Patents by Inventor Leo Laine

Leo Laine has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10850770
    Abstract: A device for reversing an articulated vehicle combination that has at least two vehicle units interconnected via at least one articulated join includes an arrangement for recording and storing a plurality of global positions of a local position of the vehicle combination, at least one sensor, mounted on the vehicle combination, for recording data representing a plurality properties of the surroundings, and a control unit arranged to determine, based at least partly on a plurality of dimensions of the vehicle combination, a set of global positions recorded when the vehicle combination is moving forward, and a set of data representing properties of the surroundings recorded during the forward movement, vehicle control input data for control of the vehicle combination during a reverse movement of the vehicle combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fredrik Sandblom, Leo Laine
  • Publication number: 20200290588
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a steering system of a vehicle (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Björn Källstrand, Leo Laine, Leon Henderson, Patrick Volz
  • Patent number: 10682994
    Abstract: A control system is provided for an articulated vehicle including a towing vehicle, a trailer and an autonomous emergency braking system, wherein the control system includes: a brake control arrangement adapted to apply a friction-estimating braking; a brake force capacity estimation arrangement adapted to estimate the brake force capacity of the vehicle as a function of longitudinal wheel slip based on the applied friction-estimating braking; an axle load estimation arrangement adapted to estimate the normal force on each wheel axle of the vehicle; a friction estimation arrangement adapted to estimate a friction coefficient based on the estimated brake force capacity and at least one of the estimated normal forces; and a brake strategy adaptation arrangement configured to adapt the brake strategy of the autonomous emergency braking system by adjusting the brake force for at least one wheel axle of the Vehicle based on the estimated friction coefficient and the at least one wheel axle's estimated normal force
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Fredrik Sandblom
  • Publication number: 20200180691
    Abstract: A device for reversing an articulated vehicle combination that has at least two vehicle units interconnected via at least one articulated join includes an arrangement for recording and storing a plurality of global positions of a local position of the vehicle combination, at least one sensor, mounted on the vehicle combination, for recording data representing a plurality properties of the surroundings, and a control unit arranged to determine, based at least partly on a plurality of dimensions of the vehicle combination, a set of global positions recorded when the vehicle combination is moving forward, and a set of data representing properties of the surroundings recorded during the forward movement, vehicle control input data for control of the vehicle combination during a reverse movement of the vehicle combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fredrik SANDBLOM, Leo LAINE
  • Patent number: 10654465
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hydraulic hybrid vehicle, the hydraulic hybrid vehicle including: a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels; an internal combustion engine connected to the first pair of wheels for propelling the hydraulic hybrid vehicle; and a hydraulic propulsion system including a first hydraulic machine connected to the second pair of wheels, the method including the steps of; receiving a signal indicative of a driving condition, including vehicle speed, of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle; comparing the vehicle speed of the driving condition of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle with an upper predetermined threshold speed limit; determining if the vehicle speed of the driving condition is higher than the upper predetermined threshold speed limit; and when the vehicle speed is higher than the upper predetermined threshold speed determining, based on the driving condition, control parameters for operating the first hydraulic machine; and controlling the control parameters of the first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Lena Larsson
  • Patent number: 10618511
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hydraulic hybrid vehicle, the hydraulic hybrid vehicle including: a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels; an internal combustion engine connected to the first pair of wheels for propelling the hydraulic hybrid vehicle; and a hydraulic propulsion system including a first hydraulic machine connected to the second pair of wheels, the method including the steps of; receiving a signal indicative of a driving condition, including vehicle speed, of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle; comparing the vehicle speed of the driving condition of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle with an upper predetermined threshold speed limit; determining if the vehicle speed of the driving condition is higher than the upper predetermined threshold speed limit; and when the vehicle speed is higher than the upper predetermined threshold speed determining, based on the driving condition, control parameters for operating the first hydraulic machine; and controlling the control parameters of the first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Lena Larsson
  • Publication number: 20200055357
    Abstract: The invention i.a. relates to a method comprising the steps of: parking (S1) a trailer (12) by means of a towing vehicle (10), which trailer (12) is coupled to the towing vehicle (10) via a coupling element (32) of the trailer (12); the towing vehicle (10) estimating (S2) position and heading of the coupling element (32) of the parked trailer (12); transmitting (S3) the estimated position and heading of the coupling element (32) of the parked trailer (12) to a data storage device (34, 42); and automatically uncoupling (S5) the trailer (12) from the towing vehicle (10), so that the towing vehicle (10) can drive away from the parked trailer (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Leo Laine
  • Publication number: 20190385461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transforming between a long vehicle combination (10) and a platoon (12) on the move. The present invention also relates to vehicles (14a-b; 14b-c) for such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Jesper Blomstrand, Leo Laine
  • Publication number: 20190176784
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel controller (108) for a vehicle (100), comprising a wheel slip calculation module (212) arranged to calculate a longitudinal wheel slip value for a wheel slip between a surface of the wheel (102) and a road surface thereof; a wheel force estimation module (214) arranged to estimate a longitudinal wheel force value for a wheel force between the surface of the wheel (102) and the road surface; a tire model generator (216) arranged to receive longitudinal wheel slip values from the wheel slip calculation module (212) and longitudinal wheel force values from the wheel force estimation module (214); said tire model generator (216) being configured to generate a model (300, 400) representing a relationship between the calculated longitudinal wheel slip and the estimated longitudinal wheel force by using at least three longitudinal wheel force values and three corresponding longitudinal wheel slip values; and a vehicle wheel capability module (218) arranged in communication wi
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Leon Henderson, Mats Sabelström
  • Patent number: 10173669
    Abstract: An arrangement for improving maneuverability of a vehicle combination that includes a first vehicle unit, a second vehicle unit and a third vehicle unit interconnected by articulated joints, where the vehicle combination includes two driven axles and where each driven axle can be controlled independently, an arrangement for determining the articulation angel between the vehicle units, an arrangement for determining a steering wheel angle of the vehicle combination, an arrangement for determining the speed of the vehicle combination, an arrangement for determining the yaw rate of the vehicle units, and an arrangement for determining a delay value between the steering wheels of the vehicle combination and at least one articulated joint, where the arrangement is adapted to control a desired articulation angle of the articulated joints by coordinating the force ratio between the two driven axles by using the determined yaw rate of the vehicle units and the determined delay value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Filip Alm, Andreas Jansson, Leo Laine
  • Publication number: 20180319382
    Abstract: A control system is provided for an articulated vehicle including a towing vehicle, a trailer and an autonomous emergency braking system, wherein the control system includes: a brake control arrangement adapted to apply a friction-estimating braking; a brake force capacity estimation arrangement adapted to estimate the brake force capacity of the vehicle as a function of longitudinal wheel slip based on the applied friction-estimating braking; an axle load estimation arrangement adapted to estimate the normal force on each wheel axle of the vehicle; a friction estimation arrangement adapted to estimate a friction coefficient based on the estimated brake force capacity and at least one of the estimated normal forces; and a brake strategy adaptation arrangement configured to adapt the brake strategy of the autonomous emergency braking system by adjusting the brake force for at least one wheel axle of the Vehicle based on the estimated friction coefficient and the at least one wheel axle's estimated normal force
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Fredrik SANDBLOM
  • Publication number: 20180319380
    Abstract: A control system is provided for a vehicle including an autonomous emergency braking system, characterized in that the control system includes: a brake control arrangement adapted to apply a friction-estimating braking when the autonomous emergency braking system has initiated a possible intervention; a brake force capacity estimation arrangement adapted to estimate the brake force capacity of the vehicle as a function of longitudinal wheel slip based on the applied friction-estimating braking; a road information arrangement adapted to obtain information about road curvature ahead of the vehicle; a lateral tyre force prediction arrangement adapted to predict lateral tyre force needed during autonomous emergency braking based on the obtained information about road curvature; and a brake strategy adaptation arrangement configured to adapt the brake strategy of the autonomous emergency braking system based on the estimated brake force capacity and the predicted lateral tyre force needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Fredrik SANDBLOM
  • Publication number: 20180170344
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hydraulic hybrid vehicle, the hydraulic hybrid vehicle including: a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels; an internal combustion engine connected to the first pair of wheels for propelling the hydraulic hybrid vehicle; and a hydraulic propulsion system including a first hydraulic machine connected to the second pair of wheels, the method including the steps of; receiving a signal indicative of a driving condition, including vehicle speed, of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle; comparing the vehicle speed of the driving condition of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle with an upper predetermined threshold speed limit; determining if the vehicle speed of the driving condition is higher than the upper predetermined threshold speed limit; and when the vehicle speed is higher than the upper predetermined threshold speed determining, based on the driving condition, control parameters for operating the first hydraulic machine; and controlling the control parameters of the first
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Lena LARSSON
  • Patent number: 9862413
    Abstract: A method for assisting the reversal of an articulated vehicle includes recording a predefined number of positions for a first articulated vehicle for a specified path, recording the articulation angle of each articulation joint of the articulated vehicle at the predefined number of positions, recording the heading for the first articulated vehicle at the predefined number of positions, saving the recorded values for the specified path in a memory, calculating the swept area of the first vehicle for the specified path by using the recorded values and size information of the articulated vehicle, and using the swept area to control the steering of the articulated vehicle when reversing the articulated vehicle along the specified path, such that the articulated vehicle does not extend outwards of the swept area during the reversal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Company
    Inventor: Leo Laine
  • Publication number: 20170320488
    Abstract: An arrangement for improving manoeuvrability of a vehicle combination that includes a first vehicle unit, a second vehicle unit and a third vehicle unit interconnected by articulated joints, where the vehicle combination includes two driven axles and where each driven axle can be controlled independently, an arrangement for determining the articulation angel between the vehicle units, an arrangement for determining a steering wheel angle of the vehicle combination, an arrangement for determining the speed of the vehicle combination, an arrangement for determining the yaw rate of the vehicle units, and an arrangement for determining a delay value between the steering wheels of the vehicle combination and at least one articulated joint, where the arrangement is adapted to control a desired articulation angle of the articulated joints by coordinating the force ratio between the two driven axles by using the determined yaw rate of the vehicle units and the determined delay value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Filip ALM, Andreas JANSSON, Leo LAINE
  • Patent number: 9598089
    Abstract: An arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination includes a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, where the at least one towed vehicle includes an actively steered axle and/or individual brake on at least one axle, where the towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle each includes a lateral acceleration determining arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Kristoffer Tagesson, Leo Laine, Sogol Kharrazi
  • Patent number: 9573589
    Abstract: An arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination including a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, where the at least one towed vehicle includes at least one actively steered axle and/or individual brake on at least one axle, where the towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle each includes an arrangement for determining yaw rate for determining the yaw rate of the vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle, where the arrangement further includes a vehicle combination model adapted for determining a desired delay value between the yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle, where the arrangement is adapted to stabilize the at least one towed vehicle by using the determined yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the desired delay value for the at least one towed vehicle to establish a desired yaw rate for the at least one towed vehicle, and to control the steered axle and/or the individual brake of the at least one towed vehicle such that the d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Kristoffer Tagesson, Leo Laine, Sogol Kharrazi
  • Publication number: 20160114831
    Abstract: A method for assisting the reversal of an articulated vehicle includes recording a predefined number of positions for a first articulated vehicle for a specified path, recording the articulation angle of each articulation joint of the articulated vehicle at the predefined number of positions, recording the heading for the first articulated vehicle at the predefined number of positions, saving the recorded values for the specified path in a memory, calculating the swept area of the first vehicle for the specified path by using the recorded values and size information of the articulated vehicle, and using the swept area to control the steering of the articulated vehicle when reversing the articulated vehicle along the specified path, such that the articulated vehicle does not extend outwards of the swept area during the reversal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Leo LAINE
  • Publication number: 20150367844
    Abstract: An arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination including a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, where the at least one towed vehicle includes at least one actively steered axle and/or individual brake on at least one axle. The towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle each includes a lateral acceleration determining means. The arrangement further includes a vehicle combination model adapted for determining a desired delay value between the lateral acceleration of the towing vehicle and the lateral acceleration of the at least one towed vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Kristoffer Tagesson, Leo Laine, Sogol Kharrazi
  • Publication number: 20150232088
    Abstract: An arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination includes a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, where the at least one towed vehicle includes an actively steered axle and/or individual brake on at least one axle, where the towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle each includes a lateral acceleration determining arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Kristoffer Tagesson, Leo Laine, Sogol Kharrazi