Cooperative Or Multiple Control (e.g., Suspension And Braking) Patents (Class 701/48)
-
Patent number: 10462957Abstract: An agricultural machine arrangement including at least one traction machine and at least one attachment device adapted to the traction machine, with a driver assistance system optimizing the operation of the traction machine and/or of the respective attachment device. The driver assistance system includes a computing unit and at least one display unit, wherein the computing unit processes information generated by machine-internal sensor systems, external information and information stored in the computing unit and wherein the traction machine and the attachment device include a control device for open-loop and closed-loop controlling the traction machine and/or of the attachment device.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: CLAAS Tractor SASInventors: Majorie Clement, Geoffrey De Wever, Florian Dirlewanger, Xavier Nivot, Clement Vilette, Thinus Glitz
-
Patent number: 10464571Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle, a vehicle, a method, and a program having a program code. The apparatus has at least one input interface to receive sensor data from at least one sensor module, wherein the sensor data includes sensor information about a behavior of at least one occupant of the vehicle and/or about a travel situation of the vehicle. The apparatus has a control module to determine a potential need for information by the vehicle occupant based on the sensor information. The control module provides information corresponding to the potential need for information and ascertains a representation of the information according to the potential need for information in the vehicle based on the sensor information. The apparatus has at least one output interface for providing at least one video signal or control signal according to the ascertained representation on one or more display devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Simon Kwoczek, Felix Richter, Julia Kwasny
-
Asymmetric system architecture for fail-operational functions with limited availability requirements
Patent number: 10459436Abstract: A vehicle system controller having an asymmetric system architecture and a method of operating the vehicle system controller is provided. The vehicle system controller includes a primary controller and a secondary controller in communications with the vehicle systems. Each of the controllers include a memory unit containing software application and a processor for executing the software to generate commands for the vehicle systems. The memory unit of the secondary controller contains only a subset of the total software applications contained in the memory unit of the primary controller. The subset of software applications is only for the operation of pre-identified features of the vehicle systems. The vehicle systems are configured to default to commands from the primary controller, but switches to the commands from the secondary controller for a predetermined length of time if the primary controller becomes fail-silent.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Soheil Samii, David A. Bodenmiller, Massimo Osella -
Patent number: 10427566Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a device for levelling the vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat including an upper seat element, which can be moved relative to a lower seat element by a first air spring and on which a mass can be arranged The lower and the upper seat element are arranged at a predetermined distance from one another, and the first air spring is fluidically connected to an additional volume of an additional volume module by a first fluid connection. The internal pressure of the first air spring is controllable by the additional volume module.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: GRAMMER AGInventors: Konstantin Lorey, Hubert Wittmann, Konstantin Krivenkov
-
Patent number: 10414399Abstract: A method and a corresponding device are provided for preventing an undesired vehicle motion during an automatic switch-off process of a drive machine in a motor vehicle. An automatic switch-off process is initiated by a start-stop apparatus before the standstill is reached if the motor vehicle is braked because of a deceleration request and the speed of the vehicle is less than a specified first speed threshold. A brake pressure of suitable magnitude is caused to be locked-in in the brake system even before the vehicle reaches the standstill if a first signal indicating that the vehicle standstill will soon be reached and a second signal indicating that an inability of the drive machine to operate in a self-sustaining manner will soon be reached are acquired because of an initiated automatic switch-off process of the drive machine.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventor: Sebastian Haerdtl
-
Patent number: 10414404Abstract: A vehicle control system for at least one vehicle subsystem of a vehicle; the vehicle control system comprising a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each of the vehicle subsystems in a selected one of a plurality of different subsystem control modes, each of which corresponds to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle. Evaluation means are provided for evaluating one or more driving condition indicators to determine the extent to which each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate and for providing an output to the subsystem controller that is indicative of the control mode which is most appropriate. This may be an evaluation means for calculating the probability that the or each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate. Automatic control means may be operable in an automatic response mode to select an appropriate one of the subsystem control modes in dependence on the output.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Sam Anker, Dan Dennehy, Elliot Hemes, James Kelly, Andrew Fairgrieve
-
Patent number: 10351110Abstract: A brake system for motor vehicles controllable by a driver or independently of the driver, comprises first and second brake actuation sensors. First and second electrically controllable pressure sources, can actuate the wheel brakes. A first electronic control unit controls the first pressure source, and is connected to the first brake actuation sensor. A second electronic control unit controls the second pressure source and is connected to the second brake actuation sensor. A hydraulic control device comprises a first solenoid valve between the wheel brakes and the first pressure source and a second solenoid valve between the wheel brakes and the second pressure source. There is a data connection between the first electronic control unit and the second electronic control unit. The first electronic control unit has a first interface and the second electronic control unit has a second interface that are not connected to each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Marco Besier, Stefan Drumm
-
Patent number: 10351084Abstract: When an anomaly is determined in the transition of ECUs to a power saving state, a power supply control system sequentially turns on current supply switches while keeping a bypass switch on. A monitoring controller determines an anomaly in the transition of the ECUs to a power saving state on the basis of whether the dark current in the ECUs calculated from the amount of change at that time in the current in the power supply line is greater than an ordinary dark current. Further, in the startup state of the ECUs, power from a power supply can be supplied to the ECUs via the power supply line and individual supply lines.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Akinori Maruyama, Shuuji Satake, Satoshi Morita, Yoshinori Ikuta, Yoshihide Nakamura, Yasuyuki Shigezane
-
Patent number: 10343670Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a plurality of operation devices receive operations from an occupant; a plurality of driving devices operate a vehicle with operation quantities applied to the plurality of operation devices; and a control device controls the plurality of driving devices. The control device includes: first and second operating characteristics; and correction device. When the occupant operates the second operation devices during execution of operation of the first operation devices, the correction device corrects the second operating characteristics such that the second operation force at the second response start point is equivalent to the first operation force of the first operation devices obtained when the operation of the second operation devices is started.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Tadayuki Niibe, Naoki Yamada, Kazuhiro Takemura
-
Patent number: 10308260Abstract: A method for testing the function of a driver assistance system of a vehicle, wherein an environment of the vehicle is detected by means of a sensor system, includes the following steps: stimulating the driver assistance system by means of an external stimulation; processing the stimulation in the driver assistance system so that a stimulation response is obtained; transmitting the stimulation and/or information relating to the stimulation to an external reference device and determining a reference response for the stimulation in the external reference device in accordance with a desired state of the driver assistance system; and comparing the stimulation response with the reference response. The invention enables the functionality of a driver assistance system of a vehicle to be tested in a simple and cost-effective manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignees: SMARTSURV VISION SYSTEMS GMBHInventors: Sven Fleck, Benjamin May
-
Patent number: 10298022Abstract: A power supply control system includes: a current sensor as a first detector detecting current flowing in each controller in an operating state of each controller; a first current controller turned on to supply a driving current to each controller in the operating state of each controller and turned off to disconnect the driving current supply to each controller based on a determination result; a second current controller turned on to supply a dark current to each controller in a power-saving state of each controller and turned off to disconnect the dark current supply to each controller in the operation state of each controller; a dark current sensor as a second detector detecting a voltage drop amount in the power-saving state of each controller; and an anomaly determinator determining existence of anomaly in the power-saving state of each controller based on a detection result obtained from the second detector.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventor: Akinori Maruyama
-
Patent number: 10279800Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electronic control unit configured to switch a use mode between a first use mode in which an owner of the hybrid vehicle is a user and a second use mode in which any of persons other than the owner is the user. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, an electric power storage device electrically connected to the first MG, and the electronic control unit. When the use mode is the second use mode and the hybrid vehicle reaches a location near a destination, the electronic control unit executes recovery processing of recovering a SOC of the electric power storage device in a manner to bring the SOC closer to an initial value at time when the user starts using the hybrid vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinji Ichikawa
-
Patent number: 10239557Abstract: A vehicle travel control device includes: an EPS device turning a wheel of a vehicle; and a control device performing autonomous driving control that controls autonomous driving of the vehicle. The autonomous driving control includes: calculating a target steering angle of the wheel; and actuating the EPS device to turn the wheel such that a steering angle of the wheel becomes the target steering angle. Calculating the target steering angle includes: calculating an autonomous driving steering angle and a target state quantity required for automatic steering in the autonomous driving; calculating a counter steering angle required for vehicle stabilization control, based on the target state quantity without using a steering wheel angle; and calculating a sum of the autonomous driving steering angle and the counter steering angle as the target steering angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Go Inoue, Mitsutaka Tanimoto, Takahiro Yokota, Yoshio Kudo, Yutaka Aoki
-
Patent number: 10232857Abstract: A system for a vehicle having at least one vehicle sub-system, the system being configured for determining a configuration of the sub-system. The system includes a user interface for receiving from a user an indication of a plurality of attributes indicative of off-road driving characteristics of a driving scenario, and a processor arranged to determine a configuration of the at least one vehicle sub-system based on the plurality of attributes of the driving scenario.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2015Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Hadric Khanu, Andrew Fairgrieve, Aaron Ward, Robert Burford
-
Patent number: 10228664Abstract: A field device for determining or monitoring a process variable in automation technology, wherein the field device meets a safety standard, which is required in a predetermined safety-critical application, comprising a sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle, and a control/evaluation unit, which processes and evaluates measurement data delivered by the sensor along at least three redundantly and/or diversely designed measuring channels, and wherein there is associated with the control/evaluation unit a voter, which is composed of a plurality of components, which are at least partially double redundantly designed.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: ENDRESS+HAUSER SE+CO.KGInventor: Romuald Girardey
-
Patent number: 10214220Abstract: An indication from an identification device is received. The indication includes identification information for each user of one or more users in a vehicle. The identification device is found in the vehicle. Whether the identification information for each user of the one or more users is correct is determined. Responsive to determining the identification information for any user of the one or more users is incorrect, a manager of the vehicle is notified.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Marco A. Benavides, Diana P. Cabrera, Stephanie De La Fuente, Gregory S. Jones
-
Patent number: 10196069Abstract: In one aspect, a computerized system for controlling automotive functions of a vehicle, includes a multi-core system on chip; a hypervisor including a multi-core synchronization function for a plurality of cores on the system on chip; and a plurality of automotive function modules in communication with the plurality of cores through the hypervisor.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Inventor: Surya Kiran Satyavolu
-
Patent number: 10175143Abstract: A target reaching rotational speed set during a torque phase is set to a value higher than an actual engine rotational speed, the value being higher as one of a vehicle acceleration and an engine rotational speed gradient is larger. That is, as the acceleration is steeper, the target reaching rotational speed is set to a value closer to an upper limit rotational speed or rotational speeds proximate thereto. Thus, a display rotational speed displayed on a tachometer at the end of the torque phase becomes high rotational speed. Accordingly, there is provided a display control device for a vehicle that enables a driver to feel the use of engine performance to the limit.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshiyuki Teratani
-
Patent number: 10177966Abstract: A vehicle control system includes electronic controllers and first and second communications networks. The electronic controllers control a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a drive motor. The electronic controllers include a management controller to manage travel control of the vehicle and a motor drive controller to control the drive motor. The first and second communications networks connect the electronic controllers together. The electronic controllers communicate via the first and second communications networks. The motor drive controller is configured to stop the drive motor when it is determined that a fault has occurred in the first communications network and configured to transmit information indicating that the fault has occurred in the first communications network to the management controller via the second communications network.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Kurauchi, Shinji Mikami, Yasuhiro Ohara, Yoichi Yamashiro, Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Shintaro Mito
-
Patent number: 10136489Abstract: A tunable illumination system is disclosed which splits a single channel output into three by means of current steering and/or time division and multiplexing techniques. More particularly, the tunable light system may split the input current into three pulse-width modulated (PWM) channels. The individual duty cycles of the PWM channels may be adjusted based on a control signal that is received via a control signal interface. The control signal interface may include a switch and/or other circuitry that is manipulated by the user when the user wants to change the color of light that is output by the illumination system.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Lumileds LLCInventor: Yifeng Qiu
-
Patent number: 10120449Abstract: The present application relates generally to haptic actuators. For example, the application is directed to high performance parallel plate actuators, and more particularly an actuator that can be used to provide haptic feedback in a variety applications such as buttons, panels, track pads, touch panels, wearables, gaming devices and/or touch-sensitive surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: IMMERSION CORPORATIONInventors: Vahid Khoshkava, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
-
Patent number: 10118615Abstract: A method for use with a speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving readings from one or more vehicle sensors to determine the nature of the terrain over which the vehicle is traveling. The method further comprises gathering information relating to one or more parameters of the vehicle that correspond to the configuration of the vehicle. The method still further comprises determining, based on the nature of the terrain and the gathered information, whether the vehicle is appropriately configured to travel over the terrain. A system comprising an electronic control unit configured to perform the method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, Daniel Woolliscroft, James Kelly
-
Patent number: 10112610Abstract: A vehicle control system and method for operating a host vehicle based on geographic location. The system includes a distance sensor, a location sensor, a user interface, and a controller including an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is communicatively coupled to the distance sensor, the location sensor, the speed control, and the user interface, and is configured to receive a distance signal from the distance sensor indicative of a distance between the host vehicle and another vehicle. The controller receives a location signal from the location sensor indicative of a location of the host vehicle and a control signal from the user interface indicative of a desired mode of operation of the vehicle control system. The controller performs a driver assistance function associated with the desired mode of operation and adjusts a tolerance of the driver assistance function based on the location of the host vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Vern Trageser
-
Patent number: 10052935Abstract: Wireless sensors are included within zones of a physical space. A memory stores feature description data. A processor, in communication with the memory and the wireless sensors, is programmed to send, to a mobile device connected to one of the wireless sensors, a subset of the feature description data applicable to one of the zones in which the mobile device is located. The processor also is programmed to receive a request to update a feature of the one of the zones based on the feature description data, and apply the setting update when the mobile device has permission. The zones of a physical space may be seating zones of a vehicle, and the wireless sensors may be included within doors to the seating zones of the vehicle. The mobile device may determine a seating zone of the vehicle in which the mobile device is located using the wireless sensors.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Livio, Inc.Inventors: Justin Dickow, Joey Ray Grover, Omar Makke, John Byrne
-
Patent number: 10040480Abstract: A lane keeping traveling support apparatus includes a driving support ECU. The driving support ECU is configured to to determine a lane departure prevention torque in such a manner that a magnitude of the lane departure prevention torque becomes smaller or to stop performing a lane departure prevention control, when the lane departure prevention control is performed in place of a lane keeping assist control and a specific operation of a steering wheel is performed by a driver so as to have a direction of an own vehicle head to a lane departure direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Kazuma Hashimoto
-
Patent number: 9975531Abstract: A vehicle brake control device includes an electric motor controlled based on a target energization amount calculated based on an operation amount (Bpa) of a braking operation member. Based on the operation amount (Bpa), it is determined whether or not an inertia compensation control for compensating for the influence of the inertia of a brake actuator is necessary. When the inertia compensation control is determined to be necessary, an inertia compensation energization amount for compensating for the influence of the inertia of the brake actuator is calculated based on a time-series pattern set in advance based on the maximum response of the brake actuator. Based on the inertia compensation energization amount, the target energization amount is calculated. The vehicle brake control device is thus able to generate a braking torque that appropriately compensates for the influence of the inertia of the entire device including the inertia of the electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2017Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Hiroyuki Kodama, Naotoshi Satake
-
Patent number: 9971494Abstract: A touch switch module according to one embodiment comprises a panel, a touch sensor and a control unit. The panel displays a slide bar. The control unit includes a slide velocity detection unit that detects a slide velocity which is a change over time in sliding when the touch moves along the slide bar and an operation information switching unit that compares the slide velocity with a predetermined threshold, that outputs first operation information as the operation information when the slide velocity is below the threshold, and that outputs second operation information that is different from the first operation information as the operation information when the slide velocity is equal to or higher than the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKIInventor: Noriyuki Sakayanagi
-
Patent number: 9896111Abstract: A vehicle comprises: a control device mounted to a vehicle body; an additional device removably mountable to the vehicle body; and an existing device mounted to the vehicle body and electrically connected to the control device, the existing device being different from the additional device, wherein the control device includes: an additional control section which performs a control to realize an additional function obtained by use of the additional device, when the control device determines that the additional device is connected to the control device; and a change control section which performs a control in such a manner that an existing function obtained by use of the existing device is changeable from the existing function in a state in which the additional device is not connected to the control device, when the control device determines that the additional device is connected to the control device.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2014Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Seiji Azuma
-
Patent number: 9887767Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for hot-swappable hardware for communication links (e.g., wireless microwave links). A communication assembly that comprises processing circuitry may be configured to allow replacing a circuitry element during active operation of the communication assembly. The replacing may comprise configuring the communication assembly to communicate signals based on a first configuration, using the circuitry element being replaced; receiving addition of a replacement circuitry element; configuring the communication assembly to communicate signals based on a second configuration, using the replacement circuitry element; and after the communication assembly is fully configured to communicate signals based on the second configuration, removing the circuitry element being replaced.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: MAXLINEAR, INC.Inventor: Curtis Ling
-
Patent number: 9873436Abstract: A vehicle control system for at least one vehicle subsystem of a vehicle; the vehicle control system comprising a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each of the vehicle subsystems in a selected one of a plurality of different subsystem control modes, each of which corresponds to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle. Evaluation means are provided for evaluating one or more driving condition indicators to determine the extent to which each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate and for providing an output to the subsystem controller that is indicative of the control mode which is most appropriate. This may be an evaluation means for calculating the probability that the or each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate. Automatic control means may be operable in an automatic response mode to select an appropriate one of the subsystem control modes in dependence on the output.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2012Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Sam Anker, Dan Dennehy, Elliot Hemes, James Kelly, Andrew Fairgrieve
-
Patent number: 9868445Abstract: A steering application executing on a vehicle control module receives a steering control input to control a steered wheel of a vehicle. Based on the steering control input, the steering application determines a traction threshold value associated with a traction control attribute related to a traction wheel of the vehicle. A first diagnostic supervisor executing on the vehicle control module receives a measured value of the traction control attribute and the traction threshold value. When the measured value of the traction control attribute exceeds the traction threshold value, the first diagnostic supervisor repeatedly calculates a respective difference between the traction threshold value and the measured value of the traction control attribute to generate a set comprising a plurality of the respective differences. Based on the plurality of respective differences, the first diagnostic supervisor determines a first operating condition of a traction system of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Crown Equipment CorporationInventors: Stephen T. Mangette, Joe K. Hammer, Brent A. Barnhart
-
Patent number: 9855956Abstract: A driving assist device includes a driver state detection unit for detecting an inattentive state as a driver state, an alerting unit for altering the driver upon detection of the inattentive state of the driver, a driving operation unit for being operated by the driver for driving operations; and a driving state switching unit that switches at least one of the driving operations in an automated driving state to a manual driving state when the driver's operation of the driving operation unit is detected during the automated driving state of the vehicle. When at least one of the driving operations in the automated driving state is switched to the manual driving state by the driving state switching unit, the driver state detection unit detects whether the state of the driver is an excited state. When the excited state of the driver is detected, the alerting unit alerts the driver.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Takuhiro Omi
-
Patent number: 9849875Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes: ascertaining a danger measure of a possible stop position for a safe parking of the vehicle; comparing the ascertained danger measure to a predetermined danger measure threshold value; and guiding the vehicle to the possible stop position in order to safely park the vehicle in the possible stop position only if the ascertained danger measure is less than or equal to the predetermined danger measure threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Florian Hauler, Martin Mueller, Armin Ruehle, Carsten Hasberg, Stefan Nordbruch, Oliver Pink
-
Patent number: 9846677Abstract: A method for computing a spatial Fourier transform for an event-based system includes receiving an asynchronous event output stream including one or more events from a sensor. The method further includes computing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) matrix based on dimensions of the sensor. The method also includes computing an output based on the DFT matrix and applying the output to an event processor.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Xin Wang, Manu Rastogi, Venkat Rangan, William Howard Constable
-
Patent number: 9835451Abstract: A method for determining a ride height of a body of a motor vehicle and includes the steps of determining wheel heights at at least four different wheels of the motor vehicle, forming different selections of in each case three of the determined wheel heights, determining a ride height of the body for each selection, comparing the determined ride heights, and determining that at least one measurement value for a wheel height is implausible if the determined ride heights differ from one another by more than a predetermined amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Igor Illg, Thomas Mirwaldt
-
Patent number: 9805601Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a vehicle-to-vehicle traffic alert. Various aspects may include detecting that an abnormal traffic condition exists in an operating environment of a vehicle and generating a related electronic message. The electronic message may be transmitted via the vehicle's transceiver using a wireless communication to a nearby vehicle to alert the nearby vehicle of the abnormal traffic condition and to allow the nearby vehicle to avoid the abnormal traffic condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steven C. Cielocha, Jacob J. Alt, Laura A. Uphoff, Leo Nelson Chan, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Justin Davis, Nathan W. Baumann, Giles Roll
-
Patent number: 9794286Abstract: In order to detect and prevent attacks in which the network is infested with unauthorized data to cause malfunction, the invention aims, on the basis of network cycle information, to detect errors and to prevent unauthorized data forwarding in a network system such as a vehicle-mounted network. This network device is provided with a communication unit which receives data, a time management unit which manages the reception time at which data is received, and a control unit which processes data.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Otsuka, Tasuku Ishigooka, Fumio Narisawa, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa
-
System and method for using object recognition to facilitate the collection of insurance information
Patent number: 9786011Abstract: In a computer-implemented method, an insurance policyholder may be provided an electronic insurance form including at least a first field, the first field being associated with a query for which an accurate response depends on a type of an object associated with the insurance policyholder. An image of the object may be received. The image of the object may be processed according to an object recognition technique to identify at least one characteristic of the image of the object. The identified characteristic(s) may be used to determine the type of the object, and the insurance policyholder may be provided an indication of the determined type of the object to facilitate manual or automatic entry of accurate information in the first field. Additionally or alternatively, the indication of the determined type of the object may be automatically entered in the first field. An insurance policy or quote may be adjusted accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Amy Engelhorn, Kathryn E. Knarr -
Patent number: 9718360Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle display device, and a method for controlling the vehicle display device are disclosed. The vehicle display device includes a display unit and a controller. The display unit displays a wide screen that is divided into a main display region and an auxiliary display region. The controller displays a first visual interface on the main display region, decides the second visual interface for performing a process different from that of the first visual interface according to the first visual interface, and displays auxiliary information related to the second visual interface on the auxiliary display region.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Hyun Seung Yang
-
Patent number: 9694765Abstract: A control system for a vehicle having a plurality of subsystems in which each subsystem includes a sensor and/or actuator. A general purpose processor is programmed with a plurality of software applications in which each software application is associated with one of the vehicle subsystems. The subsystems and processor communicate with each other through an electrical bus and each subsystem includes a communication interface to receive commands from the processor as well as to send task signals to the processor. A task arbitrator prioritizes the order of execution of multiple task signals received by the processor during a preset time period. The general purpose processor then initiates execution of the software application associated with the subsystem of the sensor signal received from the task arbitrator and thereafter transmits a control signal to one or more of the subsystems via the bus as a result of execution of the associated software application.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Heming Chen, Donald J. McCune, Sujit Phatak, Yuan Xiao
-
Patent number: 9666069Abstract: A vehicle includes an autonomous driving sensor configured to detect a road condition and output at least one road condition signal representing the road condition, an autonomous mode controller configured to control the vehicle according to the at least one road condition signal, and a communication module configured to broadcast the road condition signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
-
Patent number: 9644964Abstract: A IC for sensor includes a detector which detects an angular velocity signal based on a signal from a sensor element, an AD converter which converts an analog signal from the detector into a digital signal, and a DC component detector which detects a DC component from the digital signal output from the AD converter within a predetermined period of time.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Katsuhiko Maki, Katsuhito Nakajima
-
Patent number: 9637102Abstract: A brake system includes a brake pedal for actuating a master cylinder having two pistons and corresponding pressure chambers, where the system can be operated in a brake-by-wire mode and also a fallback mode. The system also includes a first electrically controllable pressure source and a second electrically controllable pressure source. The first and second electrically controllable pressure sources each have corresponding output flows that are connected together. The second electrically controllable pressure source can therefore provide output volume flow in the event the first electrically controllable pressure source fails.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Stefan A. Drumm, Steffen Linkenbach
-
Patent number: 9636965Abstract: A suspension system capable of improving maneuverability and stability, the suspension system including a force generation mechanism and a controller. The controller, which controls each of shock absorbers, includes a main control calculation unit, a longitudinal force reaction force calculation unit, a lateral force reaction force calculation unit, an addition unit, and a suspension reaction force consideration unit. The controller subtracts an output from a vertical force calculation unit including the longitudinal force reaction force calculation unit, the lateral force reaction force calculation unit, and the addition unit from an output from the main control calculation unit by the suspension reaction force consideration unit, thereby succeeding in calculating a vertical force applied between a vehicle body and each wheel as a value in consistency with an actual behavior of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventor: Ryusuke Hirao
-
Patent number: 9632495Abstract: A method for setting up and/or updating the programming of a second control unit of a transportation device includes operating a first control unit of the transportation device in a first functional scope for setting up and/or updating the programming of a second control unit of the transportation device, setting up or updating the programming of the second control unit by the first control unit, and setting up the first control unit for a second functional scope. A system by which the method of the invention may be implements is also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Mark Dräger, Luc Patemoster, Michael John
-
Patent number: 9610942Abstract: A device for operating a vehicle includes: a vehicle movement module for forming control signals for a control unit of an actuating system of the vehicle; an energy management module for managing energy which is available for a vehicle operation, the energy management module being configured to form further control signals for the control unit as a function of the available energy, and a prioritizer for prioritizing the control signals over the further control signals as a function of a vehicle position and/or a vehicle movement state for stabilizing the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2012Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Werner Poechmueller, Stefan Nordbruch, Andreas Lapp, Michael Knoop, Tino Sommer, Wolfgang Stolz
-
Patent number: 9586595Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor vehicle control system for selecting a driving surface and for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on the selected driving surface, the system being operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the system is operable to select said driving surface automatically; wherein the system is able to be switched between said manual and automatic operating modes by means of a user-operable input device; and wherein when operating in the automatic operating mode and a change from the automatic operating mode to the manual operating mode is made via the user-operable input device, the system is configured to select a default subsystem configuration mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, Elliot Hemes, James Kelly, Dan Dennehy, Sam Anker
-
Patent number: 9584053Abstract: A SBW-ECU prohibits driving of an electric motor by turning off power supply to the motor by a drive prohibition device, when a diagnosis part of a by-wire control circuit determines that a shift-by-wire system is abnormal or a monitor circuit determines that the by-wire control circuit is abnormal. In this case, the motor is stopped from rotating by execution of power supply phase fixation processing, by which a power supply phase of the motor is fixed without switchover, when the motor is driven to rotate at the time of determination of abnormality of the shift-by-wire system. Then the prohibition device prohibits driving of the motor by stopping the power supply to the motor.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kiyoshi Kimura, Jun Yamada, Masaaki Shinojima
-
Patent number: 9573590Abstract: In a method for stabilizing a two-wheeled vehicle during cornering, a drifting of the rear wheel or an understeering of the front wheel is inferred on the basis of measured values including the actual steering angle, and the two-wheeled vehicle is stabilized by altering the torque at the front wheel and/or the rear wheel.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventor: Matthias Moerbe
-
Patent number: 9545930Abstract: A system to access one or more user profiles that govern one or more vehicle functions. The system cooperates with a processor and verification module which are adapted to verify, using one or more of biometric information, gesture recognition, facial recognition and device identification information, that a user has authority to access the one or more user profiles, where the one or more profiles are stored in one or more of a vehicle, a cloud and a communications device. An edit module is further provided and adapted to allow the user to make one or more edits to the one or more user profiles.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: AutoConnect Holdings LLCInventor: Christopher P. Ricci