With Means For Promoting Safety Of Vehicle, Its Occupant Or Load, Or An External Object Patents (Class 180/271)
  • Patent number: 11975665
    Abstract: An electrical assembly includes a track assembly, a support member configured to move along the track assembly, a first ECU connected to the support member, and a second electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the track assembly and configured to provide power from a power source to the track assembly. The first ECU may be configured to disconnect the electrical load and/or cause the electrical load to operate in a low-current mode if a connection system is partially engaged. The second ECU may have a first mode in which the second ECU provides power in a first voltage range to the track assembly. The second ECU may have a second mode in which the second ECU provides power in a second voltage range. The second ECU may be configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode according to information from the first ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Gabriel Fernández Bañares, Raúl Ricart, Esteban Herrera
  • Patent number: 11919465
    Abstract: In an apparatus for determining a build of an occupant sitting in a seat within a cabin of a vehicle, an image acquirer is configured to acquire an image of the occupant. A position-information calculator is configured to calculate shoulder-joint information that is information representing positions of left and right shoulder joints of the occupant in the image. A twisted-posture determiner is configured to determine whether the occupant is in a twisted posture based on the shoulder-joint information. An occupant-build determiner is configured to determine a build of the occupant based on the shoulder-joint information. The occupant-build determiner is further configured to, in response to the twisted-posture determiner determining that the occupant is in the twisted posture, cancel making a determination of the build of the occupant based on shoulder-joint information that was used to determine that the occupant is in the twisted posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio Hosokawa, Hiroki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11912341
    Abstract: In an automobile hood, sufficient panel rigidity and dent resistance are secured while achieving weight reduction. Automobile hood 1 has a panel 2, a reinforcing member 3, and a joint 4 that joins the panel 2 and the reinforcing member 3. The reinforcing member 3 includes a structure formed from a plurality of units 7 having a hexagonal annular shape disposed in a close-packed arrangement. Unit 7 has a floor 11, inclined wall 12 and top plate 13. The floor 11 is adjacent to the panel 2. Top plate 13 and panel 2 are separated from each other. The inclined wall 12 is arranged between the floor 11 and the top plate 13. A hexagonal annular first ridge line 31 of the unit 7 is located between the inclined wall 12 and the floor 11. A length L1 of one side of the first ridge line 31 is 40-75 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru Yoshida, Koichi Hamada, Takeshi Kawachi, Atsuo Koga, Takuya Oishi
  • Patent number: 11912368
    Abstract: A scooter, for example an electric scooter, having two wheels, an elongated platform mounted on the two wheels and arranged to receive at least one foot of a user, a steering handlebar articulated relative to the platform and connected to one of the wheels, wherein the scooter comprises a safety device with an inflatable cushion arranged to be deployed in case of sudden deceleration of the scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Elin Villeius, Emma Lindholm, Hassan Jan, Louise Melin
  • Patent number: 11884332
    Abstract: In an automobile hood, sufficient panel rigidity and dent resistance of a panel are secured while achieving weight reduction. An automobile hood having panel, reinforcing member and joint that joins the panel and the reinforcing member such that the reinforcing member includes a structure formed from a plurality of units having hexagonal annular shape disposed in a close-packed arrangement. Floor of the unit has an annular end part. All of annular end part is located between first circle and second circle wherein first circle is inscribed within a first ridge line overlapping with an outer end part of the floor. Second circle is concentric with first circle and has a radius that is 60% of a radius of the first circle. Width of upper face of floor is 2 mm or more over the entire area of the annular end part in the circumferential direction of the annular end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tohru Yoshida, Koichi Hamada, Takeshi Kawachi, Atsuo Koga, Takuya Oishi
  • Patent number: 11801774
    Abstract: A radar sensor system and method for ascertaining whether an unattended child is present within an automotive vehicle. The radar sensor system carries out the method and includes a transmitter, at least one sensor, and processing circuitry. The method includes the steps of: illuminating at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with radiation of multiple frequencies; generating radar sensor signals from reflections of the transmitted radiation, a plurality of the radar sensor signals corresponding to different frequencies; and operating the processing circuitry for generating and determining if a first indicator value indicative of motion in the occupiable position satisfies a first predetermined criteria and, if so, generating and determining a second indicator value indicating a degree of repetitive pattern within the radar sensor signals, and determining presence of an unattended child in the vehicle if the second indicator value satisfies a second predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Lu-Dac, Patrick Di Mario Cola, Dimitri Tatarinov, Andreas Diewald, Claude Watgen, Sam Calmes, Peter Larsen
  • Patent number: 11752843
    Abstract: A vehicle door system includes at least one sliding door which is arranged on the side and can be displaced out from the B-pillar. A securing system is provided for latching the sliding door on the B-pillar in the case of an external impact against the B-pillar occurring obliquely from the front. The securing system can block the at least one sliding door from opening in response to the external impact. The securing system includes a catchment claw that engages a securing hook to hold the at least one sliding door to the B-pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Curtis, Karl-Heinz Graul, Fabian Pritz, Christian Giesen
  • Patent number: 11748671
    Abstract: A vehicle management system, an on-vehicle system, and a vehicle management method are described that are capable of providing a vehicle to a user where an odor level in the vehicle fulfills a predetermined criterion. The vehicle management system selects a provision option of the vehicle, corresponding to the odor level if the odor level does not fulfill the predetermined criterion, and executes notification or vehicle control associated with the provision option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventor: Radim Zemek
  • Patent number: 11724673
    Abstract: Techniques and systems are described that enable automatic emergency braking (AEB) using a time-to-collision (TTC) threshold that is based on target acceleration. The TTC may be a combination of a first TTC sub-threshold and a second TTC sub-threshold. The first TTC threshold may be based on a vehicle velocity of a host vehicle and a relative velocity between the host vehicle and a target object. The second TTC sub-threshold may be based on a target acceleration of the target object and a distance between the host vehicle and the target object. By utilizing the target acceleration in the TTC threshold determination, the techniques and systems described herein enable AEB to work as planned to prevent a collision between a vehicle and a target, in a wider variety of environments and situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Mingda Yang
  • Patent number: 11708048
    Abstract: A pedestrian airbag device includes an airbag and an inflator that supplies an inflating gas to the airbag. In the airbag, an insertion opening portion for inserting the inflator into the airbag is disposed on the vehicle body side wall portion side. The insertion opening portion includes an insertion slit for inserting the main body portion of the inflator, and an insertion hole for causing the mounting bolt of the inflator to protrude. A guide tether for guiding when the inflator is inserted is disposed inside the airbag so that one end side is joined to the pedestrian side wall portion side, and the other end side is joined to a region on a side from the insertion hole in a peripheral edge of the insertion slit on the vehicle body side wall portion side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ozeki, Akira Yasuda, Taizo Suemitsu
  • Patent number: 11694866
    Abstract: An electric circuit breaker device includes: an igniter; a projectile that is disposed in a movement path, the projectile formed to be movable by actuation of the igniter; and a conductor piece that forms one portion of a predetermined electric circuit, the conductor piece having both end portions connected to respective other portions of the predetermined electric circuit, the conductor piece having a first portion between both the end portions arranged to traverse the movement path. A sensor is connected to a first part positioned between both the end portions and to a second part that is between both the end portions and is different from the first part, the sensor configured to detect current flowing through the conductor piece between both the end portions, the sensor disposed to be integrated with the conductor piece. The actuation of the igniter is controlled, based on the current detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sakai, Tomohide Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11692377
    Abstract: An opening control device including a base, a handle lever configured to be pivotally mounted on the base about a handle axis, a kinematic chain configured to transmit a movement from the handle lever toward a latch of the opening control device to unlock the door leaf, the chain including at least one active branch of the handle lever, an inertial safety member including a main body forming an inertial mass and a blocking element linked to the body and configured to prevent by wedging the transmission of movement by the kinematic chain. According to the invention, the inertial member is kinematically coupled to the secondary branch of the handle lever and extends on the side of the secondary branch with respect to the handle axis opposite to a gripping main branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: AKWEL VIGO SPAIN S.L
    Inventors: Javier Casal Gomez, Alberto Diez Estevez, Delmiro Javier Couto Maquieira
  • Patent number: 11679835
    Abstract: The invention relates to vehicles having at least one handlebar, especially to motorcycles. It turned out that during a frontal crash the handlebar of the motorcycle itself constitutes a threat for the cyclist because in case of such a frontal crash this handlebar can constitute a basically non-movable barrier for the cyclist and the risk is high that the abdomen of the cyclist hits this barrier. So, at least one weakening—or destruction device is provided. This weakening—or destruction device is able to be directly or indirectly triggered by a crash sensor system and is able to weaken or destroy the at least one handlebar or to weaken or destroy the connection of the at least one handlebar to the fork of the motorcycle when triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Mikael Andersson
  • Patent number: 11642940
    Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for detecting malodor within a cabin of an autonomous vehicle, wherein initiation of a remediation system and/or dispatch of the autonomous vehicle to a service hub for mitigating the malodor is based upon sensor signals that monitor the cabin of the autonomous vehicle. The remediation system can include devices such as an HVAC system or a window, which are operated to reduce the concentration of airborne molecules in the cabin of the autonomous vehicle when the concentration of airborne molecules exceeds an air quality threshold. A dispatch protocol may be initiated to dispatch the autonomous vehicle to a service hub when the malodor is associated with certain predefined incidents or when remediation fails to reduce the concentration of airborne molecules below the air quality threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Frank Schmidt, Samuel Harrison Glidden, Chase Brian Kaufman, Kyle Vogt
  • Patent number: 11634142
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a detection device comprising one or more sensors, configured to receive sensor input from a vicinity of a first vehicle, and to generate sensor data representing the received sensor input; one or more processors, configured to detect a second vehicle from the received sensor data; determine from the sensor data a region of a first type relative to the second vehicle and a region of a second type relative to the second vehicle; and control the first vehicle to avoid or reduce travel in the one or more regions of the first type or to travel from a region of the first type to a region of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Pohl, Maik Sven Fox
  • Patent number: 11623558
    Abstract: A left front camera (11) is adapted to be mounted on a left front lamp (1LF) of a vehicle to obtain external information of at least ahead of the vehicle. A right front LiDAR sensor (12), a type of which is different from the camera (11), is adapted to be mounted on a right front lamp (1RF) of the vehicle to obtain external information of at least ahead of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fushimi, Takashi Hori, Teruaki Yamamoto, Yusuke Kasaba
  • Patent number: 11624768
    Abstract: A system for testing a subject transistor with constant power. The system may include an amplifier, a measurement voltage source, and a exercise voltage source. The amplifier may have an output connected to a gate of the subject transistor. The amplifier may have a first input and a second input. The measurement voltage source may be connected to the first input of the amplifier for use in measuring characteristics of the subject transistor. The exercise voltage source may be connected to the first input of the amplifier for exercising the subject transistor. The second input of the amplifier may be connected to a source of the subject transistor through a resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Veoneer US, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent Colarossi, Grant Scott, III
  • Patent number: 11603073
    Abstract: An outside protection apparatus includes: an outside airbag device including an expandable member expandable rearward from a front portion of a body of a vehicle so as to be overlaid on a hood of the body, and an inflator that expands the expandable member; a collision detector that predicts or detects a collision between the body and a outside person outside the vehicle; and a controller that expands the expandable member when the collision detector predicts or detects a collision. The expandable member includes: a front bag portion expandable at the front portion of the body so as to be overlaid on the hood; a rear bag portion expandable in a location closer to rear than the front bag portion; and a tensile member coupled together with the rear bag portion to the body. The rear bag portion is expandable by the tensile member to stand on the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11603014
    Abstract: An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes: a collision predictor configured to predict a collision of the vehicle; a main airbag configured to deploy toward an occupant from a front of the vehicle when the collision predictor predicts a collision of the vehicle; an occupant center-of-gravity detecting device configured to detect a position of a center of gravity of the occupant; an armrest moving device configured to move an armrest; and a deployment controller configured to cause, when the collision predictor predicts a collision of the vehicle, the armrest moving device to move the armrest upward to guide the center of gravity of the occupant into a proper range on the basis of the position of the center of gravity of the occupant detected by the occupant center-of-gravity detecting device, subsequently cause the armrest moving device to remove the armrest, and thereafter, cause the main airbag to deploy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Kanegae, Toru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11584374
    Abstract: A method for shifting a transmission in a machine. The method includes detecting a request for a directional shift of the transmission and determining a ground speed of the machine in response to the request. The method further includes overriding the request if the ground speed is above a ground speed threshold. Further, the method includes preparing the machine for the directional shift by limiting an output speed of a power source of the machine and by issuing a command to a brake unit of the machine to reduce the ground speed of the machine. Furthermore, the method includes validating and raising the request to the transmission to execute the directional shift if the ground speed is below the ground speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Brodie Lee Thompson, Sai Praveen Gundlapalli, Robert Anthony Herold, Alexander Eli Dowling, Scott Glenn Jackson
  • Patent number: 11518329
    Abstract: A backseat child occupancy safety alert system. More specifically, the invention relates to a system that can be used in any vehicle and includes a plurality of sensors that cover the seat belt buckles of a vehicle to detect the motion of the seat belt buckle within the seat belt housing. Each sensor is in electrical communication and powered by a tether that allows one sensor to communicate to the other or a display via a flashing LED screen and audible tone if a child is still buckled into the rear vehicle seat after a user attempts to exit the vehicle via the driver's seat. The system is powered continuously by a USB or other power outlet in the vehicle. A kit for retrofitting a vehicle with the system and method of installing the system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Delois Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11498555
    Abstract: An anti-collision system includes a truck cab defining a truck cab volume and a sensor positioned with respect to the truck cab. The truck cab is rotatable with respect to the truck chassis along a rotation path to define a truck cab rotation volume. The truck cab volume is entirely within the truck cab rotation volume along the entire rotation path, i.e., the truck cab rotation volume encompasses the truck cab volume at every position of the truck cab volume along the rotation path. The sensor has a field of view (FOV) that overlaps a portion of the truck cab rotation volume to detect an obstruction in the FOV that is within the truck cab rotation volume. The sensor may also cause the system to provide an alert or control rotation of the truck cab in response to detecting the obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Machay
  • Patent number: 11472362
    Abstract: A method is disclosed in which sensor information is obtained that is captured by at least one environment sensor of an unmanned vehicle. The sensor information represents at least one object parameter of an object that is moving relative to the unmanned vehicle. At least partly based on the at least one object parameter, it is determined whether a collision between the unmanned vehicle and the object is imminent. If it is determined that a collision between the unmanned vehicle and the object is imminent, at least partly based on the at least one object parameter, at least one triggering parameter is determined for triggering at least one crash cushion of the unmanned vehicle. The at least one crash cushion is triggered according to the at least one triggering parameter. The at least one crash cushion is triggered before the imminent collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Uwe Radetzki, Dong-Uck Kong, Boris Trendafilov, Heike Bischoff, Sandra Drees
  • Patent number: 11465631
    Abstract: A personalization system for a vehicle includes an image-capture device configured to capture a plurality of images of one or more occupants in the vehicle and control circuitry configured to estimate a plurality of Z-heights of a plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants from a reference position in the vehicle, based on the plurality of images captured from the image-capture device, determine an associative relationship between the plurality of Z-heights of the plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle and a plurality of in-vehicle systems, based on defined user-preferences, and control the plurality of in-vehicle systems to direct an output from a corresponding in-vehicle system to a specific body portion of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle, based on the estimated plurality of Z-heights and the determined associative relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Adnan Esmail
  • Patent number: 11455879
    Abstract: A system for indicating occupant presence within a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a driver's seat that has a plurality of sensors, a passenger's seat that has a plurality of sensors, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is operatively associated with and in communication with the sensors. The electronic control unit initiates an alert in the form of, for example, a car alarm and/or message and is capable of performing other safety actions based upon predetermined conditions being met that are based on information received from the sensors in the driver's seat and the passenger's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Christopher Joseph Rence
  • Patent number: 11447092
    Abstract: A pedestrian protection apparatus includes a collision prediction unit which predicts a collision of a vehicle with a pedestrian existing forward of the vehicle, a grille which is disposed on a front surface of the vehicle so as to be inclined while rising toward the rear and attached to the vehicle in a state where an upper end portion of the grille is forwardly advanceable, and an actuator mechanism which causes, when the collision prediction unit predicts the collision of the vehicle with the pedestrian, the grille to be moved in such a manner that the upper end portion of the grille is advanced forward by a forward advancing amount greater than that of a lower end portion of the grille.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sotaro Narita
  • Patent number: 11443533
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether a vehicle is located inside a lower accuracy area, in which an estimation accuracy of the emotion estimation process lowers, wherein the emotion estimation process is a process for estimating an emotion of an occupant based on an image of the occupant of the vehicle captured by an image-capturing unit provided in the vehicle, and an emotion estimating unit configured to estimate the emotion of an occupant by performing different emotion estimation processes depending on whether the vehicle is located inside the lower accuracy area or not is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Matsuo, Hisumi Esaki, Yusuke Oi
  • Patent number: 11428945
    Abstract: A vehicle head-up display that automatically repositions an eyebox by measuring a distance to a driver's face and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. A method of controlling a vehicle head-up display according to some embodiments includes performing a distance measurement by using a displacement sensor for measuring a distance to a face of a driver and performing a display position adjustment including adjusting a display position and a display angle of head-up display information based on a measured distance to the face of the driver. Positioning of driver's face and then automatically adjusting the display position and the display angle of the head-up display information adaptively to individual drivers can reduce the inconveniences of the manual setting of the head-up display in a vehicle frequented with car-sharing drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11384580
    Abstract: A dual lower rail structure for opposite sliding doors is provided. The dual lower rail structure includes a first lower rail mounted in a longitudinal direction at a lower side of a vehicle body, a second lower rail mounted in a longitudinal direction on a vehicle body at one side of the first lower rail, a first lower rail roller unit rollably connected to the first lower rail, a second lower rail roller unit having one end rollably connected to the second lower rail, and the other end connected to a sliding door, and a lower rail swing arm rotatably connected to the first lower rail roller unit and the sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyung-In Yun
  • Patent number: 11377192
    Abstract: An aircraft door arrangement, comprising a door pivotable between closed and open positions, a frame section in a door opening region, and an articulation arrangement connecting the door and frame section. First and second arms are mounted on the frame section, rotatable about first and second axes, respectively. Third and fourth arms are mounted on the door, rotatable about third and fourth axes, respectively. The second arm, at a first position, is rotatably coupled to the fourth arm about a fifth axis, and at a second position, closer to the second axis, is rotatably coupled to the third arm about a sixth axis. The third arm, at a third position, is rotatably coupled to the first arm about a seventh axis, and at a fourth position, closer to the third axis, is rotatably coupled to the second arm about the sixth axis. All axes are oriented substantially parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Jens Heeren
  • Patent number: 11358470
    Abstract: A method for operating a display device for a motor vehicle, in particular for an autonomously or partially autonomously operable motor vehicle, which includes a plurality of display areas, wherein a display area is selected from the plurality of display areas on the basis of a configuration of the motor vehicle that is adjustable by a driver of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle includes a control device for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Romeo Wieczorek, Stefanie Göttlicher, Ilka Rötzer
  • Patent number: 11363355
    Abstract: A sensor tag which in use will be affixed to a vehicle for obtaining vehicle telematics data includes a battery for powering the tag and a processor running executable code to process accelerometer data. An accelerometer measures the acceleration of the tag and thereby of the vehicle, and also controls the operation of the processor. A memory is used for storing a unique tag identifier of the tag and for storing trip data including information about trips and acceleration data. Finally, a communication module is used for short range wireless communication with a mobile communications device located in the vehicle via a short range wireless communications protocol, the communication module transmitting the tag's unique identifier and a sequence of time stamped acceleration data. The mobile communications device obtains GPS data, combines this with the acceleration date and transmits this to a server for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: Cambridge Mobile Telematics Inc., Discovery Limited
    Inventors: Hari Balakrishnan, Lewis David Girod, Ilan Ossin
  • Patent number: 11345337
    Abstract: A parking assistance device for resetting a parking path when an obstacle is on the parking path includes a pull-out path computing unit that computes a pull-out path for pulling the vehicle out of the parking space based on parking space information and constraints regarding vehicle behavior, a candidate connection position setting unit that sets a plurality of candidate connection positions on the pull-out path, a reachable path computing unit that computes a reachable path for allowing the vehicle to reach at least one of the candidate connection positions from the initial position, a parking path setting unit that sets a parking path of from the initial position to the parking space by connecting the pull-out and reachable paths, and a path resetting unit that computes a parking path of from the stop position to the parking space, and sets the computed parking path as a new parking path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Hasejima, Takehito Ogata, Makoto Ishinoda, Shinya Tagawa
  • Patent number: 11342145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic switch, which comprises, a housing formed by a first housing part that is assembled with a second housing part, and at least one pyrotechnic actuator arranged in the housing, wherein at least one out of the first housing part or the second housing part comprises a metal reinforcement and a plastic body overmolded onto the metal reinforcement, wherein the plastic body comprises, a first portion made of a first plastic material, and a second portion made of a second plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Philippe Fernandez, Ludovic Lageat, Sebastien Cornec, Francois Gaudinat, Gildas Clech, Jean Champendal
  • Patent number: 11318903
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device includes a seat belt device having a variable force limiter mechanism that can change a force limiter load that an occupant who is sitting on a vehicle seat receives from a seat belt at a time of a frontal collision of a vehicle, an airbag device that deploys an airbag toward the front of the occupant at the time of the frontal collision, a seating position detection unit that detects a seating position at which the occupant is seated, and a control unit that reduces the force limiter load if, compared to a case in which the occupant is positioned within a standard seating region, the seating position of the occupant detected by the seating position detection unit is further toward a vehicle rear than the standard seating region and is within an airbag protection region in which the occupant is protected by the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Sekizuka
  • Patent number: 11312376
    Abstract: A device for lateral guidance assistance for a vehicle includes a programmable electronic control unit and a plurality of distance sensors configured to capture obstacles to a side of and/or behind the vehicle within one or more defined warning regions. The device also includes an optical sensor device configured to capture a lane width of a current lane and/or a lane width of a neighboring lane. The programmable electronic control unit is configured such that at least one of the defined warning regions is defined in a temporally and/or spatially variable manner based on the lane width of the current lane and/or the neighboring lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tobias Rothmund, Tom Kasseckert, Matthias Beck
  • Patent number: 11299025
    Abstract: A motor vehicle comprises an impact protection device for a battery (1) mounted under the floor of the vehicle and separated from an exhaust muffler (2) by an intermediate heat shield (3), wherein, the device comprises a cushion (4) fastened opposite the battery (1) on the heat shield (3), the cushion (4) being able to deform when the muffler (2) moves forward contacting the battery (1) in order to absorb the kinetic energy resulting from an impact on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventors: Nicolas Tropee, Ludovic Meresse
  • Patent number: 11292445
    Abstract: A method for operating an electropneumatic parking brake system of a vehicle combination, which includes a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle, includes activating, after a parking operation and braking of the vehicle combination, a trailer check function in a standstill state. The trailer check function enables a check as to whether, in the case of a decrease in the braking action of the trailer vehicle, the vehicle combination can be held in a stationary manner solely by way of the braking action of a parking brake of the tractor vehicle. The trailer check function is carried out automatically when a vehicle combination has been braked in a stationary manner independently by way of an automatic parking function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventors: Uwe Bensch, Axel Gau, Alexander Wendlandt, Torsten Franke
  • Patent number: 11294344
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer program product, and/or system are described that determine an event, actuate a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including one or more tension-bearing members, and dissipate at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Deep Science, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Cameron Myhrvold, Conor L. Myhrvold, Nathan P. Myhrvold, John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 11292413
    Abstract: A means of locomotion, an arrangement as well as a device (1) for evaluating a signal of an airbag control unit (2) are being put forward. The device (1) comprises a first connection (3) for electrically contacting an output of the airbag control unit (2), a rectifier (5) that is electrically connected to the first connection (3), a temperature-compensated driver (6) that is connected to an output of the rectifier (6) [sic], and a member (7) for the galvanic decoupling of an output of the driver (6), having an output unit (8). The rectifier (6) provides polarity reversal protection for the first connection (3) so that the driver (6) receives an output signal from the airbag control unit (2) essentially identically, independently of its polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jochen Juhl, Jochen Hollinger
  • Patent number: 11292402
    Abstract: A deterioration regeneration system includes a pre-post regeneration determination part configured to determine whether or not to execute, with respect to an electric contact to which an electrical or mechanical first external action is applied during an operation of a later-stage device, a deterioration regeneration process of regenerating a connection performance that has been deteriorated due to an increase in a contact resistance of the electric contact, and a deterioration regeneration part configured to execute a process of removing a foreign object present at the electric contact by applying a second external action to the electric contact, as the deterioration regeneration process, according to the determined result from the pre-post regeneration determination part, the second external action being of the same kind as the first external action and larger than the first external action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Toyoizumi, Kenzo Tanaka, Yoshitaka Ito
  • Patent number: 11279303
    Abstract: A system for detecting a motion of an occupant seated in a vehicle. The system includes a sensing electrode located proximate to the occupant and configured to transmit a signal representative of a current in the sensing electrode. The system also includes a receiver including a controller and coupled to an antenna. The receiver is configured to detect a change in the transmitted signal based on a presence of the occupant and a set detection condition, and generate detection information based on the set detection condition. The controller is configured to change a state of a vehicle component based on the generated detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Joyson Safely Systems Acquisition LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lisseman, Len Cech
  • Patent number: 11274791
    Abstract: A proactive, prophylactic vehicle fluid capture system that embodies an inflatable air-diaper disposed under the engine. The inflatable air-diaper is deployed upon an indication of a sufficient crash event, wherein the deployed inflatable air-diaper catches the above-mentioned vehicular fluid prior to contact with the surrounding ground, thereby lessening the negative environmental impact and clean-up time resulting from the crash event. The inflatable air-diaper may deploy with peripheral sidewalls to facilitate the retention of the hazardous fluid on the inflatable air-diaper. The inflatable air-diaper is made of material adapted to absorb these hazardous vehicular fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Francis Pelc, Stanley Pelc
  • Patent number: 11274420
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a console box for an excavator to prevent malfunction and to be automatically moved to a designated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: Gugsoo An, Youngmin Ahn, Yelim Ahn
  • Patent number: 11273777
    Abstract: A power supply control apparatus is applied to a power supply system. The power supply system includes: a first storage battery and a second storage battery that are connected in parallel to a power generator; and a switch that is provided further towards the first storage battery side than a connection point with the power generator on an electrical path that connects the first storage battery and the second storage battery is. A power supply control apparatus is started in accompaniment with input of a startup signal from outside and controls open and closed states of the switch. The power supply control apparatus includes: an abnormality determining unit that determines whether a startup signal abnormality in which the startup signal has not been received by the power supply control apparatus in a normal manner has occurred; and an abnormality operating unit that operates the switch to a closed state when the startup signal abnormality is determined to have occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Takahashi, Yamato Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 11253733
    Abstract: A vehicle window glass shear system and method for causing shearing breakage of vehicle window glass under emergency conditions by a concealed and easily operated system, having a concealed handle unit having a handle, a handle-unit bracket, and a handle-unit cable brace, having a concealed shear unit mounted on the bottom edge of the vehicle window with a shear-unit bracket, window-clamping plate, and fasteners, a shear bolt with a piercing point, a shear drive wheel, and a shear-unit cable brace, and having a cable within a cable sleeve transferring the activation force from the handle unit to the shear unit, driving the shear bolt toward the vehicle window and driving the piercing point into the vehicle window causing shearing breakage of the window glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: John Hirsius
  • Patent number: 11167673
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may include a seat body having a seat base and a backrest arranged to extend upward from the base. The seat body may include an exterior covering. The vehicle seat may further include a comfort system disposed within the seat body and including a heating track configured to emit heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Carsten Reith, Claudia Worlitz, Ludger Oel, Detlef E. B. Ricken, Michael Windhorst, Anne-Sophie Cabouillet
  • Patent number: 11142095
    Abstract: A control system for a seat of a vehicle, the control system includes: a seat actuator disposed at each of seats in the vehicle to implement motions of the seats including folding, reclining, sliding, or rotating of the seats; a motion calculator calculating types and degrees of motions of the seats based on information about a passenger and an object received from a user; and a driving controller enabling all of the passenger and the object input by the user to be loaded by controlling the seat actuators in accordance with a calculation result of the motion calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eun Sue Kim, Dae Ig Jung, Seung Hyeok Chang, Hong Heui Lee
  • Patent number: 11124163
    Abstract: A pedestrian crosswalk through which a subject vehicle is expected to pass is specified as a target pedestrian crosswalk. Road configurations close to the target pedestrian crosswalk are detected. Traffic lines of moving objects crossing the target pedestrian crosswalk are estimated on the basis of the road configurations. An area including the estimated traffic lines is set as a detection area of a detector detecting objects around the subject vehicle. The moving objects are detected by the detector in the detection area. Travel of the subject vehicle is controlled on the basis of a detection result of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Fujita, Motonobu Aoki, Yohei Mishina
  • Patent number: 11117514
    Abstract: A motor vehicle warning system for use with a stationary motor vehicle that informs on-coming traffic of the presence of the stationary motor vehicle and in turn alerts outside workers near the stationary motor vehicle that nearby on-coming traffic is approaching. The warning system includes a warning arm that extends away from the motor vehicle in use, lights on the warning arm to warn on-coming traffic of the stationary motor vehicle, and a siren that alerts workers outside of the motor vehicle of the presence of on-coming motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Heath White