Patents Examined by Michael Whalen
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Patent number: 8548676Abstract: A vehicle braking device including a braking operation judging unit that judges that a braking operation is input when a fluid pressure detected by a pressure detecting sensor is not smaller than a threshold value set in advance in a process of a first mode in which it is judged that the device normally operates, and judges that the braking operation is input when judging that wheel deceleration of a tire detected by a wheel speed detecting sensor is larger than a threshold value in a process of a second mode in which it is judged the pressure detecting sensor does not normally detect a pressure or it is judged that a failure occurs in the fluid pressure, and a control unit puts a brake lamp arranged on a vehicle body into a lighting state from a non-lighting state when it is judged that the braking operation is input.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Hiroyuki Matsubayashi, Hidehisa Kato
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Patent number: 8543259Abstract: A system for providing information to at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes a display device that displays the information. The system also includes a source of user input coupled to the display device that enables the at least one passenger to request the information. The information includes at least galley information. The system further includes a galley control module that generates galley data that includes at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform, and a graphical user interface module that displays the at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform to enable the at least one passenger to select at least one of the at least one food service item.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James P. Schalla, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, Heidi J. Kneller
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Patent number: 8483895Abstract: New and useful system, components and methods are provided for a transportation system in which one or more vehicles are moved between at least a pair of stations along a guideway that extends between the pair of stations. The vehicle is propelled along the guideway while one or more signals are transmitted that can be used for controlling the speed of the vehicle and the spacing between the vehicle and other vehicles on the guideway. A digital signal that decodes into a sync signal component and a spacing signal component is transmitted along the guideway, where the difference between the period of the sync and spacing signal components determines the predetermined speed of the vehicles moving along the guideway.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Inventor: James J. Beregi
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Patent number: 8396653Abstract: A dynamic range display system for a vehicle. The system includes a camera, a distance sensor, a display, and a controller. The camera is configured to capture an image and to generate a signal representative of the image. The distance sensor is configured to detect an object of interest within a path of the vehicle and to generate a signal that identifies a distance between the vehicle and the object of interest. The display is configured to provide a visual image, and the controller is configured to receive the signal from the camera and the signal from the distance sensor. The controller generates an image on the display representing the image detected by the camera and a dynamic vehicle path line overlaid over the camera image. The dynamic vehicle path line provides an indication of a distance between the vehicle and the object of interest.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Gunter Rottner, Jeffrey Bochenek
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Patent number: 8370011Abstract: An operation controller controls operations of a plurality of electrical loads mounted on a vehicle and includes a start-up request accepting unit and a start-up coordinating unit. The start-up request accepting unit accepts a start-up request from the electrical loads. The start-up coordinating unit: controls start-up of the electrical load, from which the start-up request is output, on the basis of a priority assigned to the electrical load; outputs a signal for restricting start-up to a first electrical load having a relatively high priority, when the start-up request accepting unit accepts the start-up request from a second electrical load having a relatively low priority; and allows the second electrical load to start up, when the first electrical load is stopped after a predetermined waiting time elapses since the signal has been output.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nobuyuki Nakagawa
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Patent number: 8359146Abstract: A method and system for assessing and preventing overturn of a vehicle, the method and system being particularly suitable for use with commercial vehicles with brake systems typically used in North America, wherein a vehicle equipped with single brake pressure modulator is controlled to increase or decrease brake pressure, depending on braking state, to test vehicle wheel speed by response. If the vehicle wheel speed response indicates the inside wheels of the vehicle are off the ground or only lightly loaded, it may be assumed that the vehicle is approaching overturning. A braking intervention may be then executed by the single brake pressure modulator to prevent the incipient overturn event.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2008Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventor: William P. Amato
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Patent number: 8355842Abstract: A method for steering a motor vehicle in a collision avoidance maneuver ahead of an object in the front or lateral surroundings of the motor vehicle. It is arranged that a linear control method is employed, in which case one controller output signal (?LLM1; . . . ; ?LLMN) each is determined in at least two linear controller modules depending on a deviation (e) between an actual position of the motor vehicle and a nominal position that is predetermined due to the avoiding path. The controller output signals (?LLM1; . . . ; ?LLMN) are weighted with respectively one weighting factor (?1; . . . ; ?N) that is established depending on the vehicle speed (v), and a steering angle of steerable wheels of the motor vehicle is established based on an arbitration of the weighted controller output signals. Furthermore, a device which is suitable to implement the method is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Maxim Arbitmann, Matthias Schorn, Rolf Isermann
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Patent number: 8296011Abstract: A method for controlling a steering system, including, receiving a first signal representative of a torque applied to a steering wheel, receiving a second signal representative of a motor velocity of a motor operatively linked to the steering wheel, multiplying the first signal with the second signal resulting in a product signal, applying a backlash function to the product signal, wherein the backlash function imparts a defined hysteresis in the system, multiplying a defined first-third quadrant scaling factor with an active damping signal, and sending a resultant motor command signal to the motor responsive to determining that the product signal is a positive signal, and multiplying a defined second-fourth quadrant scaling factor with the active damping signal, and sending the resultant motor command signal to the motor responsive to determining that the product signal is a negative signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationsInventors: Michael K Hales, Anthony J Champagne
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Patent number: 8285427Abstract: A flight deck communication and display system (100) for displaying a modified flight plan transmitted to an aircraft (224) is described including a processor (104) adapted to receive (i) data representative of a current aircraft flight plan (218, 228) and (ii) a textual message representative of the modified flight plan (218?, 228?) and operable, in response thereto, to supply a flight plan display command, and a modified flight plan display command, and comparing the textual clearance message with factors affecting aircraft safety to supply an alert message display command (204).Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: William Rogers, David Dwyer, Anup Raje
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Patent number: 8255103Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a brake pedal with a detectable travel position and apply force, an electronic braking system component, and a controller having a stored threshold braking force and an algorithm. The algorithm determines a first braking torque request corresponding to the apply force, and a second braking torque request corresponding to the travel position. The first request applies when the apply force is greater than the threshold, and the second request applies when it is not. A calculated third request transitions linearly to the second request when apply pressure drops below the threshold upon pedal release. A method is also provided that includes recording the apply force, travel position, and force and travel-based tables, comparing the apply force to the threshold, applying the braking system component using the force-based table when the apply force exceeds the threshold, and otherwise using a calculated braking torque and travel-based table.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Timothy M. Karnjate, William K. Manosh
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Patent number: 8224515Abstract: The present invention has a theme of a mobile body capable of suppressing rapid acceleration along a downward slope at a time of start. The mobile body comprises a driving force generation device which generates a driving force of the mobile body; a power accumulation device capable of supplying a power to the driving force generation device; a fuel cell capable of supplying a power to the driving force generation device; and a control device which controls driving of the driving force generation device. The control device prohibits to start driving the driving force generation device by the power supply of the power accumulation device in a case where the mobile body is positioned on a downward slope when starting the mobile body.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomohiro Saito
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Patent number: 8219270Abstract: An operator selectable performance control system for an electric vehicle, is provided. In various embodiments, the system includes a motor structured and operable to provide motive power and regenerative braking forces to the vehicle and a mechanical brake assembly structured and operable to exert mechanical braking forces to the vehicle. The system additionally includes a controller operable to control the application of motive power and regenerative braking forces of the motor. The system further includes an operator selectable switch structured and operable to changeably select one of a plurality of vehicle performance routines executable by the controller for affecting maximum vehicle speed and an amount of regenerative braking implemented during vehicle operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Textron Inc.Inventors: Barry Lenart, Anthony Williams
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Patent number: 8214116Abstract: A method reduces a time delay or lag between a commanded upshift and a resultant upshift event in vehicle. The method detects the commanded upshift, calculates a scheduled engine torque reduction torque value as a function of an unmanaged torque, and reduces an input torque value from the engine using the calculated scheduled torque. A powertain includes an engine, a transmission, a torque converter, clutches that are selectively engageable to provide at least six forward speed ratios, a reverse speed ratio, and a neutral condition, and a controller. The controller has an algorithm controlling an operation of an off-going clutch and the on-coming clutch during a speed ratio change representing an upshift event. The algorithm calculates a scheduled torque value as a percentage of an unmanaged torque level of the engine, and controls the off-going and on-coming clutch through the speed ratio change using the calculated scheduled torque value.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Matthew D. Whitton
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Patent number: 8204636Abstract: A device for managing a rest period, in flight, of a pilot in a cockpit of an airplane including parameter acquisition means, for acquiring one input parameter characteristic of a desired rest period by the pilot who wishes to have a rest, calculations means intended for calculating, from the current position of the airplane given by the airplane parameters, a future position of the airplane at the end of the desired rest period along a trajectory programmed from the input parameters and airplane parameters, means for displaying information on the rest period and or on the position of the airplane.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Airbus Operations SASInventors: Laure Christophe, Garance Pin
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Patent number: 8148993Abstract: An abnormality of a current sensor or a voltage sensor is detected. An abnormality detecting section reads out a charging/discharging current I of a secondary battery detected by the current sensor and a battery voltage V of the secondary battery, calculates an estimated battery voltage Vs on the basis of an electromotive force E and an internal resistance r of the secondary battery, and judges the current sensor to be abnormal if the difference between the battery voltage V and the estimated battery voltage Vs is greater than a predetermined threshold and the charging/discharging current I exceeds a predetermined allowable range, and judges the voltage sensor to be abnormal if the difference is greater than the predetermined threshold and the charging/discharging current I is within the predetermined allowable range.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norito Yamabe, Kouta Togashi
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Patent number: 8131466Abstract: When a vehicle travels along a guidance path and approaches an intersection, a vehicle navigation system determines crossing points between a circle having its center set to the intersection and a predetermined radius, and an approach link and an exit link for the intersection. The system also sets a direction connecting the crossing point for the approach link and the intersection as an approach direction, and sets a direction connecting the intersection and the crossing point for the exit link as an exit direction. The system determines a traveling direction at the intersection based on an angular difference between the approach direction and the exit direction, and determines a display position of the intersection on a screen. Further, an enlarged intersection image is drawn such that the approach direction is aligned with a 12 o'clock direction on the screen.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Tatsunori Iwatani
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Patent number: 7970499Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for a mobile tail support control system. An apparatus comprises a data processing system, an output device, a set of load sensors, a set of position sensors, and a computer program product executing on the data processing system. The output device is capable of generating signals for managing movement of a mobile tail support apparatus. The set of load sensors may be coupled to the data processing system and may be capable of detecting loads associated with a swing tail cargo door. The set of position sensors are coupled to the data processing system and detect a position of the mobile tail support apparatus relative to the swing tail cargo door. The computer program product may receive information from the set of load sensors and the set of position sensors and generate signals to manage the mobile tail support apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robin William Stebbins, Brad Alan Kauffman, Kurt Randall Kraft, Craig Alan Vyeson