Patents Examined by Omeed Alizada
  • Patent number: 11967220
    Abstract: A communication control device comprises: a determination unit configured to determine whether a target has approached a mobile object based on information detected by a sensor mounted on the mobile object; and a communication control unit configured to control a communication unit that calls a call center based on a determination result by the determination unit, wherein the communication control unit causes transmission, to the call center, of first information relating to information detected at the mobile object while making a call connection to the call center, which is started in response to a call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Suguru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11958404
    Abstract: A warning indicator system for an autonomous vehicle includes a sensor pod, a connecting assembly, and a warning indicator. The sensor pod has a sensor and a sensor pod housing. The connecting assembly is configured to couple the sensor pod to the autonomous vehicle. The warning indicator is associated with the sensor pod and the connecting assembly. The warning indicator is configured to alert other vehicles and persons to a stopped condition of the autonomous vehicle. An autonomous vehicle includes the warning indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KODIAK ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Wolfe
  • Patent number: 11951832
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for vehicles, which is capable of preventing driver carelessness from causing a vehicle accident when a vehicle stops while traveling, includes a vehicle sensor unit configured to detect driver state data, a driver assistance unit operated to assist a driver when driver carelessness about vehicle driving is detected when a vehicle stops while traveling, and a control unit configured to identify whether the driver is careless based on the driver state data when the vehicle stops while traveling, and to operate the driver assistance unit when the driver carelessness is detected, preventing the vehicle from driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Hyeon Woo, Kyeong Keun Kim, Min Kyu Han, Da Som Yang
  • Patent number: 11951904
    Abstract: An electronic sign assembly for communicating a message of gratitude to a motorist on a roadway includes a projector that is integrated into a vehicle such that the projector is directed toward a rear window of the vehicle. The projector projects an image onto the rear window to facilitate the image to be visible to a motorist driving behind the vehicle on a roadway. The projector projects a plurality of beams of light thereby facilitating the image to comprise the words “thank you” to express gratitude to the motorist behind the vehicle for allowing the vehicle to change lanes. A control is positioned within the vehicle thereby facilitating the control to be accessible to a driver of the vehicle. The control is in communication with the projector for turning the projector on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Rene Covarrubias
  • Patent number: 11951902
    Abstract: A method for warning approaching vehicles of an autonomous vehicle includes sensing a stopped condition of the autonomous vehicle, activating a warning indicator of the autonomous vehicle based on the stopped condition, sensing a start condition of the autonomous vehicle, and deactivating the warning indicator of the autonomous vehicle based on the start condition. The warning indicator includes a plurality of LEDs or an LED panel coupled to or formed within a sensor pod coupled to the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KODIAK ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Wolfe
  • Patent number: 11951940
    Abstract: A wheel fastener alarm assembly is provided having a fastener body with a first portion defining a wrenching surface and a cavity, and a second portion with a threaded portion to attach and detach from a wheel of a vehicle. A sensor array is disposed in the cavity of fastener body to detect an attribute of the fastener body and generate an output signal based on the attribute of the fastener body. An antenna connected to the sensor array to transmit the signal to a remote location. A cap is secured to the first portion of the fastener body and covers the wrenching surface and the cavity opening to define a capped fastener body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MACLEAN-FOGG COMPANY
    Inventors: David J. Davis, Kryzysztof Misztur, Christian Muehlich, Robert E. Whitney, Larry J. Wilson, Marcus A. Zagorniak, Steven R. Fister, Mark Raves, Luke Michael Roberts, Ben Wilmhoff, Bennett Whitney
  • Patent number: 11951906
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, system for an autonomous vehicle includes one or more signaling devices configured to visually notify other vehicles when placed on or near a roadway, and an object placing device configured to place the one or more signaling devices. The system further includes a processor and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine that the autonomous vehicle has experienced a malfunction, and provide instructions to the object placing device to place the one or more signaling devices on or near the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TuSimple, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A Price, Todd B. Skinner, Juexiao Ning, Yishi Liu, Qiwei Li, Raymond Alan Thomas, Alan Camyre, Jim Giglio, Robert Patrick Brown
  • Patent number: 11942805
    Abstract: Described herein are a system and methods for implementing a tool-agnostic device. In examples, the system may determine location and state information using sensors of the tool-agnostic device. Based on this information, the system may communicate with a virtual reality system for display and user interaction with a virtual reality environment. The tool-agnostic device may be removed and re-attached to a number of different tools. The tool-agnostic device allows tracking of a number of different tools without customization or retrofitting each tool. The tool-agnostic device may serve as a safety-shutoff device in addition to tracking tool use and movement. When the system determines that a tool is operating in an unsafe manner the tool-agnostic device may interrupt the power to the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Lowe's Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonothon Frederick Douglas, Paul Michael Sisneros
  • Patent number: 11935415
    Abstract: A method for assisting an occupant exiting a vehicle includes: receiving opening data describing an imminent opening of a door of the vehicle; receiving object data describing positions and speeds of objects in the vehicle environment; determining a time-to-collision between the opening of the door and a possible collision of a first object with the door, based on the opening data and the object data; outputting an urgent warning signal if the time-to-collision falls below a predetermined minimum duration; using the object data to check whether the first object is followed by a second object; classifying the second object as a first following object if a time-gap between the first object and the second object is below a predetermined limit; and outputting a warning signal after the output of the urgent warning signal in the event that the second object is classified as the first following object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tomasz Siekierka, Werner Tschoepe
  • Patent number: 11932166
    Abstract: A road surface drawing system includes a road surface drawing lamp that is provided in a vehicle and illuminates a road surface with a beam, and a controller that controls the road surface drawing lamp and draws, with a beam BM, a pattern PTN on the road surface ahead of the vehicle. The controller draws a pattern PTN instructing the vehicle to stop if a signal state of an upcoming traffic signal is a red light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Kiyotaka Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 11934994
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a load receiving vehicle is provided. The load receiving vehicle comprises a storage unit usable as a receiving place of a delivery article; a lock control unit capable of controlling lock and unlock of a door of the storage unit; and a communication unit, wherein if the communication unit receives delivery schedule information representing a delivery schedule to the load receiving vehicle, information based on the delivery schedule information is provided to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Takebayashi
  • Patent number: 11897392
    Abstract: A haptic generator for panels of vehicles and an interior panel for vehicles using the same are proposed. The haptic generator includes a first coupling member with a first end integrally coupled to at a rear surface of a panel, a casing coupled to a second end of the first coupling member, a haptic actuator stored in the casing and configured to generate haptic vibration, a second coupling member with a first end integrally coupled to the rear surface of the panel, a support member coupled to a second end of the second coupling member, a touch sensor coupled to the rear surface of the panel with a predetermined distance from the support member, a PCB panel supported by the support member, and a display provided on a portion of a surface of the panel and configured to supply information about a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Jong Hwan Jeon
  • Patent number: 11873622
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining mistrack conditions in work vehicles such as excavators having first and second tracks. A controller uses data from onboard sensors (e.g., cameras, lidar) having an external field of view to detect a first position of, e.g., a track of the work vehicle relative to a first external point in a local reference system independent of a global reference system and to detect, upon the work vehicle having advanced from the detected first position a predetermined distance, a second position of the at least first component of the work vehicle relative to a second external point in the local reference system. The controller further determines an amount of mistrack error corresponding to a difference between the detected second position and an expected second position, and generates an output signal based on the determined amount of mistrack error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Amol Phadtare, Balkrishna Joshilkar, Lance R. Sherlock, Pramod Karle, Abhishek Garg
  • Patent number: 11869353
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to generating a notification about a risk of a target vehicle toppling over due to wind. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a wind force of the wind at a location of the target vehicle and determining one or more characteristics of the target vehicle. The method includes determining whether there is a risk of the target vehicle toppling over based on the wind force of the wind and the one or more characteristics of the target vehicle. The method includes generating a notification about the risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Gupta, Ziran Wang, Yanbing Wang, Kyungtae Han, Prashant Tiwari
  • Patent number: 11854312
    Abstract: A portable electronic wireless lock for ensuring the safety of goods, including humanly consumable goods. The lock is controlled by a smartphone, which also acts as a communications hub between the lock and a truckload owner or supervisor. According to the present invention, a truck driver uses a smartphone to interface between a trailer payload supervisor and the payload lock itself, to ensure the safety of the transported goods and comply with regulations such as the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”). An electronic lock may, according to the present invention, interface electronically to a smartphone, so that while in motion, the smartphone ensures that the lock remains locked and controls its operation. Alternatively, such an electronic lock may be designed to permit only a limited number of locking cycles initiated by a truck driver until a loading supervisor intercedes in compliance with FSMA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: David Arena
  • Patent number: 11851079
    Abstract: A device and a method are provided for cleaning a vehicle sensor. The method, performed by the device of a vehicle, is for sensor cleaning management and includes determining whether to initiate sensor cleaning; providing first information on the sensor cleaning internally (e.g., to an occupant inside of the vehicle); and providing second information on the sensor cleaning externally (e.g., to a person outside of the vehicle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jung Seok Suh, Hong Gyu Lee, Ja Yoon Goo, Hyung Ju Cha
  • Patent number: 11854384
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed in which one or more light sources, a detector, a processor and a controller are configured such that light from the one or more light sources improves the ability of a human or automated motor vehicle driver to identify and avoid pedestrians. The one or more light sources may provide spot illumination to moving objects or pedestrians on a road surface, with the spot illumination following the moving object or pedestrians along the portion of the road surface. The one or more light sources may project images on the ground or on other surfaces. The light source may be carried by a pedestrian or on personal transport used by a pedestrian. The light sources may be stationary and provide lighting for a pedestrian street crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Michael Camras, Jyoti Kiron Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 11847910
    Abstract: An emergency vehicle alert system includes a traffic control device having a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to receive a first signal and to transmit a second signal. A receiver is configured to receive the second signal from the transceiver and to initiate an alert upon receiving the second signal from the transceiver. The first signal is transmitted to the transceiver from an emergency vehicle and causes the traffic control device to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration. The transceiver transmits the second signal in response to the transceiver receiving the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11839803
    Abstract: A racing tracking system and process includes one or more RFID-based tower units connected to a computer. Pairs of tower units may be positioned to provide redundancy of detection so that the front of a participant and the rear of a participant (where bibs may be worn) are detected. The redundancy of RFID-based tower unit detection of front and rear worn bibs assures that all bibs will be read, and improves on the accuracy of a participant's position being confirmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory M. Stewart, David G. Baur
  • Patent number: 11841138
    Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely monitoring the amount of fuel in one or more fuel tanks are disclosed. A fuel monitoring device includes a sensor configured to monitor the operation of a valve coupled to an output of a fuel tank and a network and communication system configured to receive data from the sensor related to the operation of the valve and establish communication with one or more remote systems via a communications network. The fuel monitoring device communicates the data related to the operation of the sensor to a remote server system via the communications network. Based on the data received from the fuel monitoring device and one or more remote systems, the remote server system can determine the amount of fuel remaining in the tank, and can predict when the tank will require additional fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Fivovos, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Jacob Shotmeyer, Jon Thomas Buonaccorsi, Christopher Louis Corrado, Edward Norman McGrath, III