Patents Assigned to Volvo Car Corporation
  • Patent number: 11738739
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method to control torque distribution among a plurality of electric machines connected to at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel of a vehicle during operation, comprising: acquiring the total torque requested; obtaining the most energy efficient torque distribution mode by using a loss model or loss map; evaluating the actual driving situation; determining if a mode switch is allowed depending on the actual driving situation; switching the torque distribution mode, if allowed; and preventing a mode switch, if not allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Juliette Utbult, Derong Yang, Mats Jonasson, Bengt Jacobson
  • Patent number: 11738769
    Abstract: A vehicle-launching warning device including an acquiring module acquiring traffic light information and driver status information and some or all of: location information, status and navigation of a vehicle, map information, status information of a preceding vehicle, and environmental information; a processing module processing the acquired information to determine whether a target traffic light is at the end of a red light signal and whether a driver's degree of attentiveness is high enough for driving, the target traffic light being a next traffic light in a travelling direction of the vehicle after passing through a current traffic light; a determining module generating a warning command if it is determined the target traffic light is at the end of a red light signal and the driver's degree of attentiveness is not high enough for driving; and an outputting module outputting the warning command to a human machine interface (HMI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 11727427
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and metrics that filter out online visitor behavioral data that represents a potential lead with a high likelihood to convert to a vehicle sale from online visitor behavioral data that does not represent a potential lead with a low likelihood to convert to a vehicle sale, based on a mapping of sales back to observed website and vehicle configurator data. This enables more effective lead generation and the more efficient targeting of online incentive offers and sales “nudges,” for example. Further, the present disclosure enables web analytics data to be combined with sales data for sales forecasting in general.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Sohini Roy Chowdhury, Jon Seneger, Ebrahim Alareqi, Joakim Soderberg, Ao Liu
  • Patent number: 11724686
    Abstract: A method of reducing cold start emissions in a series mode hybrid electric vehicle, including an internal combustion engine with an exhaust duct having a catalyst and a downstream oxygen sensor, an output of the combustion engine being connected to an electric generator with a power output of at least 10 kW that is connected to an electric motor which is coupled to a drive shaft of two or more wheels. The method includes detecting a cold start condition, injecting fuel into the engine such that combustion at a lambda value, ?, is achieved for which ?>1, running the engine at a speed of 1000 rpm or higher, determining if the efficiency of the catalyst reaches a first level, setting ? to about 1 after the predetermined efficiency level of the catalyst has been reached, and reducing the speed to working conditions when the catalyst efficiency reaches a second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Göran Almkvist, Markus Ekström
  • Patent number: 11724695
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing a scenario-based overlay torque request signal in a steer torque manager (1) during driver-override of an auxiliary steering assistance system (2) function in a road vehicle (3) having an EPAS system (4). The steer torque manager (1) has a wheel angle controller (1b) for providing an assistance torque request related signal, and a driver-in-the-loop functionality (1a) for determining driver-override and providing a driver-override related signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Zenuity AB, Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Lidander, Lars Johannesson Mårdh, Andreas Carlsson, Markus Löfgren, Andreas Lindberg
  • Patent number: 11718262
    Abstract: An airbag system for restraining a lower body of a vehicle occupant during a collision event and a method for deploying the same are disclosed. The airbag system includes a panel and a restraining airbag. The panel defines a support surface that is adapted to be deployed from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to the collision event. In the first configuration, the panel forms part of an instrument panel of a vehicle and, in the second configuration, the panel is at least partially separated from the instrument panel of the vehicle. The restraining airbag is adapted to be deployed adjacent to the support surface of the panel between the support surface and the lower body of the vehicle occupant responsive to the collision event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Rosenberg, Sebastian Rutelin
  • Patent number: 11718284
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steering control system for a vehicle, a vehicle comprising such a steering control system and a method for operating such a steering control system for a vehicle. The steering control system comprises a frequency filter unit, a first control unit, and a second control unit. The frequency filter unit comprises a high pass filter and a low pass filter. The frequency filter unit is configured to receive a request for a steering angle and filter the request into a low-pass filtered request and a high-pass filtered request. The first control unit is configured to determine a first controlling torque based on the low-pass filtered request the second control unit is configured to determine a second controlling torque based on the high-pass filtered request. The first control unit is different of the second control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derong Yang, Mats Jonasson
  • Patent number: 11719796
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for removing noise from an ultrasonic signal using a generative adversarial network (GAN). The present disclosure provides three input formats for the neural network (NN) in order to feed one-dimensional (1D) input data to the network. The system is generalizable to multiple noise sources, as it learns from different motion functions and noise types. The end-to-end system of the present disclosure is trained on raw ultrasonic signals with very little pre-processing or feature extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Ying Li, Usha Nookala, Sihao Ding
  • Patent number: 11718200
    Abstract: It is desirable to facilitate maintenance of a battery of a vehicle. Ideally, any non-optimal action performed on the battery—for instance excessive charging—should be identified such that an appropriate recommendation for a battery maintenance operation can be provided. For instance, a user of the vehicle may be instructed to charge the battery less often. Thus, in an embodiment, a device such as an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), will monitor one or more operational properties of the battery. Thereafter, the monitored property is evaluated by the ECU to determine an effect that the monitored property has on the lifetime of the battery. Based on this evaluation, the ECU performs an action with aim to prolong the lifetime of the battery, such as instructing a user of the vehicle to perform a particular action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Max Petersson, Ashok Chaitanya Koppisetty, Herman Johnsson, Bastian Havers-Zulka, Mats Gjertz, Peter Härslätt, Asli Pehlivan Rhodin, Tessa Koelewijn
  • Patent number: 11719199
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine assembly is provided with a fuel tank for fuel including ethanol, and a reformer for steam reforming of ethanol that is with an outlet connected to a buffer tank. A first reformer supply duct extends from the fuel tank to the reformer via a fuel evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases, for supplying ethanol vapor to the reformer. A second reformer supply duct extends from a water reservoir to the reformer via a water evaporator that is in heat exchanging contact with the exhaust gases. The reformer is in heat exchanging contact with the catalytic converter and is adapted for reforming ethanol and water into syngas including carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and for supplying the syngas via the outlet to the buffer tank. The reformer and the catalytic converter may form an integrated unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Ola Rolandson
  • Patent number: 11718251
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Vehicle front structure as defined above is provided, in which the front structure comprises: a side member for supporting a vehicle bumper beam, the side member extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end for connecting to the vehicle bumper beam and a second end for connecting to a bulkhead, and a lateral extension member extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the side member and outward with respect to the vehicle front structure, the lateral extension member is connected to the side member such that the lateral extension member can exert a bending moment to the side member, and a bending strength of the lateral extension member in backward direction towards the side member is higher compared to a bending strength in the forward direction away from the side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Babak Nejabat, Weijia Wu, Asmer Ibrovic, Ejder Eken, Frida Madsen, Martin Swahn
  • Patent number: 11718236
    Abstract: Reconfigurable cargo screen assemblies for a vehicle are provided. The assembly includes a retracting component including a cassette member, a retractable screen, a first end beam, and a retraction mechanism. A first end of the retractable screen is connected to the first end beam, and a second end of the retractable screen is retractably connected within the cassette member by the retraction mechanism. The assembly further includes a middle cover component including a rod member, a middle screen, and a second end beam. A first end of the middle screen is connected to the rod member, and a second end of the middle screen is connected to the second end beam. Also included is a back component having a connection beam and a back screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Monica Sjöstedt, Peter Landqvist, Tony Nilsson
  • Patent number: 11719409
    Abstract: A vehicle light assembly including one or more movable light signature members that are selectively translated from a first position partially or wholly in front of conventional light units (low beams, high beams, taillights, etc.) to a second position away from the light units when the light units are in use. Thus, for example, the movable light signature member(s) can include one or more LEDs or the like that are illuminated to act as daytime running lights, turn signal indicators, accessory lights, etc. when they are disposed in front of the light units and when the low beams, high beams, or taillights are not in use. This provides the desired light signature. When the low beams, high beams, or taillights are in use, the movable light signature member(s) are translated out of the way, such that the light units are visible adjacent to and/or between the movable light signature member(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Fritzon, Berk Keskin
  • Patent number: 11713083
    Abstract: A siderail member for a subframe assembly of a vehicle, including: an elongate body, wherein the elongate body includes a hollow extruded structure including an inboard wall, an outboard wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and one or more internal walls. Optionally, the bottom wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the top wall. Optionally, the outboard wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inboard wall. Optionally, the one or more internal walls include a top internal wall and a bottom internal wall forming a plurality of horizontally-disposed cells within an interior of the elongate body. The bottom internal wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the top internal wall. The hollow extruded structure is manufactured from an aluminum material. Optionally, the top wall of the hollow extruded structure defines a flexure recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Eklund, Anders Sandahl, Jens Raine, Domenico Macri, Emil Claesson, Per Zachrison, Kaldon Kalasho, Robin Larsson, Martin Granlund, Patrik Ljungbäck
  • Patent number: 11708046
    Abstract: Airbag systems for use in a vehicle that is operable in a manual-steering mode or an automated-steering mode are provided. In one embodiment, an airbag system includes a primary airbag installed in a dashboard of a vehicle. The primary airbag is configured to be deployed when a collision event is detected, and, when deployed, the primary airbag is configured to protect a person seated in a driver seat of the vehicle. the airbag system also includes an auxiliary airbag configured to be deployed when the collision event is detected. During operation of the vehicle in a manual-steering mode, the deployment of the auxiliary airbag is configured to reduce contact between the primary airbag and a steering wheel of the vehicle when the primary airbag is deployed from the dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Rosenberg, Sebastian Rutelin
  • Patent number: 11709844
    Abstract: A method and system operable for: receiving a search query including search terms; using a machine learning module, selecting features of the search terms and mapping an association between the search terms and a domain object, thereby generating a domain object classification; tagging the domain object with the domain object classification; and using the domain object tagged with the domain object classification to conduct a subsequent search. Conducting the subsequent search includes: receiving a subsequent search query including subsequent search terms; tokenizing the subsequent search terms; finding permutations of the tokenized subsequent search terms; matching the subsequent search terms to the domain object tagged with the domain object classification; and displaying subsequent search results via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Aykut Yararbas, Jon Seneger, Sohini Roy Chowdhury, Joakim Soderberg
  • Patent number: D993122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Axel Ernstsson
  • Patent number: D993890
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Juan Pablo Bernal
  • Patent number: D994097
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Guglielmo Guiglia
  • Patent number: D994359
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Juan Pablo Bernal