Vehicle Speed Control (e.g., Cruise Control) Patents (Class 701/93)
  • Patent number: 9932037
    Abstract: A method of maintain an automotive smart cruise control system is provided. The system is capable of maintaining a vehicle in a stopped state without requiring an electronic braking system. The vehicle is stopped by a controller when conditions for stopping the vehicle are satisfied based on the driving situation of the vehicle, and the vehicle is maintained in the stopped state by setting the speed of the driving motor to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seong Wook Moon, Jae Hoon Cho
  • Patent number: 9925985
    Abstract: A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle when driving on uneven terrain includes classifying a terrain unevenness situated ahead of the vehicle in the driving direction, and ascertaining a piece of information for driving the vehicle in relation to the terrain unevenness based on a result of the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Jascha Freess
  • Patent number: 9908529
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control apparatus generate a speed command value to control a vehicle speed according to a detected treading amount of an accelerator pedal, determines an upper-limit speed of the vehicle according to a speed limit of a road, generates a limit command value to control the vehicle speed to be the upper-limit speed, and adjusts the vehicle speed according to one of the speed command value and the limit command value to cause the lower vehicle speed. If the upper-limit speed is updated due to a change in the speed limit of the road while the vehicle speed is being adjusted according to the limit command value, a rate of change of the vehicle speed is limited continuously until a predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakade
  • Patent number: 9896100
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product automatically provides spatial separation between a self-driving vehicle (SDV) operating in an autonomous mode and another vehicle on a roadway based on an emotional state of at least one occupant of the SDV. One or more processors receive an emotional state descriptor for at least one occupant of the SDV. A vehicle detector on the SDV detects another vehicle within a predefined proximity of the SDV. The processor(s) issue spatial separation instructions to a control mechanisms controller on the SDV to adjust a spacing between the SDV and the other vehicle based on the emotional state descriptor for the occupant(s) in the SDV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Gordon, James R. Kozloski, Ashish Kundu, Peter K. Malkin, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Patent number: 9896106
    Abstract: A system for adjusting timing of coasting assistance provided by a vehicle that is approaching an intersection where the vehicle will turn or is programmed or scheduled to turn. The system includes a speed sensor configured to detect vehicle speed data. The system includes a pedal unit configured to detect brake pedal position data. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to detect when the brake pedal is engaged and released. The ECU is configured to detect a vehicle speed when the brake pedal is released. The ECU is configured to determine, at a determination time, whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection. The ECU is configured to detect, at an application time, when the vehicle is approaching the intersection. The system also includes a display configured to display, at the application time, a coasting assistance instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Shannon A. Wrobel, Joshua D. Payne
  • Patent number: 9868440
    Abstract: An auto cruise system includes a compensating torque generator, an auto cruise controller, a first calculator, a PI controller, a second calculator, a torque saturator, and a torque command limiter. The compensating torque generator generates a compensating torque based on road conditions. The auto cruise controller detects a time at which a torque limitation is released, and adjusts target speed at that time. The first calculator calculates an error based on a difference between the current speed of the vehicle and the target speed adjusted by the auto cruise controller. The PI controller calculates torque corresponding to the error. The second calculator compensates the torque calculated by the PI controller. The torque saturator defines an upper value and a lower value of the torque compensated by the second calculator. The torque command limiter limits the torque which is physically saturated in the actuator by the available torque saturator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jae Won Jung, Hyeon Seob Kim, Sae Kwon Chang
  • Patent number: 9849879
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control system that carries out a method of: automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value v_target; controlling a rate of change of speed of the vehicle by application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels; and receiving information relating to a terrain response mode in which the vehicle is configured or an amount of drag imposed on a vehicle. The system is configured to control the rate of change of speed in dependence at least in part on the terrain response mode, the amount of drag imposed on the vehicle, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: James Kelly, Robert Burford
  • Patent number: 9797505
    Abstract: A system for reducing the likelihood of brakes of a vehicle overheating when towing a trailer includes a transmission configured to operate in a plurality of gear ratios and a GPS unit configured to detect location data. The system also includes an input device configured to receive data indicating whether the trailer is connected to the vehicle and an ECU coupled to the transmission, the GPS unit and the input device. The ECU is designed to determine whether the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a downgrade of a road based on the location data, determine a current gear ratio of the transmission and determine whether it is desirable for the transmission to operate in a second gear ratio that is lower than the current gear ratio based on whether the trailer is connected, whether the vehicle is within the predetermined distance, and the current gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Mohammad E. Dufford
  • Patent number: 9783169
    Abstract: In a method for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle in a driving maneuver, the surroundings of the vehicle are recorded, and it is checked whether at least one object is located in the surroundings of the vehicle, and it is ascertained subsequently whether the vehicle is approaching the object, and a warning to the driver is output if the vehicle approaches the object up to a critical distance. The driver is warned by a warning jerk, and after the warning jerk has taken place, the speed of the vehicle is automatically reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Seiter, Florian Raisch
  • Patent number: 9781343
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first input section configured to receive image data including images in a forward field of view and a lateral field of view; an enhancement processing section configured to enhance edges of images corresponding to the image data received; and a boundary correction section provided on a downstream side of the enhancement processing section and configured to perform a correction process non-commutative with an edge enhancement process, the correction process being performed on a boundary region between a forward field of view and a lateral field of view using the image data subjected to edge enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Kutsuma, Tatsuhiko Suzuki, Tomoki Iwasaki, Susumu Hashimoto, Toshihiro Hamada
  • Patent number: 9776636
    Abstract: A calculation method and apparatus for calculating a starting point for acceleration/deceleration operation of a vehicle with high accuracy using more input values while at the same time keeping calculation cost and time to a minimum is disclosed herein. An ECU making up a system calculates a start point for acceleration/deceleration operation of a vehicle on the basis of traveling condition information that changes as the vehicle travels and vehicle information that changes only slightly as a result of the travel of the vehicle. As a result, if the driver maintains a throttle operator at a given opening angle or more at a point before the start point, an actuator applies a force in the direction of closing a throttle valve to the throttle operator, thereby notifying the driver that the vehicle is close to the start point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yamato Nakamizo, Tetsuya Kudo, Toraki Iwamaru, Satoshi Fukuoka, Takao Fujiwara, Masatoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 9721471
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for determining lane information of a roadway segment from vehicle probe data. Probe data is received from radar sensors of vehicles at a road segment, where the probe data includes an identification of static objects and dynamic objects in proximity to the respective vehicles at the road segment, and geographic locations of the static objects and the dynamic objects. A reference point, such as a road boundary, at the road segment is determined from the identified static objects. Lateral distances between the identified dynamic objects and the reference point are calculated. A number of lanes at the road segment are ascertained from a distribution of the calculated distances of the identified dynamic objects from the reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Xin Chen, Di Ma, Xiang Ma, Roman Ostrovskiy, Vladimir Zhukov, Xiaotao Zou
  • Patent number: 9707972
    Abstract: An operator assistance system for an agricultural machine which has at least one variable operating parameter which influences a plurality of different result parameters of the working result of the machine is equipped with an input device, a processor and a display device. The processor is programmed to receive, via the input device an input of a selectable result parameter, to be optimized, of the working result for an operation to be carried out, to calculate an optimized operating parameter on the basis of the input, and to output, on the display device, an expected value, associated with the optimized operating parameter, for the working result of the machine for the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Zeynep Tuncer, Georg Kormann, Patrick E Pinkston
  • Patent number: 9701316
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of profiling a driver comprises: identifying events in data representing motion of a vehicle; for the events, associating an event with a profile index relating at least to a link on which the vehicle was travelling when the respective event occurred; sorting the events into groups, each group corresponding to a different profile index; determining a driver profile from the events; and characterizing the driving behavior of the driver on the basis of the driver profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: MYDRIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Jelbert, Gavin Heavyside
  • Patent number: 9656718
    Abstract: A motorcycle having an adjusting mechanism that allows a user to change the setting of at least a part forming a vehicle body by performing adjusting operation on the adjusting mechanism includes: a storage unit configured to store at least a plurality of pieces of adjustment information related to degrees of adjusting operation on the adjusting mechanism; a receiving unit configured to receive a request based on an input operation of the user; a selecting unit configured to select adjustment information corresponding to the request received by the receiving unit from the plurality of pieces of adjustment information in the storage unit; and an indicating unit configured to indicate the adjustment information selected by the selecting unit to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keita Mikura
  • Patent number: 9604652
    Abstract: A driver assistance system and an operating method thereof are configured and adapted to perform autonomous longitudinal and/or lateral control of a vehicle. At least one control task for longitudinal and/or lateral control of the vehicle can be transferred from the driver to the driver assistance system. This involves informing the driver that a control task can be transferred to the system, and then transferring the control task from the driver to the system in response to the driver ceasing a manual control of this control task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Matthias Strauss
  • Patent number: 9597963
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical system in a vehicle. The electrical system (11) comprises: at least a first switch (ES2) arranged such that operating the switches will isolate a part of the electrical system; and a control unit, the control unit being arranged to operate the switches. The method comprises: putting the control unit into a first operational mode, the first operational mode comprising at least a first arrangement of switches; receiving a request to enter a second operational mode, the second operational mode comprising at least a second arrangement of switches; determining the priority of the first and second operational modes at least in part by consulting a database of operational modes and their priorities; switching the control unit into the second operational mode if the second operational mode has a higher priority than the first operational mode; and continuing in the first operational mode otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Krzysztof Slosarczyk, Fernando Lages, Kevin Cockings, Stephen Pickering, Jakub Mikos
  • Patent number: 9555804
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying the hand of traffic applicable to a subject vehicle (3). The subject vehicle (3) travels in a first direction and has a first side and a second side. The method comprises tracking at least a first object vehicle (V) on the first side of the subject vehicle (3), and/or detecting the presence or absence of at least a first stationary target (T) on the first side of the subject vehicle (3). A direction of travel of each first object vehicle (V) is determined in relation to the subject vehicle (3). The hand of traffic is identified based on the direction of travel of each first object vehicle (V), and/or the presence or absence of each first stationary target (T). The invention also relates to a method of implementing Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) using the hand of traffic information. The invention also relates to a control unit (1) for determining the hand of traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Ian Blake, James Smith
  • Patent number: 9533685
    Abstract: A method for assisting overtaking includes determining a first speed of a first vehicle, determining a first distance to a second vehicle in front of the first and a second speed of the second vehicle by a sensor in the first vehicle, determining a second distance to a third vehicle behind the first and a third speed of the third vehicle by a sensor in the first vehicle, determining a first speed change associated with a first driving operation allowing the first vehicle to keep a first safety distance to the second while the third vehicle overtakes the first, determining a second speed change associated with a second driving operation allowing the first vehicle to keep a second safety distance to the third while the first vehicle overtakes the second, comparing the first and second speed changes and performing the driving operation associated with the most favourable speed change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Ask
  • Patent number: 9511668
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle's speed, including: acquiring a set speed; determining, using using map and location data, a horizon made of route segments, each with a route characteristic; performing simulation cycles, each including: predicting the speed according to a conventional cruise control, which first prediction depends on the route characteristic; comparing the first predicted speed with lower and upper limit values, which define an engine torque for use in the next simulation cycle; making a second prediction of the speed when the engine torque depends on the comparison in the immediately preceding simulation cycle; comparing, as a second comparison, the second predicted speed with second lower and upper limit values, which delineate a speed range within which the speed is maintained; determining, based on the second comparison and/or the second predicted speed in this simulation cycle, a reference value for use by a vehicle control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 9493166
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring driver reaction times is provided. The method includes identifying a driver of a vehicle and determining reaction times associated with a set of driving functions executed by the driver during a first driving process. The driver is determined to be currently driving the vehicle and currently executed driving functions are monitored. Current reaction times associated with the currently executed driving functions are identified and compared to the reaction times. Differences between the current reaction times and the reaction times are determined and logged. The differences indicate that the driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event and in response specified functions associated with the currently executed driving functions and/or the first driving distraction event are executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Andrew R. Jones, Kevin C. McConnell, John E. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9487194
    Abstract: A rail-mounted car may include a braking device disposed at the car, said braking device having a brake, and a brake-control device adapted for closed-loop control over the braking operation. The braking device may have a sensor adapted for measuring braking deceleration of the car. The brake-control device may be configured such that the brake-control device adjusts the braking action of the brake as a function of the measured braking deceleration such that, via a certain braking operation, a predefined braking deceleration is achieved, without a predetermined maximum braking deceleration being exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Jörg Beutler
  • Patent number: 9443429
    Abstract: A method to display a registered graphic upon a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display within a source vehicle includes monitoring an operating environment of the source vehicle, monitoring a driver registration input, determining a recommended continuous gaze location based upon the operating environment and the driver registration input, and displaying the registered graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Roy J. Mathieu, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, Dehua Cui
  • Patent number: 9428172
    Abstract: An appropriate motor control in accordance with a pedal operation of a driver is to be achieved. A motor drive control device according to the present invention is a motor drive control device for an electric power-assisted vehicle that has one-way clutches respectively provided for a motor drive system and for a pedal drive system. The motor drive control device according to the present invention includes: a first calculating part that calculates a pedal rotation conversion speed that is converted from a pedal rotation; and a second calculating part that calculates a second target torque for a motor based on the pedal rotation conversion speed, during a period in which a first target torque derived from a pedal torque is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: MICROSPACE CORPORATION, TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Tanaka, Kazuo Asanuma, Yasuo Hosaka, Kuniaki Kawagoe
  • Patent number: 9422881
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a condition determination section that determines whether or not an execution permission condition to permit coasting of a vehicle is satisfied, a first control section that causes the vehicle to shift to a first inertia running state by stopping the engine and disengaging the clutch device when the execution permission condition is determined to be satisfied, an auxiliary drive request determination section that determines whether or not an auxiliary drive request to drive the auxiliary has occurred, and a second control section that causes the vehicle to shift to a second inertia running state by starting the engine keeping the clutch device disengaged when the auxiliary drive request is determined to have occurred while the vehicle is running in the first inertia running state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Maeda, Tomohisa Ose
  • Patent number: 9342074
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adaptive methods for transitioning control to the driver are described. A computing device controlling a vehicle autonomously may be configured to receive a request for a transition of the vehicle from autonomous mode to manual mode through an indication by the driver. The computing device may determine the state of the vehicle based on parameters related to the autonomous operation of the vehicle. Based on the state of the vehicle and the indication, the computing device may determine instructions corresponding to the transition of control, which may include a strategy for the transition and duration of time corresponding to the transition of control. The computing device may provide the instructions to perform the transition of control of the vehicle from autonomous mode to manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Dolgov, Andrew Schultz, Daniel Trawick Egnor, Christopher Urmson
  • Patent number: 9309858
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine control device, a predetermined margin torque is set such that it is possible to maintain a predetermined engine idling speed by adjusting ignition timing with respect to load fluctuations during idling operation. The margin torque is set to decrease, as a load, acting on the internal combustion engine during idling operation, increases. Accordingly, the margin torque can be set to an appropriate value, and thus it is possible to improve a fuel economy performance during idling operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Yamano, Yuji Sasaki, Takao Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9302704
    Abstract: A basic assist torque is set on the basis of the vehicle speed and the steering torque, and when the vehicle changes from a straight driving state to a curve driving state, a correction amount for the basic assist torque is calculated, which is to offset steering torque characteristic values which has been predetermined depending on a steering angle, in a direction opposite to the steering direction by correcting an absolute value of the basic assist torque to reduce its action on the steering direction depending at least upon the curvature radius of the driving road in front of the vehicle, and the basic assist torque is corrected with the basic assist torque correction amount and the controlled/corrected torque (assist torque) is output to a motor drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shiro Ezoe
  • Patent number: 9306898
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for sharing information related to a location also referred to herein as a “spot,” such as spot alerts and/or spot comments (e.g., shared information, advertisements, etc.) received, displayed, played, and/or actuated, for example, on recipient mobile electronic devices proximately located to such location (e.g., spot). Users of the system can create spot alerts in which designated recipients can receive messages, such as spot alerts and/or spot comments (e.g., shared information, advertisements, etc.) received, displayed, played, and/or actuated, for example, on respective recipient mobile electronic devices, when located within a proximity of a defined location (e.g., spot).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: JINGLE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: David Ross, Charles Taylor
  • Patent number: 9297722
    Abstract: [Object] Object of the present invention is to improve accuracy of the travelling test of a tested vehicle on a chassis dynamometer, and to increase realistic feeling of the travelling test. [Means to solve] A driver's aid device 5 displays, on a main screen 11, a travelling speed pattern 12 that is a driving pattern for performing a performance evaluation test of a tested vehicle 6. The main screen 11 displays thereon topographical feature information 13 of a road where the travelling test is carried out. A marker 14 that indicates a vehicle state is shown at an intersection of the topographical feature information 13 and a reference line 15 that indicates a present position of the tested vehicle 6. This marker 14 is shown with the marker 14 inclined in accordance with a gradient of the road where the test is carried out. Further, a curve band 28 indicating curve information of the road where the travelling test is carried out is shown on the main screen 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Narumi Oguchi, Yasumasa Narumi, Youichi Tohyama, Akihiro Ishiduka, Noboru Shiozawa
  • Patent number: 9296392
    Abstract: A vehicle cruise control system and method for consumption-oriented control of the vehicle speed within a predefined desired speed range includes an operating unit for activating the consumption-oriented speed control and a control unit, which controls the vehicle speed within the predefined desired speed range while taking into consideration a predefined maximum energy consumption value when the consumption-oriented speed control is activated. The vehicle speed is controlled in such a way that the predefined maximum energy consumption value is not exceeded only as long as a vehicle speed that lies within the predefined desired speed range is adjustable while taking into consideration the predefined energy consumption value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torsten Hartmann, Juergen Hartmann
  • Patent number: 9216637
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is disclosed having an electric drive. The drivetrain is comprised of batteries, a motor, a transaxle driven by the motor, a rear differential driven by the transaxle, and a prop shaft which is driven by the transaxle and drives a front differential. The batteries are provided in two groups and are supported on the frame of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Crain, Joel M. Notaro
  • Patent number: 9218236
    Abstract: An error signal handling unit includes an error handler configured to receive an error signal indicating an error condition. The error handler is further configured to receive a recovery signal indicating a mitigation of the error condition or indicating that a mitigation of the error condition is possible. Furthermore, the error handler is further configured to output an error condition signal based on the error signal in response to a reception of the error signal if within a given delay time from the reception of the error signal, the error handler does not receive the recovery signal, and otherwise omit outputting the error condition signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Antonio Vilela, Andre Roger
  • Patent number: 9214099
    Abstract: A map data production method is disclosed. The method includes: dividing a record target map area into meshes; creating mesh-unit data elements as groups of mesh-unit data elements so that the groups respectively correspond to the meshes, and each group of mesh-unit data elements describes information on map components of a corresponding one of the meshes in such manner that mesh-unit data elements in the each group respectively describes the information on the map components; creating data files, through (i) organizing, according to map component type, the mesh-unit data elements into sets of mesh-unit data elements and (ii) respectively storing the sets of mesh-unit data elements, each set having a same map component type, in the data files; and creating map data from the plurality of data files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Usui, Takayuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9208691
    Abstract: An overtaking control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of machines operating at a common worksite. The overtaking control system may have an input device that is configured to receive an input from an operator of the first machine of the plurality of machines indicative of a desire to overtake a second machine of the plurality of machines. The overtaking control system may also have a location device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of the first machine at the common worksite. The overtaking control system may further have at least one controller configured to make a comparison of a projected path of the first machine with a map of the common worksite based on the location signal, and selectively activate the input device only when the comparison indicates that the projected path of the first machine does not overlap with a no-overtaking zone at the common worksite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Kenneth Borland, Mathew Chacko
  • Patent number: 9197180
    Abstract: An audio unit mountable in a personal watercraft, comprises a speaker, an automated adjustment device for automatically adjusting a volume of a sound emitted from the speaker such that the volume of the sound becomes an automated sound volume value corresponding to an engine speed or a watercraft speed, and a sound volume manipulation member manipulated by a rider to change the volume of the sound emitted from the speaker with respect to the automated sound volume value; wherein when the engine speed or the watercraft speed satisfies a predetermined deceleration condition, the automated adjustment device cancels a sound volume increase amount with respect to the automated sound volume value which was caused by the rider's manipulation of the sound volume manipulation member before the predetermined deceleration condition is satisfied, and adjusts the sound volume such that the volume of the sound becomes the automated sound volume value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunihiko Kamio
  • Patent number: 9187097
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a speed profile for a vehicle travelling along a road in which a curve speed estimation unit receives inputs indicating a position of the vehicle relative to a curve ahead of the vehicle, and inputs related to vehicle velocity, curve geometry, road surface conditions, vehicle-specific data; and driver preferences. The curve sped estimation unit use at least some of the above-listed inputs to determine a speed profile for the curve by generating an acceleration limit map which depends on a relationship between a maximum possible longitudinal acceleration and a maximum possible lateral acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Levin, Johan Roennberg
  • Patent number: 9181884
    Abstract: An engine control device, while executing a fuel-cut control, calculates a target intake air amount (Qat) from a basic intake air amount (Qabase) and an added intake air amount (Qaadd) commensurate with an accessory torque (step S14). Next, the engine control device acquires a coolant temperature (Tw) (step S15), and then sets a lower-limit intake air amount (Qamin) (step S16). When the target intake air amount (Qat) is smaller than the lower-limit intake air amount (Qamin) (NO in step S17), the engine control device updates the target intake air amount (Qat) with the lower-limit intake air amount (Qamin). (step S18), and adjusts the degree of throttle opening so that the actual intake air amount (Qa) becomes equal to the target intake air amount (Qat) (step S19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9174535
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a speed in an excess speed enforcement section are provided. The method includes determining one of a target speed, a lower limit speed, and a speed limit as a final target speed using a relationship between a target speed, a lower limit speed, and a speed limit. A required acceleration is calculated based on the final target speed and the vehicle speed and the vehicle speed is adjusted using the required acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dae Youn Um, Jee Young Kim, Young M. Han
  • Patent number: 9162682
    Abstract: A method for determining the speed of a vehicle equipped with at least one surround sensor that determines environment data of the vehicle relative to at least one motionless object includes: receiving, by the vehicle, through wireless vehicle-to-environment communication with the at least one motionless object, a transmitted piece of information about the motionlessness of the motionless object; determining the relative motion of the vehicle with respect to the motionless object from the environment data of the vehicle relative to the motionless object; and determining the speed of the vehicle and/or the relative position of the vehicle with respect to the motionless object from the determined relative motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andree Hohm, Matthias Komar, Ulrich Stählin
  • Patent number: 9162676
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle comprises: an electric motor connected to a drive force transmission path through a first connecting/disconnecting device connecting/interrupting power transmission; and an engine connected to the electric motor through a second connecting/disconnecting device connecting/interrupting power transmission, the control device of a vehicle disconnecting the first connecting/disconnecting device or the second connecting/disconnecting device during running to perform coasting with the engine separated, when performing coasting, a determination whether a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined determination vehicle speed implemented, the engine separated by disconnecting the second connecting/disconnecting device with the first connecting/disconnecting device kept connected at a low vehicle speed where the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined determination vehicle speed, and the engine separated by disconnecting the first connecting/disconnecting devi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shingo Eto, Yuji Inoue, Yukihiko Ideshio, Yousuke Michikoshi, Terufumi Miyazaki, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9156472
    Abstract: Economic cruise control where a response of a cruise control system used to control a powertrain is determined based at least in part on whether a driver of a vehicle system has selected to manage cruise control according to performance or efficient cruise control strategies. The performance strategy corresponding with fulfilling a request to accelerate or otherwise increase energy demands less efficiently, and in some cases more quickly, than if the request were to be fulfilled with the efficient cruise control strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Gunnar Robert Ross
  • Patent number: 9145658
    Abstract: A hybrid hydraulic excavator includes: an engine; a generator motor; an electric storage device; a commanding system being configured to command at least activation of a service mode for maintenance and execution of a charge-release process for the electric storage device; a display being configured to provide at least information on the charge-release process for the electric storage device; and a display controller being configured to control displaying of the display. The display controller commands the display to display charge-release-failure information when the charge-release process is ongoing at the elapse of a predetermined duration of time since the activation of the service mode was commanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitamura, Kentaro Murakami
  • Patent number: 9116525
    Abstract: A reference angle detecting device includes a control shaft connected to a controlled object, an electric motor causing the control shaft to rotate via a worm gear mechanism, a stopper disposed on a motion track of a worm wheel, an angle sensor that can detect a rotation angle of the control shaft, and a controller. The stopper includes a spring member which is elastically deformable in an operation direction of the worm wheel. The controller drives the electric motor to operate so that the worm wheel may face the stopper, and stores the rotation angle at a time point when a change rate ? of the rotation angle ? detected by the angle sensor changes to a value less than a predetermined threshold ?1 as a reference angle ?0. Therefore, the reference angle can be detected with high accuracy for control of an angle of the control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Satoaki Ichi
  • Patent number: 9109521
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine includes a conditions module that is configured to determine an out-of-gear condition of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus also includes a permission module that is configured to allow a speed of the internal combustion engine to exceed a maximum engine speed limit if the determined out-of-gear condition meets a threshold, and prevent the speed of the internal combustion engine from exceeding the maximum engine speed limit if the determined out-of-gear condition does not meet the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Dempsey, Jonathan A. Dickson, Craig M. Calmer
  • Patent number: 9090279
    Abstract: A method for determining a transversal controller parameterization for transversal control of a vehicle on a route segment to be instantaneously traveled on by the vehicle, having a step for determining the parameter based on a piece of information about a curvature of the route segment to be instantaneously traveled on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Thomas App, Thomas Glaser
  • Patent number: 9085236
    Abstract: An ACC system and object detection method for a vehicle. The ACC system includes a vehicle parameter sensor, an object detection sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate the vehicle's path based on a signal from the parameter sensor, detect an object based on the vehicle's path and a signal from the object detection sensor, determine an acceleration of the vehicle, and prevent the acceleration of the vehicle from increasing while the object is detected and the acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined acceleration threshold. The object detection method includes identifying stationary objects in a path of a vehicle and limiting an acceleration of the vehicle when the acceleration is above a threshold and a stationary object is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Schwindt, Bhavana Chakraborty
  • Patent number: 9082283
    Abstract: A driver condition assessment device is provided which assesses a driver condition of a host vehicle. The device assesses whether a predetermined driving operation is performed, and includes detecting a travelling condition of the host vehicle and detecting a size of a preceding vehicle present ahead of the host vehicle. The device assesses whether a consciousness of a driver of the host vehicle is degraded when a detected travelling condition exceeds a predetermined threshold value and sets the predetermined threshold value depending on the detected size of the preceding vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shotaro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9081652
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an acceleration acquisition unit that detects or estimates an acceleration of a vehicle; and a control unit that is configured to change a running characteristic, which includes at least any one of a driving force characteristic, shift characteristic, steering characteristic and suspension characteristic of the vehicle, on the basis of the acceleration, wherein the control unit is configured to relatively delay a change of the running characteristic for decreasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle with respect to a change of the running characteristic for increasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle, and is configured to limit a change of the running characteristic when a jerk, which is a time differential value of the acceleration, is larger than a limit determination threshold as compared with when the jerk is smaller than or equal to the limit determination threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Yoji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 9050935
    Abstract: Various embodiments relating to driving behavior of a driver of a motor vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include assessing driving behavior of the driver according to a comparison of a current value of a coasting characteristic relative to a reference value. The current value may be determined during operation of the motor vehicle. The reference value of the coasting characteristic may be determined from operation of the motor vehicle during at least one past operating phase or another duration. The method further includes displaying a visualization representative of assessed driving behavior of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Urs Christen, Ryan Abraham McGee, Uwe Gussen