Patents Examined by Aaron C Smith
  • Patent number: 11447174
    Abstract: An electric power assisted steering assembly comprises a steering mechanism which operatively connects a steering wheel to the roadwheels of a vehicle, a sensor adapted to produce a first output signal indicative of the torque carried by a portion of the steering mechanism and to produce a second output signal indicative, an electric motor, a signal processing unit having a lead-lag filter to produce an overall torque demand signal, and a motor drive stage adapted to provide a drive current to the motor responsive to the torque demand signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Tim Sworn, George Dibben, Kannan Natesan, Birk Junghanns
  • Patent number: 11440585
    Abstract: A trailer backup assist system is provided herein. The trailer backup assist system includes a hitch angle sensor configured to determine a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer attached thereto. An input device is configured to accept an input command corresponding to a trailer path command curvature. A controller is configured to determine a vehicle threshold speed limit by determining a first vehicle speed limit based on the hitch angle and a second speed limit based on the command curvature. The controller generates a command to limit vehicle speed in a reverse direction below the threshold speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Donald Jacob Mattern, Joseph M. Raad
  • Patent number: 11391572
    Abstract: A method for predicting a topography information item for a vehicle includes assigning at least one respective topography information item to each of the different travel positions of the vehicle, determining a future travel position, and querying at least one topography information item assigned to the determined future travel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Norbert Fritz, Bernd Baum, Sebastian Illy, Thomas Floerchinger
  • Patent number: 11377820
    Abstract: An automated control system in a work vehicle for automating operation of a task is provided. The control system includes one or more electronic controllers having processing and memory architecture including a potential field module and an actuator control module. The potential field module includes a state determination unit configured to determine a state of the work vehicle based on input data; a potential field function selection unit configured to select at least one potential field function based on the determined state; vector calculation unit configured to calculate an action vector based on the at least one potential field function; and an action unit configured to generate an actuator command based on the action vector. The actuator control module is configured to receive the actuator command and to generate command signals for at least one actuator of the work vehicle to, at least in part, perform the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael G. Kean
  • Patent number: 11370425
    Abstract: A traveling controller for vehicle includes a first computing unit, a traveling control unit, a first calculating unit, a second calculating unit, and a second computing unit. The first calculating unit is configured to calculate estimated positions. The second calculating unit is configured to calculate estimated position reliability on the basis of pieces of positional information, including information on one or more estimated positions. The second computing unit is configured to compute control information on the basis of one or more estimated positions when lane line information is unobtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hajime Oyama
  • Patent number: 11358735
    Abstract: A ground proximity warning system for an aircraft includes a plurality of alarm generators, each able to generate an alarm by verifying evolution conditions of the aircraft specific to each alarm generator, the verification using data obtained from at least one measuring sensor of the aircraft. The ground proximity warning system includes a unit for selective deactivation of at least some of the alarm generators, able to be implemented during a search and rescue mission carried out by the aircraft, and an auxiliary alarm generator, capable of emitting a ground proximity alarm based on the safety height chosen for the search and rescue mission, when the selective deactivation unit is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventors: Florent Rimbaud, Frank Renaud
  • Patent number: 11299927
    Abstract: An interlocking occupant step apparatus and method for a vehicle, includes a powered door, a powered occupant step, a kick sensor, and a controller having processing circuitry. While in an interlocking state, the processing circuitry detects a first gesture signal from the kick sensor, for example resulting from a kick, upon detection of the first gesture signal, controls operation of the powered occupant step to move the occupant step to an extended position, and controls operation of the powered door to move to an opened position. The processing circuitry detects a second gesture signal from the kick sensor, for example resulting from a lateral swing, the second gesture signal being for a second gesture different from the first gesture. Upon detection of the second gesture signal, the processing circuitry switches to a non-interlocking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Koji Nagase, Daisuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 11292440
    Abstract: An automatic parking control device includes an automatic parking controller that carries out automatic parking control, and a park-by-wire controller in which a park lock is automatically engaged when automatic parking is completed at a target stopping position by the automatic parking control. The park-by-wire controller determines whether a system abnormality would occur, in which the park-by-wire system does not operate normally during the automatic parking control. The automatic parking controller prohibits the starting of the automatic parking control upon determining that the system abnormality would occur before the automatic parking control is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Koshiba, Hidemitsu Nakagawara, Hisahiro Nabeshima, Yasuhiro Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11279501
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a satellite control system that exhibits improved stability and increased efficiency by implementing a non-linear dynamic inversion inner-loop control algorithm coupled with an eigen vector outer-loop control algorithm. Thus, the attitude determination and control system (ADACS) may operate using commands to rotate directly about an eigen vector. Additionally, the outer-loop control system includes a feed-forward control element to enhance pointing accuracy when tracking moving targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: John Benton Derrick, II
  • Patent number: 10864787
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a human machine interface for a trailer hitch system. One method includes receiving, a first user input, and presenting on a display a captured video image including a coupler, and determining an area into which the vehicle can be guided. The method includes presenting an indication of the area overlaying the captured video image. The method includes, in response to receiving a second user input indicating a location relative to the coupler, and when the vehicle is not in a reverse gear, presenting a visual command to put the vehicle in the reverse gear, and, when the vehicle is in the reverse gear, automatically steering the vehicle to the coupler based on the location. The method includes, during the automatic steering, receiving the speed of the vehicle, and, when the speed exceeds a threshold, presenting on the display a second visual command to slow the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rajani Janardhana, Gary B. Ward
  • Patent number: 10611407
    Abstract: A trailer backup assist system is provided herein. The trailer backup assist system includes a hitch angle sensor configured to determine a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer attached thereto. An input device is configured to accept an input command corresponding to a trailer path command curvature. A controller is configured to determine a vehicle threshold speed limit by determining a first vehicle speed limit based on the hitch angle and a second speed limit based on the command curvature. The controller generates a command to limit vehicle speed in a reverse direction below the threshold speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Donald Jacob Mattern, Joseph M. Raad
  • Patent number: 10586462
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a safety system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) enables the safe operation of the UAV within an airspace by initiating various actions based on the position of the UAV relative to one or more flight zones and/or relative to other aircraft in the airspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: 5X5 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Eyal Stein, Steven Lu
  • Patent number: 10513257
    Abstract: An ignition switch is turned on, and when an abnormality is detected in any of electronic control instruments or sensors, real failure is established, and a fail-safe process is performed. After a lapse of a predetermined period from the establishment of the real failure, fault determination is established, a failure level is sent, and a hybrid fail-safe process is performed. Then, when the abnormality is eliminated, the real failure is not established, and the fail-safe process of an engine is finished. Then, when the ignition switch is turned off and then again turned on, sending of the failure level to a hybrid control unit is stopped, and the hybrid fail-safe process is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Omi, Katsunori Ueda, Kazunori Handa, Masayuki Takagaki, Dairoku Ishii
  • Patent number: 10493983
    Abstract: A vehicle driving support system includes a detection part detecting an object; an area classification part classifying areas other than a presence area where the object detected by the detection part is present into an empty area and an unknown area, the empty area being such an area that it is determined that no object is present and an unknown area being such an area that whether an object is present is unknown; and a control part guiding a vehicle to the empty area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takada, Yousuke Watanabe, Shigeharu Teshima, Yoshiki Ninomiya, Kenya Sato
  • Patent number: 10471839
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting fusion of a relay are provided to more accurately diagnose fusion of a relay by adjusting relay OFF order when a vehicle engine is turned off using data regarding whether fusion of a relay was detected when the vehicle engine was turned on. The method includes detecting whether first and second relays have been fused when a vehicle engine was turned on and adjusting OFF order of the first and second relays when the vehicle engine is turned off based on whether the first and second relays have been fused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyung Ho Kim, Kyung In Min, Jae Hoon Choi, Dong Gun Kim, Do Kyoung Lim, Jin Wook Kim, Jun Ho Bang, Yoon Jun Lee, Hee Tae Yang, Yu Seok Kim, Hyo Sik Moon, Kyun Young Ahn, Suk Hyung Kim, Dong Il Kim
  • Patent number: 10421531
    Abstract: A system and method to modify a qualified actuator command with an unqualified actuator command modifier. The method includes creating a modified actuator command as the difference between the qualified actuator command and the unqualified actuator command and thereafter limiting the modified actuator command with an authority limiter. The system includes a qualified computer having an unqualified control law interfaced with an unqualified computer having a qualified control law.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventors: Ashok K. Agnihotri, Thomas W. Brooks
  • Patent number: 10347127
    Abstract: A computing device may be configured to receive sensor information indicative of respective characteristics of vehicles on a road of travel of a first vehicle. The computing device may be configured to identify, based on the respective characteristics, a second vehicle that exhibits an aggressive driving behavior manifested as an unsafe or unlawful driving action. Also, based on the respective characteristics, the computing device may be configured to determine a type of the second vehicle. The computing device may be configured to estimate a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The computing device may be configured to modify a control strategy of the first vehicle, based on the aggressive driving behavior of the second vehicle, the type of the second vehicle, and the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and control the first vehicle based on the modified control strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Jiajun Zhu
  • Patent number: 10345107
    Abstract: A navigation system suitable for use by an automated vehicle includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a digital-map, and a controller. The digital-map includes a first data-group of navigation-features preferentially detected by the first sensor-technology, and a second data-group of navigation-features preferentially detected by the second sensor-technology. The controller determines, on the digital-map, first and second locations of the host-vehicle using the first and second sensors, respectively. The controller selects one of the first and second locations to navigate the host-vehicle based on a comparison of the first data-density and the second data-density. Alternatively, the controller determines a first feature-density and a second feature-density of navigation-features detected by the first and second sensors respectively, and selects one of the first location and the second location to navigate the host-vehicle based on a comparison of the first feature-density and the second feature-density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael H. Laur, John P. Absmeier
  • Patent number: 10325489
    Abstract: In one embodiment, dynamic natural guidance is generated for a route between an origin and a destination. A controller receives data indicative of a location of the mobile device and data indicative of at least one movable object detected in a vicinity of the mobile device. The data indicative of at least one movable object may be collected by a camera and analyzed. The analysis may include one or more of image processing techniques, temporal measurement, and tracking of movable objects. The controller generates a guidance command based on the location of the mobile device. The guidance command references the at least one movable object detected in the vicinity of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: William Gale, Joseph Mays
  • Patent number: 10315641
    Abstract: In the case that there is the charge record of the charger at the system startup time, the motor travel priority mode is set as the travel mode when the accumulated charge ration SOC is more than or equal to the threshold value Sev, and the hybrid travel priority mode is set as the travel mode when the accumulated charge ratio SOC is less than the threshold value Sev. In the case that there is no charge record of the charger, the travel mode is set in the same way as the case that there is the charge record when the hybrid travel shift flag Fhv is equal to value ‘0’, and the hybrid travel priority mode is set as the travel mode when the hybrid travel shift flag Fhv is equal to value ‘1’.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norihiko Kato