Patents Examined by Tyler Paige
  • Patent number: 9658077
    Abstract: An apparatus remotely provides refueling management instructions for a vehicle. One or more initial vehicle parameters are determined, including an initial quantity of fuel, a plurality of route parameters including a starting point, an ending point and an estimated average fuel efficiency of the vehicle, and a plurality of refueling parameters including one or more refueling locations. The sufficiency of an initial quantity of fuel is evaluated in relation to the estimated average fuel efficiency and a distance to be traveled by the vehicle equal to a difference between the ending point and the starting point. One or more current vehicle parameters are interpreted at a first predetermined time, a refueling agenda is created, and an associated predetermined refueling amount at each of the identified one or more refueling locations is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: An Wu, Kenneth M. Follen, Howard Robert Frost, Suk-Min Moon, Vivek A. Sujan, Phani Vajapeyazula
  • Patent number: 9656700
    Abstract: A hand-or voice-operated controller system for a driven loadable construct has a plurality of control circuit receiving inputs from a directional control and connection circuitry for communicating signals from the control circuit to at least one motor disposed on the loadable construct and to which at least one drive wheel disposed on the loadable construct is electrically coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: Arthur Eidelson
  • Patent number: 9651389
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method including: utilizing at least one processor to execute computer code that performs the steps of: receiving at least one location map comprising a plurality of possible routes; identifying at least one location area configuration, wherein the location area configuration identifies a location, relative to the at least one location map, of at least one location area boundary segment; computing a utility of the at least one location area configuration, wherein the utility comprises an identification of any usefulness of identifying a route comprising at least one identified sub-route and wherein the at least one sub-route is identified using the at least one location area boundary segment; identifying at least one prominent location area boundary segment, wherein a prominent location area boundary segment comprises a location area boundary segment having a computed utility exceeding a predetermined threshold; and generating a location area map comprising a plurality of identified
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Umamaheswari C. Devi, Ravindranath Kokku, Vinay Kumar Kolar
  • Patent number: 9643488
    Abstract: A system for managing refueling and charging of a plug-in hybrid vehicle is provided to prevent charging from being performed simultaneously with refueling to prevent accidents attributable to the occurrence of gas fumes and static electricity. The system includes a plurality of input units configured to receive instructions for refueling and charging a battery. A fueling/charging controller is configured to determine whether a process for refueling and a process for charging the battery are progressing and to start a process that corresponds to the instruction input from any one of the plurality of input units when neither the process for refueling nor the process for charging the battery is progressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Yong Seong, Young Cheol Koh
  • Patent number: 9643600
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle control system capable of promptly achieving a travel motion along a travel path. A yaw moment control amount is imparted according to a traveling-direction virtual line extending from an ego vehicle in a traveling direction and a formed angle between the traveling-direction virtual line and a travel-path defining line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Takahashi, Jun Kubo, Mitsuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9643557
    Abstract: A multifunctional airbag triggering system embedded to any kind of vehicle and coupled to a communication network, comprising: a method of activating the inflation of vehicular airbags jointly with the broadcasting of a warning alert to all correspondent vehicles adhered to the system, whenever that precautionary measures to mitigate possible undesirable consequences arisen from a sudden vehicular accident of major severity are needed; electronic means for the instant broadcasting of a general alert announcing that an urgency is presently in force somewhere in the vicinity, allowing so that all incoming drivers should be ready to avert sequential collisions somewhere ahead with an affected vehicle much before it can be seen, giving so time enough to the oncoming drivers for a safe deceleration; a large, exclusive and dedicated broadcasting network instantly created between drivers and authorities through which a warning alert is sent simultaneously with the occurrence of a vehicular accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventor: Paulo Roberto Jannotti Newlands
  • Patent number: 9646492
    Abstract: A congestion sign detection method that is executed by a congestion sign detection device 10 which includes three-dimensional acceleration sensor 14 that acquires acceleration information in each axis direction of an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis forming an orthogonal coordinate system of the three-dimensional space. The method includes: an input data calculation step of calculating an acceleration vector using the acceleration information acquired by the three-dimensional acceleration sensor 14, and calculating a norm of a difference of the vectors at two different timings as input data; a frequency analysis step of calculating an autocorrelation of the input data and calculating a power spectrum by performing a Fourier transform on the autocorrelation; an angle information acquisition step of converting the power spectrum into angle information; and a congestion sign detection step of detecting congestion sign according to the angle information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takamasa Koshizen
  • Patent number: 9643638
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a remotely controllable service cart system, and methods of operating the same. Such systems and methods may include a remotely controllable service cart, a microcontroller located on the service cart, a transmitter configured to transmit a command from a user, a receiver located on the service cart for receiving the transmitted command, the microcontroller configured to produce a control signal from the transmitted command, and a drive system located on the service cart and operatively connected to the microcontroller, the drive system configured to move the service cart in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: William W. Wittliff, III
  • Patent number: 9637001
    Abstract: A method is described for estimating longitudinal velocity of a vehicle on a road surface. The method includes obtaining a measured value of vehicle acceleration, which is dependent on longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and vertical acceleration of the vehicle when a slope of the road surface is non-zero. The method includes determining an initial estimate of the slope. The method includes determining a difference between the initial estimate of the slope and a prior estimate of the slope and, based on the difference, setting a current estimate of the slope to be equal to the initial estimate or the prior estimate. The method includes estimating the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle based on the current estimate of the slope and the measured value of vehicle acceleration. The method includes controlling at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels based on the estimated longitudinal velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: e-AAM Driveline Systems AB
    Inventors: Yunlong Gao, Matthijs Klomp
  • Patent number: 9638534
    Abstract: An arrival time notification system includes smart glasses including a recognition unit configured to recognize current time according to the view of a driver driving a vehicle, and a head unit configured to inform of an arrival time at a destination through the time recognized from the smart glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Hyun Min Kim
  • Patent number: 9637244
    Abstract: Aircraft instrumentation systems and controllers are provided. An aircraft instrumentation system includes a display and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor an electronic circuit breaker (ECB) status of each of a plurality of aircraft systems. The controller is further configured to generate, for each of the plurality of aircraft systems, a visual indicator that indicates the ECB status. The controller is yet further configured to generate an image arrangement that includes the visual indicator for each of the plurality of aircraft systems and to generate a signal that causes a display to present the image arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Edward Wischmeyer, Frank Manochio
  • Patent number: 9639996
    Abstract: A motor vehicle diagnostics apparatus (110, 152) having a diagnostics unit connectable in-line in a motor vehicle control system between first and second components (171, 172), the apparatus (110, 152) being operable to detect by means of the diagnostics unit (110) one or more electrical signals generated by the first component (171) for application to the second component (172) and to provide an output in response to the detected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Jason Treharne
  • Patent number: 9638480
    Abstract: A vehicle computer is programmed to determine an expected thermal load for an autonomous driving compute cluster and a target temperature for the compute cluster under the expected thermal load. Based on a comparison of a current temperature of the compute cluster to an ambient temperature, the vehicle computer is further programmed to operate a switching valve in a first coolant path to open the path to one of a radiator portion and a condenser portion and operate, with the path open to the condenser portion, a pump in the first coolant path and a condenser in a second coolant path at speeds respectively based on at least one of the expected thermal load and the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Clay Wesley Maranville
  • Patent number: 9638529
    Abstract: In this vehicle orientation detection method detecting the orientation of a vehicle on the basis of measurement data obtained at prescribed time intervals, as long as a speed sensed by a vehicle speed sensor is less than a threshold speed, the vehicle orientation is detected on the basis of a yaw rate sensed by a yaw rate sensor. If the speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is greater than or equal to the threshold speed, a drift determination is performed. If not determined to be in a drift state, the vehicle orientation is detected on the basis of signals received by a GPS receiver, and if determined to be in a drift state, the vehicle orientation is detected on the basis of the yaw rate sensed by the yaw rate sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Watanabe, Yuya Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9637135
    Abstract: A driving assistance device includes: a switch information acquisition section that acquires switch information indicating a switch from a first travelling operation state to a second travelling operation state, in which the occupant drives manually; a degree of tension information acquisition section that acquires information indicating a degree of tension of an occupant; a perception state presentation section that presents a perception state indicating a state of stimulus perceived by the occupant using touch; and a controller that, when the switch information has been acquired, causes a first perception state corresponding to the degree of tension to be presented by the perception state presentation section as the perception state, and causes presentation by the perception state presentation section so as to transition from the first perception state to a second perception state determined for when the occupant manually drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9630622
    Abstract: An example method includes controlling a hybrid vehicle to maintain a set speed, and adjusting the set speed from a first value to a different, second value in response to a change in a road grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Michael Kava
  • Patent number: 9630626
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to selectively apply regenerative braking torque to decelerate the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to control a rate of change of a regenerative braking torque limit during a transmission downshift that occurs during a regenerative braking event based on a change in speed of an output shaft of the powertrain caused by the transmission downshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajit Johri, Xiaoyong Wang, Francis Thomas Connolly, Daniel Scott Colvin, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 9633487
    Abstract: Methods and systems for logging driving information associated with a vehicle when driven are disclosed. In one aspect, a mobile telecommunications device is provided that is adapted for installation to a vehicle and configured to log driving information associated with the vehicle when driven. The mobile device is arranged to register the start of a driving period during which the mobile device is installed to the vehicle and the vehicle is being driven by a driver. The mobile device is also arranged to process sensor data during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven. The mobile device is also arranged to store a selection of the driving information to a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventors: Gillian Switalski, Andrew William Wright
  • Patent number: 9626874
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for providing data from a server to a UAV enable the UAV to navigate with respect to areas of restricted air space (“restricted areas”). A server may receive from a UAV, a request for restricted area information based on a position of the UAV. The server may determine boundaries of a surrounding area containing the position of the UAV and a number of restricted areas. The server may transmit coordinate information to the UAV defining the restricted areas contained within the surrounding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajarshi Gupta, Michael Franco Taveira
  • Patent number: 9616993
    Abstract: A system includes an auto-flight system and a touchscreen flight mode control panel. The auto-flight system is configured to control a plurality of primary flight modes. The touchscreen flight mode control panel is communicatively coupled to the auto-flight system. The touchscreen flight mode control panel is configured to receive primary flight mode data from the auto-flight system. The touchscreen flight mode control panel is also configured to graphically present each primary flight mode of the plurality of primary flight modes to a user. The touchscreen flight mode control panel is further configured to detect touch gestures and direct executions of the user. The touchscreen flight mode control panel is additionally configured to output touch gesture data and direct execution data to the auto-flight system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Shapiro, Timothy J. Etherington, Laura Maxine Smith-Velazquez