Patents Examined by Naeem Taslim Alam
  • Patent number: 11198433
    Abstract: An autonomous driving device may include: a sensor configured to sense a surrounding object of an own vehicle, a controller configured to generate an autonomous driving path of the own vehicle based on movement data of the surrounding object sensed by the sensor unit, and a surrounding object analyzer configured to receive the movement data of the surrounding object from the controller and stochastically analyze an expected movement trajectory of the surrounding object. The controller may generate the autonomous driving path based on the expected movement trajectory of the surrounding object that is stochastically analyzed by the surrounding object analyzing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joo Yeob Lee
  • Patent number: 11189112
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicles and/or smart homes are described herein. Malfunctions may be detected by receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors. One of these sensors may be selected for assessment. An electronic device may obtain from the selected sensor a set of signals. When the set of signals includes signals that are outside of a determined range of signals associated with proper functioning for the selected sensor, it may be determined that the selected sensor is malfunctioning. In response, an action may be performed to resolve the malfunction and/or mitigate consequences of the malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 11180148
    Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a vehicle steering system, a detection system outputting a signal including object position information of an area to a rear of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller receiving the object position data and identifying a targeted trailer and at least one additional object within the area to the rear of the vehicle and controlling the vehicle steering system to maneuver the vehicle during reversing to align a hitch ball mounted on the vehicle to a coupler of the targeted trailer. Upon aligning the hitch ball with the coupler, the controller presents an indication, if it is determined that the at least one additional object is within a threshold distance of a side of the targeted trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Robert Bell, Roger Trombley, Douglas Rogan, Nikhil Nagraj Rao
  • Patent number: 11175156
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive image data of a scene around a user location, including identification of a plurality of vehicle objects within the image. The processor is also configured to process the image data to determine where stopping spaces, not occupied by vehicle objects, exist within the image. The processor is further configured to select a determined stopping space and provide the selected stopping space to a passenger and driver to arrange a pickup location for a ride request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Herman, Stephen Jay Orris, Jr., David Joseph Orris
  • Patent number: 11166133
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is configured to cause a first recognizer to execute a first recognition process that takes sensor information as input, and a second recognizer to execute a second recognition process that takes the sensor information as input, the second recognizer being configured to operate under different capability conditions from the first recognizer; determine one of a transmission necessity and a transmission priority of the sensor information depending on a difference between a first recognition result of the first recognition process and a second recognition result of the second recognition process; and transmit the sensor information to a server apparatus according to the determined one of the transmission necessity and the transmission priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Takahashi, Kazunobu Ishikawa, Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11155226
    Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a vision system includes a selective wavelength interactive material located within the cabin of the vehicle and a control system in communication with the camera. The material is arranged as a pattern having pattern elements configured to reflect or absorb infrared light from an infrared light source. The control system is configured compare a captured image from the vision system that shows the pattern elements and calibrate the vision system based on a comparison of the captured image. Additionally or alternatively, the selective wavelength interactive material is disposed on a surface of a safety belt and the control system is configured to determine that an occupant seated in a seat is wearing a safety belt associated with the seat when the captured images show that the selective wavelength interactive material on the surface of the safety belt extending across the occupant seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: VEONEER US, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Herbert, Frank Judge, Paul Karolak, Christof Buettner
  • Patent number: 11148668
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for autonomous vehicle control for reverse motion. The system accesses a route with one or more route sections, the one or more route sections including a reverse driving section through an environment. The system accesses physical model data representing a position and actual orientation of the autonomous vehicle in the environment. The system modifies the physical model data to generate a simulated orientation for the autonomous vehicle based on a direction associated with the reverse driving section. The system transmits data associated with the reverse driving section of the accessed route and the modified physical model data to a motion planner. The system receives from the motion planner, one or more control signals for the autonomous vehicle. The system transmits the one or more control signals to a vehicle control system of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Colin Jeffrey Green
  • Patent number: 11148803
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a retractable harness mounted within the vehicle and extendible through an opening in the vehicle body, such as a sun roof. The harness may include a retainer, such as an electromagnet, for engaging a docking structure on an aerial drone. On take-off, the vehicle may reach a desirable take-off speed of the aerial drone, activate the aerial drone, and release the retainer. On landing, the aerial drone and vehicle may synchronize their speeds and locations. The retractable harness may extend and align itself with the aerial drone, which descends and docks with the retractable harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hedy H. Morales BolaƱos, David Franco Lopez Rubio, Oswaldo Perez Barrera, Rodrigo Frieventh Cienfuegos
  • Patent number: 11144066
    Abstract: Included is a refuse bag replacement method including: detecting, by one or more sensors of the robotic refuse container, a refuse bag fill level; instructing, by a processor of the robotic refuse container, the robotic refuse container to navigate to a refuse collection site upon detecting a predetermined refuse bag fill level; and instructing, by the processor of the robotic refuse container, the robotic refuse container to discard a refuse bag housed within the robotic refuse container at the refuse collection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11137767
    Abstract: There is provided a technique capable of easily realizing control to cause an autonomous travel device to perform a predetermined operation at a predetermined position on a travel route. An autonomous travel device (2) is an autonomous travel device that travels along a line (1) placed on a travel route, and includes a detecting unit (line sensor (21)) that detects the line (1), and a control unit that controls an operation of the autonomous travel device (2) on the basis of a detection result from the detecting unit. The control unit determines a width (W) of the line (1) on the basis of the detection result from the detecting unit. If the determined width (W) of the line (1) is smaller than a predetermined reference width, the control unit causes the autonomous travel device (2) to perform a travel operation of traveling along the line (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Sakakibara, Nobutoshi Tsujimoto, Takahiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 11125565
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to system that includes a database including data associated with one or more building features of a building. The system includes a processor of a computing device. The processor is configured to determine an absolute position of the computing device within the building. The processor is configured to identify at least one of the building features located within a threshold distance of the absolute position of the computing device based on a query of the database. Additionally, the processor is configured to generate an alert configured to cause the computing device to display information associated with the at least one of the building features or output an audible signal associated with the at least one of the building features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Christopher James Waful, Rachael Ann Humphreys, Xin Wang, Mateusz Peter Dyl, Matthew Blair, Andre Rene Buentello, Paul Garcia
  • Patent number: 11117561
    Abstract: A sensor monitoring device that comprises: a first controller ECA into which a detected value Smn from a sensor SMN is inputted via a first signal line LMA; a second controller ECB into which the detected value Smn is inputted via a second signal line LMB; and a communication bus CMB that transmits signals between the first controller ECA and the second controller ECB. The second controller ECB reads in the detected value Smn as a second processing value Smb and transmits the second processing value Smb to the first controller ECA via the communication bus CMB. The first controller ECA reads in the detected value Smn as a first processing value Sma, receives the second processing value Smb, and, on the basis of the first processing value Sma and the second processing value Smb, determines the suitability of the first processing value Sma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Ishida, Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11113906
    Abstract: Predictive maintenance and diagnostics for an electronic module of an autonomous vehicle using modular condition monitoring is described herein. A computing system receives a signal from a data logger which monitors a condition of the electronic module of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the signal is indicative of damage accumulation information thereof. The computing system identifies a type of the electronic module and a damage accumulation threshold for the type of the electronic module to generate a predicted maintenance schedule for the electronic module of the autonomous vehicle. The damage accumulation information can be stored in a data store to define the damage accumulation threshold for the type of the electronic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Frank Schmidt, Samuel Harrison Glidden, Erik Birk Nielsen, Chase Brian Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11106211
    Abstract: A framework combines vision and sample-efficient reinforcement-learning based on guided policy search for autonomous driving. A controller extracts environmental information from vision and is trained to drive using reinforcement learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Su-Hui Chiang, Ming-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 11086324
    Abstract: A method of imaging an area using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) collects a plurality of images from a sensor mounted to the UAV. The plurality of images are processed to detect regions that require additional imaging and an updated flight plan and sensor gimbal position plan is created to capture portions of the area identified as requiring additional imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Neil G. Smith, Mohamed Shalaby, Luca Passone
  • Patent number: 11037379
    Abstract: Resource consumption of a work vehicle in a specified work site is estimated more appropriately and a resource replenishment timing is calculated appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Tomofumi Fukunaga, Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Yushi Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 11001166
    Abstract: Provided is an electric brake device that achieves improved responsiveness, cost reduction and also reduces the copper loss in an electric motor, thus reducing power consumption. The electric brake device includes a brake rotor (8), a friction member (9), a friction member actuator (6), an electric motor (4), a controller (2), a main power supply (3), and an auxiliary power supply (22). The auxiliary supply (22) is charged with regenerative power from the motor (4). The controller (2) includes a backflow power interruption (26) preventing the main supply (3) from being charged with the regenerative power from the motor (4), and an auxiliary power supply controller (24) causing the auxiliary supply (22) to supply running power to the motor (4) when powering the electric (4) is started in a state in which the regenerative power in the auxiliary supply (22) is greater than or equal to a set voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yui Masuda
  • Patent number: 10995462
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an autonomous mobile attenuator system for mitigating vehicular collisions. The system includes one or more mobile attenuators that receive data indicating a need for deployment from one or more sensors. The one or more mobile attenuators perform a collision risk assessment on the received data to determine a probability of a potential vehicle collision. The one or more mobile attenuators determine the probability of the potential vehicle collision exceeds a predetermined risk threshold value. The one or more mobile attenuators determine a predicted location for the potential vehicle collision. The one or more mobile attenuators proceed to the predicted location to mitigate the potential vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Kozloski, Michael S. Gordon, Ashish Kundu, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Patent number: 10991176
    Abstract: A driverless transportation system includes an autonomous driving vehicle and a management server. A check code includes: a vehicle code unique to the autonomous driving vehicle; and a passcode whose value changes each time it is generated. In deactivation processing, the autonomous driving vehicle newly generates the passcode, stores the check code including the newly-generated passcode, as a first check code, and transmits the first check code to the management server. The management server stores the first check code as a stored check code. In order to activate the autonomous driving vehicle, the management server transmits an activation instruction and the stored check code to the autonomous driving vehicle. In response to that, the autonomous driving vehicle reads the check code from its memory device, as a second check code, and determines whether or not the second check code and the stored check code match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasunao Yoshizaki, Koji Taguchi, Masaki Wasekura, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 10968602
    Abstract: A machine routing and planning system for mobile machines at a work site includes a plurality of haul trucks, at least one loading machine, and a controller. The controller is configured to generate an initial material movement plan based upon an initial number of loading machines and haul trucks and the initial carryback threshold, and generate initial movement command signals to operate the loading machines and haul trucks at the work site based upon the initial material movement plan. The controller is further configured to generate a modified material movement plan based upon a modified number of loading machines and haul trucks and the modified carryback threshold, and generate modified movement command signals to operate the loading machines and haul trucks at the work site based upon the modified material movement plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Carl F. B. Hendricks