Patents Examined by Truc M Do
  • Patent number: 10474982
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided that limit the change in temperature and/or control a temperature of a product during delivery. Some embodiments provide systems comprising an unmanned delivery vehicle (UDV) comprising: a body comprising a nanotechnology insulation material, wherein the nanotechnology insulation material comprises material having been manipulated at a molecular level during the macroscale fabrication of the nanotechnology insulation material to enhance insulation effectiveness; at least one propulsion system; a control circuit coupled with the at least one propulsion system to control the operation of the at least one propulsion system and control a direction of travel of the UDV, wherein the body physically supports the propulsion system and the control circuit; and a product cavity defined within the body and configured to receive at least one product while the at least one product is transported by the UDV to a delivery location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Winkle, Brian G. McHale, Donald R. High, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10459455
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus of an autonomous driving vehicle performing autonomous driving includes a display, a wireless communication unit transmitting and receiving a message to and from a certain vehicle positioned within a predetermined range, and a controller controlling the display on the basis of a message received through the wireless communication unit, wherein the controller turns on or off a group driving mode on the basis of a user input, and when the group driving mode is turned on, the controller controls the display to display a list of candidate vehicles which may be included in a group among vehicles positioned within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Xavier Punithan, Hyunho Ki, Juhnho Park, Hansung Kim, Jaeseung Bae, Jaehwan Yoon, Suho Park
  • Patent number: 10441494
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and an apparatus for providing a visually impaired a route guidance in a subway station by selectively providing the visually impaired at least one of guidance information received from a visible light illumination device installed in the subway station or information on a recommended route from the subway station to a destination and pre-stored route history information, thus informing the visually impaired as needed in a more efficient manner and enabling the visually impaired to arrive at the destination with safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: YUYANG DNU CO., LTD
    Inventors: Sangok Kim, Byungoh Kim, Dongsik Kim
  • Patent number: 10431088
    Abstract: In an object detection apparatus, a first region definition unit defines a first object region including a first detection point representing a relative position of a first object detected based on detection information from the radar. A second region definition unit defines a second object region including a second detection point representing a relative position of a second object detected based on a captured image from a monocular camera. A learning status acquisition unit acquires a learning progress status to estimate a position of FOE on the captured image. If there is an overlap of the first and second object regions, a determination unit determines that these objects are the same object. The second region definition unit sets a length of the second object region in a depthwise or vehicle-lengthwise direction representing a direction of the second detection point with respect to the reference point depending on the learning progress status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Baba
  • Patent number: 10407047
    Abstract: A driver assistance system of an equipped vehicle includes at least one camera disposed at the equipped vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle. A control has an image processor operable to process frames of image data captured by the camera. The image processor processes frames of captured image data to determine a target vehicle present in the field of view of the camera and to determine motion of the determined target vehicle relative to the equipped vehicle. The control, responsive to processing frames of captured image data via the image processor, determines a path of travel of the determined target vehicle relative to the equipped vehicle as the equipped vehicle is moving. The control translates the determined motion of the target vehicle to a local coordinate system of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Johnson, Gayatri U. Powar
  • Patent number: 10403153
    Abstract: An autonomous emergency flight management system may find safe and clear landing sites for unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in emergency situations. Emergency flight management software may reside on an onboard computing system. The computing system may continuously look at internal databases and input from other systems (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS), camera, compass, radar, sonar, etc.), depending on what is available. The emergency flight management system may make decisions on its own without human intervention. For instance, a database may provide some local likely candidates for landing sites. Information associated with the candidates may include latitude, longitude, altitude for top of a building, etc. Position updates may be continuously provided from an autopilot or other suitable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Patricia C. Glaab, Louis J. Glaab
  • Patent number: 10399554
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes a combustion engine, and an electric machine and storage battery coupled to one or more controller(s) configured to respond to various signals from a driver and vehicle components. In response, such controller(s) enable an automatic or auto ICE start stop capability that is managed for optimal HEV lifecycle operation, and fuel economy and efficiency. The controller(s) automatically start and stop the ICE in response to one or more of a torque demand signal, a vehicle speed signal, a steering torque power signal, and a brake signal. The controller(s) inhibit automatic stop of ICE responsive to the steering torque power exceeding a stop threshold, and in contrast initiate or enable automatic start responsive to the steering torque power exceeding a start threshold. The start threshold is calibrated and adjusted to exceed the stop threshold by a stability factor that is predetermined and/or adjusted by the controller(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Hussam Makkiya, Jonathan Edward Gunger, Kirt Eschtruth, Ahmed Awadi
  • Patent number: 10391924
    Abstract: A lighting device control system (1, 101, 201) includes an instruction signal generation unit (3) that generates an instruction signal for the control of the states of a lighting device (13, 15) mounted to a vehicle, and a control unit (5, 7) that controls the state of the lighting device according to the instruction signal. The instruction signal generation unit generates a plurality of instruction signals. The control unit controls the state of the lighting device according to the states of the plurality instruction signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryu Mizuno, Hajime Kasai
  • Patent number: 10384711
    Abstract: Provided is a steering controller configured to suppress deterioration of the operability of a steering wheel for steering steered wheels even when a driving voltage for a steering system has been decreased. When a clutch is in a disengaged state and steered wheels are steered by a steered-operation actuator while a reaction force is applied to steering wheel by a reaction-force actuator, if a driving voltage for the steered-operation actuator is decreased, a CPU opens relays and stops generation of torque by the steered-operation actuator. Meanwhile, a CPU engages the clutch and steers the steered wheels through cooperation between a steering torque input into the steering wheel and an assist torque generated by a reaction-force motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kodera
  • Patent number: 10384676
    Abstract: A travel control apparatus includes: a transformation unit configured to project the lane and object on a lane coordinate system in which a center line of the lane is a first coordinate axis and an axis orthogonal to the first coordinate axis is a second coordinate axis by performing a coordinate transformation based on the shape of the lane and the position of the object in a plane coordinate system; an area calculation unit configured to calculate a travelable area in which the vehicle can travel in the lane coordinate system; a travel trajectory generation unit configured to perform an inverse transformation of the coordinate transformation by the transformation unit based on the travelable area, and to generate a travel trajectory of the vehicle in the plane coordinate system; and a control unit configured to perform a steering control on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10388173
    Abstract: A ground collision avoidance system (GCAS) for an aircraft is disclosed. A radio frequency (RF) sensor senses a location of an obstacle with respect to the aircraft moving along the ground. An expected location of the obstacle with respect to the aircraft is determined from the sensed location and a trajectory of the aircraft. An alarm signal is generated when the expected location of the obstacle is less than a selected criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventor: William Durand
  • Patent number: 10345821
    Abstract: A self-driving floor-treatment device navigates by recording images at respective locations along a travel path by a camera the device travels to form a topological map in a database to which a node is added by the floor-treatment device for every location at which an image is recorded and to which an environment images is associated. Each newly recorded environment image with at least one neighboring location in limited proximity of the location belonging to the newly recorded environment image for which a node and an associated environment image have been stored in the map by the same or another floor-treatment device. A new connection is added from the newly recorded node to the associated node of each and every identified neighboring location on the topological map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAET BIELEFELD
    Inventors: Michael Horst, Ralf Moeller, Florian Patzelt
  • Patent number: 10345809
    Abstract: An event is detected that impairs a confidence level of the autonomous vehicle in progressing through a current route. In response to detecting the event, the autonomous vehicle communicates information about the event to a remote source of guidance. The autonomous vehicle can receive instructions from the remote source of guidance on how to handle the event. The autonomous vehicle can then implement the instructions to handle the event while it operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross, John Bares, David LaRose, Matthew Sweeney
  • Patent number: 10328937
    Abstract: The invention relates to the operation of a motor vehicle having a long-distance driver assistance system comprising at least one sensor which detects the area in front of a vehicle, and a control device which is designed to detect another motor vehicle traveling ahead, in order to drive the motor vehicle relative to the other vehicle traveling ahead when the driver assistance system is activated and operationally ready, wherein the activated driver assistance system can be deactivated from a control or regulating mode by driver activity, wherein upon deactivation, the system may enter into a system standby mode continuously detecting the area in front of the motor vehicle, and can reactivate autonomously once another motor vehicle traveling ahead is detected and a drag deceleration is required to reduce a velocity difference between the operated motor vehicle and the other vehicle traveling ahead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Stefan Schuberth, Ralf Held, Jörg Hösterei
  • Patent number: 10328852
    Abstract: A system and method is described for improving situational awareness, fatigue management, and navigation via tactile feedback to vehicle operators, such as via a piezoelectric device. The tactile feedback may be provided to a vehicle operator in response to data gathered from external, headset integrated or aircraft integrated navigation sensors, such as may be used to identify navigational deviations outside of pre-established tolerances. The tactile feedback may be provided to a vehicle operator in response to physiological operator metric gathering and processing. One or more physiological sensors may be included on an operator headset, and may be either proximate to or separated from the tactile feedback device. As data is provided to the operator of a vehicle, equivalent data may be provided to a third party (e.g. a control center, dispatch, mission control, or similar). The data may be used to determine alertness levels remotely and intervene as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: University of North Dakota
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Wilson, Kouhyar Tavakolian
  • Patent number: 10324461
    Abstract: A remote control apparatus capable of communicating with a control apparatus of an autonomously running work vehicle via a communication apparatus, the remote control apparatus comprising a communication apparatus, a control apparatus, a display apparatus, and cameras for obtaining images of the front and rear, wherein the display apparatus is provided with at least a remote control region for controlling the autonomously running work vehicle, a peripheral image region for displaying images captured by the cameras, and a work status display region, wherein the peripheral image region is provided with a frontal view and a rear view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouhei Ogura, Wataru Nakagawa, Keiji Matsumoto, Akifumi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10293653
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an obstacle avoidance system with active suspensions. The obstacle avoidance system uses one or more active suspensions to lift or jump one or more corresponding wheels over an obstacle in the vehicle's path to avoid contact with the obstacle when the vehicle cannot practically drive over, steer around, or stop before hitting the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davor David Hrovat, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Jianbo Lu, Li Xu
  • Patent number: 10295350
    Abstract: A request for a route guide to a destination in a building is received from a user terminal device. BIM data for the building is received, including material properties of the building elements, the material properties consisting of ease of slipping when wet, earthquake resistance, and flame retardancy base values. Security information for a route, real-time information for building status, and a user profile are received. A route guide to the destination in the building is created, based the BIM data, security information, real-time building status, and the user profile. Information from one or more environmental sensors is received indicating that an environmental event has been detected. Its current position is received from the user terminal device. The route guide from the user terminal device's current position is updated based on the environmental event, and the material properties of the building elements that are related to the environmental event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutaka Nishimura, Masami Tada, Akihiko Takajo, Takahito Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10297151
    Abstract: Data is received from each of a plurality of vehicles proximate to an intersection indicating a kinetic energy and a time to the intersection. An optimized timing of a traffic light is determined based on an aggregation of the kinetic energies and times to intersection. A timing of the traffic is modified according to the optimized timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Daniel Mark Schaffer
  • Patent number: 10288472
    Abstract: A method for compensating for wind effects on measured weights includes receiving initialization sensor values from a seed tender. An estimated discharge is generated based on the initialization sensor values. A weight sensor value from the seed tender is received after the initialization sensor values. The weight sensor value is compared to a threshold value corresponding to a value of the estimated discharge at a corresponding time. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether to transmit the weight sensor value or the threshold value to the seed tender controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: DIGI-STAR, LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Johansen, Daniel Eric Fuller