Patents Assigned to POLARIS
  • SNOWMOBILE
    Publication number: 20180334211
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to snowmobiles. More particularly, the present invention relates to the components of a snowmobile such as the frame, running boards and various other assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin A. Mertens, Martin E. Sampson
  • ENGINE
    Publication number: 20180328272
    Abstract: An engine is disclosed of the V-configuration having an integrated engine and transmission. The engine has a crankshaft which directly couples to drive the water pump, oil pump and transmission clutch. The water pump has a drive shaft coupled to the crankshaft that extends across the crankcase from a first to a second side. The water pump includes a housing where at least a portion is defined in the face of the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine D. Kaeser, Matthew R. Fronk, Michael C. Bartholomew, Urs Wenger, Hans-Rudolf Jenni, Neil A. Wright
  • Polarimetric Detection of Foreign Fluids on Surfaces
    Publication number: 20180328836
    Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of foreign fluids on surface comprises estimating an expected polarization response for a foreign fluid desired to be detected. Oil from an oil spill is one such foreign fluid. A polarimeter records raw image data of a surface (e.g., the surface of water) to obtain polarized images of the surface. IR and polarization data products are computed from the polarized images. The IR and polarization data products are converted to multi-dimensional data set to form multi-dimensional imagery. Contrast algorithms are applied to the multi-dimensional imagery to form enhanced contrast images, from which foreign fluids can be automatically detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Chenault
  • Utility vehicle
    Patent number: 10124709
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame, a powertrain assembly, a front suspension assembly, and a rear suspension assembly. A cargo bed may be supported by the frame at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes an operator seat and at least one passenger seat positioned within an operator area. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes doors to enclose the operator area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Bohnsack, Ryan P. Black-Macken
  • Estimating the location of a wireless terminal based on detection of whether it is moving or stationary
    Patent number: 10123298
    Abstract: A technique for estimating the location of a wireless terminal at an unknown location in a geographic region. The wireless terminal measures samples of a predetermined form of energy in its vicinity. The disclosed technique then generates a characterization of a predetermined type of variation in the vicinity of the wireless terminal, based on the samples measured. Based on the characterization, the technique generates an estimate of whether the wireless terminal is moving or stationary. The technique then generates an estimate of the location of the wireless terminal, based on the estimate of whether the wireless terminal is moving or stationary. The location estimate can be based on i) applying a location estimate that is optimized for motion if the wireless terminal is estimated to be moving and ii) applying a different technique if the wireless terminal is estimated to be stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. De Lorenzo
  • Hybrid utility vehicle
    Patent number: 10118477
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle may be a series hybrid or a parallel hybrid vehicle. One embodiment of a parallel hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, a front drive coupled to the transmission through a prop shaft, a rear drive coupled to the transmission, a traction motor drivingly coupled to the prop shaft, and a battery to operate the traction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Borud, Christopher P. Matko, David F. Buehler, Brian L. Van Batavia, Benjamin Marco Comana
  • VEHICLE HAVING SUSPENSION WITH CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL
    Publication number: 20180297435
    Abstract: A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame includes at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping characteristic. The system also includes a controller coupled to each adjustable shock absorber to adjust the damping characteristic of each adjustable shock absorber, and a user interface coupled to the controller and accessible to a driver of the vehicle. The user interface includes at least one user input to permit manual adjustment of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber during operation of the vehicle. Vehicle sensors are also be coupled to the controller to adjust the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber based vehicle conditions determined by sensor output signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Brady, Alex R. Scheuerell, Steven R. Franker, Aaron J. Nysse
  • Electronic throttle control
    Patent number: 10086698
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle includes a seatbelt sensor configured to detect when a seatbelt is in an engaged position or a disengaged position and an engine control module in communication with the seatbelt sensor to automatically limit a maximum speed of the vehicle to a reduced maximum speed limit upon detection of the seatbelt is in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Karl J. Grajkowski, Amber P. Malone, Eric P. Nault, Steven C. Erickson, Brian R. Gillingham, Ryan D. Carlson
  • SNOW VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20180273142
    Abstract: A snow vehicle is disclosed comprising a uni-body frame having a forward engine compartment, a propulsion unit coupled to the frame, and a front ski steered by a steering mechanism. The snow vehicle has a chain coupling the sprocket of the propulsion unit located outside of the frame and directly coupled to the belt drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Allen M. Mangum, Jimmy D. Brooks
  • Estimating the Location of a Wireless Terminal Based on Cooperative Measurements
    Publication number: 20180259614
    Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a wireless terminal is disclosed that is based on using: the known location of one or more devices, empirical data that indicates the relative position of the wireless terminal to the devices, and empirical data that indicates the relative position of the wireless terminal (which is at an unknown location) relative to other wireless terminals that are also at unknown locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicants: Polaris Wireless, Inc., Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Scot Douglas Gordon, Sayed Reza Monir Vaghefi, R. Michael Buehrer
  • Sky Polarization and Sun Sensor System and Method
    Publication number: 20180259617
    Abstract: In a method for determining orientation of an object, raw image data of the sky is recorded using a sky polarimeter. One or more of Stokes parameters (S0, S1, S2), degree of linear polarization (DoLP), and angle of polarization (AoP) are calculated from the image data to produce a set of processed images. Last known position and time data of the object are obtained, and a known Sun azimuth and elevation are calculated using the last known position and time data. Roll and pitch of the object are found, and the roll and pitch data are used to find a zenith in the processed images. The yaw/heading of the object is determined using the difference between a polarization angle at the zenith and a calculated Sun azimuth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Aycock, David B. Chenault, Arthur Lompado, J. Larry Pezzaniti
  • SNOW BIKE AND A FRONT SUSPENSION FOR A SNOW BIKE
    Publication number: 20180257690
    Abstract: A front fork assembly of a snow bike is disclosed having left and right legs, each having an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion. The left leg upper and lower leg portions are linearly movable relative to each other. A right leg has an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion, the right leg upper and lower leg portions are linearly movable relative to each other. A ski mount has a lower end for coupling to a ski and an upper end for coupling to the left and right leg. A linear force element is coupled to the left and right legs with a first end adjacent the first ends of the forks and seconds ends coupled to the ski, the linear force element has a different linear force characteristic than the left and right legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Allen M. Mangum, Cody L. Telford
  • System and method for coordinating session replay of spatiotemporal data and presentation of a graphical representation of said data
    Patent number: 10074201
    Abstract: A system and method for coordinating session replay of spatiotemporal data and presentation of a graphical representation of said data. A disclosed video display system is capable of providing, in a displayed image, i) a diagrammatic representation and ii) a first graphical representation. The graphical elements in the first graphical representation can be dependent on the geolocations of one or more tracked objects, such as wireless terminals, that are represented in the spatiotemporal data and that are presented in the displayed image. The video display system can provide, for example, a map of a geographic area as the diagrammatic representation and a pie chart as the first graphical representation. A user of the system is able to control playback of the spatiotemporal data that are being presented on the map and to observe the pie chart being updated over time by the system during playback of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Wirless, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitul Bhat, Pratik Dhebri
  • Snowmobile
    Patent number: 10035554
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to snowmobiles. More particularly, the present invention relates to the components of a snowmobile such as the frame, running boards and various other assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin A. Mertens, Martin E. Sampson
  • Side-by-side diesel utility vehicle
    Patent number: 10037304
    Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a plurality of ground engaging members and a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members. The frame includes a front frame portion, a mid-frame portion, and a rear frame portion. The utility vehicle further comprises an attachment supported at the front frame portion. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes an operator area supported by the frame and including an operator seat and an adjacent passenger seat spaced apart from the operator seat. The operator seat and the passenger seat are in a side-by-side arrangement. The utility vehicle also comprises an auxiliary power assembly having an attachment shaft configured to be operably coupled to the attachment. The attachment shaft extends in a generally longitudinal direction of the utility vehicle and projects outwardly from the front frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C Smith, Adam J Schlangen, Richard D Ripley, Shawn D Peterson, Kurt E Stenberg, Anthony J Kinsman, Angus M Morison, David A Elia, Matthew S Kmecik, Eric J Czechowski, David J Hicke, Aaron J Nysse, Matthew J Kaldor, Robert R Lacher, Brian P Dehnert
  • Engine
    Patent number: 10036311
    Abstract: An engine is disclosed of the V-configuration having an integrated engine and transmission. The engine has a crankshaft which directly couples to drive the water pump, oil pump and transmission clutch. The water pump has a drive shaft coupled to the crankshaft that extends across the crankcase from a first to a second side. The water pump includes a housing where at least a portion is defined in the face of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine D. Kaeser, Matthew R. Fronk, Michael C. Bartholomew, Urs Wenger, Hans-Rudolf Jenni, Neil A. Wright
  • Recreational vehicle group management system
    Patent number: 10038977
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to permit groups of recreational vehicle riders and others the ability to quickly create and join groups without prior knowledge of the contact information of everyone in the group. In one embodiment, groups are joinable based on the proximity information of the prospective member and the current group members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Gray I. Rentz, Adam C. Koosmann, Nathan A. Good, Jacob H. Larson, Rebecca C. Deitz, David J. Koenig
  • Short wave infrared polarimeter
    Patent number: 10031026
    Abstract: A short wave infrared polarimeter comprising a pixelated polarizer array and an Indium-Gallium-Arsenide (“InGaAs”) focal plane array. The short wave infrared polarimeter optionally includes a micro-lens array and/or an aperture layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: J Larry Pezzaniti
  • All-terrain vehicle
    Patent number: D827500
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan K. Lovold, Cameron Fisher, Heather L. VanSlyke, Thomas C. Hanegraaf
  • All-terrain vehicle
    Patent number: D832149
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Wilcox, James E. Rogala, Burton D. Fischer