Patents Examined by Jorge O. Peche
  • Patent number: 11498618
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assist device includes a first detector to detect steering torque by a driver's steering wheel operation, a first calculator to calculate assist steering torque for the detected steering torque, a second calculator to calculate target steering torque to perform steering control, a controller to switch the first calculator from an active state to an inactive state to limit an output of the assist steering torque when the second calculator is in an active state, an EPS torque setter to set EPS torque to drive an EPS motor based on outputs from the second calculator and the controller, and a second detector to detect a driver's holding state of a steering wheel. Even when the second calculator is in the active state, when the second detector detects that a driver holds the steering wheel, the controller switches the first calculator from the inactive state to the active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11498614
    Abstract: A control device for an on-board device including an actuator is configured to: supply power to a first microprocessor and a first driver circuit from a first power source through a first power supply path; supply power to a second microprocessor and a second driver circuit from a second power source through a second power supply path; and use the first and second driver circuits to drive the actuator. In this control device, the negative electrodes of the first and second power sources are electrically connected to a common ground portion. Furthermore, the control device includes a first and second sensor for measuring current or voltage between the vehicle body ground and the negative electrodes of the first and second power source, respectively. When detecting an abnormal current or voltage, the first and second microprocessors control the first and second driver circuits so as to place a limit on power supply to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Nakada, Mitsuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11482123
    Abstract: A system and method for sensor-enhanced real-time automatic pilot report (PIREP) generation is disclosed. In embodiments, the PIREP generation system includes control processors in communication with a variety of aircraft-based sensors. Diverse sensors collect atmospheric data of meteorological conditions in the vicinity of the aircraft and/or its flight path. The PIREP generating system analyzes the collected datasets and determines whether the collected datasets meet criteria for reportable weather conditions. Reportable data are displayed to the pilot via an interactive display device whereby the pilot may accept, abort (e.g., opt out), or augment the data with additional information provided by the pilot. If the pilot aborts the PIREP, no further action is taken. Otherwise (e.g., if the pilot accepts, augments, or takes no action), a PIREP is automatically generated based on the displayed (or amended) reportable data. The generated PIREP is automatically transmitted to ground control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Aryeh Katz
  • Patent number: 11471151
    Abstract: A surgical suturing tracking system is disclosed. The surgical suturing tracking system is configured to detect and guide a suturing needle during a surgical suturing procedure. The surgical suturing track system comprises a control circuit configured to predict a path of a needle suturing stroke after receiving an input from a clinician, detect an embedded tissue structure, and assess proximity of the predicted path and the detected embedded tissue structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Charles J. Scheib, Joshua D. Young
  • Patent number: 11459025
    Abstract: In a detection unit, a control unit includes an abnormality monitoring unit and a control calculation unit, and obtains an angle signal from different sensor units. The abnormality monitoring unit monitors abnormality of the angle signal. The control calculation unit performs calculation by using the angle signal. A second control unit obtains the angle signal by communication with a first control unit, i.e., from an other control unit. The abnormality monitoring unit, when comparing a subject system calculation value with an other system calculation value, uses a communication delay corrected value which has a correction of communication delay as at least one of the subject system calculation value and the other system calculation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshihiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 11447175
    Abstract: A method for a steer by wire steering system. The method includes determining a difference between a commanded steering ratio and an achieved steering ratio and determining whether the difference between the commanded steering ratio and the achieved steering ratio is greater than a threshold. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the difference between the commanded steering ratio and the achieved steering ratio is greater than the threshold, adjusting the commanded steering ratio to be equal to the achieved steering ratio. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the difference between the commanded steering ratio and the achieved steering ratio is greater than the threshold, selectively adjusting a bandwidth of a filter based on at least one vehicle characteristic of an associated vehicle and adjusting, using the filter, the commanded steering ratio to be equal to a desired steering ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Collier-Hallman
  • Patent number: 11435192
    Abstract: Provided is a method including: capturing first data indicative of the position of the robot in relation to objects within the workspace and second data indicative of movement of the robot; recognizing, with a 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, at least part of a map of the workspace based on at least one of: the first part of the first data and the 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Lukas Fath, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11429096
    Abstract: Platoon management control systems and methods rearrange three of more vehicles cooperatively travelling seriatim as a platoon along an associated roadway into a platoon arrangement other than the linear or single file formation. Multi roadway lane platoon management control systems and methods control the three or more vehicles cooperatively travelling as a multi-lane platoon along an associated multi-lane roadway into a platoon arrangement other than the linear or single file formation. Larger platoon sizes are provided thereby enabling more vehicles to participate in the larger multi-lane platoon. A platoon management control uses a combination of the GPS position of the lead vehicle representative of the position of the vehicle relative to the associated geographical area, and braking performance data representative of the braking capabilities of following vehicles to rearrange the vehicles into the non-columnar formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Michael D Cremona, Thomas J Hayes, Phillip J Kasper
  • Patent number: 11426875
    Abstract: A control system may receive a first plurality of measurements indicative of respective joint angles corresponding to a plurality of sensors connected to a robot. The robot may include a body and a plurality of jointed limbs connected to the body associated with respective properties. The control system may also receive a body orientation measurement indicative of an orientation of the body of the robot. The control system may further determine a relationship between the first plurality of measurements and the body orientation measurement based on the properties associated with the jointed limbs of the robot. Additionally, the control system may estimate an aggregate orientation of the robot based on the first plurality of measurements, the body orientation measurement, and the determined relationship. Further, the control system may provide instructions to control at least one jointed limb of the robot based on the estimated aggregate orientation of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Khripin, Alfred Anthony Rizzi
  • Patent number: 11430343
    Abstract: An aircraft mission computing system includes an aircraft mission path computing engine, and a mission deck comprising a display and a display management assembly configured for displaying, on the display, at least one button for defining an operational specification of the mission. The computing engine is configured to be activated after defining the choice of operational specification using the definition button to determine at least one possible path of the aircraft based on the or each choice of defined operational specification using the or each definition button. The display management assembly is configured to display, on the display, after the activation of the computing engine, at least one outcome indicator providing mission feasibility information while respecting the or each operational specification choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Briand, Cédric Carle, Stéphane Drinal, Cyrille Grimald, Jean-François Saez, Cyril Saint Requier, Jean-Baptiste Vallart
  • Patent number: 11427246
    Abstract: A steering system includes a prioritized torque sensor, a redundant torque sensor, a controller, a first signal line, a second signal line, and a common signal line. Each of the first signal line and the second signal line connects the prioritized torque sensor and the controller. The common signal line connects the redundant torque sensor and the controller. The prioritized torque sensor is configured to transmit, via the first signal line, a first prioritized detection signal. The prioritized torque sensor is configured to transmit, via the second signal line, a second prioritized detection signal. The redundant torque sensor is configured to transmit, via the common signal line, a first redundant detection signal and a second redundant detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamura, Yuji Fujita
  • Patent number: 11420673
    Abstract: In a method for operating a steering system, in particular an electrically supported steering system that includes at least one first fluid sensor unit for sensing at least one ingressing first fluid and at least one second fluid sensor unit, spatially separated from the first fluid sensor unit, for sensing at least one ingressing second fluid, at least one first response behaviour is triggered in response to the sensing of the first fluid and at least one second response behaviour, which differs from the first response behaviour at least in part, is triggered in response to the sensing of the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Raphael Pittner
  • Patent number: 11413099
    Abstract: A control unit is provided for a surgical robot system, including a robot configured to operate an end-effector in a surgical site of a patient. The control unit includes a processor configured to transmit acquired live images of a patient, received from an image acquisition device, to a virtual reality (VR) device for display; to receive input data from the VR device, including tracking data from a VR tracking system of the VR device based on a user's response to the live images displayed on a viewer of the display unit of the VR device; to process the input data received from the VR device to determine a target in the patient; to determine a path for the end-effector to reach the target based upon the live images and the processed input data; and to transmit control signals to cause the robot to guide the end-effector to the target via the determined path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Aleksandra Popovic, David Paul Noonan
  • Patent number: 11407111
    Abstract: A robot is configured to perform a task on an object using a method for generating a 3D model sufficient to determine a collision free path and identify the object in an industrial scene. The method includes determining a predefined collision free path and scanning an industrial scene around the robot. Stored images of the industrial scene are retrieved from a memory and analyzed to construct a new 3D model. After an object is detected in the new 3D model, the robot can further scan the image in the industrial scene while moving along a collision free path until the object is identified at a predefined certainty level. The robot can then perform a robot task on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Biao Zhang, Remus Boca, Carlos W. Morato, Carlos Martinez, Jianjun Wang, Zhou Teng, Jinmiao Huang, Magnus Wahlstrom, Johnny Holmberg
  • Patent number: 11383380
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for selecting a grasp point on an object. In particular, a robotic manipulator may identify characteristics of a physical object within a physical environment. Based on the identified characteristics, the robotic manipulator may determine potential grasp points on the physical object corresponding to points at which a gripper attached to the robotic manipulator is operable to grip the physical object. Subsequently, the robotic manipulator may determine a motion path for the gripper to follow in order to move the physical object to a drop-off location for the physical object and then select a grasp point, from the potential grasp points, based on the determined motion path. After selecting the grasp point, the robotic manipulator may grip the physical object at the selected grasp point with the gripper and move the physical object through the determined motion path to the drop-off location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Steve Croft, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee, Troy Straszheim, John Zevenbergen, Stefan Hinterstoisser, Hauke Strasdat
  • Patent number: 11367359
    Abstract: An airspace is appropriately allocated when the airspace is allocated to an unmanned aerial vehicle. Authority level acquisition means of an airspace management system acquires, for each unmanned aerial vehicle, an authority level of an operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Airspace level acquisition means acquires, for each airspace occupying a fixed range, an airspace level indicating an allowable range of the authority level in the airspace. Determination means determines whether or not the unmanned aerial vehicle can fly in a given airspace based on the authority level and the airspace level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: RAKUTEN GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Jin Kusumi, Norihisa Miyake
  • Patent number: 11332183
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system of a motor vehicle includes ascertaining a first torque depending on a target steering rack position and depending on the actual steering rack position, ascertaining a second torque depending on a vehicle speed, ascertaining a supporting torque depending on the first and the second torques, and introducing the supporting torque into a steering gear of the steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Nicolas Boos
  • Patent number: 11335202
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method. The method includes receiving a data structure being a network having nodes linked by links. The nodes have corresponding classes representing corresponding distinct notices to airmen (NOTAMs). The nodes are linked such that any given node is linked to at least one other node. The links represent corresponding pre-determined mathematical degrees of relevance between pairs of linked nodes. The links point from a corresponding less relevant node to a corresponding more relevant node. The nodes are pre-ranked in a prioritized order according to the pre-determined mathematical degree of relevance. The method also includes receiving a request to display the NOTAMs on a display device. The method also includes retrieving the NOTAMs associated with the nodes in the prioritized order. The method also includes commanding the NOTAMS to be displayed on the display device in the prioritized order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Miriam Cornel, Michelle Wenzel, Garoe Gonzalez, Samantha A. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11332186
    Abstract: The failure detection device includes: an output unit detecting failure of a torque detection device that detects torque applied to a pinion shaft with torque sensors, and a target current calculation unit controlling drive of the electric motor. In response to detection of failure of one of the torque sensors, the target current calculation unit causes the motor to output continuous torque continuously generating torque that is detectable by the other of the torque sensors and, in response to the motor outputting the continuous torque, the output unit diagnoses failure of the other of the torque sensors based on a pattern of vibrations detected by the other torque sensor due to the continuous torque and determines that the other torque sensor is having failure if amplitude of vibrations is less than a reference amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11325482
    Abstract: Techniques involve controlling battery access on a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve monitoring status of input signals from a group comprising: a lithium battery system, a keyed switch, and a charging receptacle, comparing the status of the input signals to timeout settings stored in memory of the motion control system, initiating a timer based on comparison of the input signals to the timeout settings, and disconnecting at least one direct current (DC) path between a lithium battery interface and a power distribution interface of the utility vehicle in response to expiration of the timer. Such techniques further involve, after disconnecting, reconnecting the at least one DC current path between the lithium battery interface and the power distribution interface in response to a change in status of at least one of the input signals. Such techniques may be performed by a motion control system of the utility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Norman R. Padgett, John Ledden, Robert Charles Bradley, Patrick Dwaine Warden