Determining Repair Needed To Correct Fault Patents (Class 701/31.6)
  • Patent number: 11715338
    Abstract: A plurality of fault conditions are detected on a communication network onboard a vehicle. The detected fault conditions, a fault condition importance, environment conditions, and a vehicle operation mode are input to a neural network that outputs rankings for respective detected fault conditions. The neural network is trained by determining a loss function based on a maximum likelihood principle that determines a probability distribution that ranks the detected fault conditions. The vehicle is operated based on the rankings of the fault conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dhanunjay Vejalla, David A. Symanow, Ray Siciak
  • Patent number: 11713692
    Abstract: A differential pressure transducer provides measurements for determining the restriction, updated in real time, of an inlet barrier filter for a turboshaft engine of an aircraft. The percentage of restriction of the air inlet barrier filter, which corresponds to the condition of the air inlet barrier filter, is determined as a function of mass air flow into the engine during operation. The restriction percentage is indicated on the instrument panel of the rotorcraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Dewey Parsons
  • Patent number: 11650585
    Abstract: Technologies are provided for detecting anomalous data at runtime in an autonomous vehicle component that is indicative of a byzantine fault, and providing real-time remediation. Input and output data streams of the vehicle component can be analyzed to generate a normal operational model for the vehicle component. Using the model, deviations from a known steady state of operation of the vehicle component can be detected and flagged as potential faults. The vehicle component can then be isolated and/or restarted. Additionally or alternatively, a specification can be defined that specifies allowed component interactions in the autonomous vehicle system. The specification can be used to generate tests that can be used to validate the functional correctness of the vehicle components. The specification can be used at run-time to detect component interactions that are not allowed. Such a disallowed component interaction can be detected using the specification and flagged as a potential fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: VAY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Nathan Aschbacher, Joshua John Hartung
  • Patent number: 11597380
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle drive unit is configured to control, based on an operating state of a vehicle, a vehicle drive unit having one or more power sources. The control device includes a processor and a storage device. The storage device is configured to store a vehicle front-rear acceleration prediction model being a machine learning model that receives as an input a command torque and outputs predicted acceleration. The processor is configured to: execute a predicted acceleration calculation process using the vehicle front-rear acceleration prediction model; and execute a command torque calculation process to calculate the command torque that minimizes an evaluation function. The evaluation function minimizes a deviation of the predicted acceleration with respect to a target vehicle front-rear acceleration according to a target torque based on the operating state while reducing a deviation of the command torque with respect to the target torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Honda
  • Patent number: 11481737
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that are related to generating repair orders, including vehicular repair orders. A computing device can receive repair-related information associated with a repair order. The repair-related information can include information about a first repair attribute of one or more repair attributes. The computing device can determine a first ontology related to the first repair attribute. The first ontology can be further related to a first template. The computing device can determine modified repair-related information by at least utilizing the first template to modify at least a first portion of the repair-related information that includes the information about the first repair attribute. The computing device can generate an output related to the repair order that includes the modified repair-related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Bradley R. Lewis, Brett Kelley
  • Patent number: 11427353
    Abstract: Systems and Methods are described for testing engine performance in-flight in an aircraft having a first engine and a second engine. The method comprises operating the first engine at a first power level in an output speed governing mode, operating the second engine at a second power level greater than the first power level in a core speed governing mode concurrently with the first engine operating at the first power level in the output speed governing mode, and performing an engine performance test on the second engine while the second engine is at the second power level in the core speed governing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Martin Drolet, Patrick Manoukian, Zachary Mounir Faty
  • Patent number: 11270859
    Abstract: Provided are: a submarine cable system with which it is possible, with a simple configuration, to acquire the state of each of a plurality of high-voltage relays in a branching device; the branching device; and a state response method therefor. The branching device comprises: a plurality of interlocking relays respectively corresponding to a plurality of high-voltage relays for switching feeding paths; a drive unit which supplies drive electric currents supplied to the plurality of high-voltage relays to the plurality of corresponding interlocking relays, respectively; a state detection unit which detects operation states of the plurality of interlocking relays as the operation states of the plurality of high-voltage relays; and a response unit which, on the basis of the result of detection of the operation states of the plurality of interlocking relays, transmits the operation states of the plurality of high-voltage relays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinari Takigawa
  • Patent number: 11113902
    Abstract: Provided is a method of completing an incomplete drive cycle test on a vehicle resulting from an incomplete vehicle monitoring process. The method includes establishing a communication link between a portable electronic device and a vehicle computer, and receiving initial diagnostic data from the vehicle computer using the portable electronic device. The initial diagnostic data is analyzed to identify the incomplete vehicle monitoring process and a driving procedure for resetting an incomplete vehicle monitor associated with the incomplete vehicle monitoring process. Live data is received from the vehicle computer while the vehicle is in motion to track progression through the driving procedure. The method may include receiving subsequent diagnostic data from the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. The subsequent diagnostic data is analyzed while the vehicle is in motion to determine if the status of the incomplete vehicle monitoring process transitions to complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Phuong Pham, Thuan Cong Huynh
  • Patent number: 10994624
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a power conversion device that controls charging or discharging of an electric-powered vehicle including a storage battery, and a cable relay connected to the power conversion device via a first cable, and connected to a connector connectable to the electric-powered vehicle, via a second cable; and the cable relay includes a power supply that provides a drive voltage to a solenoid included in the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 10949814
    Abstract: Intelligent vehicle repair estimating techniques include an image processing component that extracts image attributes from one or more images of a damaged vehicle, and utilizes the attributes to predict an initial set of parts that are globally-identified. Based on a jurisdiction associated with the damaged vehicle, the initial set of parts is transformed into a set of jurisdictionally-based repairs (e.g., parts, labor operations, time intervals, costs, etc.), which may be included in a draft vehicle repair estimate. An estimate refinement component iteratively modifies/refines the draft estimate using a machine-only loop nested within a larger human-machine loop, where system-generated modifications are incrementally incorporated into the draft within the smaller loop, and user-generated modifications are incrementally incorporated into the draft within the larger loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Nelson, John L. Haller, Christoph Plenio, Ehsan Mohammady Ardehaly, Ranjini Vaidyanathan
  • Patent number: 10682924
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for electric vehicle supply equipment, the electrical circuit including a pilot control signal unit structured to generate a pilot control signal having a state including one of a high state and a low state, an isolation unit electrically connected to the pilot control signal unit and a first ground and being structured to isolate the pilot control signal to generate an isolated pilot control signal, and an amplification unit electrically connected to the isolation unit, having a second ground, and being structured to amplify the isolated pilot control signal to generate a pilot signal. The isolation unit is structured to isolate the second ground of the amplification unit from the first ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Lin Yang, Tom Xiong, Kevin Zhong, Chuanchuan Zhuang, Xianzhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 10642256
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine that a first user will transition from a first climate-controllable environment to a second climate-controllable environment within a threshold time. The processor is also configured to compare first and second environment temperatures. The processor is further configured to detect whether a second-user control device is in communication with a second-environment climate control and set the second-environment climate control to a desired temperature, based on the first environment temperature, responsive to an absence of the second-user control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rocci, Michael David Beeney, Mark Anthony Rockwell
  • Patent number: 10627826
    Abstract: A system includes a modular wheelchair system and a guide robot. The modular wheelchair system includes an upper component, and a power base configured to detachably couple to the upper component. The guide robot is communicatively coupled to the power base and configured to provide navigation data to the power base. The guide robot identifies the power base, determines whether the upper component is detached from the power base, pairs with the power base in response to determination that the upper component is detached from the power base, and implements coordinated movement with the power base to transfer the power base to a predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Moore
  • Patent number: 10593217
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable a vertiport management platform for various aerial on demand mobility (ODM) stakeholders, including vertiport owners/operators, mobility service providers, aircraft fleet operators (e.g., electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) fleet operators, etc.), etc., to coordinate activities related to vertiports. Various embodiments enable vertiport capacity and ground operation coordination among aerial ODM stakeholders. Vertiport management platforms according to the various embodiments may support all aspects of aerial ODM services. Vertiport management platforms according to the various embodiments may enable flight operations at and between vertiports regardless as to the mobility service provider and/or customer facing network under which a flight is provided to a customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Peter F. Shannon
  • Patent number: 10352813
    Abstract: A method for correcting an ambient pressure measurement, a method for calculating a temperature, and an apparatus for affecting the same for an aircraft measuring system are provided. The methods include the steps of receiving an airspeed measurement from a laser sensor, receiving a total pressure measurement, and calculating an ambient pressure correction. A corrected ambient pressure or a calculated temperature may be calculated. The apparatus includes a laser sensor configured to provide an airspeed measurement, an aircraft instrument configured to provide a total pressure measurement, and a processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
    Inventors: William A Cooper, Scott Spuler, Mike Spowart, Dirk Richter
  • Patent number: 10269187
    Abstract: An example computer-implemented method of assessing damage to a structure includes receiving information of damage to the structure, and identifying a damage type for the damage. Following, the damage type and the information is compared with a first reference having allowable damage limits of the structure for that damage type, a second reference having damage repair information and associated damage repair processes, and a database having historical repair information for the damage type. Based on the damage type and the information indicating that the damage is outside the allowable damage limits described in the first reference and also does not have any associated damage repair process described in the second reference and the database does not include historical repair information for the damage type, expanded repair information is provided for a repair solution based on a material type and loading of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John Lin, Cong Duong, Russell Keller, Arne Lewis, Nicolette Yovanof, Kelly Greene, Carlyn Brewer
  • Patent number: 9959153
    Abstract: A method of assisting failure diagnosis in a system includes obtaining data including a probabilistic Bayesian Network describing a set of failures, a set of symptoms and probabilities of at least some of the symptoms being associated with at least some of the failures in a system. A cost value representing a cost associated with learning of a presence or absence of the symptom is obtained for at least some of the symptoms, as well as a plurality of information values, e.g. values representing measures of information gained by learning of the presence or absence of the symptom in relation to a respective plurality of the failures, associated with the symptom. The method then computes an information-for-cost value for the symptom based on the cost value and the plurality of information values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Richard Lee Bovey
  • Patent number: 9904908
    Abstract: A computer-assisted inspection system including an integrated software suite provides vehicle inspection services for various clients. Features include automatic grading, flat car part picking, easy to use, ability to run in an environment where the inspector has no constant connectivity to the network (no guaranteed access to the internet, full data replication, intermittent connectivity, synch back up), inspectors can be geographically separated (e.g., all over the country), and the system is installable over the internet to provide efficient installation to far-flung install sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Manheim Investments, Inc.
    Inventor: William Henry Couch
  • Patent number: 9521121
    Abstract: An asset management system is presented. The management system includes monitoring devices able to provide asset data across firewalls without requiring reconfiguration of the firewalls. The asset data pass through a forwarding service that instantiates a virtual tunnel comprising a communication channel between the monitoring devices and remote asset management engines. The asset management engines can also be located behind firewalls. As the management engines aggregate asset data, the engines can present one or more alerts via a management interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Lantronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl R. Miller, David L. Wagstaff
  • Patent number: 9448969
    Abstract: The present invention is directed a system including a vehicle monitoring device coupled to a vehicle configured to retrieve vehicle information from a vehicle diagnostic system of the vehicle and transmit the vehicle information to an off-board device via a communication relay device to receive the vehicle information and display the received vehicle information based at least in part on information of the one or more recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Darren Schumacher
  • Patent number: 9384529
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a display method, a computer program for performing steps of the display method and a display system. The display system (1) comprising: display means (2) comprising: a physical display unit (13) operable to display flight data, a display processing device (11), a graphics driver and a graphics processing device, fault detection means arranged to detect at least one fault condition associated to the display means (2). The display processing device is arranged to process a first task set associated to a normal operation mode and in parallel process a second task set associated to an emergency operation mode, wherein said display processing device is arranged to transmit information provided from the second task set to the graphics processing device in response to the detected at least one fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Torkel Danielsson, Jan Håkegård, Anders Gripsborn, Jörgen Larsson, Anders Pettersson
  • Patent number: 9361637
    Abstract: A request to diagnose a problem with an appliance is provided to a diagnostic system whereupon the diagnostic system functions to interpret the information indicative of the problem with the appliance to thereby normalize the information indicative of the problem with the appliance. The normalized information indicative of the problem with the appliance is then used to select from a knowledge base in which is maintained a plurality of solutions each having associated tags that function to identify concepts and values in a domain model a set of possible solutions for the problem with the appliance. As necessary, information within the set of possible solutions for the problem with the appliance is used to dynamically generate additional questions to thereby obtain further information indicative of the problem with the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SEARS BRANDS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Coon, Randy L. Menefee, David Newman Hutchinson, Timothy Ray Adkisson, Michael J. Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 9274511
    Abstract: In the present invention, on the basis of the results of determining whether or not a constituent element of a vehicle control device is malfunctioning, the malfunction determination logic for determining whether or not the vehicle control device as a whole is malfunctioning is caused to be easily reusable. This vehicle control device determines the level of functional malfunction of the vehicle control device on the basis of what combination of hardware configuring the vehicle control device is malfunctioning, and executes a failsafe function that is in accordance with the level of functional malfunction (see FIG. 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsunamichi Tsukidate, Tasuku Ishigooka, Fumio Narisawa, Wataru Nagaura, Hidetoshi Ogura
  • Patent number: 9262254
    Abstract: A system and method for managing information between a diagnostic tool and a networked computing device are provided. The system made up of a diagnostic tool for retrieving information from a vehicle under test, a networked computing device for providing information concerning the vehicle under test, and an information management device for assisting communication between the diagnostic tool and the networked computing device. Information is gathered by the diagnostic tool and sent to the information management device which determines how to process the information, which may then be sent to the networked computing device for processing and returning relevant data to the information management device, and potentially to the diagnostic tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Bertosa, Michael Gessner, James Fish
  • Patent number: 9229904
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for a vehicle component of a vehicle, an operating parameter of the vehicle component being detected during an operation of the vehicle and a status message corresponding to a status of the vehicle component being transmitted to a vehicle-external server as a function of the detected operating parameter for an analysis of the status message, a message based on the analysis of the status message being transmitted to a receiving device. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding diagnostic device, a corresponding diagnostic system, as well as a computer program is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Knoop, Martin Rous, Folko Flehmig
  • Patent number: 9215216
    Abstract: An asset management system is presented. The management system includes monitoring devices able to provide asset data across firewalls without requiring reconfiguration of the firewalls. The asset data pass through a forwarding service that instantiates a virtual tunnel comprising a communication channel between the monitoring devices and remote asset management engines. The asset management engines can also be located behind firewalls. As the management engines aggregate asset data, the engines can present one or more alerts via a management interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Lantronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl R. Miller, David L. Wagstaff
  • Patent number: 9169684
    Abstract: Embodiments of method performed in conjunction with a vehicular garage door control system are provided, as are embodiments of a vehicular garage door control system and a program product executed by a smartphone in communicating with such a garage door control system. The vehicular garage door control system may include an in-vehicle Garage Door Opener (GDO) signal generator, a wireless receiver, and a controller. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving, at the controller via the wireless receiver, a request signal originating from a remote electronic device requesting actuation of a GDO unit that, when actuated, moves a garage door between open and closed positions. In response to receipt of the request signal, a command signal is supplied from the controller to the in-vehicle GDO signal generator commanding the in-vehicle GDO signal generator to generate a GDO actuation signal requesting actuation of the GDO unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yue Fan, John C. Lyons
  • Patent number: 9158618
    Abstract: In a memory diagnostic method, a fixed domain stores data that are not changed during process execution. A variable domain stores data that are subject to writing during process execution. A fixed domain diagnostic part adds an error-detecting code to data to be stored in the fixed domain. The fixed domain diagnostic part compares an error-detecting code calculated from data read from the fixed domain with the added error-detecting code to determine whether there is any data error. A variable domain diagnostic part temporarily stores data stored in the variable domain in a memory region different from the memory storing the data, and writes known data in the variable domain where the temporarily stored data were stored. The variable domain diagnostic part reads data from the region where the known data were written and determines whether the data is the same as the written known data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamada, Yasuharu Itano, Etsuji Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9115673
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device that acquires the temperature of a catalyst disposed in an exhaust path, and detects an abnormal combustion that has occurred in a combustion chamber. The control device includes a gas control unit, which controls the amount of intake gas flowing into the combustion chamber and the temperature of exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst, and a fuel injection amount control unit, which controls the amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber. The control device also includes an abnormal combustion inhibition mode selection unit that chooses a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode in accordance with the catalyst temperature when the abnormal combustion is detected. The first mode causes the gas control unit to suppress the occurrence of the abnormal combustion while raising the catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sugihara
  • Patent number: 9104993
    Abstract: An asset management system is presented. The management system includes monitoring devices able to provide asset data across firewalls without requiring reconfiguration of the firewalls. The asset data pass through a forwarding service that instantiates a virtual tunnel comprising a communication channel between the monitoring devices and remote asset management engines. The asset management engines can also be located behind firewalls. As the management engines aggregate asset data, the engines can present one or more alerts via a management interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Lantronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl Miller, David Wagstaff
  • Patent number: 9084705
    Abstract: A collection of diagnostic and troubleshooting information associated with a power driven wheelchair is stored for access by a microcontroller to be displayed to a user to assist in troubleshooting the power driven wheelchair. A log of fault codes transmitted by various fault-detecting mechanisms is compiled. A user may request display of diagnostic information associated with a selected fault code. The operating instructions of a power driven wheelchair may be updated by using portable storage media onto which a latest version of operating instructions is loaded to transfer the updated operating instructions to wheelchair controller memory. The calibration of a power driven wheelchair can be simplified by providing functionality within the wheelchair controller to change calibration parameters or to transfer calibration parameters from portable storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Jaenke, Darryl Peters, Gary E. Chopcinski, Ricky J. McCullar
  • Patent number: 9063856
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems, methods, and computer-readable media electronic for detecting symptoms and determining an optimal remedy pattern for one or more faulty components of a device is disclosed. First the symptoms of the faulty device are detected and associated faulty components of the device are identified. Different tests are performed to confirm the status of the faulty components. Based on the historical data, cost information and remedy cost function an optimal remedy pattern is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Infosys Limited
    Inventors: Gopichand Agnihotram, Radha Krishna Pisipati
  • Patent number: 9026400
    Abstract: A method of processing system diagnostic data is provided for identifying likely device fix(s) associated with a diagnostic data, and identifying a repair procedure(s) for correcting the likely fix(s). The process receiving diagnostic data from a system onboard computer at a remote diagnostic database, the database being arranged to map system diagnostic data to possible vehicle fix(s). The possible device fix(s) are prioritized in accordance with ranked matches of the received diagnostic data to combinations of diagnostic data stored in a prior experience database. The prior experience database having an identified fix associated with each stored combination of diagnostic data. The fix associated with the highest ranked combination of diagnostic data is identified as the most likely fix. The most likely fix is mapped to a system repair database, the most likely fix being directly mapped to an associated repair procedure for repairing the most likely fix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Innova Electonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ieon C. Chen, Robert Madison, Keith Andreasen
  • Patent number: 9014909
    Abstract: A system and method are for diagnosing a fault state of a shift linkage in a marine propulsion device. A control lever is movable towards at least one of a maximum reverse position and a maximum forward position. A shift linkage couples the control lever to a transmission, wherein movement of the control lever causes movement of the shift linkage that enacts a shift change in the transmission. A shift sensor outputs a position signal representing a current position of the shift linkage. A control circuit diagnoses a fault state of the shift linkage when after the shift change the position signal that is output by the shift sensor is outside of at least one range of position signals that is stored in the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dengel, Gene A. Smedema, Lance W. Ziemer
  • Patent number: 9002616
    Abstract: In one aspect, a digital engine control system for an aircraft engine is provided. The control system includes a selection unit, the selection unit including a monitoring module configured to determine a measurement of the speed of rotation of the engine from the output signal from one or more protection sensors and to compare the or each speed measurement determined by the selection unit with speed measurements supplied by electronic control units to determine an operating state of each electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Gilles Genevrier, Claude Bresson
  • Patent number: 8989950
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool that includes a smart camera. The smart camera can be used to capture an image of the part that needs to be replaced. The image can also include the bar code that may be attached to the part. The image can be used to search a parts information database for additional parts information such as part number, manuals, pictures, etc. A further search of a parts supplier's database can be conducted using a location of the diagnostic tool to determine the nearest parts supplier that has the part available and the best price.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Harry Gilbert, Thomas Bertosa
  • Publication number: 20150057875
    Abstract: An asset authoring and delivery system generates a number of authored assets. Each of the authored assets includes a number of asset content objects that are logically associated with one or more components included in the item of manufacture. The authored assets generated by the asset authoring and delivery system are formatted and communicated to one or more remote devices logically associated with the item of manufacture. Authored assets may be provided responsive to one or more sensed characteristics, for instance vehicle operational parameters, vehicle operation and/or driver behavior, and may be customized to a make and/or model of vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Patrick McGinnis, James Brei, Michael Martin Flaherty, Joseph O'Deven
  • Publication number: 20150046023
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing fault codes triggered by one or more vehicles during operation. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve recording and analyzing fault codes triggered during a particular time period while a vehicle is in operation. As a result of the analysis, various embodiments of the invention may set a state for each of the identified fault codes, the state indicating a level of action to address the identified fault code. In particular embodiments, the states may be one of a caution state indicating one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be monitored, a critical state indicating one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be repaired, or an environmental state indicating failure or potential failure of one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle may affect one or more environmental conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: JOHN A. OLSEN, III, DAVID L. BRADLEY, MATTHEW S. HENDRIX
  • Publication number: 20150039176
    Abstract: A graphical user interface is provided that can be used on a diagnostic too. The graphical user interface allows a technician to operate various functions of the diagnostic tool including searching for additional information on the Internet, receiving weather information that is relevant to certain diagnostic tests, and displaying in certain formats the retrieved vehicle data and when certain vehicles were last scanned or diagnosed. The graphical user interface alerts the technician that a part solution is available for a particular retrieved diagnostic trouble code and allows the technician to order a part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: James Fish
  • Publication number: 20150039177
    Abstract: Methods and maintenance systems for use in analyzing data related to maintenance of at least one vehicle are disclosed. One example method includes retrieving, by a computing device, a plurality of diagnostic entries associated with at least one fault message from a database of diagnostic entries, each diagnostic entry including an identified corrective action and a date on which the identified corrective action was taken; identifying a plurality of groups of diagnostic entries, wherein the diagnostic entries in a group have a same corrective action, and each group has a confidence level associated with its corrective action; and weighting the confidence level for each group based on an age of the plurality of diagnostic entries in the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven David Chapman, Peter J. Lake, Jay Kevin McCullough
  • Patent number: 8930068
    Abstract: A system and method according to which data associated with a damage log is received, the damage log being associated with an instance of damage to a portion of a vehicle such as, for example, a portion of an aircraft. A graphical representation of the portion of the vehicle is outputted, and a graphical damage indicator is outputted. The graphical damage indicator is located, relative to the graphical representation of the portion of the vehicle, to indicate a location of the instance of damage on the portion of the vehicle. The graphical damage indicator visually represents a type of damage to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: American Airlines, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Douglas Helder, Cesar Ongaro Silva
  • Patent number: 8930065
    Abstract: A system and method of identifying carts exhibiting tendencies that are indicative of damaged or defective wheels. A shopping cart may be identified and tracked visually through one or more surveillance cameras. By comparing the cart's tracked movement to known symptomatic movement patterns, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. Alternatively, by analyzing movement and positioning of a cart's swiveling wheels, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. Alternatively, by identifying if a customer has abandoned a cart, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. A notification message may be transmitted to an associate to repair or replace the identified problematic cart. The notification may be displayed on a mobile computing device, a workstation, or other like systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
  • Publication number: 20140358356
    Abstract: Embodiments of techniques or systems for customization of, diagnostic assistance, and driving analytics related to snapshot data of a vehicle are provided herein. For example, a snapshot can be taken. The snapshot can be based on a snapshot package customized according to symptoms experienced by a driver of a vehicle, and analyzed individually or in conjunction with other snapshots to determine a trend. Additionally, the snapshot can be based on a configuration of a vehicle. In this scenario, the snapshot and the configuration of the vehicle can be used to provide an enhanced troubleshooting guide by removing non-suspect areas from consideration, thereby mitigating troubleshooting time. The snapshot can be setup to record parameters related to wear and tear on components of the vehicle. Suggestions can be made to a driver of the vehicle to reduce or mitigate actions that negatively impact wear and tear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tim R. Jones, Rich Shannon
  • Patent number: 8897953
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for managing fault codes triggered by one or more vehicles during operation. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve recording and analyzing fault codes triggered during a particular time period while a vehicle is in operation. As a result of the analysis, various embodiments of the invention may set a state for each of the identified fault codes, the state indicating a level of action to address the identified fault code. In particular embodiments, the states may be one of a caution state indicating one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be monitored, a critical state indicating one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle should be repaired, or an environmental state indicating failure or potential failure of one or more components or sub-systems of the vehicle may affect one or more environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventors: John A. Olsen, III, David L. Bradley, Matthew S. Hendrix
  • Patent number: 8886393
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a reminder message to a user associated with a vehicle via a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system involves sending to a user an email, web page or other communication that contains a user selectable reminder request, receiving the reminder request from the user, setting a reminder trigger in the vehicle, and then carrying out a requested action in response to occurrence of the trigger. The requested action can be presentation of a reminder message to the occupant and/or establishment of a call from the vehicle to a call center or other remote location to obtain services, such as telematics subscription renewal, or dealer service. The user-selectable reminder request can be implemented in the communication as a virtual button that mimics the look of a physical button installed in the car that is used to provide telematics services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Edwards, Heather C. Michalak
  • Patent number: 8874305
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle is provided. In one aspect, the system and method determines the amount of wear on a component of the vehicle and, based on the amount of wear and information derived from the environment surrounding the vehicle (e.g., another vehicle in the path of the vehicle or a requirement to stop at a particular location), maneuvers the vehicle to mitigate further wear on the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri A. Dolgov, Christopher Paul Urmson
  • Publication number: 20140288763
    Abstract: A tracked ATV includes a frame, a track coupled to the frame, and a power source supported by the frame and drivingly coupled to the track. The tracked ATV further includes a steering and drive assembly, which has a first hydraulic pump coupled to the tracks for large radius turns. The steering and drive assembly also has a second hydraulic pump coupled to the tracks for small radius turns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Bennett, Amber P. Malone
  • Patent number: 8825276
    Abstract: Methods and maintenance systems for use in analyzing data related to maintenance of at least one vehicle are disclosed. One example method includes receiving at least one fault message, receiving a maintenance event log for a vehicle. The maintenance event log including at least one maintenance event associated with the at least one fault message. The example method further includes automatically identifying a corrective action within a most recent maintenance event of the at least one maintenance event and storing a diagnostic entry including the at least one fault message and the identified corrective action, such that the diagnostic entry is retrievable from the computing device to evaluate a subsequent like fault message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Peter James Lake, Davis Scott Kinney, Anne Kao, Stephen R. Poteet, Steven C. Runo, Jay Kevin McCullough, Steven D. Chapman, Yun-Ho Sikora, David Charles Augustine
  • Publication number: 20140244101
    Abstract: A system provides stress and/or accumulated damage monitoring on earth moving equipment, such as excavators, trucks, electric rope shovels and drills, hydraulic shovels, wheel loaders and graders. The system includes: strain gauges (51-60), each gauging strain at one of multiple strain gauge locations; a data acquisition unit (41) to acquire real-time strain data from the strain gauges (51-60); a processor and memory (42) to process the acquired real-time strain data to calculate one or more measures of actual accumulated damage and/or actual instantaneous stress; and at least one output device (37) to provide information comparing the measures with corresponding reference values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Gerard Bernard Chitty, Lasha Biyanga Aponso
  • Publication number: 20140236418
    Abstract: A machine controller controls a display device. The machine controller displays a suspected component which is estimated to be defective on the display device such that priority associated with the suspected component can be recognized, on the basis of failure estimation information including the suspected component and the priority associated with the suspected component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Masato Koga, Yukihiro Nakama