Patents Examined by Redhwan Mawari
  • Patent number: 7660665
    Abstract: Autonomous mobile equipment includes a position-of-object and own position detecting system and a moving unit, and autonomously moves. The position-of-object and own position detecting system includes a database in which pieces of information on the superficial shape and position of an object are recorded. The superficial shape of the object detected by a position measuring unit is collated with the superficial shape of the object recorded in the database. If the collated superficial shapes agree with each other, the pieces of information on the object recorded in the database are transmitted to a traveling planning unit. If the collated superficial shapes disagree with each other, the information on the object acquired by the position measuring unit is transmitted to the traveling planning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Tamamoto, Yuji Hosoda, Saku Egawa, Toshihiko Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7660654
    Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a pitch rate sensor (37) generating a pitch rate signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) generating a yaw rate signal. A safety system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. From the sensors, the controller (26) determines an added mass and a position of the added mass, a pitch gradient and/or a pitch acceleration coefficient that takes into account the added mass and position. The controller controls a vehicle system in response to the added mass and the position of the added mass, the pitch gradient and/or pitch acceleration coefficient variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Keith Mattson, Joe Meyers
  • Patent number: 7657371
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus having short sensory time for executing the high precision positioning of the user on a map. The positioning apparatus includes: a first positioning unit for obtaining a first position information which represents the position of the positioning apparatus itself measured by carrying out a low precision positioning; a displaying unit for displaying the first position information; and a second positioning unit for obtaining the second position information which represents the position of the positioning apparatus itself measured by carrying out a high precision positioning. The high precision positioning is executed in parallel with the low precision positioning. The displaying unit updates a screen based on the second position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Hirano
  • Patent number: 7650212
    Abstract: System and method for adjusting at least one pedal for a driver in a vehicle in which a determining system determines one or more morphological characteristics of the driver, a motor is coupled to the pedal(s) and is at least automatically controllable without manual intervention to move the pedal(s) relative to a floor of the vehicle and thus adjust the position of the pedal(s) relative to the driver, and a control circuit is coupled to the determining system and the motor for automatically controlling the motor based on the determined morphological characteristic(s) of the driver. The pedal may be an accelerator pedal and/or a brake pedal of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Breed, Jeffrey L. Morin, Wilbur E. DuVall
  • Patent number: 7647154
    Abstract: A method and article of manufacture are provided for operating an internal combustion engine adapted to transmit torque to a hybrid transmission. The method comprises determining engine input torque transmittable to the hybrid transmission for a plurality of engine states the engine states comprising an all-cylinder operation and a cylinder-deactivation operation. Costs are determined for operating the engine and hybrid transmission in the engine states to substantially meet an operator torque request. The engine state is controlled to one of the all-cylinder operation and the cylinder-deactivation operation based upon the costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 7647149
    Abstract: The operations of an electric power steering system and a wheel slip control system such as a traction control system or an anti-lock brake system are co-related so as not to undesirably affect one another, by the target assisting steering force for the electric power steering system being modified differently according to whether or not the wheel slip control system is in operation. In doing so, the target value of assisting steering force according to an increase of the steering torque of the steering wheel is increased by a degree increased along with increase of a time based differential of the steering torque of the steering wheel, or the degree of increasing the target value of assisting steering force according to an increase of the steering torque of the steering wheel is decreased along with increase of a time based differential of steering angle of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7647166
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a navigation system for communicating narrative information to a traveler moving through a geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Lester Kerns
  • Patent number: 7623961
    Abstract: A method for determining a track of a geographical trajectory which has predetermined start and locations. A data collection device, which has onboard synchronized sensors, is moved between the start and end locations, and physical measurement data such as pitch, heading, roll and distance, is obtained and stored. Thereafter, the stored data is retrieved and mapped to determine error compensation. The physical measurement data, after error compensation, is used to determine the pitch profile, heading profile, distance profile and roll profile to ascertain the geographical trajectory track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Reduct
    Inventor: Wim Van Den Broeck
  • Patent number: 7617033
    Abstract: In steering system and method for an automotive vehicle, a reaction force actuator is configured to provide a steering reaction force for the operation inputting section on the basis of a reaction force command value which accords with a state of steerable wheels, a steering actuator is configured to drive the steering mechanism on the basis of a turning angle command value which accords with a steering angle of the operation inputting section, a turning angle correction value setting section sets a turning angle correction value on the basis of the reaction force command value, and a turning angle command value correcting section subtracts the turning angle correction value from the turning angle command value, the turning angle correction value being set in such a manner that, as the reaction force command value becomes larger, the turning angle correction value becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuusuke Katou
  • Patent number: 7596436
    Abstract: The operating voltage is monitored in a microcontroller having associated output stages which are used to control components. In the case of over-voltage, the output stage is disconnected. Two technology-related, voltage monitoring devices working in different operating voltage ranges are provided. Due to the combination thereof, a highly precise disconnection threshold and a greater area for the operating voltage, which is to be monitored, can be obtained. If a malfunction of an over-voltage occurs, the output stages can be disconnected in a reliable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Falter, Alfons Fisch, Ralf Förster, Marco Kick, Thomas Maier, Norman Marenco, Peter Skotzek
  • Patent number: 7558652
    Abstract: A system (20) on board or suitable for use on board an aircraft to define an aircraft track having a plurality of segments, the system includes a display unit (10) arranged to display an image (11) containing a representation of the footprint of a segment (S, S1, S2) in a plane or level; an analog input member (17) for inputting altitude data (A) into a computer (13) connected to the display unit; and a calculation program or module arranged to determine a representation (C1, C2, PR1, PR2) of relief that is dangerous for a flight altitude equal to the value of the altitude data (A), and to superimpose (or include) the representation on (in) the image (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Joël Astruc
  • Patent number: 7433770
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid change indicating device for an automatic transmission includes a first deterioration rate calculating unit; a deterioration acceleration coefficient calculating unit; and a thermal hydraulic fluid deterioration calculating unit for calculating a thermal hydraulic fluid deterioration according to the first deterioration rate and the deterioration acceleration coefficient. The device further includes a second deterioration rate calculating unit according to an engine speed, input shaft speed, and output shaft speed; a mechanical hydraulic fluid deterioration calculating unit for calculating a mechanical fluid deterioration according to the second deterioration rate; and a determining unit for determining whether or not the thermal hydraulic fluid deterioration or the mechanical hydraulic fluid deterioration is greater than a predetermined hydraulic fluid change threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Inagawa, Mitsumasa Furumoto, Hideo Koyama, Yoshiari Takagi