Patents Examined by Lail A Kleinman
  • Patent number: 11472412
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining the instantaneous roadway roughness in a vehicle. In the method, the frequency-dependent amplitude response is determined from the wheel speed, and a roughness characteristic variable is ascertained as a measure of the roadway roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Moerbe
  • Patent number: 11465615
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is mounted in a vehicle and includes: an object detecting unit that detects an object in a travelling direction of the vehicle; and a suppressing unit that suppresses driving force of the vehicle when the object detecting unit detects the object. The suppressing unit performs a first process to gradually increase the driving force when a command to move in the travelling direction is issued and the vehicle is stopped in a state in which the driving force of the vehicle is suppressed, and after the vehicle starts to move from the stopped state, performs a second process to gradually increase the driving force with an amount of increase per time in the driving force that is less than that in the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masumi Fukuman, Akihiro Kida
  • Patent number: 11460852
    Abstract: In one example, a system for automatic control of the propulsive speed of a harvesting machine is provided. The system comprises a throughput sensor for determining an expected rate of crop harvested by the harvesting machine in dependence on a position of the harvesting machine and a conversion device configured to calculate a sequence of expected positions of the harvesting machine and, with the expected rate of crop harvested at a position of the harvesting machine, determine a predicted rate of crop harvested by the harvesting machine at the sequence of expected positions of the harvesting machine for use in an optimization problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Philipp Muench, Tobias Peschke
  • Patent number: 11351981
    Abstract: A vehicle control system according to this embodiment includes: a storage battery that stores a electric power generated by a power generating unit or electric power supplied by a charging spot; a use status acquiring unit that acquires a use status of a charging spot present in an area identified by a route from a place of departure to a destination of the vehicle; and a control unit that sets a charging target value of the storage battery at the time of arrival of the vehicle at a destination to be higher in a case in which a status is determined in which the charging spot is unusable than a case in which a status is determined in which the charging spot is usable on the basis of the use status of the charging spot acquired by the use status acquiring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ayaka Kai
  • Patent number: 11346678
    Abstract: A system for estimating or predicting energy consumption for a trip of a personal vehicle includes a user facing portion and a back-end portion. The user facing portion includes a display and a user interface hosting a real-time application configured to receive travel information and present a received energy distribution via the display. The back-end portion includes a back-end database and an energy processor configured to access the back-end database. The energy processor includes a demand model module configured to produce a set of possible velocity histories and a set of possible ambient temperatures. A vehicle model module is configured to receive the velocity histories and ambient temperatures to provide the energy distribution or a probabilistic prediction of future energy consumption to the user facing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jessika E. Trancik, Zachary A. Needell, James McNerney
  • Patent number: 11327477
    Abstract: Disclosed are a somatosensory remote controller, a somatosensory remote control flight system and method, and a remote control method. The somatosensory remote controller comprises: a motion sensor, a controller, a first transmission module, and a remote controller body. The motion sensor, the first transmission module, and the controller are all disposed on the remote controller body, and the motion sensor and the first transmission module are electrically connected to the controller. The motion sensor acquires initial state information of a current position of the remote controller body and movement information about movement of the remote controller body, and transmit the same to the controller. The controller is configured to receive, according to the initial state information and the movement information, a flight instruction, and send the flight instruction via the first transmission module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: POWERVISION ROBOT INC.
    Inventors: Weifeng Zheng, Baoyi Zhang, Yanqing Yang, Lingjun Meng
  • Patent number: 11288961
    Abstract: A driving assist ECU acquires, based on an image, positions of at least two specific points of an object that are different in a lateral direction with respect to a vehicle traveling direction. The driving assist ECU also performs collision avoidance control for avoiding a collision with the object based on a movement track of the object obtained from a history of the positions of the specific points, and calculates, for each of the specific points, a movement direction of each of the specific points based on the history of the position of each of the specific points. The driving assist ECU then changes how to perform the collision avoidance control based on a difference between the movement directions at the respective specific points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryo Takaki
  • Patent number: 11254179
    Abstract: A vehicle height control apparatus considering a strong wind traveling situation may include: a strong wind zone determining unit for obtaining wind speed information of a current position by using map information to which the wind speed information is corresponded and current position information of a vehicle, and generating strong wind zone information by comparing the obtained wind speed information with a predetermined reference wind speed to determine a strong wind zone; a strong wind traveling situation determining unit for generating strong wind traveling situation information by determining the strong wind traveling situation based on the strong wind zone information and the vehicle speed information of the current position; and a control signal generating unit for generating a control signal of a vehicle height adjusting device according to the strong wind traveling situation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Eun-Woo Na
  • Patent number: 11235779
    Abstract: During a measurement technique, an electronic device may receive first sensor information associated with a first field of view and a first timestamp, and second sensor information associated with a second field of view and a second timestamp. For example, the electronic device may perform a first measurement using a first sensor and performing a second, different type of measurement using a second sensor. Therefore, the first sensor information and the second sensor information may be associated with different types of sensors. Moreover, the first timestamp and the second timestamp may be concurrent or in close temporal proximity, and the first field of view and the second field of view may at least substantially overlap. Then, the electronic device may store the first sensor information and the second sensor information in memory. In some embodiments, the electronic device stores the first timestamp and the second timestamp in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Augmented Radar Imaging
    Inventors: Victor Shtrom, Ketan Narendra Patel, Todd Gustavson, Darin Milton, Janine Cheng
  • Patent number: 11227451
    Abstract: The invention is a monitoring system for determining a vehicle maintenance condition based on weight. The system includes a monitoring station, a weight determination system, a data input device configured to receive input data, and a processing device. The processing device includes a processor and non-volatile memory. The processor is configured to receive load ratings for a tow vehicle and tow equipment, receive maintenance requirements for the tow vehicle and the tow equipment, receive vehicle use requirements for the tow vehicle and the tow equipment, receive weight data from the weight determination system, and receive the input data from the data input device. Additionally, the processor is configured to determine at least one maintenance condition based on the load ratings, the weight data, and the input data. The processor is also configured to send the maintenance condition data to the monitoring system and communicate the maintenance condition to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Michael Hall, Seth Myer
  • Patent number: 11216012
    Abstract: A flight vehicle control and stabilization process detects and measures an orientation of a non-fixed portion relative to a fixed frame or portion of a flight vehicle, following a perturbation in the non-fixed portion from one or both of tilt and rotation thereof. A pilot or rider tilts or rotates the non-fixed portion, or both, to intentionally adjust the orientation and effect a change in the flight vehicle's direction. The flight vehicle control and stabilization process calculates a directional adjustment of the rest of the flight vehicle from this perturbation and induces the fixed portion to re-orient itself with the non-fixed portion to effect control and stability of the flight vehicle. The flight vehicle control and stabilization process also detects changes in speed and altitude, and includes stabilization components to adjust flight vehicle operation from unintentional payload movement on the non-fixed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas A. Youmans
  • Patent number: 11180150
    Abstract: A method for autonomously or semi-autonomously carrying out a cooperative driving maneuver and a vehicle. Provision is made for a maneuvering vehicle which plans the execution of a driving maneuver to determine a maneuvering area of a road in which the driving maneuver is potentially executed, to communicate with one or more vehicles via vehicle-to-vehicle communication to detect one or more cooperation vehicles which will presumably be inside the maneuvering area during the execution of the driving maneuver, and to adapt its own driving behavior to the presumable driving behavior of the one or more cooperation vehicles to execute the planned driving maneuver. The disclosure provides a possibility which, by vehicle-to-vehicle communication, allows vehicles for jointly carrying out a cooperative driving maneuver to be identified and then allows the cooperative driving maneuver to be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: Monique Engel, Bernd Rech, Stefan Gläser, Teodor Buburuzan, Bernd Lehmann, Sandra Kleinau, Hendrik-Jörn Günther, Johannes Hartog
  • Patent number: 11161510
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, transmission output torque and electric machine torque are adjusted while a brake pedal and accelerator pedal are contemporaneously applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Doering, Jason Meyer, Stan L. Bower, Xiaoyong Wang, Yanan Zhao, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ming Kuang
  • Patent number: 11117568
    Abstract: An operating method for a hybrid vehicle having at least two drive engines, of which the first drive engine is a combustion engine with internal combustion and can be supplied with fuel from a first energy storage device, and a second drive engine, which can be supplied with energy from a second energy storage device. In order to determine a control command with which the first drive engine can be shut off the method includes determining a state value for the filling degree of the first energy storage device. The method also includes detecting a filling degree of the second energy storage device, and comparing said state value for the filling degree to a target state value. Depending on said comparison, the method also includes determining a control command for the first drive engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Altenhofer, Stefan Thum, Karl Lorenz
  • Patent number: 11084482
    Abstract: An operating method for a hybrid vehicle having at least two drive engines, of which the first drive engine is a combustion engine with internal combustion and can be supplied with fuel from a first energy storage device, and a second drive engine, which can be supplied with energy from a second energy storage device. In order to determine a control command with which the first drive engine can be shut off the method includes determining a state value for the filling degree of the first energy storage device. The method also includes detecting a filling degree of the second energy storage device, and comparing said state value for the filling degree to a target state value. Depending on said comparison, the method also includes determining a control command for the first drive engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Altenhofer, Stefan Thum, Karl Lorenz
  • Patent number: 11087570
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for identifying a type of issue associated with a stopped vehicle are provided. The system may determine a current location of the vehicle and determine whether the vehicle is currently located on a highway. In some examples, the determined location of the vehicle may cause the system to transmit instructions controlling an amount or type of data collected by sensors and/or transmitted to the system. If the vehicle is on a highway, the system may then determine whether the vehicle is stopped. If so, the system may determine a reason for the vehicle stopping. Upon determining that the vehicle is stopped for an urgent reason, the system may transmit a request for roadside assistance to a service provider computing device and may generate a first type of notification. Upon determining that the vehicle is stopped for a non-urgent situation reason, the system may generate and transmit a second type of notification for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Dogan Civgin, Matthew James Manzella
  • Patent number: 11073827
    Abstract: A mobile robot may include a plurality of position information transmitters installed in an area to transmit signals for determining position information, a terminal configured to analyze the signals received from the position information transmitters and a mobile robot configured to receive the signals from the position information transmitters to determine the position information, and to set a boundary in the area based on the position information, wherein the terminal evaluates an installation position of the position information transmitters by analyzing the signals received from the position information transmitters. Accordingly, even when a work area is reduced or enlarged, a position information transmitter may be further provided, such that a boundary may be reset easily for an enlarged area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyoungsuk Ko, Sungwook Lee, Junghee Kim, Hyungsub Lee, Koh Choi
  • Patent number: 11027773
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments a steer by wire steering system includes a handwheel actuator that provides a commanded position for a rack of a vehicle. The steer by wire steering system further includes a roadwheel actuator that moves the rack to a rack position based on the commanded position from the handwheel actuator. The steer by wire steering system further includes a diagnostic apparatus to compute a reference position based on the commanded position, and to compute a reference tracking error based on a difference between the reference position and the rack position. The diagnostic apparatus further determines a fault condition with the steer by wire system using the reference tracking error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Klein, Kai Zheng, Scott T. Sanford
  • Patent number: 11021123
    Abstract: An electronic module assembly for controlling the deployment of one or more airbags in an aircraft includes a power source, a crash sensor configured to produce a signal in response to a crash event and an accelerometer that is configured to produce a signal in response to a crash event. A processor starts a timer upon detection of the signal from the crash sensor. When the processor receives a signal from the crash sensor, the processor is configured to determine if a signal has also been received from the accelerometer and if signals from both the crash sensor and the accelerometer indicate a crash event then the processor reads a memory associated with an inflator. The processor reads a timing value selected for the inflator and fires the inflator when the timer has a value equal to the timing value selected for the inflator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Anthony Settles, Scott Fink, Giuseppe Gullotto
  • Patent number: 11016482
    Abstract: Example systems and methods enable an autonomous vehicle to request assistance from a remote operator in certain predetermined situations. One example method includes determining a representation of an environment of an autonomous vehicle based on sensor data of the environment. Based on the representation, the method may also include identifying a situation from a predetermined set of situations for which the autonomous vehicle will request remote assistance. The method may further include sending a request for assistance to a remote assistor, the request including the representation of the environment and the identified situation. The method may additionally include receiving a response from the remote assistor indicating an autonomous operation. The method may also include causing the autonomous vehicle to perform the autonomous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Vadim Furman