Patents Examined by Nga X. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10908606
    Abstract: A system for autonomously navigating a vehicle along a road segment may include at least one processor. The at least one processor may be programmed to receive from at least one sensor information relating to one or more aspects of the road segment. The processor may also be programmed to determine a local feature of the road segment based on the received information. Further the processor may be programmed to compare the local feature to a predetermined signature feature for the road segment. The processor may be programmed to determine a current location of the vehicle along a predetermined road model trajectory associated with the road segment based on the comparison of the received information and the predetermined signature feature. The processor may also be programmed to determine an autonomous steering action for the vehicle based on a direction of the predetermined road model trajectory at the determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Gideon Stein, Ofer Springer, Andras Ferencz
  • Patent number: 10901421
    Abstract: A method and a device for detecting a road boundary are provided. The method includes: sending, at a current detection moment, multiple detection beams to a road where a target vehicle is located by using a detection device installed on the target vehicle; obtaining echo signals of the detection beams reflected by the road; determining target coordinates of detection points on the road corresponding to the detection beams in the same coordinate system based on the echo signals of the detection beams; and determining a road boundary on the road based on the target coordinates of the detection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: NEUSOFT REACH AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zuotao Ning, Wei Liu, Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 10895875
    Abstract: An autonomous driving system includes: a driver information acquisition device that acquires driver information indicating an action and a state of a driver of a vehicle; and a control device that performs autonomous driving control that controls autonomous driving of the vehicle. The autonomous driving control includes: deactivating action detection processing that detects, based on the driver information, a deactivating action of the driver to deactivate the autonomous driving; ready state detection processing that detects, based on the driver information, a ready state indicating that the driver is ready for manual driving; and deactivation processing that deactivates the autonomous driving when the ready state is detected after the deactivating action is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuta Hashimoto, Kenichiro Aoki, Yoshinori Watanabe, Daisuke Satoh
  • Patent number: 10890910
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for using a drone to test monitoring system sensors. In one aspect, the drone perform operations that include navigating from a first location of a property towards a second location of the property, detecting a sensor that is installed at the property, interrupting, by the drone, navigation through the property from the first location of the property towards the second location of the property to initiate a test of the detected sensor and (ii) determining a sensor test type for the detected sensor, administering a sensor test to the detected sensor, wherein the sensor test is based on the determined sensor test type, evaluating results of the administered test, storing data describing the results of the administered test, and continuing navigation through the property towards the second location of the property or towards another location of the property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Franklin Bart, Dean Constantine
  • Patent number: 10858225
    Abstract: A track-type machine is disclosed. The track-type machine may comprise an electric drive powertrain including an internal combustion engine, a winch assembly having a drum rotatably supporting a cable so that the cable is reeled in or reeled out at a winch line speed when the drum is rotating, and an implement controller configured to activate the winch assembly for reeling in and reeling out the cable. The track-type machine may further comprise a hydraulic circuit driven by the internal combustion engine and configured to actuate a rotation of the drum when the winch assembly is activated by the implement controller. In addition, the track-type machine may further comprise a control system configured to increase an engine speed of the internal combustion engine when the winch assembly is activated by the implement controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Randall Sanders, Christopher Mark Brian, Thomas Gregory Pusch
  • Patent number: 10863312
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a moving-track sharing method and apparatus, and a storage medium. The method includes: receiving, by an instant messaging client, a track-sharing instruction, wherein the track-sharing instruction is used to instruct the instant messaging client to share a real-time moving-track of a first terminal in a moving event, and the instant messaging client is located on the first terminal; generating, by the instant messaging client, a first track-sharing event in response to the track-sharing instruction; and sending, by the instant messaging client, the first track-sharing event to a server, wherein the first track-sharing event is used to instruct the server to share a real-time moving-track of the first terminal in a manner specified by the track-sharing instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiao Shi, Qian Wang, Renhua Du, Xiangdong Zhu, Le Zhang, Qiqi Zhu, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 10845824
    Abstract: An input attitude associated with an input device of an aircraft is received. A supplemental attitude is generated, including by selecting a position-based supplemental attitude to be the supplemental attitude in the event the input device is in a disengaged state and selecting a velocity-based supplemental attitude to be the supplemental attitude in the event the input device is in an engaged state. The input attitude and the supplemental attitude are combined in order to obtain a combined attitude. The aircraft is controlled using the combined attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander David Selwa, Mark Johnson Cutler
  • Patent number: 10836386
    Abstract: A device includes a body operatively connected to a plurality of wheels, with the plurality of wheels being positioned relative to a banked surface defining a bank angle (?). A suspension system includes at least one suspension sensor configured to provide suspension displacement data. A controller is in communication with the at least one suspension sensor and has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions. The controller is configured to obtain the suspension displacement data and determine a roll angle (?) based at least partially on the suspension displacement data. The bank angle (?) is determined based at least partially on the roll angle (?), a yaw rate (r), a longitudinal velocity (Vx) and a plurality of predetermined parameters. Operation of the device is controlled based partly on at least one of the roll angle (?) and the bank angle (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shih-Ken Chen, Valery Pylypchuk, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 10839696
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and computer programs for a local platooning controller and a global platooning controller and a platooning system. The apparatus for a local platooning controller of a transportation vehicle includes a transceiver module which receives information related to a control command from a global platooning controller and transmits feedback information to the global platooning controller. The apparatus includes a control module which controls the transceiver module. The control module determines information related to a deviation between control information received with information related to the control command from the global platooning controller and an actual state of the transportation vehicle, and effects transmission of feedback information based on the information related to the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Guillaume Jornod, Thorsten Hehn, Daniel Reimann, Roman Alieiev
  • Patent number: 10830594
    Abstract: A method of updating navigational map data with missed attributes via polyline geometry matching includes obtaining first and second navigational map data sets. Chains are built of original road elements of the first navigational map data and chains are built of original road elements of the second navigational map data set. A spatial index of the chains is created. A set of chain candidates that are within a predetermined distance of each other is created according to the spatial index. The size of the set of chain candidates is reduced utilizing an angle filter. Each remaining chain candidate of the reduced set of chain candidates is ranked and the chain candidate having a best ranking is selected as the best candidate chain. The first navigational map data set is updated utilizing attributes from the best candidate chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignees: MITAC INTERNATIONAL CORP., MiTAC Research (Shanghai) Ltd.
    Inventors: Juhang Kuo, Ilya Krukov, Ilya Antonenko
  • Patent number: 10821369
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of ride vehicle modules, where each of the plurality of ride vehicle modules includes an interlock system configured to perform linking operations to join to other ride vehicle modules to form a cluster and delinking operations to separate from the other ride vehicle modules throughout a ride, control circuitry configured to control the interlock system and movement of the respective ride vehicle module independently or as a part of the cluster, and communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with the other ride vehicle modules internal and/or external to the cluster. The cluster may change sizes throughout the ride by performing linking and delinking operations as desired. A method for changing the size of clusters of ride vehicle modules throughout a ride is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Devin Boyle
  • Patent number: 10822024
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for current sensor fault mitigation for systems with permanent magnet DC drives. An example power steering system includes a brush motor, and a motor control system that generates an amount of torque using the brush motor, the amount of torque corresponding to a torque command. The motor control system includes a current sensor fault detector that detects a current sensor fault associated with a current sensor used to measure a current across the brush motor. The motor control system further includes a velocity observer that computes an estimated motor velocity in response to the current sensor fault. The motor control system further includes a feedforward controller that generates a current command for generating the amount of torque using the brush motor, the current command generated using the estimated motor velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Rakesh Mitra, Rangarajan Ramanujam
  • Patent number: 10821960
    Abstract: A deflection control apparatus is provided with: a controller programmed to: a determine whether or not a vehicle is about depart from a driving lane, perform a deflection control of supplying a brake fluid pressure to at least one of brake mechanisms provided for corresponding wheels so that a yaw moment in a direction of avoiding departure of the vehicle is applied to the vehicle, if it is determined that the vehicle is about to depart, arithmetically operate a departure angle of the vehicle, and arithmetically operate a boost trajectory for boosting the brake fluid pressure to a target brake fluid pressure on condition that the departure angle is greater than a predetermined angle. The controller is programmed to perform the deflection control after boosting in advance the brake fluid pressure associated with the at least one of the plurality of brake mechanism, on the basis of the boost trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHKA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori Ito, Akira Nagae, Ryo Inomata, Masayuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10806078
    Abstract: A harvesting work vehicle includes a conditioning arrangement configured to condition a crop material. A method of operating the work vehicle includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored conditioning setting for a variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a conditioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored conditioning setting. Furthermore, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement according to the conditioning control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad, Mitchell R. Usasz, Kellen B. Hill
  • Patent number: 10800344
    Abstract: An aerial photogrammetric device comprises an aerial vehicle configured to fly autonomously or remotely controlled, an image pickup device provided on the aerial vehicle and having an optical axis extending in a vertical direction, an attitude detecting device for detecting a tilt angle and a tilting direction with respect to a horizontality or a verticality of the optical axis, a position measuring device, and a control device for controlling a flight of the aerial vehicle, wherein the control device is configured to acquire images at two points by the image pickup device, acquire image acquiring positions at a time of image acquisition from the position measuring device, acquire a detection result of the attitude detecting device at the time of image acquisition, correct the images acquired at the two points into horizontal images based on the detection result, and perform a relative orientation of the obtained horizontal images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TOPCON Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10795366
    Abstract: A method includes accepting inputs to a marine vessel's control module, the inputs defining first and second waypoints and a desired heading, and defining a desired track between the first and second waypoints. Ideal steering and thrust commands required to orient the vessel at the desired heading and to maneuver the vessel from the first to the second waypoint are generated and carried out. The method includes measuring a current position and heading of the vessel; calculating a cross-track error based on the current position as compared to the desired track; and calculating a heading error based on the current heading as compared to the desired heading. The method includes generating corrective steering and thrust commands that are required to minimize the cross-track error and the heading error. The propulsion system propels the marine vessel according to the corrective steering and thrust commands, as appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Thomas S. Kirchhoff, Michael J. Lemancik, Walter B. Ross, Robert M. Hackbarth, Mark W. Henker, Steven L. Van Camp
  • Patent number: 10789839
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes an input port that receives information on a plurality of objects in surroundings of a vehicle and information on a traffic environment of the vehicle, the plurality of objects being detected by a sensor installed on the vehicle, a controller that determines, based on the information on the plurality of objects and the information on the traffic environment, priority for each of the plurality of objects and determines first information based on the priority in a case where the total amount of information on the plurality of objects is greater than a determined value, the first information being information on part of the plurality of objects, and an output port that outputs the first information to an in-vehicle apparatus that controls the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinao Kawai, Yasumichi Takai
  • Patent number: 10788835
    Abstract: A framework for safely operating autonomous machinery, such as vehicles and other heavy equipment, in an in-field or off-road environment, includes detecting, identifying, classifying and tracking objects and/or terrain characteristics from on-board sensors that capture images in front and around the autonomous machinery as it performs agricultural or other activities. The framework generates commands for navigational control of the autonomous machinery in response to perceived objects and terrain impacting safe operation. The framework processes image data and range data in multiple fields of view around the autonomous equipment to discern objects and terrain, and applies artificial intelligence techniques in one or more neural networks to accurately interpret this data for enabling such safe operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Raven Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Josh Hurd, Rahul Ramakrishnan, Mark William Barglof, Quincy Calvin Milloy, Thomas Antony
  • Patent number: 10768002
    Abstract: A system and method for learning and predicting personalized risk associated with a journey for a user are presented. Contextual data may be gathered and analyzed from a plurality of data sources relating to a journey of a user. A risk associated with the journey may be learned for the user according to the contextual data. One or more risk models may be generated according to the learned risks. One or more potential risks associated with a subsequent journey may be predicted using the one or more risk models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Epperlein, Yassine Lassoued, Martin Mevissen, Julien Monteil, Giovanni Russo, Robert Shorten
  • Patent number: 10762798
    Abstract: An autonomous driving method includes: determining a risk of a target vehicle based on either one or both of a driving characteristic and an appearance characteristic of the target vehicle; and autonomously controlling a host vehicle based on the risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoonsuk Hyun