Patents Examined by Sara Lewandroski
-
Patent number: 9827973Abstract: A method for learning engine clutch delivery torque of a hybrid vehicle includes: determining, by a controller, whether power transference of a transmission transmitting output from an engine of the vehicle and a motor of the vehicle is interrupted; controlling, by the controller, a speed of the motor to be maintained at a first speed when the power transference of the transmission is interrupted; calculating, by the controller, a first delivery torque of an engine clutch that connects the engine with the motor or disconnects the engine from the motor, based on the first speed and a second speed of the motor which is generated after the engine clutch is engaged; controlling, by the controller, the speed of the motor to be maintained at the second speed by releasing the engine clutch after the first delivery torque is calculated; and calculating, by the controller, a second delivery torque of the engine clutch based on the second speed and a third speed of the motor which is generated after the engine clutch iType: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Do Hee Kim
-
Patent number: 9827825Abstract: A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle includes a proximity sensor installed at a back of a seat and detecting an object. An automotive key locks and unlocks a door. A starter starts and stops an engine of the vehicle. A controller is configured to determine whether the occupant is in the seat based sensor values of the proximity sensor, a door unlock signal from the automotive key, and a starting signal from the starter.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Chang Kiun Kwark
-
Patent number: 9809085Abstract: An improved climate control, safety, and communications system and method for a vehicle having a detecting means for detecting and transmitting the climate conditions inside a vehicle's passenger cabin as temperature data, and for detecting and transmitting the presence of an occupant inside the vehicle as occupancy data; a data collecting means for monitoring and evaluating the temperature data against a temperature threshold and the occupancy data against an occupant threshold, for notifying an operator of the temperature data and the occupancy data, and for sending a command to a controlling means to adjust the climate conditions, a controlling means for selectively activating a cooling mechanism or a heating mechanism to adjust the temperature inside the vehicle; and a charging means for charging the system when the vehicle engine is running and for powering the system when the engine is off. The system further includes a means for warming the undercarriage of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Black Box Enterprises, LLCInventors: Darrell Pierce, John Francis Orsi, III
-
Patent number: 9802529Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a predictive cornering light with at least one headlight with a pivoting means for the controlled pivoting of the headlight, wherein a monitoring device is provided, which monitors the roadway and/or lane in front of the vehicle, and a control unit is provided, which, on the basis of the data of the monitoring device, drives the pivoting means for setting the headlight for illuminating the roadway and/or lane. The invention also relates to a lighting device in this regard.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.Inventors: Matthias Herntrich, Ingo Hoffmann
-
Patent number: 9796373Abstract: A system and a method for controlling torque intervention of a hybrid electric vehicle including a motor and an engine as power sources that includes: a driving information detector detecting a running state of the vehicle and demand information of a driver of the vehicle; a transmission control unit (TCU) requesting torque reduction while shifting of the vehicle based on a signal from the driving information detector; a traction control system (TCS) requesting torque reduction by outputting an intervention torque for preventing a wheel slip of the vehicle; and a controller controlling torque intervention by dividing a request amount of torque reduction into the engine and the motor when receiving the torque reduction request from the TCU or the TCS, wherein the controller firstly reduces a motor assist torque when a state of the motor before the torque intervention is an assist state, maintains a motor charging torque when the state of the motor before torque intervention is a charging state, and divides anType: GrantFiled: November 15, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Joonyoung Park, Do Hee Kim
-
Patent number: 9796481Abstract: A method and system for generating an alert report on board an aircraft, comprising an on-board acquiring module configured to acquire data relating to the aircraft, the data originating from sensors and/or equipment installed in the aircraft. An on-board processing module is configured to detect possible anomalies by automatically partitioning the data into a set of homogeneous groups, each anomaly being revealed by a corresponding datum belonging to no homogeneous group. An on-board alert-emitting module is configured to emit an alert report on each detection of an anomaly. An on-board transmitting module is configured to transmit the alert report to the ground and in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S)Inventors: Mohamed-Cherif Dani, Cassiano Silveira Freixo
-
Patent number: 9785612Abstract: A method for determining a range of a vehicle, the vehicle having an electric motor to supply driving power and/or to recuperate braking energy, and a weight of the vehicle is determined on the basis of an acceleration and/or recuperation behavior as a function of a torque and/or a rotational speed of the electric motor, the range of the vehicle being determined on the basis of the ascertained vehicle weight.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GmbHInventors: Werner Poechmueller, Fanny Kobiela, Bettina Rentel, Michael Laedke, Guido Stuebner, Thorsten Mausbach, Andreas Engelsberg
-
Patent number: 9783182Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control method for front and rear wheel torque distribution of an electric 4 wheel drive (E-4WD) hybrid electric vehicle. The control method includes: determining one of a fuel efficiency optimization mode and a 4WD mode from vehicle state information and driver's driving manipulation input information; calculating a driver request total torque amount; when the 4WD mode is determined, calculating a rear wheel torque amount for the 4WD; calculating a front wheel torque amount for the 4WD; calculating a front wheel engine torque amount for the 4WD; and controlling a torque output of an engine for front wheel driving and a torque output of a driving motor for rear wheel driving according to the calculated front wheel engine torque amount for 4WD and the calculated rear wheel torque amount for 4WD.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Min Su Lee
-
Patent number: 9776332Abstract: Various interfaces allowing users to directly manipulate an automatic moving apparatus manually, thus enhancing user convenience and efficiency, are provided. An automatic moving apparatus includes: a storage unit configured to store a traveling method; an image detection unit configured to acquire a captured image; a driving unit having one or more wheels and driving the wheels according to a driving signal; and a control unit configured to extract a traveling direction from the traveling method stored in the storage unit in a first mode, extract a traveling direction indicated by a sensing target from the captured image acquired by the image detection unit in a second mode, and generate a driving signal for moving the automatic moving apparatus in the extracted traveling direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Seokbyung Oh, Jiwoon Hwang, Kwonyul Choi, Hyungshin Park
-
Patent number: 9778660Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems of various embodiments are disclosed for operating a UAV having insufficient power to operate normally. Various embodiments include determining whether an emergency-recovery state of a battery of the UAV has been reached while the UAV is flying. An emergency recovery mode may be activated in response to determining that the emergency-recovery state has been reached. The emergency recovery mode may switch the rotors from drawing energy from the battery to generate propulsion to harvesting energy from airflow that is used to recharge a battery of the UAV. A braking mode may be activated in response to determining that a braking altitude has been reached. The braking mode may switch the rotors from energy harvesting to drawing energy from the battery to generate propulsion in order to reduce a descent rate of the UAV.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: William Henry Von Novak
-
Patent number: 9765690Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a diagnostic system for a machine with a combustion engine and a variable geometry turbocharger that includes a vane position sensor. The diagnostic system includes a controller configured to calculate a learned span value of the turbocharger based on the output of the vane position sensor during a diagnostic procedure and a reference vane position sensor value. A plurality of learned span values are calculated each during a different one of a plurality of diagnostic procedures performed over a period of time and a first regression analysis to predict an expected learned span value at a defined future time using the calculated learned span value and the plurality of stored learned span values. An alert message is generated when the expected learned span value is indicative of a potential future fault of the turbocharger.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Curtis P. Ritter, Brigham R. Shamrell, Michael J. Ryken, Stephane Cochet, Jeffrey M. Hedberg, Zachary M. Sharp, Joseph A. Bell, Mark A. Friedrich
-
Patent number: 9751558Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a first sensor sensing a pinion angle of a handwheel and a second sensor sensing a torsion bar windup angle. An autonomous steering module generates a steering command having an input torque signal. A steering angle controller is configured to determine a filtered handwheel acceleration based on the pinion angle and the windup angle. The steering angle controller also determines an offset torque based on the filtered handwheel acceleration. Further, the steering angle controller applies the offset torque to the input torque signal to define a refined torque signal that compensates for inertia and off-center mass of the handwheel.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, Michael Richard Johnson
-
Patent number: 9751497Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a first communicator that has a communication range outside a vehicle and communicates with a portable communication terminal by a predetermined first wireless communication system; a second communicator that has a communication range in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle and communicates with the portable communication terminal by a second wireless communication system; a first authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal; a second authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal; a determinator that determines that the portable communication terminal exists within a predetermined range outside the vehicle, and determines that the portable communication terminal exists in the vehicle compartment of the vehicle; and a controller that permits or causes an electronic control device controlling an action of the vehicle to perform a predetermined action.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichiro Sanji, Tatuya Katoh, Noritaka Hirao, Suguru Matsushita, Koji Nakao
-
Patent number: 9747901Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be used for delivering products or other articles. The UAV is configured to detect the presence of nearby people, animals, or other interactive objects. Upon detecting a nearby object, the UAV may produce speech in order to warn or instruct the object. The UAV may also have speech input capabilities in order to capture and respond to speech from the object. The UAV may conduct a speech dialog with a nearby person in order to request information and/or answer questions from the object. In certain situations, the UAV may detect whether an object is in the way of a desired landing area and may communicate with the object through speech to ask the object to move or to ask the object to specify an alternative landing area.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Nicholas Kristofer Gentry
-
Patent number: 9738281Abstract: An approach to setting a cruise control speed based on identifying a vehicle operator and analyzing metadata associated with the vehicle operator. The identity of the vehicle operator and any passengers is determined based on identity sensors in the vehicle or by manual identity entry. Metadata, associated with the vehicle operator, is retrieved from the metadata database, located either locally or remotely. The metadata is analyzed based on factors such as the current route and the identity of any passengers. The cruise control speed is set based on the results of the analysis. Any changes to the setting are updated in the metadata database.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John F. Canale, Raul A. Pelaez, Mark A. Shatraw, Charles J. Stocker, IV
-
Patent number: 9740207Abstract: Techniques for navigating semi-autonomous mobile robots are described. A semi-autonomous mobile robot moves within an environment to complete a task. A navigation server communicates with the robot and provides the robot information. The robot includes a navigation map of the environment, interaction information, and a security level. To complete the task, the robot transmits a route reservation request to the navigation server, the route reservation request including a priority for the task, a timeslot, and a route. The navigation server grants the route reservation if the task priority is higher than the task priorities of conflicting route reservation requests from other robots. As the robot moves within the environment, the robot detects an object and attempts to classify the detected object as belonging to an object category. The robot retrieves an interaction profile for the object, and interacts with the object according to the retrieved interaction profile.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Lior Storfer, Tamara Gaidar, Ido Lapidot
-
Patent number: 9731744Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Also disclosed are various techniques to utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Such systems and methods can be applied in both indoor and outdoor settings and in retail or warehouse settings.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Narayanan V. Ramanathan
-
Patent number: 9728086Abstract: A method for providing a bumper alert, the method includes generating or receiving information about a location of a vehicle; generating or receiving information about a location of a bumper; and generating, by a computerized device, the bumper alert before the vehicle drives over the bumper; wherein the computerized device is at least partially located within the vehicle when generating the bumper alert; and wherein the generating of the bumper alert is based on a relationship between the location of the vehicle and the location of the bumper.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2016Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: CVIA Ltd.Inventors: Yossy Pruzanski, Arie Heiman
-
Patent number: 9718557Abstract: When flights meet disaster in the mid-air, the cause of the mishap is unknown immediately. Teams are dispatched in difficult conditions to retrieve the flight data recorder (FDR) also known as black box. Until the black box is found, the exact cause of the crash cannot be determined. Sometimes it may take years to find the black box. For example, Air France flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Jun. 1, 2009. The cause of the accident remained unknown mainly because the black box was missing. It was found after almost two years in May 2011. The delay in finding the flight data creates risks for future flights if the crash occurred due to a manufacturing defect in the model of the plane. The ability to reach the data without the burden and need for a physical black box has obvious benefits.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New YorkInventor: Junaid Ahmed Zubairi
-
Patent number: 9718456Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a traction battery, an internal combustion engine, an electric machine configured to provide torque assistance to the engine, and a controller or a powertrain control system having a controller. The controller is programmed to respond to a percentage of state of charge (SOC) allocated for torque assistance. An allocation for torque assistance is a change in SOC of the battery attributed to a current flow to the electric machine for torque assistance. When the change in SOC attributed to the current flow is greater than a predetermined change, the controller will halt the current flow to the electric machine to cease torque assistance.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Minku Lee, Francis Thomas Connolly