Patents Examined by Long T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11110919
    Abstract: A cruise control method of a mild hybrid electric vehicle may include determining whether a cruise mode is operated according to an output signal of a user interface device by a controller; determining whether a vehicle speed increasing signal is output from the user interface device by the controller; determining a compensation torque depending on difference of a predetermined target speed and the current speed of the mild hybrid electric vehicle according to the vehicle speed increasing signal by the controller; and controlling the operation of the MHSG by the controller to output the determined compensation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Hwa Yong Jang
  • Patent number: 11104328
    Abstract: A parking control method is provided for executing a control instruction to move a vehicle along a parking route on the basis of an operation command acquired from an operator located outside the vehicle. This method includes detecting movement of the operator; calculating an anxiety level of the operator from the movement of the operator; and when the anxiety level is less than a predetermined threshold, parking the vehicle in accordance with a first control instruction that is preliminarily set in the control instruction, while when the anxiety level is not less than the predetermined threshold, calculating a second control instruction obtained by limiting a control range of the first control instruction, and parking the vehicle in accordance with the second control instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Yasuhisa Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11090804
    Abstract: A displaying apparatus includes a virtual environment screen displaying a state of a robot identified, and a parameter setting screen numerically displaying the position and orientation data. When a changing a part of the position and orientation data are performed through the operating input unit, the part of the position and orientation data is changed according to the content of the operation and input. Position and orientation is calculated to identify the position or orientation of each part of the robot, based on the changed part of the position and orientation data, and new position and orientation data is calculated based on the position and orientation calculation. The content of virtual display on the virtual environment screen or numeric value display on the parameter setting screen of the displaying apparatus is updated, based on the changed part of position and orientation data, and the new position and orientation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Sugaya
  • Patent number: 11086336
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a controller for a machine that wirelessly transmits a destination address to a robot which is tasked with transporting an item to the destination corresponding to the received address. Using the address, the robot can select a predefined path stored in its memory for that address. Because multiple robots can move items in the machine at the same time, the robots may collide if their predefined paths intersect. The machine can use a variety of different techniques to prevent collisions between the robots as the robots deliver items to different locations along their predefined paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Josephine Ammer Bolotski, Emilia S. Buneci, Sachin Rajendra Kothari, Unnikrishnan Vadakkanmaruveedu
  • Patent number: 11084167
    Abstract: A computing system may provide a model of a robot. The model may be configured to determine simulated motions of the robot based on sets of control parameters. The computing system may also operate the model with multiple sets of control parameters to simulate respective motions of the robot. The computing system may further determine respective scores for each respective simulated motion of the robot, wherein the respective scores are based on constraints associated with each limb of the robot and a predetermined goal. The constraints include actuator constraints and joint constraints for limbs of the robot. Additionally, the computing system may select, based on the respective scores, a set of control parameters associated with a particular score. Further, the computing system may modify a behavior of the robot based on the selected set of control parameters to perform a coordinated exertion of forces by actuators of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco da Silva, Benjamin Stephens, Alfred Anthony Rizzi, Yeuhi Abe
  • Patent number: 11059532
    Abstract: An example implementation involves controlling robots with non-constant body pitch and height. The implementation involves obtaining a model of the robot that represents the robot as a first point mass rigidly coupled with a second point mass along a longitudinal axis. The implementation also involves determining a state of a first pair of legs, and determining a height of the first point mass based on the model and the state of the first pair of legs. The implementation further involves determining a first amount of vertical force for at least one leg of the first pair of legs to apply along a vertical axis against a surface while the at least one leg is in contact with the surface. Additionally, the implementation involves causing the at least one leg of the first pair of legs to begin applying the amount of vertical force against the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gina Christine Fay, Alex Yu Khripin, Eric Whitman
  • Patent number: 11036231
    Abstract: An object is to enable a state of a vehicle to be precisely estimated by a Kalman filter. A navigation system 1 includes an observation unit 21 that observes an observable concerning a variation of the vehicle, based on an output from a sensor, and an estimation unit 22 that estimates a state quantity indicating a state of the vehicle by a Kalman filter, and the estimation unit 22 calculates a prediction value of the state quantity of the vehicle, calculates an error covariance matrix of the prediction value, by the Kalman filter to which an error of the observable is inputted as an error of the state quantity which is in a relation of calculus with the observable, and calculates an estimation value of the state quantity of the vehicle and an error covariance matrix of the estimation value by the Kalman filter, based on the prediction value and the error covariance matrix of the prediction value which are calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Okada
  • Patent number: 11036218
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a movement mechanism, a sensor, a microphone, a speaker, a processor and a memory. The processor selects a target region, controls the movement mechanism to cause the apparatus to move to the target region, and causes a speaker to output a first sound. When counting a predetermined number, the processor causes the sensor to trace a movement locus of a user. In a case where the processor has determined that an acquired sound contains a predetermined speech, the processor controls the movement mechanism to cause the apparatus to move through a predetermined space. When the processor has determined that the apparatus is not to intentionally lose in a game of hide-and-seek, the processor controls the movement mechanism to cause the apparatus to move to a target blind spot within the predetermined space, and causes the speaker to output a second sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Tahara
  • Patent number: 11034234
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining an offset of a pressure sensor that is used for monitoring pressure in a fuel system that is sealed expect for refueling and other diagnostic events. In one example, a method includes waking a controller of a vehicle when it is expected that a pressure in a fuel system that is sealed from atmospheric pressure is at atmospheric pressure, unsealing the fuel system, and indicating an offset of the pressure sensor based on a pressure change after the fuel system is unsealed. In this way, pressure sensor offset may be determined regularly without undesirably loading a fuel vapor storage canister with vapors, which may be particularly advantageous for hybrid vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 11021158
    Abstract: A vehicle dynamics control system in a motor vehicle includes an electronic vehicle dynamics control unit which is connected to at least one drive control unit and is configured so as to: determine at least one setpoint slip or a setpoint slip corridor and an actual vehicle speed as a reference speed, and transmit the at least one setpoint slip or the setpoint slip corridor together with the reference speed to the at least one drive control unit. The drive control unit, in accordance with the transmitted values and by way of a function module, determines setpoint rotational speed values at a motor level and carries out a rotational speed control process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torsten Mueller, Thomas Eberl, Andreas Baier, Marc Espenhain
  • Patent number: 10996674
    Abstract: Indoors positioning and navigation systems and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a system for inspecting or maintaining a storage tank includes a vehicle having: at least one sensor for determining properties of a storage tank and a navigation system. The navigation system includes an acoustic transmitter carried by the vehicle and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to at least partially determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle also includes a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle within the storage tank, and an acoustic receiver fixed with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle moves inside the storage tank in concentric arcs with respect to the acoustic receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Quest Integrated, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip D. Bondurant, Giovanni Nino
  • Patent number: 10983532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling motion of a vehicle in a group of vehicles. In one embodiment, the system includes a communication interface, a vehicle platform for travelling among the group of vehicles, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to determine a local virtual tracking error signal and a controller state signal. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a self-navigation input control signal based on the local virtual tracking error signal and the controller state signal. The self-navigation input control signal is for navigating the vehicle platform. A trajectory of an exosystem is based on a boundedness condition. The vehicle communicates with other vehicles in the group of vehicles via a fixed augmented directed connected communication graph topology. Each vehicle in the group of vehicles is stabilizable and satisfies a transmission zero condition. Design matrices of the vehicle satisfy an internal model principle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Selahattin Burak Sarsilmaz, Tansel Yucelen
  • Patent number: 10973592
    Abstract: A control console for control of a medical surgical device comprising at least one surgical mechanical arm, which control console comprising: a control console base; at least one user support coupled to said control console base; a processor configured to receive data regarding a selected surgical configuration of said at least one surgical mechanical arm and at least one camera; an input arm support coupled to said control console base; at least one input arm comprising a plurality of sections sequentially coupled by joints, coupled to and extending from said input arm support where a direction of extension of said input arm, with respect to said at least one user support is adjustable to match an input arm configuration to said selected surgical configuration, a camera view of said at least one surgical mechanical arm thereby corresponding to a user view of said input arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Memie Innovative Surgery Ltd.
    Inventors: Dvir Cohen, Yaron Levinson
  • Patent number: 10967506
    Abstract: Example methods and systems for determining 3D scene geometry by projecting patterns of light onto a scene are provided. In an example method, a first projector may project a first random texture pattern having a first wavelength and a second projector may project a second random texture pattern having a second wavelength. A computing device may receive sensor data that is indicative of an environment as perceived from a first viewpoint of a first optical sensor and a second viewpoint of a second optical sensor. Based on the received sensor data, the computing device may determine corresponding features between sensor data associated with the first viewpoint and sensor data associated with the second viewpoint. And based on the determined corresponding features, the computing device may determine an output including a virtual representation of the environment that includes depth measurements indicative of distances to at least one object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Kurt Konolige, Ethan Rublee
  • Patent number: 10955250
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to identify a vehicle part to replace based on received vehicle data including a diagnostic status, a location, and a first route. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine a vehicle operating pattern based on the identified vehicle part and to generate a second route including a second destination based on the vehicle part, the vehicle operating pattern, the location, and a first destination and an expected time of arrival of the first route. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to navigate the vehicle based on the determined second route and the vehicle operating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Aed M. Dudar, Kenneth J. Miller
  • Patent number: 10940583
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer program for producing a graphical user interface (100) of a manipulator program and to a method for navigation through a manipulator program, wherein the manipulator system (1) controlled by the manipulator program comprises at least one manipulator (30). The manipulator program comprises at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5). The user interface (100) has a graphical program progress indicator (150) which indicates the current program progress of the manipulator program and the at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5) of the manipulator program. The at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5) indicated can be selected by a user, and the manipulator program is set up to control the manipulator system (1) in such a manner that the system assumes a system state assigned to the selected set-down point (AP1 to AP5) in response to the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Sedlmayr
  • Patent number: 10884417
    Abstract: Methods and systems for navigating a mobile robot through a crowded pedestrian environment by selecting and following a particular pedestrian are described herein. In one aspect, a navigation model directs a mobile robot to follow a pedestrian based on the position and velocity of nearby pedestrians and the current and desired positions of the mobile robot in the service environment. The mobile robot advances toward its desired destination by following the selected pedestrian. By repeatedly sampling the positions and velocities of nearby pedestrians and the current location, the navigation model directs the mobile robot toward the endpoint location. In some examples, the mobile robot selects and follows a sequence of different pedestrians to navigate to the desired endpoint location. In a further aspect, the navigation model determines whether following a particular pedestrian will lead to a collision with another pedestrian. If so, the navigation model selects another pedestrian to follow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: Boston Incubator Center, LLC, East Japan Railway Company
    Inventor: Haruhiko Harry Asada
  • Patent number: 10869799
    Abstract: An operation device according to one or more embodiments may include: a display; a move operation receiving unit that receives, from a user, a move operation to move a table on which a patient can be placed of an operating table; and an operation controller. In a condition in which the table is put in a tilted posture in accordance with the move operation, the operation controller may cause the display to display an elapsed time in the tilted posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignees: MEDICAROID CORPORATION, KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SYSMEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaro Yano, Yoshiyuki Tamura, Mitsuichi Hiratsuka, Hiroaki Kitatsuji, Toru Mizumoto
  • Patent number: 10860021
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses method and an autonomous navigation system for guiding an autonomous vehicle in forward path in real-time. The method comprises instructing the vehicle to terminate autonomous steering in a forward path, on identifying an angular difference, between a current orientation of the vehicle and orientation of a generated path, to be greater than a predefined threshold value and performing estimation of a frontal area for the vehicle based on a current speed, an orientation, and a width of the vehicle, calculation of a forward turning angle based on the angular difference and a length of the frontal area and guiding vehicle to manoeuvre steer at the forward turning angle within the frontal area, for every predefined time interval, until the angular difference is less than the predefined threshold value. Thus, the present disclosure provides an efficient method for guiding autonomous vehicle in forward path in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventors: Balaji Sunil Kumar, Manas Sarkar
  • Patent number: 10860038
    Abstract: An embodiment rotorcraft includes a main rotor, one or more flight controls connected to the main rotor and operational to control flight characteristics of the main rotor by pitching a nose of the rotorcraft upward, and a flight control computer (FCC) operable to determine an attitude command and to generate an adjusted attitude command by adjusting a magnitude of the attitude command according to an above ground level (AGL) altitude of the rotorcraft. The FCC is further operable to control a flight characteristic of the rotorcraft by sending the adjusted attitude command to one or more flight controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Luke Dafydd Gillett