Patents Examined by Robert Payne
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Patent number: 9031741Abstract: Disclosed are an oil pump control system and method, the oil pump control method including setting an initial target oil pressure of the oil pump based on a rotation speed of an engine or an oil temperature, determining a pressure compensation value by considering the target torque or target fuel quantity of the engine based on the initial target oil pressure, determining a final target oil pressure by adding the pressure compensation value to the initial target oil pressure, and feedback-controlling the oil pump so that current oil pressure measured in real time follows the final target oil pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Sungha Lee
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Patent number: 8942913Abstract: A method and system for analyzing on-road traffic density are provided. The method involves allowing a user to select a video image capturing device and coordinates in a video image frame captured by the video image capturing device such that the coordinates form a region of interest (ROI). The ROI is processed to generate a confidence value and a traffic density value. The traffic density value is compared with a first set of threshold values. Based on the comparison, the traffic density values at different instants in a time window are displayed to enable monitoring of the traffic trend.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Infosys LimitedInventors: Rudra Narayan Hota, Kishore Jonna, Radha Krishna Pisipati
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Patent number: 8942891Abstract: A vehicle interior-exterior structure of the present invention is equipped with a main body formed from a resin foam material, a covering formed from a resilient material to cover the main body, and a void formed between the main body and the covering. The vehicle interior-exterior structure is also equipped with a front bumper cover supported by a vehicle body and a pressure sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the internal pressure of the void. A reaction force is obtained from the main body when a colliding body collides with the location where the void is positioned in the front bumper and the void undergoes compression deformation. The degrees of freedom for the placement position of the void, namely for the placement position of an impact detection region, can accordingly be raised.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Watanabe, Akihiko Ishikawa
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Patent number: 8924060Abstract: An ECU uses a map or the like prepared in advance to calculate discharge allowable power indicating electric power that can be discharged from a power storage device. When the running mode is at the CD mode and an engine is stopped, the ECU increases the discharge allowable power to a predetermined value. Furthermore, even when the running mode is at the CS mode or even when the engine is operating, the ECU increases the discharge allowable power when a catalyst device provided at an exhaust pipe of the engine is currently warmed up.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Yuu Nakao
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Patent number: 8907846Abstract: The single-antenna radio frequency (RF), direction finding (DF) system includes a single-element directional antenna, which is mounted on a multi-rotor UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and integrates with a DF algorithm for tracking an RF source in the 2.45 GHz ISM band (or any other frequency band). The algorithm will depend on the rotating nature of the platform to scan the azimuth, as well as several elevation angles with respect to the platform axis of rotation, and thus be able to accurately locate the coordinates of the RF transmitter based on the recorded power levels. The RF source determination step is performed during the search mode of the algorithm. The RF transmitter location is saved, and the UAV takes actions accordingly by commencing movement towards that location in the action mode of the algorithm. After some time, the UAV enters the search mode again in case the RF source has moved.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Mohammad S. Sharawi, Belal H. Sababha, Hamzeh M. Alzu'bi, Osamah Ahmad Rawashdeh
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Patent number: 8897958Abstract: A method for determining ambient air temperature outside of a vehicle with a sensor mounted on the vehicle, includes the steps of determining a road speed of the vehicle, comparing the determined road speed to a reference road speed value, if the determined road speed is below the reference road speed value, activating a device to move ambient air across the sensor, the ambient air being drawn from a location outside the vehicle, taking a temperature reading with the sensor, and, if the temperature reading is lower than a stored temperature value, storing the lower temperature reading as the ambient air temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Volvo Group North America, LLCInventors: Ronald C. Dehart, Jason Stone, Mark Mittelstaedt
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Patent number: 8892286Abstract: If it is determined that switching from a CD mode to a CS mode is requested by a running mode switching request switch, an ECU determines whether or not SOC of a power storage device is higher than a threshold value. If SOC is determined to be higher than the threshold value, ECU further determines whether or not temperature of the power storage device is lower than a threshold value. If SOC is determined to be higher than the threshold value and the temperature is determined to be lower than the threshold value, the ECU denies the request for switching from the CD mode to the CS mode, and maintains the CD mode as the running mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeo Morita
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Patent number: 8892327Abstract: A method for determining a functional state of a pressure build-up valve of a hydraulic brake booster of a brake system, having the following steps: comparing an activation intensity of an activation of a brake activating element of the brake system to a predefined minimum activation intensity; if the brake activation intensity is less than or equal to the minimum activation intensity, determining the functional state, taking into account a pressure change over time in at least a partial volume of the hydraulic brake booster; if the brake activation intensity is greater than the minimum activation intensity, determining the functional state, taking into account an operating mode which is predefined for a pressure reduction valve of the hydraulic brake booster. A function monitoring device for a pressure build-up valve of a hydraulic brake booster of a brake system is also described.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Juergen Hachtel, Ralf Kinder
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Patent number: 8886404Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for a motor vehicle, especially for a commercial vehicle that has a box body supportable on a chassis, with at least one detection means generating detection data for detecting the road profile in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel and a control device for controlling at least one controllable spring and/or damper unit depending on the detected data, wherein the at least one spring and/or damper unit for suspension and damping of the box body in the direction of a vertical axis of the vehicle can be connected to the box body and the chassis.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bodo Hanisch, Martin Schumacher, Georg Hoppe
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Patent number: 8880291Abstract: Various embodiments relate to systems and methods for detecting an unauthorized use of a vehicle. One or more facial images of one or more authorized drivers of a vehicle may be stored on a vehicle computing system. After detecting movement of the vehicle, one or more facial images of a driver of the vehicle may be periodically received from at least one in-vehicle camera. The one or more captured facial images of the driver may be periodically processed based on the stored facial images of the one or more authorized drivers to determine if the driver is an authorized driver. If the driver is not an authorized driver based on the periodic determination, vehicle operation may be disabled. If the driver is authorized based on the periodic determination, operation of the vehicle may continue.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Harman International Industries, Inc.Inventor: Vallabha Vasant Hampiholi
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Patent number: 8868325Abstract: A correct collision judgment is realized between an obstacle and a vehicle even when the vehicle enters a curve. In a collision judgment apparatus for judging the collision between the vehicle and the obstacle based on a relative positional relationship between a subject vehicle position of the vehicle and a relative movement straight line of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle as calculated based on a plurality of pieces of the position information acquired by a position information acquiring unit in relation to the obstacle, the relative positional relationship between the relative movement straight line and the subject vehicle position is adjusted so that a distance between the relative movement straight line and the subject vehicle position is separated if it is judged that the vehicle enters an entrance to a curve as compared with a situation in which the vehicle does not enter the entrance to the curve.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2010Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohei Morotomi, Takeshi Nanami
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Patent number: 8849509Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote application. The system also includes one or more outputs, controllable by the processor. The processor is configured to receive an advertisement for playback on at least one output, determine the suitability of the received advertisement for playback, permit or deny advertisement playback based on the suitability of the advertisement, and provide access to the at least one output upon permitting advertisement playback.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yimin Liu, Perry Robinson MacNeille, Julius Marchwicki, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Joseph Carl Beiser
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Patent number: 8843273Abstract: A control system for adjusting suspension settings of a bicycle, including a bicycle sensor configured to sense a coasting condition and a non-coasting condition and generate input signals indicative of the sensed condition, and a control unit in communication with the bicycle sensor and configured to generate output signals in response to the input signals, the output signals receivable by the bicycle suspension to selectively adjust the suspension settings.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Kevin J. Wesling, Russell Rose, James Meyer, Jeremiah Boobar
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Patent number: 8838331Abstract: A method of determining payload material density includes a step of determining a capacity volume of a work tool of a machine using an electronic controller of the machine. The work tool is loaded with an initial amount of loaded material matching the capacity volume, and an onboard payload mass calculation algorithm is executed using the electronic controller to determine a mass of the initial amount of loaded material. A density of the initial amount of loaded material is calculated responsive to the mass of the initial amount of loaded material and the capacity volume using the electronic controller. The density of the initial amount of loaded material is stored using the electronic controller, and a productivity datum is calculated responsive to the density of the initial amount of loaded material and a subsequent amount of loaded material.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Edward Jensen
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Patent number: 8838315Abstract: A method for operation of a vehicle by a control system is provided. The method comprises indicating to a vehicle operator a delay in implementation of an energy-expending action in a powered vehicle system in response to receiving an implementation request from an input device based on vehicle energy usage via a delay indicator.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Douglas Malone, Tuan Anh Be, William Najib Mansur
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Patent number: 8831811Abstract: A control unit for a series hybrid vehicle includes a basic required output calculator for calculating a basic required output for driving the vehicle based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator pedal opening, a gradient calculator for calculating a rising gradient of a road surface on which the vehicle runs, a correction output calculator for calculating a correction output which is added to the basic required torque based on the rising gradient, and a target output calculator for calculating, when a required output which results from adding the correction output to the basic required output is larger than a predetermined value, based on the required output, a battery target electric power by which the battery is required to output part of the required output and an engine target output by which the engine is required to output the remaining of the required output.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuichiro Yamazaki
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Patent number: 8812196Abstract: A payload estimation system for a work machine is provided. The system includes a power source, a payload carrier, an actuator and a controller. The payload carrier is configured to contain a payload of material. The actuator is configured to effectuate movement of the payload carrier. The controller is configured to control an operation of the actuator. The controller is also configured to receive one or more parameters associated with the power source of the work machine, during an operation of the payload carrier. Further, the controller is configured to compare the one or more parameters with a pre-determined dataset to estimate a weight of the payload on the work machine.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Zheng Hu, Jason D. Bell
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Patent number: 8812227Abstract: A collision avoidance system (CAS) is described that includes one or more sensor technologies, including, for example, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) sensing technology. The collision avoidance system is designed to reliably track the location and speed of vehicles and the distance between vehicles over a wide variety of track and terrain. The collision avoidance system may utilize information from a variety of sensor technologies to determine whether one or more vehicles violate speed and/or separation criteria, and may generate a warning.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Metrom Rail, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
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Patent number: 8798835Abstract: A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain includes a diesel engine in power flow communication with an electric motor and a controller. The diesel engine and electric motor are each configured to generate a respective torque in response to a provided torque command. The controller is in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and an accelerator pedal, and configured to receive a driver torque request from the accelerator pedal. In response to the driver torque request, the controller is further configured to command the diesel engine to generate an output torque that is less than a smoke limit torque, and command the electric motor to generate an output torque equal to the difference between the driver torque request and the output torque of the diesel engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Luca Scavone, Anthony H. Heap
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Patent number: 8798834Abstract: The movable component for a network system may communicate with another component. The movable component includes a body, a battery, a control unit, and a communication unit. The body includes a wheel for moving, and a motor driving the wheel. The battery supplies a power to the motor. The communication unit communicates with the other component to receive information related to energy. The control unit determines whether to charge the battery based on the information related to energy.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Wonchul Jeong, Yanghwan Kim, Donghun Youn, Koonseok Lee, Junho Ahn, Hoonbong Lee