Patents Examined by Vivek D Koppikar
  • Patent number: 11614736
    Abstract: An automatic driving executability determination unit restricts automatic driving when a charge amount determination unit (third determination unit) determines that a battery is in a low capacity state, and decides whether to restrict the automatic driving according to a determination result of a discharge performance determination unit (first determination unit) when a temperature determination unit (second determination unit) determines that the battery is in the low capacity state but a charge amount determination unit determines that the battery is not in the low capacity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayahito Ukai, Shota Kawanaka, Takehiro Horigome, Yasuhiro Ikeda, Takeshi Itagaki
  • Patent number: 11614335
    Abstract: Route planning for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes obtaining a route between an origin and a destination, where the route is optimized for at least one of a noise level or energy consumption of an engine of the HEV that is used to charge a battery of the HEV, and where the route comprises respective engine activation actions for at least some segments of the route; and controlling the HEV to follow the segments of the route and to activate the engine according to the respective engine activation actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Hollins Wray, Liam Pedersen, Richard Lui, Christopher Ostafew
  • Patent number: 11609093
    Abstract: A navigation system for a vehicle comprises onboard sensors including a vision sensor, and an onboard map database of terrain maps. An onboard processer, coupled to the sensors and map database, includes a position PDF filter, which performs a method comprising: receiving image data from the vision sensor corresponding to terrain images captured by the vision sensor of a given area; receiving map data from the map database corresponding to a terrain map of the area; generating a first PDF of image features in the image data; generating a second PDF of map features in the map data; generating a measurement vector PDF by a convolution of the first PDF and second PDF; estimating a position vector PDF using a non-linear filter that receives the measurement vector PDF; and generating statistics from the estimated position vector PDF that include real-time measurement errors of position and angular orientation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ray Elgersma, Vibhor L Bageshwar
  • Patent number: 11609576
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a process is performed during controlling Autonomous Driving Vehicle (ADV). Microphone signals sense sounds in an environment of the ADV. The microphone signals are combined and filtered to form an audio signal having the sounds sensed in the environment of the ADV. A neural network is applied to the audio signal to detect a presence of an audio signature of an emergency vehicle siren. If the siren is detected, a change in the audio signature to make a determination as to whether the emergency vehicle siren is a) moving towards the ADV, or b) not moving towards the ADV. The ADV can make a driving decision, such as slowing down, stopping, and/or steering to a side, based on if the emergency vehicle siren is moving towards the ADV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Qi Luo, Kecheng Xu, Jinyun Zhou, Xiangquan Xiao, Shuo Huang, Jiangtao Hu, Jinghao Miao
  • Patent number: 11603118
    Abstract: A terminal device includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a communication device used in a vehicle and a control unit configured to determine whether a user is in the vehicle when a signal sent from the communication device is received via the communication unit, according to at least one of whether a destination has been set by the user and whether a vehicle dispatch application is activated. The vehicle dispatch application is a program for receiving a vehicle dispatch service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daiki Kaneichi
  • Patent number: 11603114
    Abstract: A travel path data generation apparatus for generating travel path data inside an intersections for automated driving includes a travel path data generator that generates the data of the travel path in such a way that, using an absolute trajectory of actual traveling of a vehicle inside the intersection, the travel path data generator fits an estimated trajectory of the actual traveling of the vehicle inside the intersection into data of lane network connected to the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigehiro Muto, Tomoo Nomura
  • Patent number: 11604477
    Abstract: An operation management apparatus includes a plan generator configured to generate a travel plan for each of a plurality of vehicles that form a line of vehicles and that travel autonomously along a predetermined travel route; a communication device configured to transmit the travel plans to the respective vehicles and receive, from the vehicles, travel information that indicates travel status of the vehicles; and an operation monitor configured to detect, based on the travel information, whether or not overtaking and passing of the vehicles have occurred. In response to the overtaking and passing, the plan generator modifies the travel plans so as to keep the order as switched upon the overtaking and passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Okazaki, Hiroshi Higashide, Keiichi Uno
  • Patent number: 11585674
    Abstract: A map management system includes: at least one cloud server including a first processor configured to manage map data for a preset area; a plurality of edge servers, each edge server including a second processor configured to manage map data for a preset area; at least one vehicle including a third processor configured to collect raw data for updating map data during traveling; and a plurality of blockchains including the at least one cloud server and the plurality of edge servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Lei Zhong
  • Patent number: 11587366
    Abstract: A system for validating automated vehicle data transmission capabilities of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a vehicle data transmission diagnostics (VDTD) server in communication with the vehicle and a plurality of roadside evaluation units. The VDTD server includes at least one processor and at least one memory device, and is programmed to: (i) determine that a data latency risk evaluation (DLRE) should be performed for the vehicle, (ii) transmit a DLRE request to the vehicle, (iii) receive, from the vehicle, a response to the transmitted DLRE request including trip data, the trip data including a selected route to be taken by the vehicle, (iv) interrogate the plurality of roadside evaluation units based upon the received trip data, and (v) select, based upon the interrogation, one of the plurality of roadside evaluation units to be a data latency evaluation checkpoint for the vehicle during the upcoming trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Chan, Kenneth Jason Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11587449
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for guiding a vertical takeoff and landing, VTOL, vehicle to an emergency landing zone. The systems and methods include determining, via at least one processor, candidate landing zone data by interrogating an emergency landing zone database based at least on VTOL vehicle location, the candidate landing zone data representing a list of candidate emergency landing zones. A target emergency landing zone is selected from the list of candidate emergency landing zones based at least on VTOL vehicle related issues including at least one of unanticipated yaw issues, ground effect issues and modified trend vector issues, thereby providing target emergency landing zone data. Guidance for the VTOL vehicle is determined based on the target emergency landing zone data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jayasenthilnathan B, Gobinathan Baladhandapani, Sriram P R, Sivakumar Kanagarajan
  • Patent number: 11577607
    Abstract: An automatic driving vehicle includes a touch panel that displays various buttons. An operator can input a drive control instruction in relation to the automatic driving vehicle, with the buttons displayed on the touch panel. In addition to the touch panel, the automatic driving vehicle includes a mechanical door switch for opening and closing an automatic door and a mechanical ramp switch for extending and retracting an automatic ramp, both being disposed spaced apart from the touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirohito Ide, Yuchi Yamanouchi, Masaki Shitara, Ryo Hattori
  • Patent number: 11577738
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin having a first room and a second room that are capable of accommodating at least one passenger, and configured to isolate one or more passengers accommodated in the first room from one or more passengers accommodated in the second room, a guidance apparatus configured to guide the at least one passenger to be accommodated in either the first room or the second room, and a control apparatus configured to control the guidance apparatus. When a user boards as the at least one passenger, the control apparatus determines which of the first room and the second room the user is to board, based on information regarding the user. The guidance apparatus is configured to guide and board the user to whichever of the first room and the second room determined by the control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Tatsumoto, Saori Matsumoto, Keigo Yamada, Akira Sasaki, Mitsuhiro Miura
  • Patent number: 11556134
    Abstract: Methods and systems for deploying autonomous vehicles to form a barricade in a coordinated response to an imminent threat are described. In one embodiment, a method for deploying autonomous vehicles to form a barricade is described. The method includes determining at least one location for a barricade and determining a plurality of autonomous vehicles that are available to form the barricade. The method also includes sending instructions to the plurality of autonomous vehicles to form the barricade at the at least one location. In response to the instructions, the plurality of autonomous vehicles are configured to move to the at least one location and form the barricade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Ravi Durairaj, Gregory Brian Meyer, Oscar Roberto Tijerina, Sean Carl Mitchem, Stacy Callaway Huggar, Ruthie D. Lyle, Nathan Lee Post, Mark Anthony Lopez, Nolan Serrao
  • Patent number: 11543247
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vehicle localization are provided herein. An example method can include obtaining a map within an operating area. A location within the operating area is associated with a pattern of speed bumps that is configured to produce a vehicle pitch response from the vehicle when the vehicle travels over the pattern of speed bumps. The method can include obtaining motion sensor information from a vehicle sensor, determining when the motion sensor information matches the vehicle pitch response, and determining that the vehicle is in the location when the motion sensor information corresponds to the vehicle pitch response of the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Oleg Gusikhin
  • Patent number: 11536571
    Abstract: Vehicle position is determined using magnetic field measurements within an indoor environment. Magnetic field measurements and sensor information are obtained from the vehicle and magnetic map information is obtained for the indoor environment. Parameters of vehicle motion are derived from the sensor information. The magnetic field measurements are processed to mitigate vehicular interference and then compensated for a magnetometer bias induced at least in part by the vehicle. Vehicle position is determined based at least in part on the compensated magnetic field magnetic measurements, the magnetic map information and the parameters of vehicle motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventors: Gennadii Berkovich, Dmitry Churikov
  • Patent number: 11536573
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of generating and communicating map version agnostic road link identifiers. Methods may include: receiving an indication of a new road link being joined to an existing road link along a length of the existing road link, where the existing road link extends between a first node and a second node, where the existing road link has a first road link identifier, and where a new node is formed where the new road link joins the existing road link; generating a first new identifier for a segment of the existing road link between the first node and the new node; generating a second new identifier for a segment of the existing road link between the new node and the second node, where the second new identifier is set equal to an XOR function of the first road link identifier and the first new identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Rolf, Raul Cajias
  • Patent number: 11535108
    Abstract: A method for reactivation of an electrical system of a vehicle comprising a first electrical system operating at a first lower voltage and a second electrical system operating at a second higher voltage, comprising: detecting a fault or a crash situation in the second electrical system; disconnecting a power source of the second electrical system; determining the fault of the second electrical system is no longer present or that the crash situation is resolved; reconnecting the power source to the second electrical system and increasing the voltage of the second electrical system from zero to an intermediate voltage lower than the second voltage; and if a detected current in the second electrical system is higher than a current threshold value; or if a detected voltage of the first electrical system is higher than a voltage threshold value; reducing the voltage of the second electrical system to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Fabian Fogelberg, Axel Vänerhav
  • Patent number: 11532229
    Abstract: A system communicates with a plurality of vehicles onsite at a parking garage. The system determines an eventual intended destination for each respective vehicle of the plurality of vehicles and determines a path through the garage for each respective vehicle, to the destination for the respective vehicle. The system may segment the path into a plurality of shorter tasks for the respective vehicle, wherein each task moves the respective vehicle along the path until a point where the respective vehicle encounters an obstruction and instruct the respective vehicle to execute the shorter tasks for the respective vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin
  • Patent number: 11531114
    Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging may include: receiving a first point cloud from a first LiDAR sensor mounted at a first location behind a vehicle grille, the first point cloud representing the scene in front of the vehicle, wherein as a result of the grille the scene represented by the first point cloud data is partially occluded with a first pattern of occlusion; receiving a second point cloud from a second LiDAR sensor mounted at a second location behind the vehicle grille; combining the first and second point clouds to generate a composite point cloud data set, wherein the first LiDAR sensor is located relative to the second LiDAR sensor such that when a point cloud data for the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor are combined, the first pattern of occlusion is at least partially compensated; and processing the combined point cloud data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Velin Dimitrov
  • Patent number: 11526998
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for tracking includes obtaining an infrared image and a visible image from an imaging device supported by a carrier of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), obtaining a combined image based on the infrared image and the visible image, identifying a target in the combined image, and generating control signals for tracking the identified target using the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao Weng, Wei Zhang, Mingxi Wang