Plural Conditions Patents (Class 340/459)
  • Patent number: 11961342
    Abstract: A driving assistance device includes a malfunction detection unit configured to detect a plurality of malfunctions in devices mounted on a vehicle, a candidate selection unit configured to select candidates for a plurality of actions urged on a driver in accordance with the plural malfunctions detected by the malfunction detection unit, a priority determination unit configured to choose a candidate having a higher priority as an action urged on the driver from the candidates for the plural actions selected by the candidate selection unit, and an information unit configured to inform the driver of the action to be urged on the driver chosen by the priority determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Iijima, Yuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 11953586
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to select a scanning rate for a first sensor of a vehicle based on at least one of data related to a current time or data related to a location of the vehicle; instruct the first sensor to run at the selected scanning rate; in response to receiving data from the first sensor indicating a newly present object, turn on a second sensor; and then record data from the second sensor. The second sensor has a higher power draw than the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Donald Paul Bilger, Tarik Safir, Sam Harris
  • Patent number: 11919391
    Abstract: An upper display region and a lower display region are provided on a display surface of a single display device used for a combination meter device or the like for a vehicle, and by reflecting a light image of a real image displayed in the lower display region by a reflecting member and projecting the light image in a state of overlapping the upper display region, a virtual image and a portion of the real image are simultaneously displayed to be overlapped on the same region. By arranging the lower display region in a place that becomes a blind spot of a structure such as a steering wheel, it is possible to effectively utilize a space of the blind spot for performing display. By allowing an inclination angle of the reflecting member to be adjusted, position alignment between a region of the real image and a region of the virtual image is implemented even when a viewpoint EP position is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 11864118
    Abstract: An apparatus for powering a low power communication module via a debug interface is provided. By way of example, a wireless communication device includes a low power communication module, an inverting power supply coupled to the low power communication module, a comparator coupled to the inverting power supply, and an input buffer including a capacitor and a diode. The input buffer is coupled to the comparator and is configured to store energy from a transmission signal line of a debug interface of another device. The comparator is configured to enable the inverting power supply to supply power when an amount of energy stored reaches a minimum threshold and switch off the power supply if a power demand is not sustainable or runs the TX line above a predetermined minimum space voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AIMVALLEY B.V.
    Inventors: Henk Helmerhorst, Bastiaan Pecht, Niels Schipper
  • Patent number: 11848714
    Abstract: Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a mobile device to address maximum permissible exposure (MPE) proximity sensor failure. A mobile device may include a maximum permissible exposure (MPE) sensor control unit to actively monitor signals associated with proper operation of the MPE proximity sensors. Upon detecting an anomaly in any of these signals, such as a value drop below a given threshold, an MPE sensor control Unit will inform an AP (application processor, or other processor or controller) which in turn trigger display of a warning message on the display of the mobile device or the issuance of other warnings such an audible or tactile alert to inform the end user about the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) proximity sensor malfunction and/or notify the end use of a condition resulting in deactivation of the 5G new radio transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto Rimini
  • Patent number: 11794675
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using image analysis techniques to facilitate adjustments to vehicle components are disclosed. According to aspects, a computing device may access and analyze image data depicting an individual(s) within a vehicle, and in particular determine a positioning of the individual(s) within the vehicle. Based on the positioning, the computing device may determine how to adjust a vehicle component(s) to its optimal configuration, and may facilitate adjustment of the vehicle component(s) accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Yuntao Li, Dingchao Zhang, Jeffrey S. Myers
  • Patent number: 11787330
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp system includes an illuminance variable lamp, a lamp-mounted camera, and a lamp control unit. After acquiring position information of a low accuracy region from a vehicle control unit, the lamp control unit acquires illuminance of the low accuracy region by referring to information acquired by the lamp-mounted camera, controls the illuminance variable lamp so as to increase the illuminance of the low accuracy region if the illuminance of the low accuracy region is less than a threshold, and/or controls the illuminance variable lamp so as to decrease the illuminance of the low accuracy region if the illuminance of the low accuracy region is equal to or greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Watano, Takao Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11773960
    Abstract: A linear transmission device with capability of real-time monitoring of an amount of a lubricant includes a long shaft, a moving part, a lubricating device and a detecting module. The lubricating device includes a shell and an oil containing unit. The shell is formed with a first accommodating space. The oil containing unit is disposed in the first accommodating space and configured to provide the lubricant to an outer surface of the long shaft. The detecting module includes a temperature sensing unit and a control unit. The temperature sensing unit is configured to detect a current temperature of the oil containing unit. The control unit is connected with the temperature sensing unit and configured to: receive the current temperature; calculate a remaining amount of the lubricant of the oil containing unit based on the current temperature and an oil releasing model; and output the remaining amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Wei-Lun Liu, Yu-Hsin Lin, Chi-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11770091
    Abstract: A three-phase digital power inverter system controlled by a MCU thereof is provided, wherein during a constant current power source for accelerator control in combination with a three-wire potentiometer are inputted to a MCU for qualification and calculation base on a computation algorithm to obtain data, an accelerator line state and a brake line state are detected simultaneously for whether they are working well individually, so as to effectively prevent any electrical failure due to mechanical failure of the accelerator or the brake or open circuit/short circuit of the accelerator line or the brake line that may cause accident due to out of control of the accelerator or brake respectively. These are the potential risk factors of electric motor vehicles while the present invention can substantially eliminate such potential factor and provide a more reliable performance of electric motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Michael Liu
  • Patent number: 11725706
    Abstract: A wear indication device (10) for a vehicle brake (1), preferably a disc brake of a commercial vehicle, for indicating a wear condition of a brake pad (20) comprising: a fixing section (12) for fixing the wear indication device (10) to a brake pad back plate (30), a sensor head (14) associated to the fixing section (12), and a channel (16) for receiving a signal cable (40) within the sensor head (14). According to the invention, the channel (16) is configured to receive two signal cables (40?, 40?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
    Inventor: Wieslaw Strzala
  • Patent number: 11710555
    Abstract: A computer-implemented medical system is provided. The system includes a docking station and a mobile machine. The system is configured to perform operations comprising: receiving, by the mobile machine and from a user, a request to transport the mobile machine to a target location to perform a medical treatment; automatically navigating the mobile machine to the target location; performing, by the mobile machine, the medical treatment on a patient; determining, by the mobile machine, that the medical treatment is completed and the mobile machine is disconnected from the patient; automatically navigating the mobile machine to a stationary docking station of the medical system; and determining that the mobile machine is connected to the docking station through one or more connectors, and in response, receiving, by the mobile machine, at least one of an electrical charge, a refill of one or more supplies, a cleaning, or a drain of waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David Yuds, Samiullah K. Durrani
  • Patent number: 11699368
    Abstract: A head-up display for displaying graphics upon a windscreen of a vehicle includes a graphic projection module for generating one or more graphic images upon the windscreen of the vehicle, a forward-facing camera collecting image data representative of a view of a surrounding environment of the vehicle visible through the windscreen, an ambient light sensor detecting a level of ambient light present in the surrounding environment of the vehicle, and one or more controllers in electronic communication with the graphic projection module, the forward-facing camera, and the ambient light sensor. The one or more controllers executes instructions to determine the level of ambient light present in the surrounding environment of the vehicle based on an ambient light signal, and adjusts a saturation level of one or more colors of the one or more graphic images generated by the graphic projection module based on the level of ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kai-Han Chang, Thomas A. Seder
  • Patent number: 11675358
    Abstract: A vehicular autonomous driving system includes a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus, an autonomous driving (AD) controller coupled to the TDM bus, and a plurality of AD sensors coupled to the TDM bus. The AD sensors are configured to collect AD data and transmit collected AD data to the AD controller on the TDM bus in an assigned time slot at a first power level. A first AD sensor of the plurality of AD sensors is configured to, based upon collected AD data, detect an AD emergency event. In response to the detection, the first AD sensor is configured to transmit an AD emergency message on the TDM bus in a non-assigned time slot and at a second power level that exceeds the first power level. The AD sensor may transmit the AD emergency message in a particular sub-slot of the non-assigned time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Cave
  • Patent number: 11654915
    Abstract: Provided is a method of generating vehicle control data. The method is applied to a vehicle configured to select one of a plurality of traveling control modes and is executed by a processor in a state in which relationship definition data defining a relationship between a state of the vehicle and an action variable as a variable relating to an operation of electronic equipment in the vehicle is stored in a memory. The method includes operation processing for operating the electronic equipment, acquisition processing for acquiring a detection value of a sensor configured to detect the state of the vehicle, reward calculation processing for providing reward, and update processing for updating the relationship definition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohsuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Patent number: 11623526
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical device including a battery, and a battery management system. The battery management system includes a controller in electrical communication with a pressure sensor to monitor the state of health of the battery. The controller applies a method for determining the state of health that uses a non-electrical (mechanical) signal of force measurements combined with incremental capacity analysis to estimate the capacity fading and other health indicators of the battery with better precision than existing methods. The pressure sensor may provide the force measurement signal to the controller, which may determine which incremental capacity curve based on force to use for the particular battery. The controller then executes a program utilizing the data from the pressure sensor and the stored incremental capacity curves based on force to estimate the capacity fading and signal a user with the state of health percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Anna G. Stefanopoulou, Nassim Abdul Samad, Youngki Kim, Jason B. Siegel
  • Patent number: 11597338
    Abstract: The vehicle control apparatus for controlling the electronic device provided in the vehicle includes: an operation state detection unit for detecting at least one operation state of the vehicle; a plurality of internal circuits provided for operating the electronic device; and an energization control unit that energizes at least one of the internal circuits determined based on the at least one operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeo Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 11584232
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable storage media provide a flexible and variability-accommodating instrument cluster for display on an in-vehicle screen and a user experience interaction model for providing vehicle status-related information via the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster may be shown in a minimized content view, basic content view, or enhanced content view, wherein each content view may include a varying range of displayed information based on a layout template. The driver can easily scroll between the various content views while driving. The instrument cluster may alternatively be shown in a favorites view, amongst a plurality of preconfigured favorites views associated with different drivers, the favorites view including a user-selected set of gauges in a user-selected layout. A steering wheel-based shortcut control is provided that can be assigned to a changeable parameter and used to toggle the parameter in association with an instrument cluster display element while driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Steven Karl Jahns, Ryan Anthony Reed, Jonathan Scott Duncan, Derek Scott Sancer, Jon Forrest Acton, Jacob Michael White, David Leetz, Steven Robert Rainey, Mark Andrew Wagner, Raeef Hesham Wahib Barsoum, Anna-Magdalena Schatz, Tobias Graening, Christina Nenke, Marc George Wilczak, Nicole Johnson
  • Patent number: 11557275
    Abstract: A voice system of a moving machine is a voice system of a moving machine driven by a driver who is exposed to an outside of the moving machine and includes: a noise estimating section which estimates a future noise state based on information related to a noise generation factor; and a voice control section which changes an attribute of voice in accordance with the estimated noise state, the voice being voice to be output to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Kinuhata, Daisuke Kawai, Shohei Terai, Hisanosuke Kawada, Hirotoshi Shimura
  • Patent number: 11554716
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to providing visual feedback on a steering apparatus using a pscyhophysical model. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a difference between a current angle of a steering apparatus and a recommended angle of the steering apparatus. The method further includes determining an appearance parameter based upon the difference and a psychophysical model, wherein the psychophysical model optimizes a relationship between perceived light and the difference such that a change in the difference produces a proportional change in the perceived light. The method further includes illuminating a region of the steering apparatus with light based upon the appearance parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: Toyota Research Institute, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Manuel Ludwig Kuehner, Guillermo Pita Gil
  • Patent number: 11533114
    Abstract: Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a mobile device to address maximum permissible exposure (MPE) proximity sensor failure. A mobile device may include a maximum permissible exposure (MPE) sensor control unit to actively monitor signals associated with proper operation of the MPE proximity sensors. Upon detecting an anomaly in any of these signals, such as a value drop below a given threshold, an MPE sensor control Unit will inform an AP (application processor, or other processor or controller) which in turn trigger display of a warning message on the display of the mobile device or the issuance of other warnings such an audible or tactile alert to inform the end user about the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) proximity sensor malfunction and/or notify the end use of a condition resulting in deactivation of the 5G new radio transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto Rimini
  • Patent number: 11338816
    Abstract: A data map is modeled to generate a modeled data map, the data map including a calibration to control vehicle operation over various weather conditions encountered by a vehicle, the modeled data map characterizing data elements of the data map according to a mathematical model. The modeled data map is sent to the vehicle to expand into at least a portion of the data map to control the vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 11220275
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cabin system configured to acquire first information about a first user and second information about a second user through a communication device, to specify each of the first user and the second user based on image data received from an internal camera or an external camera, to provide a control signal to a display or a speaker such that content is provided to a user based on an electrical signal generated by an input device, to determine a first boarding seat of the first user among seats according to the first information and to determine a second boarding seat of the second user among the seats according to the second information, and to determine the posture of the first boarding seat according to the first information and to determine the posture of the second boarding seat according to the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Inyoung Hwang, Kyoungha Lee, Kangmin Kim
  • Patent number: 11120642
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to functional safety critical audio system for autonomous and industrial applications are described. In an embodiment, safety island logic circuitry transmits an enable signal to cause initiation of a functional safety test for an audio component in a vehicle. Audio processing logic circuitry receives the enable signal and causes activation of power amplifier logic circuitry, in response to the enable signal, to drive the audio component in accordance with an audio alert test signal. The audio component includes a Parametric Acoustic Array (PAA) transducer. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jagannadha Rao Rapeta, Asad Azam, Amit Kumar Srivastava
  • Patent number: 11062536
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive report of a vehicle part malfunction, along with vehicle travel history covering at least a predefined time period. The processor is also configured to obtain condition data relating to environmental conditions encountered by the vehicle during the travel history. The processor is further configured to compare the obtained condition data to other condition data obtained from other vehicles reporting the same part malfunction. And the processor is configured to create a malfunction likelihood record for the vehicle part, including an association with a condition occurring over a threshold percentage of times with regards to all obtained condition data relating to the part malfunction and an indicator of a likely failure when a vehicle encounters the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pankaj Kumar, Imad Hassan Makki, Fakhreddine Landolsi, Hassene Jammoussi
  • Patent number: 10876274
    Abstract: To provide an identification system for a work machine which is capable of preventing a setting error, the identification system for a work machine includes: a main control unit to control the entirety of a work machine; and a plurality of power control units to control components of the work machine. The main control unit acquires information about the entire vehicle body of the work machine. Each of the power control units acquires different information about a state of one of the components from that acquired by the other power control units, on the basis of a installation site of the power control unit installed on the work machine. In addition, the power control unit sets a function of the power control unit on the basis of the information about the state and the information about the entire vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Shibata, Yuichiro Morita, Taiki Aizawa, Katsumasa Uji
  • Patent number: 10867588
    Abstract: Vehicle information is displayed on a deformable display of an instrument cluster for a motor vehicle. The instrument cluster includes the deformable display, a support structure, at least one sensor element, and at least one movement element. The deformable display is arranged on the support structure and the support structure is movable from a first position into a second position by using the at least one movement element, based on environmental influences detected by the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jacques Hélot, Joris Mertens, Immo Redeker
  • Patent number: 10857972
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle including a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a steering system, and a computing system that is in communication with the vehicle propulsion system, the brake system, and the steering system. The computing system can receive an indication an account associated with a passenger of the autonomous vehicle for a trip of the autonomous vehicle includes a predefined parent-child link with a second account. The predefined parent-child link indicates the account associated with the passenger is subordinate to the second account and a parent-child relationship exists between the passenger and a person associated with the second account. Responsive to receiving the indication of the parent-child link and the passenger being the child in the parent-child relationship, the computing system can control the autonomous vehicle to enable a linked account feature that would otherwise be disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Jacqueline Mary Shannon, Stephanie Olivia Engle, Mallory McMillan, Jessica Davies, Jessica Uelmen
  • Patent number: 10836396
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an engine, a motor and a meter display device. The hybrid vehicle is configured to display a tachometer on the meter display device in response to selection of a sport mode in a CS mode and to display a power meter on the meter display device irrespective of selection of the sport mode in a CD mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Higa
  • Patent number: 10809075
    Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system having mileage mechanism includes providing a subtotal mileage for a previous location reading along a route; calculating an incremental mileage at a current location reading from the previous location reading; and calculating a total mileage based on the subtotal mileage and the incremental mileage for displaying on a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Nextraq LLC
    Inventor: Jinsong Hu
  • Patent number: 10703270
    Abstract: Vehicle parking brake warning systems are disclosed herein. In one implementation, a vehicle parking brake warning system may include a relay coupled to an operator warning system. The relay including a relay switch and a coil, the relay switch conductively couple the operator warning system to ground when closed, and the coil to cause the relay switch to open when an electrical current is flowing through the coil, the coil coupled to a first coil node and a second coil node. A brake status switch that couples the first coil node to a voltage source when closed. A driver status switch that couples the second coil node to ground when closed. And a capacitor coupled to the first coil node and the second coil node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SBS, Incorporated
    Inventors: Frank Williams, Bannion Frank Allen
  • Patent number: 10704485
    Abstract: A lean operation fault detection and isolation (FDI) technique involves receiving, from a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor, a measured MAP, detecting a lean operation fault where an engine is operating with a lean air/fuel ratio, estimating, using an observer, (i) an air/fuel ratio of an exhaust gas produced by the engine and (ii) the MAP, monitoring first and second residual values indicative of differences between (i) the estimated air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas and a measured air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gas from an exhaust O2 sensor and (ii) the estimated MAP and the measured MAP from the MAP sensor, respectively, and, based on the monitoring of the first and second residual values, determining which of (i) an air intake of the engine, (ii) the exhaust O2 sensor, and (iii) a fuel injector of the engine is malfunctioning and causing the lean operation fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Atheel Saleem
  • Patent number: 10703256
    Abstract: A method (100) for reducing headlight glare experienced by a user of a vehicle (10), the vehicle (10) comprising a headlight system (12) having at least one headlight (30, 32) operable to illuminate an environment external to the vehicle, the method (100) comprising: illuminating the environment external to the vehicle; obtaining (102) image data of the illuminated environment; performing (146) a first analysis of brightness values of the image data to identify reflective surfaces that may cause glare; performing (148) a second analysis of brightness values of the image data to categorise the identified reflective surfaces into at least two categories; and adjusting (149) the light output from the at least one headlight (30, 32) in the direction of each identified reflective surface in dependence on the category of that reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Ridler, Irene Funez, Shammika Wickramasinghe
  • Patent number: 10636382
    Abstract: A disclosed adjustable display assembly includes a display viewable by a vehicle occupant, a mount supporting the display relative to the vehicle occupant. The mount is movable to adjust a position of the display relative to the vehicle occupant. A controller receives information utilized to determine an orientation of the display that would result in a reflection effecting viewing of the display by the vehicle occupant and commanding movement of the mount to eliminate reflections on the display viewable by the vehicle occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Tian Bai
  • Patent number: 10583781
    Abstract: A driving assistance system includes a database configured to store numbers of preset criteria concerning various driving conditions, a sensor, configured to sense environmental data surrounding a vehicle; a thermal image capturing device, configured to capture a thermal images surrounding the vehicle; a display device; and a processor, coupled to the sensor, the thermal image capturing device and the display device. The processor compares the environmental data against the preset criteria to determine the driving condition of the vehicle. The display device automatically display thermal images to inform and provide precautions to the driver if the driving condition indicates that the driver's vision is adversely affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignees: Shanghai XPT Technology Limited, Mindtronic AI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mu-Jen Huang, Ya-Li Tai, Yu-Sian Jiang
  • Patent number: 10453084
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a number of vehicle occupants based at least in part on sensor data gathered by one or more in-vehicle sensors are disclosed. The number of vehicle occupants may be determined, at least in part, by an in-vehicle system associated with the vehicle. Vehicle occupancy information indicative of the number of vehicle occupants may be transmitted to facilitate identification of one or more incentives based at least in part on the vehicle occupancy information. The incentive(s) may include a reduction in a fee associated with operation of the vehicle such as a discounted toll amount, an elimination of a fee, an incentive payment, a discount associated with a product or service offering, and so forth. A tolling system ma be provided for receiving the vehicle occupancy information and determining a toll amount based at least in part on the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexandra Zafiroglu, Jennifer Healey
  • Patent number: 10434929
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp control device includes an information acquisition unit that acquires snowfall information, and a controller that controls a vehicle lamp capable of changing a formation position of a light distribution pattern. The controller controls the vehicle lamp so as to lower the formation position from a predetermined reference position when snowfall is perceived, and when the snowfall amount is larger than a predetermined value, the controller substantially lowers the formation position as compared with the formation position when the snowfall amount is smaller than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shibata
  • Patent number: 10409058
    Abstract: An in-vehicle display system includes: display apparatuses that are mounted in a vehicle; and a single control apparatus that is configured to generate image information, output the image information to assigned one of the display apparatuses, and cause a display apparatus assigned to display the image information. A certain display apparatus that is at least one of the display apparatuses includes a first detection portion configured to detect malfunction, a second detection portion configured to detect malfunction of the control apparatus, a transmission portion configured to transmit detection information indicating the malfunction of the certain display apparatus, and a substitute control portion configured to acquire a vehicle signal, generate image information, and display the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shun Tomioka
  • Patent number: 10377189
    Abstract: A preliminary positioning method for a TPMS uses a receiver to receive a tire pressure signal, then obtains the ID code contained in the obtained tire pressure signal, then compares the ID code with the corresponding ID codes stored in the database, and defines the ID code as a known ID code, when the ID code is found to match with one of the corresponding ID codes prestored in the database. Repeating the above steps until the ID codes of all received tire pressure signals all have been compared. If the number of the known ID codes is equal to the number of the sensors, the known ID codes are designated as specific tires according to an indication of the respective tire pressure signals, so that the positioning function can be achieved in a short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ORANGE ELECTRONIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hong-Chih You, Jia-Cong Su, Xi-Wen Wu
  • Patent number: 10310323
    Abstract: A display cluster having an active state and an inactive state includes a front cover with an outer surface facing outwardly toward a viewer and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. An active display region with a display screen to generate an image and a first backlight may be surrounded by a peripheral region including a second backlight. One or more of the backlights may illuminate with the display cluster in the active state. A partial mirror may be disposed on the inner surface of the front cover to allow the display light from the active display region to pass outwardly therethrough and to block incident light from passing therethrough. The partial mirror may prevent reflections from one or more structures located therebeyond, away from the viewer, and may thereby present a uniform appearance between the active display region and the peripheral region with the display cluster in the inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, INC.
    Inventors: Marcus Walter Koch, Philip Regez, Alexandra Ledermann, Belinda Berns
  • Patent number: 10249112
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to grasp information regarding the state of a vehicle (for example, an automobile) that cannot be obtained from an OBD, and to monitor the state of the vehicle. An aspect of the present invention includes: a state estimation unit that estimates the state quantities of a monitoring-target vehicle based on sensor data obtained from sensors mounted on a mobile information terminal in the monitoring-target vehicle using a state estimation device that has learned the relationship between sensor data obtained from sensors mounted on a mobile information terminal in an arbitrary vehicle and state quantities of the arbitrary vehicle in advance; a state evaluation unit that executes evaluation regarding a state of the monitoring-target vehicle on the basis of the estimated state quantities of the monitoring-target vehicle; and an evaluation result output unit that outputs a result of the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Muto, Mariko Okude, Takehisa Nishida, Masayoshi Ishikawa, Atsushi Katou
  • Patent number: 10246004
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight control apparatus controls headlights of a vehicle including LEDs. The vehicle headlight control apparatus includes: drivers and each of which gradually changes a luminance of the LEDs between a predetermined on state and a predetermined off state over a switching time period; and a lamp ECU that determines the switching time period in a changeable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryu Mizuno, Shinichi Futamura, Tatsuya Takagaki, Takatoshi Nakagawa, Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Takao Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10210679
    Abstract: A method for automatic mileage tracking using a mobile device may include establishing a wireless connection between the mobile device and a vehicle, and executing mileage tracking to determine a total mileage for a current trip. The method may also include defining a trip type for the current trip based on (i) a time period in which the current trip occurs and (ii) a user-specific set of trip categorization rules that specifies one or more time periods designated for one or more respective trip types. The method may further include displaying the total mileage for the current trip to the user along with an indication of the trip type defined for the current trip, and/or submitting via a network, for storage in a database, the total mileage and the indication of the trip type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Joe Higgs, Corly Leung, Natalie Nelson, Ryan Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10160472
    Abstract: A steering column assembly is provided. The assembly includes a column shaft rotatable about an axis and configured to couple to a steering wheel rim and a hub support configured to be non-rotatably coupled to a support structure of the vehicle. A stationary hub is coupled to the hub support, the steering wheel rim being rotatable relative to the stationary hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joen C. Bodtker, Eric D. Pattok
  • Patent number: 10140956
    Abstract: A display control apparatus assigning display images to multiple areas of a vehicle-mounted display is disclosed. The display control apparatus stores area relationship information for each of the areas and image relationship information for each of the display images. Of two display images related to each other, the display control apparatus determines that one display image belongs to a first image group and the other display image belongs to a second image group. The display control apparatus assigns the one display image to the areas by performing a predetermined comparison operation, and then assigns the other display image to the areas based on the area assigned the one display image and the area relationship information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ueda, Shigeo Katoh, Hitoshi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10113287
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing watering or non-watering of a specific area of soil through a first plurality of irrigation valves (42). Specific irrigation parameters are measured at the specific area of soil through a second plurality of field sensors (54). A controller unit (30) is interconnected to a third plurality of control units (18). Each control unit is connected to a specific irrigation valve and/or a specific field sensor. A type declaration providing communication under a second communication protocol is transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using a first communications protocol. A second set of instructions are transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using a second communications protocol. A first set of instructions are transmitted from the controller unit to the third plurality of control units using the first communications protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: S-RAIN CONTROL A/S
    Inventor: Tom Nohr Christiansen
  • Patent number: 9999176
    Abstract: A tailings conveyance including a housing having a front plate, a back plate, and a wall, and is adapted to recycle tailings through a cleaning system of a combine using at least one impeller. The wall of the housing describes an arc near the impeller paddles over a segment of a circle described by the circumference of the impeller. The wall further continues on a tangent away from the circle at a point of tangency. A sensor is positioned proximate to the point of tangency, and senses whether a space between the front plate and the back plate directly adjacent to the sensor is obscured by tailings as the impeller rotates. A controller or control system connected to the sensor calculates an amount or percentage of time the space between the front plate and the back plate directly adjacent to the sensor is obscured by tailings as the impeller rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Arno Leenknegt, Dré Waltherus Joachim Jongmans, Glenn Aesaert, Richard P. Strosser, Jeffrey D. Thomas, Curtis F. Hillen
  • Patent number: 9900747
    Abstract: Among other things, an operation of a computational device in identifying a type of a given trip of a person is improved. Historical information is stored about prior trips of the person or of other people or both. The historical information is based on other than recorded motion data of the trips. Features are derived about the prior trips from the historical information. Features indicative of the type of the given trip are identified by the computational device. The type of the given trip is identified based on the features derived from the historical information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cambridge Mobile Telematics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun-geun Park
  • Patent number: 9873375
    Abstract: A vehicle approach alert device includes: a memory memorizing a warning sound source data for emitting a warning sound from an external sound emitting unit and a canceling sound source data for emitting a canceling sound from an internal sound emitting unit. The canceling sound cancels the warning sound transmitted from the external sound emitting unit to inside of the vehicle. The vehicle approach alert device further includes: a control part configured to read the warning sound source data from the memory to cause the external sound emitting unit to emit the warning sound based on the warning sound source data, and to read the canceling sound source data from the memory to cause the internal sound emitting unit to emit the canceling sound based on the canceling sound source data to be synchronized with the warning sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ANDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukiko Matsubara, Hironari Tajimi, Chikara Yamamoto, Hiroshi Sakakibara, Osamu Tateyama
  • Patent number: 9779247
    Abstract: A hardware security module (HSM) transitions a first signal from a first state to a second state and transitions a second signal from a first state to a second state when a request to change boot code is received. In response to receipt of a boot request, the HSM, when the first signal is in the first state and the second signal is in the first state: does not execute the hash function; and maintains the second signal in the first state. An actuator control module, in response to the receipt of the boot request: executes the boot code when the second signal is in the first state; and does not execute the boot code when the second signal is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Freeescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Grimes, Richard Soja
  • Patent number: 9765668
    Abstract: A method for determining an amount of liquid removed from a tank per unit time includes discontinuously feeding the liquid to exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by at least feeding the liquid through an injection line into the exhaust gas, measuring pressures simultaneously at least at two points in the injection line and determining an amount of liquid fed in per unit time from the measured pressures. The amount of liquid removed between a first point in time and a second point in time is further derived by integrating the amounts of liquid removed per unit time over a period of time from the first point in time to the second point in time. The method allows the precise consumption of the liquid to be calculated and the remaining amount of liquid in the tank to be additionally determined. On-board diagnosis is further possible with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissiontechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Maus, Ludwig Wieres, Jan Hodgson, Rolf Brück