Patents Examined by Scott A Reinbold
  • Patent number: 11565743
    Abstract: A method for managing a power steering system assist motor, includes defining, over the functional length of the actuator member, at least one reduced assist area separate from a normal assist area by an end-of-travel virtual threshold, a step of assessing an instantaneous position and a direction of the movement of the actuator member on the functional length, a step of applying an input resistance set point value to the assist motor when the actuator member crosses the end-of-travel virtual threshold in such a way as to move from the normal assist area into the reduced assist area. After the step of applying an input resistance set point value, an output resistance set point value is applied when the actuator member is in the reduced assist area and the direction of the movement of the actuator member is directed from the reduced assist area towards the normal assist area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Pascal Moulaire, Arnaud Thiery, Dimitri Barthes, Nicolas Baudouin
  • Patent number: 11566545
    Abstract: A gas engine is disclosed. The gas engine may include a combustion cylinder. The combustion cylinder may include an intake with an intake valve. The combustion cylinder may include an exhaust with an exhaust valve. The gas engine may include a gas admission valve assembly coupled to the intake. The gas admission assembly may include a trimmable electro-hydraulically actuatable gas admission valve to control a gas flow into the intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Yu Zhang Chang, David Todd Montgomery, Scott Fiveland, Scott F. Shafer
  • Patent number: 11554781
    Abstract: An illustrative example system includes at least one alertness detector that is configured to detect an alertness condition of a driver of a vehicle and an alertness condition of a passenger in the vehicle. A controller is configured to determine a sleep risk factor based on the alertness condition of the passenger. The controller is also configured to determine a likelihood that the driver is sleepy based on the alertness condition of the driver and the sleep risk factor. The controller is configured to control a feature of the vehicle to assist the driver when the determined likelihood satisfies a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Santhosh Tamilarasan
  • Patent number: 11554808
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an MDPS system may include an MDPS-basic logic unit determining a first auxiliary command current for driving an MDPS motor in a manual driving mode, based on column torque applied to a steering column of a vehicle and a vehicle speed, an autonomous driving steering controller determining a second auxiliary command current for driving the MDPS motor in an autonomous driving mode, and a mode change controller determining a driver's steering intervention using a variable reference time variably determined based on the column torque in the manual driving mode, determining a mode change time from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode based on the column torque, and determining a final auxiliary command current for driving the MDPS motor upon mode change, by applying, to the first and second auxiliary command currents, a weight into which the mode change time is incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 11551460
    Abstract: A method for operating an assistance system for a vehicle, including an object sensor device for determining an object characteristic value representative of coordinates of an object in the environment of the vehicle and a viewing sensor device for determining a direction characteristic value representative of a viewing direction of a driver of the vehicle and for determining a position characteristic value representative of a head position of the driver. According to the method, a projection characteristic value representative of a vector that connects the head position to the object is determined; a first region characteristic value representative of an estimated primary field of view of the driver is determined; an attention characteristic value representative of the probability that the object is at least partially in the field of view of the driver is determined; and a warning function of the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Bade, Moritz Blume, Martin Buchner, Julia Niemann, Michael Wolfram, Joris Wolters
  • Patent number: 11536217
    Abstract: An information providing system for an internal combustion engine includes an internal combustion engine, which includes an electronic control type fuel injecting device, an operation permitting device, which can be removably mounted on the internal combustion engine, wherein while the operation permitting device is mounted on the internal combustion engine, which is associated with the operation permitting device in advance, the operation permitting device supplies electric power to the fuel injecting device at a start of the internal combustion engine, and an information providing device, which provides information about use of the internal combustion engine to a destination associated with a user of the operation permitting device, based on an operation history of the associated internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Bungo, Takashi Hashizume, Akifumi Fujima, Hisanori Kanayama
  • Patent number: 11527076
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for determining a low-height obstacle based on outputs of a LIDAR device in an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. A point cloud comprising a plurality of points is generated based on outputs of a LIDAR device. For each point within a first number of lowest rings of points, a neighboring point in a same ring to a first direction is determined, and a first and a second coordinate values-related differences are determined. A first, a second, a third, and a fourth quantities are determined based on the first and second differences. In response to determining that the first, the second, the third, and the fourth quantities satisfy a predetermined condition, a low-height obstacle is determined based on the points within the first number of lowest rings of points. Operations of an autonomous vehicle are controlled based at least in part on the determined low-height obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Shuang Zhang, Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11519321
    Abstract: The engines include compression cylinders, combustion cylinders, an air rail, and a heat exchanger. The methods of operating a compression ignition engine include taking air into a compression cylinder of the engine, compressing the air in the compression cylinder to raise the pressure and temperature of the air, passing the compressed air through a heat exchanger, and from the heat exchanger into a combustion cylinder, further compressing the compressed air during a compression stroke of the combustion cylinder, igniting fuel in the combustion cylinder at or near the end of the compression stroke by compression ignition, followed by a power stroke, and opening an exhaust valve at the end of the power stroke and passing at least some of the exhaust in the combustion cylinder through the heat exchanger to heat air that has been compressed in the compression cylinder and is then passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sturman Digital Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Oded Eddie Sturman
  • Patent number: 11512674
    Abstract: A programmable or configurable non-contact solid state switch device and method are provided for emulating a high reliability switch. The switch device senses position information related to a switch and is calibrated using a learning operation to learn position information of mechanical features of the switch and to map the positions of these features. Electrical outputs or functions are assigned to the mapped positions and stored such that the switch device generates the outputs when their corresponding positions are sensed. A switch device is uniquely configured to the mechanical system in which it operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Rouleau
  • Patent number: 11491979
    Abstract: Mappings of keys to actions can automate various vehicle systems. Some automations can provide lane departure warnings. Keys for lane departure mappings can specify vibration patterns expected when a vehicle drives over lane delineators. These vibration-based mappings can include keys with vibration patterns, e.g., defining vibration frequencies or vibration locations. Keys for emergency light mappings can be based on conditions such as (1) the vehicle being on the road, stopped, not in traffic, and not at a stop signal; (2) components of the vehicle having failed; or (3) weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mingyu Wang
  • Patent number: 11485362
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft and a drivetrain separable from the internal combustion engine using a releasable clutch comprising: propelling the vehicle in a first operating state in a predetermined range around a speed while the internal combustion engine is off and is separated from the drivetrain by the releasable clutch; sensing a braking operation while in the first operating state; predicting whether a power demand is expected within a predetermined time interval; and, if the power demand is expected, setting the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in rotation, or increasing a rotational speed of the crankshaft in preparation for an engine restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Helmut Hamperl, Lisa Wankerl
  • Patent number: 11473516
    Abstract: A method for improving accuracy of correction of fuel quantity at the time when a recirculation valve (RCV) is opened, may include a step of correcting injection amount of fuel based on consideration factors when the RCV is operated to be opened. The consideration factors include property values of a flow path of the RCV, the flow path being mounted to an intake pipe to connect between a front end of a compressor close to the atmosphere and a rear end of the compressor adjacent to combustion chambers, a first calculation value obtained by calculating amount of air to be introduced into the combustion chambers after circulating from the flow path of the RCV to the intake pipe, and a second calculation value obtained by calculating amount of hydrocarbon to be introduced into the flow path of the RCV by purging evaporative gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Tae-Ho Ahn
  • Patent number: 11472471
    Abstract: A differential cooperative active steering system for a front-axle independent-drive vehicle with electric wheels includes a steering rack which is arranged between a first steering wheel and a second steering wheel, and is able to generate lateral displacement and pull the first and second steering wheels to steer; a planetary gear mechanism, including a first input end, a second input end and an output end; a steering angle coupling motor, connected to the first input end; and an input shaft of the steering wheel, connected to the second input end. The planetary gear mechanism can realize the coupling between an input steering angle of an input shaft of the steering wheel and an input steering angle of the steering angle coupling motor. In addition, a method for controlling the differential cooperative active steering system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: JILIN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Junnian Wang, Dedong Guo, Shoulin Gao, Zheng Luo
  • Patent number: 11465679
    Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a driver's hands on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle is described. By means of a mathematical model, at least one part of a steering system of the motor vehicle is modeled. In addition, a rotational angle of a lower end and/or an upper end of a torsion bar of the steering system is determined. A torque acting on the torsion bar is determined by means of a measuring device and a total torque acting on the steering wheel and a rotational angle acceleration of the steering wheel are estimated by means of a Kalman Filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automation Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Emad Farshizadeh, Arno Luengen
  • Patent number: 11453375
    Abstract: A vehicle controller, a vehicle control system, a vehicle learning device, a vehicle control method, and a memory medium are provided. A switching process switches relationship defining data used in an operation process to post-measure data, when a detection process detects that a functional recovery measure has been taken. The switching process includes a process that uses, as the post-measure data, initial data that is the relationship defining data of a state before an update process is executed as the vehicle travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Patent number: 11453376
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a memory configured to store relationship definition data that defines a relationship between a state of a vehicle and an action variable, which is a variable relating to an operation of electronic equipment in the vehicle, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute acquisition processing of acquiring a detection value of a sensor, operation processing of operating the electronic equipment, reward calculation processing, update processing of updating the relationship definition data, detection processing, and switching processing of switching the relationship definition data to post-treatment data. The processor is configured to, based on the update mapping, output the relationship definition data updated to increase an expected return on the reward when the electronic equipment is operated in compliance with the relationship definition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohsuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Patent number: 11430227
    Abstract: A method determines one or more lanes of a road in an environment of a vehicle, by receiving a plurality of objects in the environment of the vehicle; receiving a plurality of trajectories of the plurality of objects in the environment of the vehicle; estimating a shape of a road based on the plurality of trajectories of the plurality of objects; and determining one or more lanes of the road using the estimated shape of the road and the plurality of objects and/or the plurality of trajectories of the plurality of objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Orland Gonzalez, Josef Mehringer, Christoph Pietruska, Sebastian Rass
  • Patent number: 11430223
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assist apparatus comprises at least one surrounding sensor and at least one vehicle element. The surrounding sensor memorizes at least one axis difference adjustment value which adjusts at least one axis difference of a detection axis of the surrounding sensor relative to a predetermined base detection axis and provides the vehicle element with information on the axis difference adjustment value memorized in the surrounding sensor as adjustment value information. The vehicle element memorizes the axis difference adjustment value included in the adjustment value information provided from the surrounding sensor and provides the surrounding sensor with information on the axis difference adjustment value memorized in the vehicle element as the adjustment value information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobutaka Funahara, Hiroshi Harada
  • Patent number: 11415068
    Abstract: A system includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of exhaust gas produced by an engine, and a boost error module configured to determine a boost error of the engine. The system further includes a combustion control module configured to select at least one of a target boost pressure of the engine, a target EGR flow rate of the engine, and a target fuel injection parameter of the engine from a first set of target values when the exhaust gas temperature is less than a predetermined temperature and the boost error is less than a predetermined value, and to select the at least one of the target boost pressure, the target EGR flow rate, and the target fuel injection parameter from a second set of target values when the exhaust gas temperature is less than the predetermined temperature and the boost error is greater than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Umberto Ferrara, Filippo Lachina, Gianmaria Manassero, Domenico Maccarrone, Claudio Cortassa, Marco Cibella
  • Patent number: 11407446
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a steering system for a motor vehicle, which steering system has, on the one hand, a steering handle which can be operated by a driver of the motor vehicle, and a hand torque adjuster which is assigned to the steering handle and is designed to apply a damper force, counteracting the operation by the driver, to the steering handle, and, on the other hand, a wheel angle adjuster which is coupled to at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle and which is electrically actuated as a function of operation of the steering handle in order to set a steering angle of the at least one wheel. There is provision that the damper force is generated by the manual torque adjuster as a function of a current performance of the wheel angle adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Strecker, Roland Greul, Alexander Sauter