operation of a yaw moment generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuasa Suzuki, Minoru Higuchi, Yasuji Shibahata
  • Patent number: 8055382
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and medium for estimating a pose of a moving robot using a particle filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyeon Myeong, Seok-won Bang, Dong-geon Kong, Su-jinn Lee
  • Patent number: 8050807
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vertical motion detection of objects, such as aircraft. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving altitude data for an object, determining a residual of a lag function, wherein the lag function comprises a moving average of the altitude data for the object, and wherein the residual corresponds to a difference between a value for the lag function and the object altitude data at a given time such that the residual grows in magnitude over time in response to the object transitioning from level flight to vertical motion, detecting vertical motion of the object by comparing a sum of data derived from the residuals against a threshold value, and outputting a vertical motion indicator after detecting the vertical motion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Dan Varon
  • Patent number: 8044624
    Abstract: A load control apparatus outputs a PWM signal to a switching element to control a load. The switching element is connected between a power supply and a grand in series with the load. An abnormal increase detecting unit outputs an abnormal increase detection signal when detecting abnormal increase in applied voltage, which is applied to the load, relative to target voltage. An abnormal decrease detecting unit outputs an abnormal decrease detection signal when detecting abnormal decrease in the applied voltage relative to the target voltage. An operating state monitoring unit outputs a normally operating signal when the load normally operates. A signal combining unit generates a combined signal by combining the abnormal increase detection signal, the abnormal decrease detection signal, and the normally operating signal and outputs the combined signal via a common signal output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Matsuo, Shigeru Takeuchi, Taketoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 8019490
    Abstract: An imaging and display system provides helicopter pilots with an unobstructed display of a landing area in a brownout or whiteout condition by capturing a high resolution image of the landing area prior to obscuration. Using inertial navigation information from the aircraft or an independent system, the system transforms the image to a desired viewpoint and overlays a representation of the helicopter's current position relative to the landing area. The system thus greatly improves orientation and situational awareness, permitting safe and effective operation under zero visibility brownout conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Minds, LLC
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, W. Daniel Hillis, Michael Harvey Peterson
  • Patent number: 8013724
    Abstract: A tire-pressure control apparatus includes time calculation means for calculating an up time over which the tire pressure of each wheel increases from a lower limit set value to an upper limit set value and a down time over which the tire pressure of the wheel decreases from the upper limit set value to the lower limit set value, on the basis of the detection value of a corresponding pressure sensor; average-rotational-speed calculation means for calculating an average rotational speed of the wheel during the up time on the basis of the detection value of a corresponding wheel speed sensor; first-pump-supplied-air-quantity calculation means (403) for calculating a first pump-supplied air quantity Qvw* of a corresponding air pressure generation unit in a single generation and non-generation cycle on the basis of the up time and the average rotational speed; second-pump-supplied-air-quantity calculation means (404) for calculating a second pump-supplied air quantity Qp* of the air pressure generation unit in a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono