Patents Examined by Wenyuan Yang
  • Patent number: 11975742
    Abstract: Methods of refining a planned trajectory of an autonomous vehicle are disclose. For multiple cycles as the vehicle moves along the trajectory, the vehicle will perceive nearby objects. The vehicle will use the perceived object data to calculate a set of candidate updated trajectories. The motion planning system will measure a discrepancy between each candidate updated trajectory and the current trajectory by: (i) determining waypoints along each trajectory; (ii) determining distances between at least some of the waypoints; and (iii) using the distances to measure the discrepancy between the updated trajectory and the current trajectory. The system will use the discrepancy to select, from the set of candidate updated trajectories, a final updated trajectory for the vehicle to follow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Julian Varnhagen, Colen McAlister, Timothy Andrew Potts, Jr., David Breeden, Pragati Satpute, Alice Kassar
  • Patent number: 11973348
    Abstract: A controller initiates operation of a climate system in advance of a departure time defined by a user such that the climate system operates for a duration defined by the user before the departure time, provided that grid power from a plug is not available to power the operation. The controller also initiates operation of the climate system at a start time selected by the controller such that a temperature within a cabin achieves a target temperature defined by the user in advance of the departure time and the climate system does not operate for a duration defined by the user before the departure time, provided that the grid power is available to power the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Everett Badger, II, Angel Fernando Porras
  • Patent number: 11940801
    Abstract: An automatically moving floor treatment appliance has an appliance housing, a drive, a detector for detecting surrounding area features, and a computer that transmits control commands to the drive, based on the surrounding area features detected by the detector. The detector has a plurality of inner and outer fall sensors arranged on an underside of the appliance housing, which detect a distance of the floor treatment appliance from the surface. The computer controls the drive to change a movement of the floor treatment appliance when the distance detected by the fall sensor is greater than a threshold value defining a slope. The fall sensors are interconnected in an evaluation circuit of the detection means so that the detection signals of the totality of inner fall sensors can be evaluated independently of the detection signals of the totality of outer fall sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Andrej Mosebach, Henning Hayn
  • Patent number: 11938964
    Abstract: A method for safely ascertaining infrastructure data for driving a motor vehicle in at least partially automated fashion. The method includes receiving data signals, which represent infrastructure sensor data generated by at least one infrastructure sensor and/or motor vehicle data generated by at least one source motor vehicle, receiving safety condition signals, which represent at least one safety condition for safely ascertaining infrastructure data based on the data, checking whether the at least one safety condition is fulfilled, ascertaining infrastructure data, on the basis of which it is possible to drive a destination motor vehicle in at least partially automated fashion, based on the data as a function of a result of the check as to whether the at least one safety condition is fulfilled, generating infrastructure data signals, which represent the ascertained infrastructure data, outputting the generated infrastructure data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 11926344
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a sensor detecting an object in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle, a processor coupled to the sensor to receive sensor data from the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to process the sensor data to recognize that the object is a pedestrian or cyclist. The processor cooperates with the sensor to track the pedestrian or cyclist. The processor determines if the pedestrian or cyclist satisfies a notification criterion and, upon determining that the pedestrian or cyclist satisfies the notification criterion, the processor outputs an illumination signal. A light projector receives the illumination signal and projects a beam of light onto a portion of a road on which the pedestrian or cyclist is currently situated to visually notify the pedestrian or cyclist that the autonomous vehicle is presently tracking the pedestrian or cyclist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Matthew MacGregor Roy
  • Patent number: 11919528
    Abstract: A first vehicle includes a communication device configured to send and receive V2V information, a memory configured to store the V2V information, and a processor configured to perform abnormal traveling determination processing. A second vehicle includes a communication device configured to send and receive the V2V information, a memory configured to store the V2V information and driving environment information on the second vehicle, and a processor configured to perform objective determination processing. In the objective determination processing, whether the first vehicle is traveling abnormally is objectively determined based on the driving environment information on the second vehicle. The determination result of the objective determination processing is sent to the first vehicle. In the abnormal traveling determination processing, whether the first vehicle is traveling abnormally is determined based on this determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuki Nemoto, Shin Tanaka, Satoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11897447
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes generating initial state of charge and vehicle velocity profiles for a travel route, for each initial velocity setpoint defining the vehicle velocity profile, generating a plurality of updated state of charge setpoints, for each of the initial velocity setpoints, selecting one of the updated state of charge setpoints to define an updated state of charge profile, for each of the updated state of charge setpoints that defines the updated state of charge profile, generating a plurality of updated velocity setpoints, for each of the updated state of charge setpoints that defines the updated state of charge profile, selecting one of the updated velocity setpoints to define an updated velocity profile, and controlling operation of an electric machine and engine according to the updated state of charge profile and updated velocity profile over the travel route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Cheng, Bokai Chen, Yousaf Rahman, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11891075
    Abstract: A redundant hardware and software architecture can be designed to enable vehicles to be operated in an autonomous mode while improving the reliability and/or safety of such vehicles. A system for redundant architecture can include a set of at least two redundant sensors coupled to a vehicle and configured to provide timestamped sensor data to each of a plurality of computing unit (CU) computers. The CU computers can process the sensor data simultaneously based on at least a time value indicative of an absolute time or a relative time and based on the timestamped sensor data. The CU computers provide to a vehicle control unit (VCU) computer at least two sets of outputs configured to instruct a plurality of devices in a vehicle and cause the vehicle to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Frederic Rocha, Zehua Huang, Xiaoling Han, Ruiliang Zhang, Esayas Naizghi, Changyi Zhao
  • Patent number: 11884270
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and autonomous vehicles may obtain one or more images associated with an environment surrounding an autonomous vehicle; determine, based on the one or more images, an orientation of a head worn item of protective equipment of an operator of a vehicle; determine, based on the orientation of the head worn item of protective equipment, a direction of a gaze of the operator and a time period associated with the direction of the gaze of the operator; determine, based on the direction of the gaze of the operator and the time period associated with the direction of the gaze of the operator, a predicted motion path of the vehicle; and control, based on the predicted motion path of the vehicle, at least one autonomous driving operation of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Argo AI, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Whinnery
  • Patent number: 11868909
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to predict a time to failure of a vehicle component according to a damage model generated from vehicle operating data, based on the predicted time to failure, retrieve a schematic of the vehicle component and input the schematic to an additive printer to manufacture a replacement vehicle component, and replace the vehicle component with the replacement vehicle component according to maintenance instructions that, based at least in part on the predicted time to failure, specify a time and location to replace the vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Yu-Ning Liu, Eduardo Andres Garcia Magraner, Jing Chen, William Finkenstaedt
  • Patent number: 11858532
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and vehicles, such as a semi-autonomous vehicle, for safely operating a vehicle based on vehicle-control gestures made by an occupant. Exemplary implementations may include determining a first vehicle action by applying a first passenger profile to a detected first vehicle-control gesture performed by a first passenger, determining whether the first vehicle action is safe to perform, and operating the vehicle to implement the first vehicle action in response to determining that the first vehicle action is safe for the vehicle and occupants. The first passenger profile may be selected from a plurality of passenger profiles to normalize vehicle-control gestures received from the first passenger. The vehicle control gesture may be ignored or a vehicle action differing from but similar to the first vehicle action may be implemented in response to determining that the first vehicle action is unsafe for the vehicle or occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Franco Taveira, John Anthony Dougherty
  • Patent number: 11820288
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for managing power of a multi SoC module in a vehicle. The apparatus for managing power of a multi SoC module in a vehicle includes a multi SoC module configured to include a plurality of SoCs, and a processor configured to change the module mode of the multi SoC module from a normal module mode to a half low power module mode in response to a capacity of a main battery in a vehicle in a driving state being lower than a set first reference value, and maintain a first SoC associated with safety among the plurality of SoCs supplied with power from the main battery in a normal mode while switching a remaining second SoC other than the first SoC to a low power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Kyoung Kim, Hyoungkyu Choi, Hyung Bin Park, Ilgyeong Hong
  • Patent number: 11814074
    Abstract: A method of path planning for an autonomous vehicle to make a turn includes receiving a request for a turn of a vehicle from a current swath to a next swath in a work area. The work area has a headland at a periphery thereof, and the headland is characterized by a guidance line therethrough. The method further includes receiving information of the current swath, information of the next swath, and information of the guidance line, and determining a trajectory of the turn based on the information of the current swath, the information of the next swath, and the information of the guidance line. The trajectory includes one or more segments. At least a portion of a first segment of the one or more segments follows the guidance line in the headland. The method further includes, outputting the trajectory to a control system of the vehicle for executing the turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Shantnu Kakkar, Juan Carlos Santamaria, Justin Creaby, Brandon Sights
  • Patent number: 11814073
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control command is generated with an MPC controller, the MPC controller including a cost function with weights associated with cost terms of the cost function. The control command is applied to a dynamic model of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) to simulate behavior of the ADV. One or more of the weights are based on evaluation of the dynamic model in response to the control command, resulting in an adjusted cost function of the MPC controller. Another control command is generated with the MPC controller having the adjusted cost function. This second control command can be used to effect movement of the ADV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Shu Jiang, Qi Luo, Jinghao Miao, Jiangtao Hu, Yu Wang, Jinyun Zhou, Jiaming Tao, Kecheng Xu
  • Patent number: 11798291
    Abstract: A system for a reliability of objects for a driver assistance or automated driving of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors that include one or more sensor modalities for providing sensor data for the objects. An electronic tracking unit is configured to receive the sensor data to determine a detection probability (p_D) for each of the plurality of sensors for each of the objects, to determine an existence probability (p_ex) for each of the plurality of sensors for each of the objects, and to provide vectors for each of the objects based on the existence probability (p_ex) for each contributing one of the plurality of sensors for the specific object. The vectors are provided by the electronic tracking unit for display as an object interface on a display device. The vectors are independent from the sensor data from the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benjamin Gussner, Theresa Veronika Kienle, Joachim Carsten Mueller, Stephan Reuter, Oliver F. Schwindt, Andreas Heyl
  • Patent number: 11767037
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for enhanced obstacle detection. A vehicle may detect a neighboring vehicle traveling on a first road in a first traffic direction in a vicinity of the vehicle. The vehicle may collect data associated with the neighboring vehicle using one or more sensors of the vehicle. The vehicle may determine a status of the neighboring vehicle at a geolocation of the neighboring vehicle based on the collected data. The vehicle may determine that a first road anomaly occurred at the geolocation based on the status of the neighboring vehicle. The vehicle may set a first flag indicating the first road anomaly. The vehicle may determine to take a first action based on the first flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Nathan Alan Pendleton
  • Patent number: 11731493
    Abstract: A monitoring system and method are configured to detect a status of a door for a component on a vehicle. The monitoring system includes a sound sensor positioned within an auditory range of the door. The sound sensor detects sound energy generated in relation to a closed position of the door and an open position of the door. The sound sensor outputs a sound signal indicative of the sound energy. A monitoring control unit is in communication with the sound sensor. The monitoring control unit receives the sound signal and analyzes the sound signal to determine the status of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Lee Nicks, James Ralph Hamilton
  • Patent number: 11726492
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system may validate, reject, or replace a trajectory generated to control a vehicle. The collision avoidance system may comprise a secondary perception component that may comprise one or more machine learned models, each of which may be trained to output one or more occupancy maps based at least in part on sensor data of different types. The occupancy maps may include a prediction of whether at least a portion of an environment is occupied at a future time by any one of multiple object types. Occupancy maps associated with a same time may be aggregated into a data structure that may be used to validate, reject, or replace the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: James William Vaisey Philbin, Cooper Stokes Sloan, Noureldin Ehab Hendy, Nicholas George Charchut, Chuang Wang
  • Patent number: 11712971
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for adjusting an electrical configuration of a plurality of components of an electrical network associated with a vehicle in order to tune electrical characteristics of the electrical network to continuously match a dynamically changing desired mode of operation of the electrical network associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: GRAVIC, INC.
    Inventors: Asher H. Jablon, Bruce D. Holenstein, Dylan R. Holenstein
  • Patent number: 11697510
    Abstract: An aircraft system monitors health of passive safety brakes on a plurality of auxiliary lift wing devices of an aircraft wing. The wing includes an actuator driveline, and a plurality of actuators are secured to the driveline for extending and retracting the auxiliary lift wing devices. Each actuator incorporates a passive safety brake, and a flight computer enables the actuators to synchronously extend and retract the auxiliary lift wing devices. Torque sensors are fixed to the actuator driveline, each torque sensor being positioned adjacent an actuator for sensing static torque values at that actuator location. When an aerodynamic load acting on any one extended auxiliary lift wing device creates a higher static torque value at one actuator location relative to others, the aircraft system generates a warning signal and/or message to indicate occurrence of a potential safety brake failure within the one actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Krismarc Manguera Buenvenida