Patents Examined by Jorge O. Peche
  • Patent number: 11724735
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a steering control apparatus, a steering control method, and a steering apparatus. Specifically, the steering control apparatus comprises: a reception unit for receiving steering correction condition information; a steering correction determination unit for determining whether to correct steering on the basis of the steering correction condition information; an angle correction value calculation unit for, when it is determined to correct the steering, determining correction parameters of the steering correction condition information and calculating an angle correction value by using the correction parameters of the steering correction condition information; and a signal generating unit for generating a motor control signal by determining whether to generate the motor control signal which is based on the angle correction value according to a result of comparison of the angle correction value to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jung-yeol Kim
  • Patent number: 11724739
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes obtaining a linear representation of a vehicle dynamics model that includes actuator dynamics u integrated with vehicle dynamics x. The actuator dynamics u include a road wheel angle at rear wheels ?r and a torque Mz. The method also includes obtaining an objective function based on a function of the vehicle dynamics x and the actuator dynamics u and formulating a cost function to minimize the objective function. The actuator dynamics u including the torque Mz are determined for a next time sample based on minimizing the objective function. The vehicle is controlled to implement the torque Mz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ehsan Asadi, Seyedalireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, Gill Lipton, Asal Nahidi, Isaac Tabatschnic, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 11723309
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester has a chassis carrying a header for gathering a crop. The header is removably attached to a feeder housing for feeding the crop into the agricultural harvester to be processed. A threshing and separating system is connected to the feeder housing for separating grain from Material Other than Grain (MOG). A grain cleaning system is connected to the threshing and separating system for further cleaning the separated grain. The grain cleaning system has at least one sieve operable to oscillate fore and aft and a side shaker mechanism operable to produce a side to side shaking motion in the at least one sieve. A control system is connected to the side shaker mechanism and operable to automatically proportionately increase an amount of the side to side shaking motion as a function of an amount and type of crop being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Clay A. Reinecke
  • Patent number: 11718341
    Abstract: A vehicle driver assistance system includes: a steering assist torque generation device configured to generate steering assist torque; a control device configured to control the steering assist torque generation device; and a switch configured to switch a steering mode between a manual steering mode and an automatic steering mode. The manual steering mode is a mode in which steered wheels are steered as a driver operates a steering wheel. The automatic steering mode is a mode in which the steered wheels are steered by the steering assist torque generated by the steering assist torque generation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoji Kunihiro, Takahiro Kojo, Yuji Watari, Hisaya Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 11662722
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a chassis, a drive supporting the chassis above a floor surface in a home and configured to move the chassis across the floor surface, a variable height member being coupled to the chassis and being vertically extendible, a camera supported by the variable height member, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the drive to navigate the robot to locations within the home and to adjust a height of the variable height member upon reaching a first of the locations. The controller is also configured to, while the variable height member is at the adjusted height, operate the camera to capture digital imagery of the home at the first of the locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, Orjeta Taka, Justin H. Kearns
  • Patent number: 11656082
    Abstract: Provided is a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor of a robot effectuates operations including: capturing, with at least one sensor, first data used in indicating a position of the robot; capturing, with at least one sensor, second data indicative of movement of the robot; recognizing, with the processor of the robot, a first area of the workspace based on at least one of: a first part of the first data and a first part of the second data; generating, with the processor of the robot, a first movement path covering at least part of the first recognized area; actuating, with the processor of the robot, the robot to move along the first movement path; and generating, with the processor of the robot, a map of the workspace based on at least one of: the first data and the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Robinson, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11654956
    Abstract: A vehicle steering intervention system and method prevents a loss of vehicle control condition or a vehicle rollover condition. The system includes a driver input torque sensor for sensing torque applied by a driver to a steering wheel, a steering angle sensor for sensing a steering angle, and a speed determination device for determining a vehicle speed. An electronic power steering unit includes an electronic processor and a memory. The electronic power steering unit determines a vehicle steering intervention threshold based on the torque sensed, the steering angle, and the vehicle speed. The electronic power steering unit predicts whether the vehicle steering intervention threshold will be exceeded within a predetermined time based on a torque gradient and/or a steering angle gradient. When the vehicle steering intervention threshold is predicted to be exceeded, the electronic power steering unit reduces a power steering assist and/or provides a counter steer force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Achim Frankovics
  • Patent number: 11648900
    Abstract: Detecting off-zone crashes involving a vehicle using lateral acceleration values detected at locations within the vehicle. In one example method, an electronic processor receives a first acceleration value at a centerline of the vehicle from a first acceleration sensor of at least two acceleration sensors. The electronic processor also receives a second acceleration value at the centerline of the vehicle from a second acceleration sensor of the at least two acceleration sensors. The method also includes deriving, with the electronic processor, an approximate yaw acceleration at the centerline of the vehicle based on the first acceleration value and the second acceleration value. The method also includes comparing, with the electronic processor, the approximate yaw acceleration to a threshold and initiating, with the electronic processor, one or more actions in response to the yaw acceleration exceeding the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rameez Ahmad, Gunther Lang, Marc S. Teufel, Vivek Shirgod Manjunath, Muhammed Hamid, Rakesh Aswath Bandar
  • Patent number: 11642182
    Abstract: A computer-implemented medical data processing method for controlling a geometric status of a mechatronic articulable arm. Current geometric status data is acquired describing a current geometric status of the mechatronic articulable arm defined by a set of current spatial relationship between connected elements of the mechatronic articulable arm. Changed geometric status data describing a changed geometric status of the mechatronic articulable arm defined by a set of changed spatial relationship between the connected elements is determined based on current device position data, the current geometric status data, changed device position data, and device definition data. Instruction data describing an instruction for changing the geometric status of the mechatronic articulable arm from the current geometric status to the changed geometric status is determined. The instruction describes changes from the current spatial relationship to the changed spatial relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Karolin Ecke, Nils Frielinghaus
  • Patent number: 11639192
    Abstract: A detection unit has a detection element for detecting a change of magnetic field according to a rotation of a magnet, and an angle calculator for calculating an angle signal according to a detected physical quantity detected by the detection element. Further, a storage stores a plurality of correction values for correcting detection error of the angle signal, and another storage stores a plurality of correction values for correcting detection error of the angle signal. An abnormality determiner determines abnormality of the correction values, an another abnormality determiner determines abnormality of the correction values. A control calculator performs a control calculation by using the angle signals corrected by using the correction value having been determined as normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshihiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 11634172
    Abstract: A steering device installed on a vehicle including a plurality of steerable wheels and configured to independently steer a wheel which is one of the plurality of steerable wheels, including: an electric motor as a drive source; a motion converting mechanism configured to convert a motion of the electric motor into a steering motion of the wheel; and a controller configured to control a supply current to the electric motor so as to achieve steering of the wheel corresponding to a motion position of the electric motor, wherein, to eliminate a discrepancy between the motion position of the electric motor and a steering position of the wheel detected based on the supply current to the electric motor supplied when the motion position of the electric motor is maintained at a straight-traveling-state position, the controller executes a reference change process of changing a setting of the straight-traveling-state position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakata
  • Patent number: 11618400
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring a motorcycle. Based on the acceleration-relevant data, a vehicle motion and a vehicle position in three-dimensional space are estimated. The vehicle position in space is analyzed and is evaluated as a normal or a critical riding state. A detection direction of a sensor unit is predefined in such a way that in an upright normal resting position of the motorcycle the detection direction lies in a horizontal plane, and the detected acceleration-relevant data encompass a first acceleration component in a longitudinal vehicle direction and a second acceleration component in a transverse vehicle direction. A riding state evaluated as critical is plausibilized with the estimated vehicle motion in order to recognize a critical resting position after an accident. An emergency call is generated when a critical resting position after an accident is recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Skiera, Florian Mayer, Markus Henzler
  • Patent number: 11612306
    Abstract: [Problem] To prevent sight of an observation target from being lost from a visual field of a monitor. [Solution] A surgical arm system includes: an articulated arm in which a plurality of joints is rotatably connected by a plurality of links and which is capable of supporting an oblique-viewing endoscope at a tip; and a control system which controls the articulated arm to change a position and a posture of the oblique-viewing endoscope. The control system controls at least one of a rotation speed and a movement speed of the oblique-viewing endoscope in a visual field imaged through the oblique-viewing endoscope based on a position of the observation target in the visual field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Kuroda, Jun Arai, Masaru Usui, Takeshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 11608108
    Abstract: An automatic steering system comprises a controller. The controller executes target steering angle calculation processing. The controller further calculates a learning value of lateral acceleration. The learning value is calculated based on an error of a detected value of the lateral acceleration by an acceleration sensor and an estimation value of the lateral acceleration calculated using driving speed and yaw rate. In the target steering angle calculation processing, it is judged whether the acceleration sensor is normal. If it is judged that the acceleration sensor is normal, a target steering angle is calculated by using the detected value. Otherwise, the lateral acceleration used to calculate the target steering angle is switched from the detected value to a backup value of the lateral acceleration. The backup value is calculated using the estimation value and the learning value calculated before a timing at which the acceleration sensor is judged to be abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shun Maruyama, Takahiro Kojo, Yoji Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 11603131
    Abstract: A control device includes a processor. The processor is configured to perform a route acquisition process for acquiring route information indicating a target route of a vehicle. The processor is configured to perform a behavior optimization process for correcting, based on at least one of a plurality of state quantities indicating a behavior of the vehicle during traveling, each of a left turning command value and a right turning command value such that the behavior of the vehicle becomes a target behavior. The processor is configured to perform a locus stabilization process for correcting, based on at least one of the state quantities indicating the behavior of the vehicle during traveling, a steering command value such that the vehicle travels on the target route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kojima, Yuji Kariatsumari
  • Patent number: 11565742
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting a servo steering torque in a vehicle steering system, wherein the servo steering torque can be generated by an actuator of the vehicle steering system. The method comprises: receiving a driver's steering request, receiving a steering request from at least one driver assistance system, receiving at least one driving dynamics variable, determining a static state in which a change of the driver's steering request and the driving dynamics variable each is below a predetermined threshold, and if the static state has been determined, adjusting the servo steering torque by regulating, wherein a control variable for the regulation is determined based on a driver's steering request and the steering request by the driver assistance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Lars Stoltze, Alexander Bartels, Martin Sachwitz, Hendrik Fricke
  • Patent number: 11565427
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot for performing predetermined processing to a treating object, a photographing device for photographing the treating object, a robot control device for performing position compensation of a moving destination of the robot so as to track the treating object, on a basis of previously-set information on positions of the robot, the photographing device and the treating object, and an image of the treating object photographed by the photographing device, and a display device for providing an AR space. The robot control device calculates a position of the photographing device on the basis of the information on the positions of the robot and the photographing device. The display device displays an image imitating the photographing device at a corresponding position in the AR space, on a basis of the calculated position of the photographing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Makoto Yamada
  • Patent number: 11560108
    Abstract: A vehicle safety system implements a method for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a frontal collision. The method includes determining a passive safety crash mode classification in response to crash signals received in response to the occurrence of a crash event. The method also includes determining an active safety crash mode classification in response to active safety signals received prior to the occurrence of the crash event. The method also includes determining an active safety confidence factor for the active safety crash mode classification. The method also includes determining the weighted crash mode classification as being the active crash mode classification in response to the active safety confidence factor exceeding a predetermined confidence value. The method further includes determining the weighted crash mode classification as being the passive crash mode classification in response to the active safety confidence factor not exceeding the predetermined confidence value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Kiran Balasubramanian, Charles A. Bartlett, Andreas Fleckner, Harald Pfriender, Raymond David, Huahn-Fern Yeh
  • Patent number: 11561762
    Abstract: The following invention is a vocally activated control system for controlling an apparatus in a surgical setting, the system comprises: a. a voice sensor configured to detect vocal commands generated by surgeons during surgery; b. a signal transmitter connected to the voice sensor, the transmitter is configured to convert a vocal command into a transmittable signal and transmit it; c. a processor connected to a signal transmitter configured to receive a transmittable vocal signal, the processor is configured to convert a vocal signal to a predetermined set of operative instructions associated with the apparatus, the predetermined set of operative instructions comprising at least one instruction; and d. control means connected to the processor and apparatus; the control means is configured to receive a predetermined set of operative instructions and to cause the apparatus to operate accordingly; Said voice sensor and said transmitter are integrated within a wearable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical Europe S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Gal Atarot, Motti Frimer, Tal Nir, Lior Alpert
  • Patent number: 11499832
    Abstract: Provided is a process executed by a robot, including: traversing, to a first position, a first distance in a backward direction; after traversing the first distance, rotating in a first rotation; after the first rotation, traversing, to a second position, a second distance in a third direction; after traversing the second distance, rotating 180 degrees in a second rotation such that the field of view of the sensor points in a fourth direction; after the second rotation, traversing, to a third position, a third distance in the fourth direction; after traversing the second distance, rotating 180 degrees in a third rotation such that the field of view of the sensor points in the third direction; and after the third rotation, traversing, to a fourth position, a fourth distance in the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Chen Zhang, Sebastian Schweigert